President Ronald Reagan's son Michael, a Republican strategist and commentator, recently deflected questions about the lack of GOP support for gay rights by suggesting that Republicans were better on the issue than Iran or Adolf Hitler.

During an appearance on Politicking with Larry King, host Larry King asked Michael Reagan, who heads the Reagan Legacy Foundation, why the GOP is behind on gay rights.

“Your party seems to go backwards,” King said.

“I don't think it's going backwards,” Reagan answered. “It's been pretty much the same for a long time. They don't agree with gay rights. They don't agree with gay marriage. But I don't think there's a problem with that, for standing up for what you believe in.”

“Well, Hitler believed in what he believed in,” King pointed out.

“Yeah, but we're not killing 6 million gay people. By the way, it's really interesting, there are people talking about the Republicans and they lift up Iran. What does Iran do with gays? What does Iraq do with gays?”

“I mean, my god, in this country we have more freedoms for gay Americans, black Americans, everybody else on the planet than any other country in the world.”

“What's the Republican Party's image in the gay community? Poor,” King noted.

“It is poor,” Reagan admitted.

“What have you got against gay people?” King asked. “Your party is anti-gay.”

“This election should not be about social issues. This election should be about jobs,” Reagan responded.

“But if you want the presidency, you'd better advance on the social issues,” King said.