They both oppose same-sex marriage, but Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain differ over Proposition 8, the ballot measure that would ban gay marriage in California.
“I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that’s not what America’s about,” he said. He added, “Usually, our constitutions expand liberties, they don’t contract them.”
Obama has previously stated he would oppose a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and supports repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal benefits to same-sex couples.
He also has suggested civil unions as a means of granting rights to gay pairs.
McCain also opposes amending the U.S.Constitution, but for different reasons. McCain says it is a state issue. He is on record supporting constitutional bans on gay marriage in both California and his home state of Arizona where a similar measure is on Tuesday’s ballot.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden has spoken out against constitutional bans, both federally and state, but Republican Sarah Palin takes a stand stronger than that of McCain. Palin has called for an amendment to the US Constitution.
Public opinion polls show that proposed constitutional bans on same-sex marriage are too close in call in California, Arizona and Florida – the third state with a proposed ban on the ballot.
