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.
How disappointing. I was admittedly ambivalent about Rand, not having heard enough about him, though I've always been a strong supporter of father and his father's libertarian views. But reading this comments tells me the fruit did fall from the tree in this case. I won't support a politician who seeks to not only pass judgement on others but limit their civil rights. The right answer should have been, "the state should not be in the business of sanctifying and proferring special privileges to married couples...gay or straight."
I really wish that Mr. Paul would be a true libertarian and let others do as they please. What business is of his whom I marry? Leave me the hell alone. I would not be trolling for rights if straight people didn't already have them.
Take the special rights away from straight married couples and I'll stop asking for mine.
Like anything quoted by Rand Paul has any insight or legitimacy! The religious right has blinders on when it comes to something they're too ignorant to even attempt to understand. Our country is in deep trouble if they vote for this type of antiquated thinking! Very scary.
Do people from Kentucky feel good knowing that their senator has the sense of humor of a 5th grader?
Rand Paul is is a fake libertarian. If he were a real one, he would support civil rights for all, not just for the Bible thumpers.
so much for being a "libertarian"
Paul is very secure in speaking this way to his like minded Kentucky republicans. Using gay in a adolescent way always brings laughter from people who need to bash others,then say they love the sinners! Those without sin cast the first stone....remember nobody did!!!! Until now....a lot of perfect people must live in Kentucky....
How disappointing. I was admittedly ambivalent about Rand, not having heard enough about him, though I've always been a strong supporter of his father and his father's libertarian views. But reading this comments tells me the fruit did fall far from the tree in this case. I won't support a politician who seeks to not only pass judgement on segments of the citizenry but to limit their civil rights. The right answer should have been, "the state should not be in the business of sanctifying and proferring special privileges to married couples...gay or straight."
If independent's continue to support gay rights and gay marriage at the same pace, this comment will doom Rand Paul's hopes of being a viable Presidential candidate. Could a politician be any less politically correct Paul was here?
and Paul's an elected official....nothing wrong with this country......
Good for President Obama, you did the right thing. Everyone should be covered under Human Rights. Rand Paul, you are an idiot.
I know his father taught him better than this. He should be ashamed of what he has let FauxNoise & Rush LimpBough has led him to. This is what happens when you hang out with the wrong crowd.
6000 years of tradition. Please.
What a complete fool...
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."
....but we choose to be that way anyway....!
no hypocrite like a so called libertarian one. ask mitt romney who said he would be better on gay rights than ted kennedy. and republican congressional staffs full of gays. and a lover of the athiest writer ayn rand. breathtaking.
I would not let my 7th graders get away with calling something "gay" just because they didn't like it and I suppose this idiot has been out of 7th grade long enough to know better but apparently he was raised differently. His dad must be hanging his head in shame to have his son saying such disrest.... oh wait, I forgot. Apple meet tree.
Listen Rand, when you start doing EVERYTHING the Bible says, like not eating shellfish and not shaving then talk. Until I see you sporting a ZZ Top type beard, STFU!
I do believe in the NEW Testament, Jesus preached that people should love and accept ALL people.
But no, you Rethuglians want to continue to chide and demean anyone that isn't rich and crusty white. You and your friends make me SICK.
But guess what bub, more and more people don't agree with you. Pretty soon, your kind will be going the way of the dinosaur.
VOTE OUT GOP FOREVER. OBAMA 2012! HILLARY 2016! GOP NEVER AGAIN!
Do the “Faith and Freedom” folks in Iowa or any place else for that matter realize that in as little as 30-40 years – Christian Conservative Republicans will be a marginalized and eventually forgotten society of lepers in this country? Because Poor Republican White Trash Pseudo-Christians who hide behind a Bible are going out of style in the United States of America.
A flippant remark by a one term senator.
I know more than Rand Paul knows about everything, including Ayn Rand's objectivism. I read everything she wrote before he was born, and again within the last 2 or 3 years. Rand Paul is an a**F- and a moron. His father should be ashamed. Dagny Taggart and Dominique Francon wouldn't touch him with a blowtorch.
Me thinks tho doth protest too much...
Being exclusive & banning/blocking peoples const.itutional civil rights isn't mean? If America needs a spiritual awakening, that's not up to Rand Paul or the GOTP to facilitate or force w/contary laws! It's a personal matter between an individual & his/her belief system! Leave religion out of politics & focus on the legal side of this matter! Exclusion is wrong, doesn't work & simply delays the inevitable, w/ a lot of un-necessary agony! BTW, the christian insistance that marriage is a 6000 year old tradition created by God, which is their standard arguement against gay marriage, is patently false! I'm reading the bible right now & Polygamy was the way of the world & God, back then! For centuries marriage was an arranged contract between 1 family & another to increase wealth & standing! It had nothing to do w/love or God, (except for the ceremony)! There is no Lawful reason to deny marriage to gays & there is no biblical or traditional reason either!!
I'm still waiting on good ol' Rand to come out of the closet. This guy and Michelle Bachman's husband spend far too much time together.
just when I thought Senator Paul couldn't say something any more stupid, he proves me wrong and proceeds to out-do himself.