GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain
told CBS News' Hotsheet on Wednesday that he believes being gay is a
sin and a choice.
Cain briefly talked about gay rights
during a
nearly 20-minute long interview.
“I believe homosexuality is a sin
because I'm a Bible-believing Christian,” he said. “I believe
it's a sin.”
“But I know that some people make
that choice. That's their choice,” he added.
“So you believe it's a choice?” the
interviewer asked.
“I believe it is a choice,” Cain
responded.
Cain's remarks come two days after the
former CEO of Godfather's Pizza said he would hire an openly gay
staffer to work in his administration as Bob Vander Plaats, the
president of the anti-gay marriage group The Family Leader, stood by
his side.
The 65-year-old business man was asked
in Iowa if he'd be opposed to hiring a qualified openly gay staffer
for a White House post.
“Nope, not at all,” he answered.
“I wouldn't have a problem with that at all.”
“I just want people who – I want
qualified. I want them to basically believe in the Constitution of
the United States, so, yep, I don't have a problem with appointing an
openly gay person. Because they're not going to try to put sharia
law in our laws,” he added. (The video is embedded in the right
panel of this page.)
Cain has previously said he would be
uncomfortable appointing a Muslim to his administration if elected
president.