Summary
• Believes that marriage is the union of a man and a woman.
• Does not support a constitutional amendment with that definition.
|
Summary
• Believes that marriage is the union of a man and a woman.
• Does not rule out the possibility of a constitutional amendment with that definition, but would prefer to leave the matter to the states.
|
Obama: I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian ... it's also a sacred union. You know, God's in the mix.. But...
[Warren: Would you support a constitutional amendment with that definition?]
No, I would not.
[Warren: Why not?]
Because historically ... we have not defined marriage in our Constitution. It's been a matter of state law that has been our tradition. Now, I mean, let's break it down. The reason that people think there needs to be a Constitutional amendment — some people believe — is because of the concern ... about same-sex marriage.
I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage, but I do believe in civil unions. I do believe that we should not — that for gay partners to want to visit each other in a hospital, for the state to say, you know what, that's all right — I don't think in any way inhibits my core beliefs about what marriage are. I think my faith is strong enough and my marriage is strong enough that I can afford those civil rights to others, even if I have a different perspective or a different view.
|
McCain: A union between man and woman — between one man and one woman. That's my definition of marriage. Are we going to get back to the importance of Supreme Court Justices, or should I mention it?
[Warren: We'll get to that.]
All right. Okay.
[Warren: Man, you're jumping ahead. You know all my questions.]
When we speak of the issues of the rights of the unborn, we need to talk about judges. But, anyway, go ahead.
Warren: Let me just ask you a question related to that. We've got a bill right here in California, Proposition 8, that's going on because the court overturned this definition of marriage. Was the Supreme Court of California wrong?
McCain: I believe they were wrong. And I strongly support preserving the unique status of marriage between man and woman. And I’m a federalist; I believe that states should make those decisions. In my state, I hope we will make that decision, and other states — they have to recognize the unique status of marriage between man and woman. ... That doesn't mean that people can't enter into legal agreements. That doesn't mean that they don't have the rights of all citizens. I'm not saying that. I am saying that we should preserve the unique status of marriage between one man and one woman. And if a federal court — if a federal court decided that my state of Arizona had to observe what the state of Massachusetts decided, then I would favor a Constitutional amendment. Until then, I believe the state should make the decisions within their own states. |
August 16, 2008
Lake Forest, CA
Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency
Hosted by Rick Warren
Link to Source
|
August 16, 2008
Lake Forest, CA
Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency
Hosted by Rick Warren
Link to Source
|
