FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alison Howard
202-266-4816
ahoward@cwfa.org
PRESS RELEASE
Herring Betrays Virginians
WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) announced he will not fight for Virginia’s constitutionally-protected definition of marriage. Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America (CWA), the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization, had this to say:
“Attorney General Herring has betrayed the very people who elected him to office. The same Virginians who gave him their trust with their votes, voted to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Actually, more people voted for the marriage amendment than voted for Mr. Herring.
“Herring has broken the very oath he swore to uphold: to support the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. If he believed he could not faithfully undertake that task because he thought part of the state’s constitution was at odds with the U.S. Constitution, then he should have chosen another line of work instead of falsely taking the oath.
“We urge the legislature to do everything in its power to defend the interest of Virginians who want to preserve marriage as the union between one man and one woman.”
CWA of Virginia State Director Janet Robey said:
“Virginians cannot trust Mark Herring. That much is clear after this unnecessary, politically-motivated move on his part.
“He and all media reports insist that this is a fight against Virginia’s “gay marriage” ban. But Virginia has no such thing. By that logic, you could also call it a “polygamous marriage” ban. Our constitution defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
“Virginians debated this issue and voted to protect marriage. If he wants to change that, he can go out there and talk to his neighbors, like every other citizen, and work to put this on the ballot again and win. That’s the proper way to advocate his views. But for him to go to the courts to try to impose his latest vision of America — remember, he voted for the amendment — on all of us is simply appalling.
“One thing is sure. He is in for a fight. We will not stay silent while he panders to his leftist friends and insults and tramples the will of the majority of Virginians, with whom he reportedly stood until mere moments ago.”
If you would like an interview with Penny Nance or a Concerned Women for America spokesperson, please contact Alison Howard at ahoward@cwfa.org or 202-266-4816.
Concerned Women for America is the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization with 500,000 participating members across the country, over 450 Prayer/Action Chapters and Home Teams, 600 trained leaders and over 30 years of service to our nation.
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