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.
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Another example of how the GOP has become the party of jerks and utter intolerance. Pathetic.
I'm the least PC person you'll find, but I seriously don't get the joke.
Last time we let morality guide us we lost many lives. I rather not see a return of prohibition era violence so a few can hold a moral high ground.
Just when I thought the Pauls couldn't be bigger losers...
Rand is calling it like he sees it. Our president obviously hasn't ever really thought out his beliefs on too much! Of course neither has Mitt Romney! Two of a kind they are! We have a choice of two flip-floppers for president! What a shame!
Hey, do you know what it means to have respect for your fellow humans? Obviously not, why am I even asking someone such as you Mr. Paul?
What?!?!?! How can a Republican stand there and proclaim at "We're not out there preaching some sort of hateful dogma against people." Ummmm...Yes Senator...you are! Gay people are still in fact people and when you equate them with beastialists and pedophiles you are portraying them as something less...and actively attempting to legislate against them is, in fact, actively persecuting them...something you would think a "christian" would be more careful of doing. You DO realize that by shaving your beard you are also violating the same book *leviticus* that you use to justify vilifying the gays with don't you?
Obviously the son is much of a bigot as the father. No surprise really,.
Not the kind of thing I would expect to hear from someone like Rand, though he always has been more willing than his father to play the game of politics. But I do agree that this is an issue that should be decided by the states, regardless of how sad I find it that this argument even exists.
Honstly, I think you are gay. the fact that you refused to show your legs at the airport or go through a body search tells me that you are GAY.
I know this was meant as a joke but ot is both inaccurate, since Obama used to oppose gay marriage, and smacks of childish hate speech. Inappropriate, Mr. Paul.
Please oh please do not insult the gay people. Obama is just saying what ever he thinks will get the vote from the gays. Obama would have to read the bible to know anything about it. My feelings are he has never read it or he would not say what he said. Just more bs from him. but please do not group him as supporting gays. if he was to get reelected nothing he has said will mean anything. he will blame everything on someone else. and d@@ with the gays and whites and blacks and anyone else that did not vote for him. I am Gay and I would not vote for him come hell or high water.
Rand Paul ABDUCTED Female Student While In College, Tried To Force Her To 'Take Bong Hits,'
"Aqua Buddha" , Faith and Freedom Coalition
The funny thing is Rand Paul looks like the kinda guy Mitt Romney and friends would hold down and then cut his hair .
This two have a lot in common in regards to College pranks !
"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."
Thats the point. The United States was not founded as a theocracy. I don't want to live in a country where my political leaders take it upon themselves to solve any perceived "spiritual crisis." If thats what I wanted, I'd move to Iran.
Fix the economy, roads, bridges, educational system, poverty, etc. Thats what I want my politicians to do. To the extent that some politicians believe there is a "spiritual" component to these problems, they can pray about it to what ever god or gods they believe in while in their churches or temples or whatever. I hope their god or gods inspire them to roll up their sleves and actually to something about the problem other then trying to impose their beliefs on me through legislation.
Isn't this the same guy that wants to slash away at social programs that help individuals and families in economic difficulties? And what about polygamy? That was a tradition, one backed by the bible. A lot of conservatives seem to put forward that gay marriage will lead to polygamy, but we've already been past that.
He calls for a literal reading of the Bible, but when has he stoned an adulteress? When has he broken the rules and eaten seafood? When has he cut his hair or worn cloths of different cloth?
Or does he only take the Bible to literal interpretation when it can help him get re-elected?
Call me cynical, but I wasn't sure his views could get more hypocritical.
Call me cynical, but I wasn't sure that Rand Paul could get any less relevant.
And once again Kentucky has to apologize to the world for Rand Paul. He does not represent the thinking here.
Six thousand years of tradition. And when his party's Presidential candidate speaks of the tradition of "one man, one woman" he's not speaking of his own ancestors, is he?
Senator Paul is completely wrong. There IS Biblical justification for keeping government and religion separate: "give unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's" et al. There IS justification for not discriminating against your brethren.
Obama is going to say whatever the people siging the checks tell him too. I wont vote for Mitt because of the bullying and I wont vote for Obama because the admitted felony use of cocaine. Not sure why Obama gets a bye for not being caught and Mitt is condemed. Statute of Limitations are up on both. Guess its only ok for Obama to commit crimes and not get caught. I wont support either. BOth are actions unworthy of the POTUS. Too bad dems dont have any moral backbone or they'd do the same. If your kid gets arrested for cocaine possesion he can use the Obama defense. Because we all know its only wrong if you get caught right? Wonderful lesson to teach. Another "Learning Opportunity" eh?
Rand Paul proved his insanity when he was checked at the airport. Only the other crazies pay attention to him now.
Spoken like a closet gay.
What we've learned here is that Rand Paul is no Libertarian.
It is comments like this that makes me ashamed to say I am a Christian. Ask yourself, would Christ ever make a comment like that...if your answer is no, then neither should Mr. Paul.
Republicans. Ya gotta love em 'cause noone else will (OK, you don't really have to love em....that's just a saying)..
Paul is a bigot plain and simple