An organization supporting traditional marriage published an open letter to Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.) this week, condemning the congressman's support for same-sex marriage, which he announced earlier this week.
The Florida Family Policy Council, an organization that supports traditional marriage, rallied constituents to decry Jolly's "complete reversal" and "flip-flop" on the issue, saying that the letter's signatories are "profoundly disappointed."
"So many of us worked, walked, called, gave money and voted to help you get elected and defeat the liberal Democrat Alex Sink because you personally assured us that you were a conservative Republican who believed that marriage was between one man and one woman," the letter reads. "In church after church, you publicly stated your support for the policy behind Florida's law and Florida's constitution, which clearly define marriage as the union of one man and one woman."
Newly elected Republican Rep. David Jolly of Florida, right, poses for a ceremonial swearing-in with his mother Judy Jolly and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2014. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The letter went on to accuse Jolly of failing to support Florida's law banning same-sex unions — a law that is currently being battled out in the courts — despite the fact that he represents Florida's 13th Congressional District "where 54.3 percent of the voters voted in favor of marriage being between one man and one woman in 2008."
"We reject your illusory and false dichotomy between your 'personal views' and 'public views' as a legislator, as you made no such distinction during your campaign," the text continues. "Liberals for years have made the same arguments to deceptively triangulate on other moral issues."
Jolly's critics said that they are now left wondering what other issues the congressman might change his mind about, using harsh words to describe the recent clarification of his gay marriage views.
"Please know that we consider your reversal on this critical issue to be an act of cowardice and a betrayal to the very persons who worked extremely hard to get you elected to office," the letter continues, asking for a public apology.
The text is a reaction to comments Jolly made in a recent interview with the Washington Post in which he supported a judge's ruling that Florida's gay marriage ban is unconstitutional.
Candidate David Jolly arrives at the Indian Shores Town Hall to place his vote in the special election for Florida 13th Congressional District in Indian Shores, Fla., Tuesday, March 11, 2014. (AP Photo/The Tampa Bay Times, Cherie Diez)
"As a matter of my Christian faith, I believe in traditional marriage. But as a matter of Constitutional principle I believe in a form of limited government that protects personal liberty," he told the Post. "To me, that means that the sanctity of one’s marriage should be defined by their faith and by their church, not by their state."
He continued: "Accordingly, I believe it is fully appropriate for a state to recognize both traditional marriage as well as same-sex marriage, and therefore I support the recent decision by a Monroe County Circuit Judge."
Read the letter in its entirety here.
