Laura Bush asked to be removed from a pro-gay marriage ad which featured her comments made in 2010, said the group behind the pro-same sex advertisement campaign.
"We used public comments for this ad from American leaders who have expressed support for civil marriage," a spokesperson for the Respect for Marriage Coalition said. "We appreciate Mrs. Bush's previous comments but are sorry she didn't want to be included in an ad. The ad launched a public education campaign that will now move to new and different voices that reflect the depth and breadth of our support."
The ad which will start airing after Friday, features a Republican military veteran and another prominent Republican who support same-sex marriage rights. In its new format, the ad will begin airing and stop in the spot featuring Bush.
The former first lady’s comments were taken from an interview she gave to CNN’s Larry King in 2010, where she comes out in support of gay marriage rights.
"When couples are committed to each other and love each other then they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has," she is shown saying.
Through her spokeswoman, Anne MacDonald, Bush expressed her disavowal.
“The former first lady did not approve of her inclusion in this advertisement nor is she associated in any way with the group that made the ad," MacDonald wrote in a statement. "When she became aware of the advertisement Tuesday night, we requested that the group remove her from it."
The new ad features a Republican former Marine, Craig Stowell, speaking about how he came to support gay marriage after learning his brother was gay.
“None of us would want to be told we can’t marry the person we love,” Stowell says in the ad while sitting next to his wife, Berta. “As Americans, we believe in freedom. That’s what I fought for as a marine, and that’s what he believe in as Republicans. Freedom means freedom for everyone. I didn’t used to understand the importance of same-sex marriage, but after learning my brother was gay, I wanted the same rights for him. He was the best man at my wedding. And I want to be the best man at his. It’s only fair that Calvin should have the freedom to marry the person he loves, too.”
