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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...that line kind of says it all about Republican 2nd grade mentality...
...do you really want a 2nd grader proposing a budget???!!!
...heck I'd trust a second grader over a Republican any day...
Rand Paul is an idiot. I kind of like his Dad but not enough to support him. Why do people have to be such bigots?? Hopefully I guess their various churches save them but there are no promises.
The right keeps marginalizing itself with the most graven intolerance I have seen since Pat Buchanan in '94
That's funny, I've read my bible many times, and I don't recall Jesus saying anything at all against gays. That was in the OLD Testament-and that Book is for Jews to follow, not Christians.
Could Rand Paul's comments be any more immature and childish?
Another business suit wearing Taliban. Let them all go to hell. If these guys can be so openly hateful of gay people, then you know what they think of Blacks, Latinos, Asians, and others not fitting their view of a real America. All of these nutjobs will be first to board the bus to hell, including these so called Christians who don't have a clue what Christ was all about.
The fact that "The remarks from the Republican senator from Kentucky scored laughs among those attending an event held by Iowa's Faith and Freedom Coalition," and that this mockery was posted on a conservative website tells you all you need to know about these people. They are mean-spirited, and if you elect them into positions of power, they will be bullies. They are mocking the president (and millions of GLBT citizens) for having a view that is different than their own. Given the chance to codify it, they will persecute anyone who disagrees with their archaic views.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. This guy is even crazier than his dad.
For a Libertarian like his Dad, it appears Rand did not get the message about letting people live their lives without government influence. Rand's views, like most baggers, could not get more Talibanish.
So the polygamy in the bible is not accepted by bible bangers.
He's so intelligent. What.the heck does that mean, couldnt be gayer? Is he implying what we've thought all along about Rand himself?
UGH! I thought we had progressed further than that as a nation! Really disappointed in these comments from Senator Paul, don't know how else to express myself!
I can't wait to watch Obama give his last address to the nation in 9 months.
You are a disgrace to your chosen profession. If you want to be a leader, be objective and try to see others view points, not just your own. You are a simple minded, keyhole visioned individual with no business at all being an elected official.
Rand, come out of the closet. You know you want to. Come on Rand, make the people of the commonwealth proud.
6000 years of tradition. LOL, what calendar does this nut use?
Call you cynical? I'd call you a lot worse than cynical, if you were worth the time.
This guy Paul is such a little thug. "We don't hate people, we just don't think they should have equal rights." Same old bigot song. This seems to be what the GOP is all about any more. It's no surprise that Romney attacked other students when he was young and laughs about it now. And it's no surprise that his base voters don't seem to care. What's surprising is that the 'mainstream' is mostly ignoring such a hideous story that shines a light on the leader of the modern GOP.
Can't wait for this clown to be happily bounced from his political career
Who's making these biggots give up any tradition, they can still marry and divorce as many times as they want.
Although I adamantly disagree with the President's stand on gay marriage, I more adamantly disagree with this radical extremist's views on just about everything else.
I could are less what people want to do with their private life, but the phrase " leave it up to the states to decide" was the exact same thing he said about medical marijuana... and now he is the President who has spent more money on state law medical marijuana than any other president in history... with no convictions, just disruptions into again, peoples private life at all of our expense. ...Nor he nor Mitt will get my vote. Mitt doesn't have any policy to stand on, and Obama doesn't care about people , just votes. If you say you are going to let states decide then stop using state law against the ones who voted on it. You can't have it both ways. Just because he said it folks, does not mean he won't change his mind later the election, and do not expect an explanation, it will not come. Happy for those who see this as a victory, I hope it lasts, but do not be shocked if he pulls a Mitt and flip flops after the election.
I didn't think Paul's remarks could get any more idiotic!
"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."
Couldn't agree with you more, Mr Paul. You and the rest of the Republicans are exactly who we have to get BEYOND. In the meantime, keep spewing your evil "GOP" all over the place.
"Faith and Freedom"
What a ridiculous contradiction in terms. They want the freedom to practice their beliefs, but want to ban others from practicing theirs. Ron Paul has no business calling himself a libertarian. If you really espouse such beliefs, you should be in favor of allowing people to do what they like.
Ron Paul should start a new party called the Theocratic Fascists.