By L.A. Williams
Christian Action League
February 16, 2023
At least two more local chapters of the Republican Party — those in Cabarrus and Davie counties — have passed resolutions to censure former U.S. Sen. Richard Burr and Sen. Thom Tillis for abandoning the GOP platform on marriage and voting for the misnamed Respect for Marriage Act. The Granville County GOP issued its censure within weeks of the Dec. 1, 2022, passage of the controversial measure that repealed the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, codified same-sex marriage into federal law, and weakened religious liberty for all who believe the Bible.
On Tuesday of last week, February 7, the officers of the Cabarrus County Republican Party, signed a resolution reaffirming their support for the natural family, based on marriage between one man and one woman and repudiating the actions of Tilllis and Burr as a “betrayal of Republican values and a dereliction of duty by a Republican public elected official.” The resolution acknowledged that officials represent all constituents, but reminded the senators that they are accountable “to preserve and defend the principles and values of the Republican Party, which includes adherence to the National and State Platforms.”
The Cabarrus County censure effectively denies Tillis and Burr future campaign support or endorsements and prohibits them from attending official county-level party events. Further, GOP leaders in Cabarrus urged Republican leaders of the 8th and 12th Congressional Districts to follow suit with their own censures.
Similarly, members of the Davie County GOP asked District 5 Republicans to join their resolution to censure Burr and Tillis for acting “contrary to both the Judeo-Christian Constitutional values held dear to our Union and the North Carolina Republican Party Platform.” They passed their resolution on Jan. 17, citing Biblical and constitutional reasons for calling out the lawmakers.
“Traditional marriage and family, based on marriage between one man and one woman, is the foundation for a civil society … we support the marriage amendment as part of the North Carolina Constitution and encourage all efforts to defend it,” the resolution reads in part, quoting from the NCGOP Platform and pointing out that Davie County party officials are sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution. Further, the resolution makes clear that “not honoring God’s definition of marriage will surely lead to the persecution of people of faith and the normalizing of perverse behavior thus corrupting our nation’s youth.”
The Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said the county level resolutions to censure Burr and Tillis are not surprising.
“As I said when the Granville County GOP took up this cause, the senators’ votes for the Respect for Marriage Act were nothing short of betrayal,” Creech said. “They betrayed the GOP, and they betrayed Christian voters who trusted them to stand up for biblical values.”
He said when lawmakers begin to believe that they know better than their constituents and better than the platform of the party they belong to, it is time for a reprimand.
“Local political parties can’t undo the votes of Tillis and Burr, but they can stand up and let it be known that there is a price to pay when a politician strays so far from the stated beliefs of the organization,” Creech said. “We’re glad to see these groups taking a stand.”