Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee
If the Supreme Court decides this summer that marriage equality should be the law of the land, no one will breathe greater sigh of relief than Republicans, report
Jeremy Peters and Jonathan Martin.
To have the question disposed of and dispensed with, many Republicans say, could make their opinions on the matter largely moot, providing a political escape hatch that gives them an excuse to essentially say: “It’s been settled. Let’s move on.”
That's exactly how Republican governors in states where courts have legalized same-sex marriage have typically handled the issue. Here's Indiana Gov. Mike Pence:
“People are free to disagree with court decisions, but we are not free to disobey them.”
And Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker:
“For us, it’s over in Wisconsin.”
The problem for Republicans is that the issue may not be over for their primary voters, which leaves an opening for the most socially conservative candidates like Mike Huckabee or Rick Santorum to pound GOP moderates on the matter.
Mr. Huckabee is one potential candidate who appears willing to challenge other conservatives on this point. Speaking to a rally of advocates who oppose same-sex marriage last year, he said that the nine justices needed reminding of who defines marriage.
“They are only the Supreme Court, not the supreme branch of government,” he said. “They are most certainly not the Supreme Being, from which all law ultimately emanates.”
And don't forget the platform fight. The Republican platform still defines marriage as between a man and a woman. How would GOP hopefuls sell that to the public in a general election—especially if it directly contradicted what was presiding law in all 50 states?
A Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide would likely be better for GOP hopefuls than the opposite, simply because it would take some of the juice away from the issue. But anyone who thinks marriage would suddenly recede from GOP party politics is living in a dream world. The Republican establishment hasn't been able to put a muzzle on the most extreme elements of its party for the last several election cycles. Why would this be any different?