By Jason M. Volack
Yahoo News
Sen. Rand Paul mocked President Obama’s recent support of gay marriage on Friday, saying he didn’t think Obama’s views “could get any gayer.”
“The president recently weighed in on marriage and you know he said his views were evolving on marriage,” the Kentucky Republican said at Iowa’s Faith and Freedom Coalition meeting. “Call me cynical, but I wasn’t sure his views on marriage could get any gayer.”
The comments, which generated laughs, were made two days after Obama announced that he supported same-sex marriage, which he had previously opposed, while adding he thought the issue should be left up to the states to decide.
Paul was encouraging support for his father Ron Paul’s long-shot presidential campaign when the conversation turned to the news of the week. “He said the biblical golden rule caused him to be for gay marriage,” Paul said. “I’m like what version of the Bible is he reading?”
Paul went on to say that he’s not preaching hateful dogma against people, but added that he didn’t believe people should give up on their traditions.”Six thousand years of tradition” combined with “anthropological” evidence shows “there’s stability in the family unit,” he said.
“The family is really important and we shouldn’t just give up on it,” he said. Paul spoke against abortion as well as same-sex marriage. “I think we’re in a spiritual crisis as a country,” Paul said, “and I think you’re going to need leaders beyond your political leaders.”
Paul had been advertised as the coalition’s “special guest” for its 12th annual meeting of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, a socially conservative group led by former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed.