(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.
So much for Libertarian values.
Let ye who is without sin cast the first stone......
If I had to go only on the stereotypical image of what gay male would look like, Rand Paul would be the perfect model.
I thought Rand worshipped some kind of Aqua Buda?
We do not like them, we do not want them just because they are different, we believe we are the right beings and they are confused. We will do what we can so they cannot have the same rights as us. We will laugh at them.
How do people so stupid end up in a position of such power.... truly shocking
I don't care if someone is gay, but I personally find it disgusting. For a man to put another mans genitals in his mouth or butt or for a woman to put another womens genitals in her mouth is repulsive. I, of course will hear how it's none of my business,it isn't except how gay marriage effects me. Social Security,insurance,etc.
Republicans always talking about starting "class warfare" but Santorum is the one talking about using gay marriage as a weapon. He also says Obama is out of touch with Americans. That was said about Romney months ago. To take what is wrong with your own party and flat out lie by saying "no it's a problem with the other party" has the mentality of a 5 year old. It is the base of Rush Limbaughs whole act.
The same thing with jobs and the economy. Congressional Republicans have been intentionally useless on the matter. They know a lot of Americans will blame Obama because they don't understand what the House and Senate do.
Methinks he doth protesteth too much...every gay in America knows the "truth" about Rand Paul. Takes one to "know" one...
So the FIRST GAY US PRESIDENT? That is what he meant
This from a man named "Rand"????? Oh, puuhleeeze!
Ron Paul is as much or more of a nutbag as his insane nutbag father. It's a national embarrassment that two freakish anarchists like these two are able to hold any public office.
I didn't think GOP "leaders" remarks could get any more bigoted. My mistake. This is why I quit the republican party this year, after four decades. How is it that the party of Lincoln can be on the wrong side of every civil rights issue?
Guess Rand Paul didn't read the part about lover your neighbor and treat them as you want to be treated in the King James version is referring to.
I feel the same way about that varmint that Rand has perched on top of his balding dome.
Paul is a Dick
Political expedient move on the Presidents part-nothing more, nothing less. It wasn't on principle, but you can all tell yourselves that and continue to drink the kool-aid.
If he strongly believes "there's stability in the family unit," he should support removing children from divorced couples. He somehow must believe that a family unit consisting of a loving gay couple is somehow far worse for kids than a divorced couple, especially when we see how many bitter divorces occur and how often kids are used as pawns between the parents.
I love RELIGIOUS HYPOCRITES. The bible, an outdated book filled with utter fantasies, describes many things are sinful that 99% of religious people do all the time - yet why fixate on the gay thing, which is mentioned once in the whole long-winded bible? For example, women in church (not acceptable according to the bible), work on Saturday (you should be put to death, according to the bible), cheat on your spouse (also put to death... why didn't republicans call for Newt's death I wonder, he cheated twice no less). And yet in the bible's wisdom, slavery was perfectly fine. So if you want to follow this insane book, follow it completely. Otherwise, shut your pie-hole.
Who looks gayer, Obama or Rand Paul? How much mousse does a supposedly straight guy need, anyway? Not helping!
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:12
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Luke 6:31
Randy Rand does not have a moral or ethical philosophy. What ever the current crowd wants. This is one of the people making policy in this country. What a shame our great experiment in Democracy has come to this state.
Most of the people responding on here today sound pretty gay, too.
Good for you Ron Paul. this whole nonsense is just that. We spend so much time and energy (and money) on this gay thing. People need to stand up for what is right and wrong finally in this country. I'm not going to legislate what you do in your bedrooms; that is your business. But the insitution of marriage has been for 4000 years between a man and a women. Last time I checked two male electric plugs don't get electricity. There is no need for people to be bullied or have to endure massive prejudice. But for this issue; civil unions should be acceptable. Now lets spend some energy on fixing our economy. I don't know maybe I'm just one jaded Democrat sick of all of the effort in this discussion.
To answer one of the above comments, YES, even having children in a divorced single parent home is 100 times better than placing them in a gay household. They borders on child abuse for political correctness.