Bill Armistead, chairman of the Alabama
Republican Party, has blamed President Barack Obama for a federal
judge's ruling striking down the state's ban on gay marriage.
U.S. District Judge Callie “Ginny”
Granade released her ruling on Friday. On Sunday, she put it on hold
for 14-days pending a response from an appeals court.
(Related: Judge
temporarily sets aside ruling striking down Alabama's gay marriage
ban.)
“Tonight's news is a clear
demonstration of how traditional values espoused by Alabamians have
begun to erode even in our conservative state,” Armistead said in a
statement. “The far left-wing radical agenda of Barack Obama and
the Democratic Party have brought to Alabama's front door their
effort to redefine marriage. Alabamians spoke when they voted in
2006 by 81% to adopt the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Amendment,
which makes it unconstitutional for the state to recognize or perform
same-sex marriages or civil unions.”
“I urge the Attorney General's office
to use every resource available to challenge, to the fullest extend,
this ruling and stop the federal government's overreaching power in
this case,” he added.
Granade was nominated in 2001 by President George W. Bush on the
recommendations of Alabama Senators Jeff Sessions, a Republican, and
Richard Shelby, who switched to the Republican Party in 1994. And
she was confirmed by a Republican-controlled Senate.