Rep. Rick Allen said that he told now-former House Speaker designee Tom Emmer that he opposed the Minnesota Republican’s bid for the gavel because of Emmer voted to codify same-sex marriage.
“[Emmer] asked us to come down and ask to speak to why we could not support him” in his quest for the gavel, Allen said.
“And here’s what I said: I said ‘Jesus spelled out exactly what marriage looks like,'” the Georgia Republican said.
“I basically shared with him my thoughts on many votes he’s taken. And you know, I don’t criticize anybody for votes they take, but as far as for me voting for the leader of our conference, that’s a different matter,” Allen said. “I told him it wasn’t between he and I. It was between he and the teachings of Jesus Christ.”
Allen didn’t say that a candidate had to vote for the same religious principles that he does, but “if I vote for them, then that means I approve.”
