Republican Presidential Hopeful Calls Same-Sex Marriage Rulings Unconstitutional, Calls For Booting Judges


Ben Carson, who is a possible candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, is speaking out about same-sex marriage, and the recent rulings in favor of marriage equality. Carson says that judges who rule in favor of allowing same-sex marriage to occur are “not carrying out their duties in an appropriate way” and that Congress should remove them from office.

Marriage equality is growing by leaps and bounds, with a majority of U.S. states now recognizing same-sex marriages. There are still holdouts and opposition, though, and the Supreme Court has agreed to hear marriage cases. By the time the Unites States has a new president, the marriage debate will almost certainly be settled.

Ben Carson isn’t satisfied with letting the Supreme Court decide whether these rulings will stand, though. Instead, he would like Congress to remove judges who rule in favor of marriage equality, rather than allowing popular vote to dictate rights. He spoke about this on Steve Deace’s radio show last week, saying that the court should, instead, remind judges that there is already a method for determining what rights individuals have: a ballot referendum.

Think Progress pulled the following quote from Carson’s statements on Deace’s show.

“It has been done multiple times already. 32 states have indicated that marriage is between a man and a woman, and a few judges have come and overturn that. That, as far as I’m concerned, is unconstitutional. And Congress actually has oversight of what they call the inferior courts, everything below the Supreme Court. That’s where those overturns have come. When judges do not carry out their duties in an appropriate way, our Congress actually has the right to reprimand or remove them. Most people don’t know that because they don’t know the Constitution.”

Carson went on to agree with Dearcy that legalizing same-sex marriage means “redefining morality” and that this will result in “persecution of the church.” The pair also discuss the case of the baker who denied service to a gay couple, agreeing that it’s an attack on religious liberty. Carson has spoken about this case before — hinting, according to Huffington Post, that bakers forced to treat customers equally, regardless of sexual orientation, might find recourse in poisoning the cakes they sell to these customers.

Could the man who says judges should be tossed out for favoring marriage equality have a shot at the Republican presidential nomination, and, further, the presidency? A poll from Patriot Action Network placed him at the top of current possibles, beating Ted Cruz by only two votes, followed by Scott Walker and Rand Paul at distant third and fourth places.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments for same-sex marriage in April. Ben Carson has not yet made an official statement that he will seek the Republican presidential nomination, but has been hinting that it’s in the plans.

[Photo: Gage Skidmore]

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