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Santorum: Tonette Walker's Gay Marriage 'Conflict' Will Affect Scott

Santorum: Tonette Walker's Gay Marriage 'Conflict' Will Affect Scott
Republican 2016 presidential candidate Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker next to his wife Tonette. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

By    |   Tuesday, 14 July 2015 12:18 PM EDT

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum says that the conflict Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's wife feels about same-sex marriage could soften Walker's view on the landmark Supreme Court decision.

"Spouses matter," the presidential hopeful told The Daily Caller. "When your spouse is not in-sync with you — particularly on cultural issues, moral issues — [you] tend not to be as active on those issues."

Tonette Walker told The Washington Post that she had mixed feelings about the court's decision legalizing gay marriage because her husband is a strong opponent and her sons are equally strong proponents.

"That was a hard one," Tonette said. "Our sons were disappointed [in their father's position]. ... I was torn. I have children who are very passionate, and Scott was on his side very passionate."

She added that another factor that makes the gay marriage issue hard for her is that she has a cousin, who she says she loves dearly, who is gay.

"She is like a sister to me — who is married to a woman, her partner of 18 years," Tonette said, adding that the Walkers' son, Alex, was the best man in their wedding.

The Wisconsin governor, the son of a Baptist preacher, told the Post that the conflicting views of his family doesn't mean that it changes his position, but that he needs to find "a different way of explaining it, so they can appreciate where I am coming from."

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Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum says that the conflict Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's wife feels about same-sex marriage could soften Walker's view on the landmark Supreme Court decision.
scott walker, tonette, gay marriage, rick santorum
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2015-18-14
Tuesday, 14 July 2015 12:18 PM
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