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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"Rand" is this guy's name? That's the gayest name I ever heard. Don't think a name could get much gayer than that.
And this is coming from a "boy" name "Rand". Oh please, give me a break and while you're at it, TAKE OFF THAT DESIGNER SUIT AND TIE MADE BY A GAY MAN SINCE YOU HATE GAYS SO MUCH, EMPTY YOUR CLOSET.
Real mature.
Just when you think GOP politicians could say anything dumber.
Ignorant and disgusting.
These rethugs just don't care any more what they say or do. they flaunt their bigotry and hate because they know no matter how rotten they get, their idiot base will vote for them no matter what. i hope this opens the eyes of the few gay folks who consider themselves republican. why would you support a party that thinks you're an abomination??? i guess some gay folks are among the suckers who've been brainwashed by these fascists.
Rand looks gayer
We're taking lectures on America having a 'spiritual crisis' from a man who idolizes Ayn Rand?
Irony is not lost on all Americans, Mr. Paul.
Wrong. The "traditional" family is a recent social invention and will continue evolving throughout history. As an anthropologist, I don't know what anthropological information he's talking about. Yes, the "traditional" family has been relatively stable... until recent years anyway. This doesn't mean that new modalities of family structure won't arise with the changing world. Paul lives in the 1800s.
And I thought Rand Paul couldn't get any jerkier. I guess I was wrong too...
Every time we get a gay bashing R he turns up in a bathroom
Wow. You'd think he was still in 1970's high school with a comment like that.
How far do these radicals in the House go before Speaker Boehner puts a muzzle on the racist bas+@*ds?
Kentuckians do it with mules (jenneys) and Iowans do with pigs (sows). Randy Paul apparently does it with God.
And this is how the Repubs will win the hearts and minds of the people? As a recovering Repub – now an Independent – I find this immature, ignorant, and off-putting.
Man has the U. S. Senate fallen on hard times. Here is but another example of the cloud of stupidity that over cast the once most deliberative body in the world but now become a freshm class High School girls gossip club.
The only sin that I see here is the sin of bigotry and prejudice. He could take out the words "gay marriage" and replace them with "slavery" or "inter-racial marriage" and "women's vote" and just change the decade and it would make just as much sense. Obama's statement is more Christian than anything Paul said in this article.
He says that "it couldn't be gayer" as if that is a bad thing. Shame on him.
So much for the Tea Party and their keeping government out of people's lives. Rand Paul is a HYPOCRITE!
I'm sure Paul used the number 6000 years so as not to get into too much trouble with the creationists in the audience. Actually in hunter/gatherer societies, the communities were very small, and the whole tribe was the "family." I love the way these social conservatives love to make jokes at the expense of gays and then immediately deny that they meant anything hateful. It IS hateful to make jokes at the expense of a group of people. And they always say "we are all sinners." I'm waiting for them to try to outlaw divorce. But that would be attacking the majority. Good luck.
I might not be gay but I have respect for my fellow human beings. It is time to realize that we cannot stay stagnant and we all must evolve.
The Pauls represent the closed mindedness we should strive to stay away from.
He continues to embarrass my beloved state. Makes me so ashamed that my fellow Kentuckians continue to vote for GOP weirdos. I can't decide who is worse Paul or McConnell.
Last I heard, no one was asking anyone to forgo any marriage traditions, just looking for acceptance of their own tradition of committed marriage. Further, Christianity has no monopoly on marriage. Nor is there a single unified Christian church. Relying on the Bible for guidance is a slippery slope to polygamy and forced marriage with the subjugation of women.
Call it what you want, Senator Paul. The actions and words of those most opposed are squarely hateful and mean.
Be comfortable in your beliefs, do not attempt to forcibly impose them on others.
CNN: "The Golden Rule has its roots in biblical verses." – WRONG.
Having Paul represent Kentucky in the U.S. Senate makes me sad to admit that I was born in the state. Hopefully he'll be a one-and-done Senator.