US senator Ted Cruz says legalising gay marriage was ‘clearly wrong’
On the Texas Republican’s podcast he said “it was the court overreaching”.
Words: Emily Maskell; picture: Wiki Commons
US Senator Ted Cruz has claimed the Supreme Court was wrong to ever legalise gay marriage in the landmark 2015 case, Obergefell vs Hodge.
The Texan Republican also suggested that the overturning of Roe vs Wade, the ruling for abortion rights has set a precedent for reconsidering other rulings on his podcast On Verdict with Ted Cruz with conservative commentator Michael Knowles which he has uploaded to YouTube.
“I think [the Obergefell] decision was clearly wrong when it was decided. It was the court overreaching,” Cruz said in a recent episode titled ‘The vulnerability of the Obergefell ruling’
“Obergefell, like Roe vs Wade, ignored two centuries of our nation’s history. Marriage was always an issue that was left to the states,” Cruz continued. “We saw states before Obergefell — some states were moving to allow gay marriage, other states were moving to allow civil partnerships.”
“Had the Court not ruled in Obergefell, the democratic process would have continued to operate,” he added.
In Obergefell, the court said now we know better than you guys do, and now every state must, must sanction and permit gay marriage.”
However, he caveats the frightening statement with the fact that he does not think “this Court has any appetite for overturning any of these decisions.”
Cruz noted that there are now “a ton of people who have entered into gay marriages” and that a ruling that disrupts that right would be “a little chaotic”.
“I think that would be a factor that would, would counsel restraint, that the court would be concerned about,” he said.
Cruz’s comments follow Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas who, after the Roe vs Wade ruling, suggested that rulings over gay marriage and same-sex relationships should be “reconsidered”.
In the wake of his statements, Cruz has faced a mounting backlash from politicians and commentators alike.
Senator Patty Murray strongly condemned his remarks: “If you thought Republicans were done dragging our country backwards—think again. They feel more emboldened than ever to turn back the clock on our rights.”
If you thought Republicans were done dragging our country backwards—think again. They feel more emboldened than ever to turn back the clock on our rights. Not on my watch. https://t.co/AoUTcRHVlV
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) July 17, 2022
Former Ohio state senator Nina Turner tweeted: “They are coming for everyone’s personal freedom,”
Ted Cruz says the Supreme Court was wrong in allowing same-sex marriage.
They’re coming for everyone’s personal freedoms.pic.twitter.com/y36eaxvi5s
— Nina Turner (@ninaturner) July 16, 2022
“The fascists aren’t at the gate; the fascists are in the house,” tweeted author Marianne Williamson.
The fascists aren’t at the gate; the fascists are in the house. https://t.co/P7ZJKp4bO6
— Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson) July 17, 2022
The Attitude July/August issue is out now.