Minnesota Congresswoman Michele
Bachmann has called President Barack Obama “out of touch” for
endorsing gay marriage.
Obama
on Wednesday told ABC News' Robin Roberts: “I've concluded that
for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that
I think same sex couples should be able to get married.”
In a statement released Wednesday,
Bachmann joined former rivals for the GOP presidential nomination
Rick
Santorum and Rick
Perry in condemning Obama's announcement.
“The President's announcement today
shows how out of touch he is [with] the values of American families,”
said Bachmann. “The President continues to practice the politics
of division and diversion. He's tried to divide the country over
gender, education, class, and now he's attempting to divide families
as a diversion to his failed economic policies that have affected all
Americans.”
She said that “Americans know better
and support traditional marriage” and “Marriage between one man
and one woman is the foundation of our society.”
“I will continue to protect
traditional marriage, despite our president's decision to thumb his
nose at the traditional institution of marriage,” she added.
As a Minnesota state senator, Bachmann
sponsored a resolution which sought to constitutionally ban gay
marriage in the state. Minnesota voters will decide the fate of a
ballot initiative on the matter in November.