Florida Governor Rick Scott reiterated
his opposition to marriage equality during a televised debate last
week against Democratic challenger, and former Republican, Charlie
Crist.
Several state and federal rulings
issued over the summer declared Florida's ban, approved by voters in
2008, unconstitutional. Recently, Attorney General Pam Bondi, a
Republican who is defending the ban in court, asked the state Supreme
Court to take up the issue, though the court has already refused in
the past.
During the debate, moderator Rosemary
Goudreau, editorial page editor at the Sun-Sentinel, asked
Scott: “You say you're against discrimination, but the courts have
said Florida's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional because
it is discriminatory. Do you think the ban is discriminatory?”
“Let's think about where we are,”
Scott answered. “None of us believe in discrimination. I clearly
don't believe in any discrimination.”
“In 2008, part of our democratic
process, led by Charlie, there was a constitutional amendment passed
that said marriage would be between a man and a woman. Well, I
believe in traditional marriage,” he added, a reference to Crist's
previous support for passage of the amendment.
Goudreau replied: “Governor Scott, I
don't think I got an answer to that question. Do you believe the ban
is discriminatory?”
“I don't believe in discrimination,”
Scott replied. “I believe in traditional marriage. The court's
going to decide. This is a decision for the courts and they're
ultimately going to make the decision.”
When asked the same question, Crist
answered: “I don't believe in discrimination either and I don't
believe in it so much that I believe gay couples should have the
right to marry.” (The video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)