The former governor of Minnesota reveals his decision in a statement.
I deeply respect, and share, Bob Vander Platts’ commitment to promoting the sanctity of marriage, a culture of life, and the core principles of the Family Leader’s Marriage Vow Pledge. However, rather than sign onto the words chosen by others, I prefer to choose my own words, especially seeking to show compassion to those who are in broken families through no fault of their own. I respectfully decline to sign the pledge.
This comes after Mitt Romney rejected the pledge over “references and provisions that were undignified and inappropriate for a presidential campaign,” after Newt Gingrich said he was working with the group to produce a sign-able version, after Gary Johnson rejected it outright, and as Michele Bachmann explains that she agrees with the non-controversial pieces of the pledge and disagrees with the controversial pieces. This turning into something of a quagmire for the FAMiLY Leader, which had succeeded so far this year in becoming a litmus test-writer for Republicans.
