Sen. Paul: I didn't think Obama's 'views on marriage could get any gayer'
May 12th, 2012
05:10 PM ET
11 years ago

Sen. Paul: I didn't think Obama's 'views on marriage could get any gayer'

(CNN) – Sen. Rand Paul on Friday brushed off Barack Obama's recent reversal on same-sex marriage by saying he didn't think the president's views "could get any gayer."

The remarks from the Republican senator from Kentucky scored laughs among those attending an event held by Iowa's Faith and Freedom Coalition, a video uploaded on Saturday to the conservative website "The Iowa Republican" shows.

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"The president, you know, recently weighed in on marriage. And, you know, he said his views were evolving on marriage," the first-term senator said Friday evening. "Call me cynical, but I wasn't sure that his views on marriage could get any gayer."

Paul, who is the son of GOP presidential longshot and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, made the comments two days after Obama announced that he supported same-sex marriage, which he had previously opposed, while adding he thought the issue should be left up to the states to decide.

Rand Paul had been advertised as the coalition's "special guest" for its 12th annual spring event. The organization's website also promoted the presence of Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ralph Reed, who is the chairman of the national Faith and Freedom Coalition.

In the remarks captured on video, Paul spoke against abortion as well as same-sex marriage.

"I think we're in a spiritual crisis as a country," Paul said, "and I think you're going to need leaders beyond your political leaders."

The senator criticized Obama's explanation that the Golden Rule - to treat others how one wants to be treated - and his faith led to his evolved understanding of marriage. The Golden Rule has its roots in biblical verses.

"It did bother me though that he used the justification for it in a biblical reference," Paul said. "He said the biblical Golden Rule caused him to be for gay marriage. And I'm like, what version of the Bible is he reading?

"It's not the King James version, it's not the New American Standard, it's not the New Revised version," he added.

But Paul said his beliefs and those of other social conservatives and Christians do not "mean we have to be harsh and mean and hate people."

"We understand sin and if we believe it's a sin, we still are (sinners) and people sin," he said. "We're not out there preaching some sort of hateful dogma against people. But that doesn't mean that we have to go ahead and give up our traditions."

"Six thousand years of tradition" combined with "anthropological" evidence shows "there's stability in the family unit," he said.

Calls placed Saturday to the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, as well as to Paul's offices and spokeswoman, were not immediately returned.


Filed under: Iowa • President Obama • Rand Paul • Same-sex marriage
soundoff (489 Responses)
  1. George

    How in the world did this article get no responses? Anyways, this country has gotten too gay, too politically correct and is weakened as a result. It would be nice if we could just all be gay... lalalaaaa. But that is not how the world and reality is. When will gay people get off their high horse and admit they have been as bigoted as they claim any Christian has been over the last 20 years with their gay agenda. Seems like you guys won, but wait for the backlash gays. I see it coming already.

    May 13, 2012 05:22 am at 5:22 am |
  2. Diane

    I didn't think your views could get any crazier than your dads.

    May 13, 2012 05:23 am at 5:23 am |
  3. s

    repub wacko, just like his crazy dad, must rub off

    May 13, 2012 05:24 am at 5:24 am |
  4. miscreantsall

    "Six thousand years of tradition"……..this joker suggests?…………..created "………stability in the family unit".

    And what is the State of the Family Unit due to this tradition of marriage between man and woman for thousands of years?

    It's a piece of crap, just like Rand is.

    Divorce, adultery, living beyond their means, making babies without the resources to raise them, absent parenting, demanding that everyone else on the planet raise their kids except them, raising little dysfunctional monsters that become BIG dysfunctional monsters (just like their parents) when they grow up.

    Man and woman created a mockery of this marriage tradition and they are responsible for the breakdown of the "family unit" and though he did not say, but his macro concept probably suggests that with no strong "family unit" civilization will fall.

    So, man and woman destroys the family unit and civilization falls.

    Let gays have their marriage. Maybe their "family unit" can save civilization.

    Anthropological………….really????????? Give me a break Rand, or how about some examples (I would love to hear this).

    May 13, 2012 05:35 am at 5:35 am |
  5. cn

    "it is totally improper for the law to interfere in the personal relationship between two adults, so long as it is done by adults with mutual consent, it is not the province of the law." - ayn rand. funny how he's forgotten the words of his own NAMESAKE. another example of the corrupting influence of organized religion.

    May 13, 2012 05:42 am at 5:42 am |
  6. The Light Within

    "Call me cynical, but I wasn't sure that his views on marriage could get any gayer."

    You aren't cynical, you are just sick.

    "We're not out there preaching some sort of hateful dogma against people. But that doesn't mean that we have to go ahead and give up our traditions."

    Yes you are; you expect the entire world to accept your dogma, to follow your rules. No, YOU don't have to give up your traditions, but others in the world should not be expected to follow them. To each his own.

    May 13, 2012 05:47 am at 5:47 am |
  7. Terrence

    At least he was straight up about his bigotry. (See what I did there?)

    Oh and raise your hand if, without knowing who this senator is, immediately guessed that he was a Republican.

    May 13, 2012 05:55 am at 5:55 am |
  8. Jane

    "I think we're in a spiritual crisis as a country," Paul said

    Comments like these from people holding high positions is what is wrong with this country and is a big reason why we are divided. Organized religion has NO PLACE in government.

    May 13, 2012 05:57 am at 5:57 am |
  9. tipsana

    King James, New American Standard, and New Revised all contain the Golden Rule in Luke 6:31. For a bunch of bible thumpers, y'all need to study up a little.

    May 13, 2012 06:11 am at 6:11 am |
  10. Tony in Maine

    Interesting – freedom of marriage for me but not for thee – the "super-libertarian" shows his true stripes. Like most libertarians he wants the government to leave him alone and control those with whom he disagrees.

    Hypocricy, thy name is Republican.

    May 13, 2012 06:22 am at 6:22 am |
  11. Romney-da-Liar

    Maybe CONservaTEAS are comfortable to support a pathological liar like Romney, who feins memory loss about his assault on a classmate, BUT why are true Republicans taking his s#!T? Obama has turned out to be much better gentleman and Romney has proved that he will say anything to get elected. Didn't Romney say he is the son of every major state he went to, including Mexico? So now he says he is a Catholic..at least he wants to sound like one...

    May 13, 2012 06:50 am at 6:50 am |
  12. me

    What does that even mean? Is there a straight way he was supposed to deliver his message?

    May 13, 2012 06:52 am at 6:52 am |
  13. NATHAN WIMBERLY

    Prsident Obama keeps reeling the unhinged GOBP in.

    May 13, 2012 06:57 am at 6:57 am |
  14. Ed

    Senator Paul is a disgrace and a relic. What is the problem with these people? Why can't they accept others who just want to live normal lives like the rest of us and not be treated as second class Americans. What are you afraid of? I have friends, co-workers that are gay and are among the most "normal" people I have ever known. To use them as political fodder is what is wrong with this country, not some spiritual crisis as this moron states. Non-leaders like this, and his followers, need to find their spirituality – next he'll be hunting witches.And by the way – I'd be interested to know if Rand – what a name!! – knows electricity has been developed? A total moron.

    May 13, 2012 06:57 am at 6:57 am |
  15. hurlco

    Ron Paul is right. Obama really blew it on his choice to capitulate to the politically correct gaystopo.

    May 13, 2012 06:58 am at 6:58 am |
  16. lawal tunde

    this is not part of what surpose to b happening arround world

    May 13, 2012 07:00 am at 7:00 am |
  17. lawal tunde

    president should pls do something about dis

    May 13, 2012 07:03 am at 7:03 am |
  18. clarke

    Oh come on Paul, it is not the end of the world, and your life will not change and no one is taking your beliefs away. You will still get your pay check, that by the way is helped paid for by theses same folks that you are against. It's a sin to steal as well. but you have no problem with that. There should be a ban on religious beliefs in politics.

    May 13, 2012 07:03 am at 7:03 am |
  19. Common sense grandma

    Hahahahahaha??? Those right wingers have such a sense if humor! Slurs against a group of American citizens - how hilarious can you get? And it's not preaching hatred - or intolerance - not at all.

    May 13, 2012 07:05 am at 7:05 am |
  20. Jerry

    Well, duh. Someone has to tell IT like it is! Who is the most divisive/"lyinguest"/"Go it Alone", two-faced president in America's history. BHO, of course!!!

    May 13, 2012 07:05 am at 7:05 am |
  21. lgny

    We've regressed back to high school, where the standard put down used to be calling someone gay!

    "Six thousand years of tradition" combined with "anthropological" evidence shows "there's stability in the family unit," - At last, he has finally understood why many gays want to marry. They want stability as well.

    May 13, 2012 07:07 am at 7:07 am |
  22. Phil

    Using slurs to geta laugh or make a point seems to me to be a sin, are you not demeaning a group of people because of their beliefs or are you allowed to do that cause you're wholier (intentional misspelling) than thou !

    May 13, 2012 07:09 am at 7:09 am |
  23. Dallas Easler

    It is really kind of sad when those that pretend to possess some kind of moral superiority cannot see how ignorant their ideas are. I do believe Jesus preached above love. So I ask all anti-gay Christians, what should gay do with the love they have for their partners?

    May 13, 2012 07:15 am at 7:15 am |
  24. Average American

    So called Christians bashing and laughing at an entire group of people. So called "freedom" lovers set on denying people the ability, dare I say the freedom, to marry the person they love. That is rich.

    May 13, 2012 07:16 am at 7:16 am |
  25. Digital Backlash

    So, Rand Paul doesnt believe in the golden rule,
    "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
    because its not scripture.
    This book you call the bible destroys reason.

    May 13, 2012 07:18 am at 7:18 am |
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