Gov. Rick Perry: Let states decide same sex marriage

Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry , who has been criticized for his involvement in an evangelical Christian prayer summit, said Friday that the federal government should not be involved in the definition of marriage.

"I'm pro-traditional marriage," the potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate said in Aspen, according to CNN.

"The fact is, we passed a constitutional amendment in the state of Texas that says marriage is between one man and one woman," he continued. "Our friends in New York six weeks ago passed a statute that said marriage can be between two people of the same sex. That's their call."

"If you believe in the 10th amendment, stay out of their business if you live in some other state or particularly if you're the federal government."

He is expected to officially decide on a presidential bid in the next four weeks.

A possible Republican opponent, presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, took a swipe at Perry's same sex marriage stance on Twitter.

"So Gov Perry, if a state wanted to allow polygamy or if they chose to deny heterosexuals the right to marry, would that be OK too?" he tweeted Friday night.