Newt Gingrich on Tuesday vowed to
defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and remain faithful to his
wife, the San
Francisco Chronicle reported.
Gingrich has not signed The Family
Leader's controversial 14-point anti-gay marriage pledge, but in a
letter to the Christian conservative group he promised to abide by
the spirit of the contract.
In a written statement to the
Iowa-based group headed by Bob Vander Plaats, Gingrich vowed to
“defend and strengthen the family.”
“As President, I will vigorously
enforce the Defense of Marriage Act, which was enacted under my
leadership as Speaker of the House, and ensure compliance with its
provisions, especially in the military. I will also aggressively
defend the constitutionality of DOMA in federal and state courts. I
will support sending a federal constitutional amendment defining
marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the states for
ratification. I will also oppose any judicial, bureaucratic or
legislative effort to define marriage in any manner other than as
between one man and one woman.”
Gingrich, who has acknowledged
infidelity in two of his three marriages, also promised to be
faithful to his current wife, Callista.
“I also pledge to uphold the
institution of marriage through personal fidelity to my spouse and
respect for the marital bonds of others,” the 68-year-old
Republican wrote.
Gingrich also told the group that he
would defend the unborn, religious liberty, the right of the people
to rule themselves and against debt.