Former first lady Laura Bush has asked the Respect for Marriage Coalition to remove her from an advertisement that uses politicians from both parties to push for the legalization of gay marriage.
“Mrs. Bush did not approve of her inclusion in this advertisement nor is she associated in any way with the group that made the ad,” Anne MacDonald, a spokeswoman for the former first lady, wrote in a statement obtained Thursday by CNN.“When she became aware of the advertisement Tuesday night, we requested that the group remove her from it.”
In the ad, Bush is shown saying she believes that "when couples are committed to each other and love each other then they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has."
Former President George W. Bush notably opposed gay marriage efforts, although his daughter Barbara has appeared in an ad for the Human Rights Campaign, and former Vice President Cheney, whose lesbian daughter is married, has also supported same-sex weddings.
The commercial features both Cheney and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, along with Democrats including President Obama, in addition to the former first lady. The Respect for Marriage Coalition has said they will spend $1 million to air the ad on television, along with an accompanying print campaign.
"The national television, print, and online advertising campaign shares '#Time4Marriage' branding, which is intended to let the public know how to become a part of the discussion online and join the bipartisan majority of Americans who support marriage for all committed couples," the group said in a statement.
The ad comes roughly a month before the Supreme Court is slated to hear oral arguments in cases challenging the constitutionality of state laws banning same-sex marriage.
