Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is being
criticized for saying he was not sure President Obama's views on
marriage “could get any gayer.”
Paul, the son of GOP presidential
candidate Ron Paul, drew laughs Friday at an event organized by the
Christian conservative Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition when he said
of Obama's endorsement of gay marriage: “[C]all me cynical, but I
wasn't sure his views on marriage could get any gayer.”
“It did kind of bother me though that
he used the justification for it in a biblical reference,” said
Paul. “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?”
“Now that doesn't mean we need to be
harsh and mean and hate people … But that doesn't mean that we have
to go ahead and give up our traditions. We've got 6,000 years of
tradition,” he added.
Appearing Sunday on CBS' Face the
Nation, Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research
Council (FRC), chided Paul.
“I don't think this is something we
should joke about,” said Perkins. “We are talking about
individuals who feel very strongly one way or the other, and I think
we should be civil, respectful, allowing all sides to have the
debate.”
Also criticizing Paul was Republican
National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus.
“People in this country, no matter
straight or gay, deserve dignity and respect,” Priebus said during
an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press.
(Related: GOP
Chair Reince Priebus: Gays “deserve equal rights” not marriage.)