Thomas Peters of the National
Organization for Marriage (NOM) on Friday criticized Ohio Senator Rob
Portman's shift on gay marriage, saying the senator can say goodbye
to his presidential aspirations.
Portman, a Republican, on Friday
announced that he had reversed his stance on the issue, revealing
that his son, Will Portman, had come out to him and his wife two
years earlier. Portman is the first GOP senator to buck the party's
official stance.
In an op-ed and later in a sit-down
with CNN, Portman added that he was not prepared to advocate on the
issue. A critical point, considering marriage equality advocates are
working to repeal Ohio's amendment defining marriage as a
heterosexual union.
(Related: Senator
Rob Portman reverses course on gay marriage.)
Speaking with POLITICO.com, Peters
argued that Portman could lose his seat over the issue.
“What Mr. Portman is doing is
shrinking the size of the GOP tent,” Peters
said from CPAC. “I think it will have huge consequences if he
chooses to run again.”
“As far as Senator Portman and
presidential chances, I think he can say goodbye to those,” Peters
added.