Presidential candidates Michele
Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty and Rick Santorum are ready to board NOM's
anti-gay marriage bus tour.
The National Organization for Marriage
(NOM), the nation's most vociferous opponent of gay marriage, is
launching its 4-day, 22 city Values
Bus Tour on Tuesday.
Bachmann, Pawlenty and Santorum will be
joined by Iowa Rep. Steve King, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, Family
Research Council President Tony Perkins, Susan B. Anthony List
President Marjorie Dannenfelser and NOM bosses Maggie Gallagher and
Brian Brown on the 1,305 mile trip that begins in Des Moines and
arrives four days later in Ames, Iowa as the Ames Straw Poll opens.
Notably absent is any representation or
sponsorship by The Family Leader, the Iowa-based Christian
conservative group headed by former Iowa gubernatorial candidate Bob
Vander Plaats. Last month, the group's 15-point
anti-gay, anti-gay marriage, anti-abortion rights, anti-pornography
pledge drew widespread criticism and even the two GOP
presidential candidates who signed the pledge – Bachmann and
Santorum – expressed concern over some of its content.
“President Obama has done virtually
everything in his power to undermine the institution of marriage,
including refusing to defend the bi-partisan Defense of Marriage Act
signed into law by President Clinton. NOM is committed to ensuring
that the next president is a strong and committed supporter of
traditional marriage and will commit his or her administration to
vigorously defending marriage in the courts, Congress and in the
court of public opinion,” Brown said in announcing the tour.