Bauer: 'Family-Friendly' Politicians Should Keep Promises or Risk Losing Conservatives' Support

by Bill Fancher and Jody Brown
March 12, 2004

(AgapePress) - A conservative pro-family leader says it's time to get tough with politicians who break their campaign promises. That call from Gary Bauer came as President Bush publicly restated his commitment for a Federal Marriage Amendment.

Gary Bauer

Social conservatives and their issues are often relegated to the back burner by many of their chosen candidates. Gary Bauer of the Campaign for Working Families says social conservatives have been too nice in the past when they should have been much tougher with political promise-breakers. Bauer, whose group actively supports many political candidates, wants social conservatives to give elected officials an ultimatum: either honor their promises on family issues, or quit asking for the votes of social conservatives.

"I think we need to hold the feet to the fire of the politicians who seek our votes and say they believe in our values, particularly on this marriage issue," he says. "Now is the time to stand up."

Bauer insists how members of Congress and the Bush Administration react to the current assault on the institution of marriage will be a good measure of those who really want the Christian vote. He says if candidates who seek the pro-family vote are not willing to fight for families, then they should not be surprised when pro-family leaders urge votes for others. According to Bauer, no excuses will do -- especially on the same-sex marriage issue.

"If you can't all-out now and fight and spend your political capital to make sure that marriage in America remains between a man and a woman, then I think there's no explanation that can excuse it," the conservative activist says. "This is perhaps the most important issue facing the country -- and it's time for people to do what they promised they were going to do."

Bush Speaks to Evangelicals
One of those promising to defend traditional marriage and seek constitutional protection of the age-old institution is President Bush himself. Speaking via satellite to the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) convention in Colorado Springs, the president pledged to "defend the sanctity of marriage against activist courts and local officials who want to redefine marriage."

Bush told the gathering that he remains committed to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. He said activist courts and local officials do not have the right to redefine marriage -- and that government should protect traditional marriage, not undermine it.

"The union of a man and woman is the most enduring human institution honored and encouraged in cultures and by every religious faith. The commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society," Bush told the NAE.

"Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all. It is for that reason I support a constitutional amendment to protect marriage as the union of a man and a woman."

The NAE convention says it is mobilizing its 23 million members to support the president in his call for a Federal Marriage Amendment.