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Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum became the first presidential candidates to sign "The Marriage Vow" written by a conservative Christian group. Even though the group has revised the vow to remove language that suggested black families were better off during slavery, the aim of the group is to protect monogamous Christian marriage as the only acceptable relationship, abolish the porn industry, deny the existence of homosexuality and generally regulate the personal lives of US Citizens. The group hopes to get all Republican candidates to sign the pledge.
© Jason Moore/ZUMAPRESS.com
We believe that all politicians, like all people, can rise to the occasion of our collective future and demand better leadership. As citizens of the United States of America, we wish to build a government that is focused on vital public infrastructure rather than on policing the private lives of our people.
While some presidential candidates are joining forces with fear-mongering factions of the political fringe, we think it is vital that our government focus on the pressing issues of health, education, economy and safety. Using unsubstantiated rhetoric to appeal to the separatist and supremacist tendencies of a few undermines the common interest of the many. Further, their attack on sexuality, and support of hetero-Christian marriage, is based on religion rather than fact, which is expressly forbidden in our constitution.
Perhaps most importantly, these persecutory tirades mask a fundamental ignorance of our political system, constitution, history and role in a complex international environment that is necessary to maintain a credible role on the international stage.
To that end, we would like citizens and politicians alike to adopt a code of ethical conduct that adheres to both our constitution and to an ideal of universal ethics that allows for diversity, peace and productivity for all.
All we are asking is for people, especially our elected officials, to agree to a discourse that is honest, compassionate and constitutional. We are not asking for agreement, or even understanding, simply an end to the ignorant persecution of private citizens in a country that purports to pride itself on diversity and freedom.
Our best and brightest leaders will be able to take the following vow. There are many in office now who we think live up to this simple standard. As citizens of the United States, we would like candidates to take the following vow & PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION AT CHANGE.ORG and let's build a compassionate governement!
The Candidate Vow:
As an elected or appointed official, I am honored to serve my fellow citizens of the United States of America. We are a diverse country, and I vow to support our constitution and protect the health of our society and everyone in it. To that end, I vow to:
1. Live my personal life in accordance with the moral and ethical belief system that I have espoused in public. That means that I will be honest about my value system, even if it is different than some of the people that I work with, as doing so will support the diversity that makes us great.
2. Respect the relationship bonds and rights of others, even if they are different than my own. I understand that love and commitment are not dictated by genital configuration, skin color, religion, political affiliation or any other external factor. Love is a human value and right that rightfully belongs to all humans. People who are gay, bisexual, transgendered or polyamorous are all humans, as defined by DNA, which is universally recognized to be the factor that makes someone a human.
3. Vigorously defend the constitution, which means that I will enforce the separation of church and state. This gives me the right to passionately and publicly practice my religion, just as it does my neighbor. It also means that I cannot, as a public official, use my personal religion to define public laws that will restrict the personal freedoms of other Americans who have a different religious commitment.
4. Not use research and statistics sponsored by political or religious organizations that are pushing an agenda rather than research done by research professionals with no vested interest in the outcome.
5. Remember that there is overwhelming research showing that people who are marginalized because of their sexuality have increased risk of depression, addiction, suicide and societal violence. As someone with a sworn duty to protect the public interest, I will work to reduce shame, fear and marginalization on the basis of sexuality. I will work to further an open
