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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"Gayer"? What, is he in high school?! I believe in Ron Paul and I want to believe in Rand, but using "gay" as a derogative term is such a stupidly childish, offensive thing to do... I don't know that I can take this guy seriously any more.
rand paul, your reaction to PRESIDENT OBAMA sounds like you couldn't be any gayer!
The bible is just a concoction written by men for the church to control the masses.
Also, Mr. Paul there are millions of unstable "family units" so relax, the world is changing & there's nothing you can do about it.
Republicans only support personal freedom when that person is a corporation.
"We're not out there preaching some sort of hateful dogma against people." – Adolph Hitler, Josef Stalin, Pol Pot, Nikolae Chauchescu, Saddam Hussein, Ayatolla Khomeni, Fidel Castro, Ho Chi Minh, etc.
If you're following the old testament, yes, you are.
"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." No, but it also doesn't mean you have to cram your dogma or your traditions down the throats of the rest of us. But you just won't give it up, will you.
Super classy GOP, super classy.
is there anyone in the Republican party that isn't a bigot, or is that a requirement the GOP has to be a member.
This is an interesting move by Santorum's campaign since Santorum's camp supports military veterans and Paul is the only veteran in the race. Santorum supporters are pro-life and Paul is pro-life. Santorum supporters are opposed to the debt and Paul is the only candidate to propose a solution to the debt that will eliminate the federal budget deficit within the next generation (in fact, it will do so within 3 years). Santorum supporters like limited government and Paul is very strong (especially when compared to Romney) on the issue of limited government. Santorum supporters don't support the Wall Street bailouts, while Romney did. Paul, in fact, has never supported a bailout or a tax increase. The Santorum campaign has oddly sided with the highest bidder as opposed to the more principled candidate.
Obama's views on gay marriage are gay. I don't think anyone outside of CNN would question that. I'm with Obama when it comes to the overall issue, but I'm siding with Rand Paul when it comes to his comments.
I consider myself a Christian and will always be. But, one of the reasons I stopped attending churches is because that is where I found the most evil people in the world. It's as if they all go to church on Sunday to seek forgiveness for all they have continued to do every week.
Come on, he's just saying it should be legal for the majority of conservatives to get married.
I swear, the Right is getting creepier and creepier.
This inept comment sounds exactly like something Senator Bland Paul would say. When he's ready to come out of the 7th century, he can let the rest of us know.
Inexcusable comments, Kentucky can do better.
If you don't have to be mean, Senator, stop being mean!!!
...Obama is gay, he's about to tell Michelle he likes one of his SS agents... Hurray, Obama the first black gay socialist president!!!
And here I thought Rand Paul couldn't get any "gayer". He just did.
The insanity of America, shows the hatefulness and the bigotry.
Rand Paul Is just like all the other Republican and that Is Protect the Rich and Big Business and screw the rest. Gay people have right too but the Republican are trying to take all people right away. You can't have a Union ,and women can't have heath cares and Gay people can't get married. What Is the Republican going to take away next. I believe It should be a man and a woman ,but the Gay people should have the same right has any body else. The Republican are trying to force there religion with Politic.
People like Rand Paul are so overtly prejudiced that it is beyond belief. What does this say about the state of Kentucky?!
Ironically, gay marriage is legal in Iowa. Nice going, Senator.
So you don't preach "hate" eh, Senator Paul? Speaking out of both sides of your mouth causes verbal diarrhea.
Hey rand I think Jesus and Moses wants you to focus on jobs.
Sen. Paul: "I didn't think Obama's 'views on marriage could get any gayer"
I'm not sure, but I'm inclined to think that even DICK Cheney would be offended by that remark.