Trump endorses ‘Protect Life and Marriage Marriage Oklahoma’ drive

EDMOND, Oklahoma — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has endorsed an Oklahoma-based petition in what state allies said was his “first hard-line conservative stand on abortion and same sex marriage.” Trump made the announcement, via email, to the group Protect Life and Marriage Oklahoma.

“I think Donald Trump saw the rationale behind our movement and agreed with the logic,” says Pastor Paul Blair, President of Protect Life and Marriage Oklahoma.

“The Supreme Court egregiously overstepped its authority with both Roe v Wade and the Obergefell decision which mandates that states must approve marriage licenses for anyone and everyone. I think Trump agrees we can not allow the Supreme Court to grant itself powers that go vastly beyond the authority clearly spelled out in the Constitution.”

In an email to Protect Life and Marriage Oklahoma, Blair said Donald Trump expressed both his support for the group’s online petition and the principles behind it, Blair said.

Trump said in his communication: “I support the thousands of Oklahomans who are standing up and protecting life and marriage in their state.

“We must strengthen our nation by reversing Obama’s disastrous programs that incentivize single parent homes. I am staunchly pro-life and will work tirelessly to ensure that every child has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I stand with you Oklahoma in support of initiatives that protect life and strengthen families all across America.”

In a press release, Blair said he was honored the leading GOP candidate chose his organization to publicly announce his position on these important issues.

“This is the first time Donald Trump has so publicly and emphatically stated his pro-life and pro-natural marriage positions as part of his Presidential platform,” Blair said.  “Opposition to a renegade Supreme Court trampling on our rights spans the Republican spectrum.  And these will be key issues in the GOP Primary. We will see to that.”

The petition Trump has endorsed reads as follows: “Whereas, We, the undersigned aim to amend the current standards for granting medical licenses to prohibit the granting of medical licenses to anyone who performs or participates in the performance of abortions, except in the rare case of saving the life of the mother.

“And Whereas, we agree that natural, traditional marriage is, according to Natural Law and by definition and historic practice the union of one man and one woman; We, the undersigned, strongly endorse, support and call on the Oklahoma state legislature to take action mandating that Oklahoma abides by its state constitution.”

The group’s petition is online at www.ProtectLifeAndMarriage.com

Blair is active in pro-life, pro-family, conservative and Republican circles.

In 2012, in his own attempt at public office, he ran a competitive but unsuccessful campaign against a Republican state Senator.

A three-year starter on the Oklahoma State University football team in his colleage years, Blair played for five years in the National Football League, Rev. Blair is a well-known leader in the state. He presently serves as senior pastor at Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, just north of Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma’s Presidential Primary is scheduled for March 1, 2016.

NOTE: Editor Pat McGuigan contributed to this story.