is that same-sex couples are a group, a class, that deserves heightened scrutiny, that the supreme court needs to ask the state why it s doing it, and if the state sdrent a good reason, it should be struck down. it marks a full evolution on the issue since president obama fist took office in 2009. twath? 2009? have republicans evolved at the same rate. a constitutional amendment was banning gay marriage. that year voters in 11 states prohibited gay unions. now bush s campaign manager ken lmon is leading marriage equality on the right. he and 130 other conservatives advised the court to strike down prop eight. among the several bush administration officials and top advisors to mitt romney. marriage equality is a conservative cause, wrote the newly emboldened john huntsman. freed from the shackles of the