Former President Bill Clinton has come out against Amendment One, the North Carolina May 8 ballot question which would bar the state from recognizing the relationships of gay and lesbian couples with marriage, civil unions and possibly domestic partnerships.

Clinton recorded a 60-second ad to be pushed to the phones of North Carolina voters starting on Monday.

“Hello, this is President Bill Clinton. I'm calling to urge you to vote against Amendment One on Tuesday, May 8. If it passes, it won't change North Carolina's law on marriage. What it will change is North Carolina's ability to keep good businesses, attract new jobs, and attract and keep talented entrepreneurs. If it passes, your ability to keep those businesses, get those jobs and get those talented entrepreneurs will be weakened. And losing even one job to Amendment One is too big a risk.”

“Its passage would also take away health insurance from children. And could even take away domestic violence protections from women.”

“So the real effect of the law is not to keep the traditional definition of marriage; you've already done that. The real effect of the law would be to hurt families and drive away jobs. North Carolina can do better.” (The audio is embedded in the right panel of this page. Visit our video library for more videos.)

President Barack Obama earlier issued a statement of opposition to the amendment.

(Related: Billy Graham endorses North Carolina gay marriage ban Amendment One.)