New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has
reiterated that he believes the issue of whether to legalize gay
marriage should be decided by the voters of New Jersey, not
politicians or judges.
Christie, a Republican, made his
remarks during the first televised gubernatorial debate against his
Democratic challenger, state Senator Barbara Buono.
The debate took place on the same day
that Christie was questioned about his stance during a campaign stop
in Edison.
(Related: Chris
Christie insists his mind is made up on gay marriage.)
“Can you explain why who someone
marries should be put to a voter referendum?” Alfred Doblin,
editorial page editor of The Editor, asked Christie.
“I believe that the institution of
marriage for 2,000 years has been between a man and a woman. And if
we're going to change that core definition of marriage, I don't think
that should be decided by 121 politicians in Trenton or 7 judges on
the [New Jersey] Supreme Court. It should be decided by the 8.8
million people of New Jersey,” Christie answered.
Buono, whose youngest daughter, Tessa
Bitterman, is gay, knocked Christie for his earlier comments at the
campaign stop.
“The governor said today at a diner
in Edison that he equated marriage equality with guns and taxes,”
Buono said in response. “It's a human right. I mean, governor
show a profile in courage and do the right thing for our sons and our
daughters, our brothers and our sisters. This is a human right. And
it really should not be on the ballot. We should not have the
majority of the people decide the minority's rights. It's just
wrong.”
“The idea that this should never be
on the ballot is something that is against what 35 other states have
done,” Christie said in his rebuttal. “I trust the people of New
Jersey to make this judgment. I don't trust 121 politicians with
political agendas [to] decide these things.”
(Related: Large
majority of New Jersey voters favor ruling legalizing gay marriage.)