Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich on
Tuesday criticized a ruling declaring unconstitutional California's
gay marriage ban, Proposition 8.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
handed down its long-awaited decision to the cheers of gay marriage
supporters. Opponents vowed to defend the amendment narrowly
approved by voters in 2008 which ended the weddings of gay and
lesbian couples taking place in the state after the California
Supreme Court legalized the institution.
(Related: Court
says gay marriage ban Prop 8 violates 14th
Amendment.)
In its 2-1 decision, the court's
majority wrote that it was only deciding on California's specific
circumstances, where Prop 8 overturned previously established rights.
Supporters from other states, however,
said the ruling gave their movement momentum.
Santorum forwarded a tweet from
conservative journalist Michelle Malkin, which read: “Given the
opportunity, the 9th Circus would strike down the
Constitutional as unconstitutional.”
He later added: “7M Californians had
their rights stripped away today by activist 9th Circuit
judges. As president I will work to protect marriage.”
Gingrich offered harsher words for the
ruling.
“Court of Appeals overturning CA's
Prop 8 another example of an out of control judiciary. Let's end
judicial supremacy,” he tweeted to his more than 1.4 million
followers.
(Related: Mitt
Romney blasts Prop 8 ruling.)