Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann all had things to say about same-sex marriage and civil unions at last night's GOP debate.
Boasted Bachmann: "I support the Federal Marriage Amendment because I believe that we will see this issue at the Supreme Court someday, and as president I would not nominate activist judges who legislate from the bench. I also want to say that when I was in Minnesota, I was the chief author of the Constitutional amendment to define marriage as one-man, one-woman. I have an absolutely unblemished record when it comes to this issue of man-woman marriage."
Here, via Igor Volsky at Think Progress, is a compilation of their statements.
Watch (And read transcript), AFTER THE JUMP…
Here's a full transcript (via Box Turtle Bulletin)
Mitt Romney:
Marriage should be decided at the federal level. … Marriage is a status. It's not an activity that goes on within the walls of a state and as a result, our marriage status relationship should be constant across the country. I believe we should have a federal amendment to the Constitution that defines marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman because I believe the ideal place to raise a child is in a home with a mom and a dad.
Jon Huntsman:
I also believe in civil unions, because I think this nation can do a better job when it comes to equality. And I think this nation can do a better job when it comes to reciprocal beneficiary rights rights. And I believe that this is something that ought to be discussed among the various states. I don't have any problem with the states having this discussion. But as for me, I support civil unions.
Ron Paul:
(About whether polygamy would “be okay too”) It's sort of like asking the question if the states wanted to legalize slavery or something like that, that is so past reality that no state is going to do that. But on the issue of marriage, I think marriage should be between a single man and a single woman and that the federal government shouldn't be involved. I want less government involvement. I don't want the federal government having a marriage police.
Rick Santorum:
It sounds to me like Rep. Paul would actually say polygamous marriages are okay. If the state has the right to do it, they have the right to do it.
Michele Bachmann:
I support the Federal Marriage Amendment because I believe that we will see this issue at the Supreme Court someday, and as president I would not nominate activist judges who legislate from the bench. I also want to say that when I was in Minnesota, I was the chief author of the Constitutional amendment to define marriage as one-man, one-woman. I have an absolutely unblemished record when it comes to this issue of man-woman marriage.
