Chris Christie Talks Gay Marriage, Religious Tradition

Two years after a bill to legalize gay marriage failed in New Jersey, new legislation is gaining support and Gov. Chris Christie won't say whether he would veto it.

"Listen, I'm not in the hypothetical game," he told WCBS 880. "They've never been able to get it to a governor's desk. They couldn't get it to a governor's desk when the governor [who] was there said he would sign it."

Christie said he would not sign a bill legalizing gay marriage after legislation passed in New York, but now he is hedging about what he will do if the bill does make it to his desk.

"I've been very clear on my view on this since I ran for office that I'm not a supporter of same-sex marriage," he said. "But on the other hand, the fact is that this is a huge societal change that they're talking about here and I think that we need to do this in a very deliberate and thoughtful way and get the most input from the public we can before we overturn hundreds of years of societal legal and religious tradition."

Listen to the interview above (via ThinkProgress).

If Christie chooses to veto the bill, New Jersey Democrats may be able to override him. The Wall Street Journal reports:

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, one of the bill’s sponsors, estimated the chamber had between 24 and 27 supporters for legislation to allow for same-sex marriage in New Jersey. It takes 27 votes in the 40-member state senate to override a governor’s veto.

"I'm wishing and hoping," said Lesniak, who also acknowledged that some potential supporters still needed "shoring up."

Christie has left the door open for a vice presidential nomination, which could leave him treading carefully around conservative hot-button issues. 52 percent of New Jersey residents now support gay marriage.

Comments

[rezkec]

04:31 PM on 01/23/2012

What is the reason for gays to marry, why so important? What is the motive ?

[LoriAnn Sciachitano]

08:57 PM on 01/23/2012

because every American deserves the same exact LEGAL rights as every other person. Gay people aren't asking to get married in a church or synagogue or mosque, they are asking for a legal marriage.

[nawseeya]

01:21 AM on 01/31/2012

love

[JeremiahA]

05:52 AM on 01/22/2012

Like any politician, Governor Christie has his self-interests in mind...but let's hope he has all our interests in mind and supports marriage by not signing any bills to eviscerate this institution.

[BeninOakland]

02:07 PM on 01/22/2012

Oh, yes. here I am, e-stalking you again.

And by "eviscerate", Are you are trying to do is find some common ground and avoid extremisms, as you have laimed elsewhere.

you never give up, do you jeremiah?

[nawseeya]

01:23 AM on 01/31/2012

like this "institution" isnt in the process of eviscerating itself.
no gay marriage could do any possible damage, what a bizarre idea.

[JeremiahA]

10:33 AM on 02/01/2012

I agree with you that liberalized divorce laws have weakened marriage, which is why it makes no sense to continue in the same trend by liberalizing marriage laws.

[AngryHarpy]

02:19 AM on 01/22/2012

No dancing please, we don't need an American Pompeii.

[demcratville]

01:13 PM on 01/21/2012

There is no hope in the Republican Party for Gay Rights.

[nawseeya]

01:31 AM on 01/31/2012

yeah, must be ' cause no republicans are gay

[theatregrove]

11:18 AM on 01/21/2012

He's not a supporter of same-sex marriage based on religious tradition and beliefs yet he quite obviously supports gluttony. I think this mistranslated Bible he worships is more specific about gluttony than homosexuality, Chris.

[haganj3]

06:57 AM on 01/21/2012

I still do not like the idea of the "public" having the "input" to have a say in how THEY think I should live my life have a say in which rights THEY feel I should be entitled to. The public should NOT have any say over someone else's rights. Period.
Would the "public" appreciate my input on, for example, how many children couples are allowed to have- say a limit of 2 per family? That perhaps applications, a test, should be handed out for a license to become a parent? I see a lot of bad parenting out there folks. I would bet the "public" would be up-in-arms if tables were turned and it would then effect them.

Though, I don't agree with Christie at all on this matter, I do appreciate how forthcoming he is and that he does not hold back and importanly, he's not bulls*itting me and I know exactly where he's coming from.

[dbrett480]

08:39 PM on 01/20/2012

I'm not sure why so many people are jumping on Christie for his comments. His views are honest and reflect the majority of the American population.

[betsy44]

09:21 PM on 01/20/2012

Where do you get this majority thing

[dbrett480]

10:47 PM on 01/20/2012

From polls.

[haganj3]

06:58 AM on 01/21/2012

His views are also based on his Catholic religion, which in my opinion, is a no no.

[dbrett480]

11:15 AM on 01/21/2012

Most people base their views on their religion. The expectation that some have that these views should be thrown aside once they enter politics is ridiculous.

[auburncynic]

06:08 PM on 01/20/2012

Christie dancing around the issue of gay marriage. Hope he doesn't trip and fall on it, he might crush it!!!!

[phal4875]

10:25 PM on 01/21/2012

Christie will dance when Mount Everest starts to tango.

[immistery]

06:36 AM on 01/20/2012

Most people I know don't have a problem with gay marriage as long as they call it "Gay Marriage" and not simply "Marriage" which would imply it is exactly the same as a heterosexual marriage which it will never be. No matter how many laws and pontifications one cares to indulge in in an effort to showcase one's exaggerated degree of political correctness or to demonstrate to the "hip" world how equally hip and tolerant one is, one will never be the same as the other. I'm just curious as to why a civil union isn't a good enough alternative, as long as it guarantees two people all the tax benefits and legal or other protections that a marriage would provide. I mean are we talking about acceptance here? It would submit that gay marriage proponents are actually demanding endorsement of the lifestyle?
Since "morality" seems to be the measuring stick here (religion aside for purpose of this discussion) let us suppose that we recognize a committed homosexual relationship as morally equal to a committed heterosexual relationship. That doesn't mean that they are the same.
Apples and pineapples may both be fruits, and they might have similar names and they may both taste great but I don't know how well pineapples would grow in New Jersey and I wouldn't want to serve a MaiTai in an apple.

[magnatta]

10:07 AM on 01/20/2012

Because even when "civil unions" are supposedly legally equal to "marriage" they are still not recognized or treated as such by many corporations, and even some state institutions. That's what's called "second class status." Marriage is a specific legal term in AMERICAN SECULAR CIVIL LAW and is NOT just some social or religious term. That is why TRUE marriage equality is so important.

[BeninOakland]

11:15 AM on 01/20/2012

So, civil unions are "good enough" for gay people. Would you accept one for yourself, since it is good enough for us?

No, we're not "demanding endorsement of the lifestyle." first, I have a life, just like any heterosexual. We don't talk about the heterosexual lifestyle, do we? your lovely "civil union", would accomplish that as well-- government endorsement. So what's the difference? What we are demanding is the same protection for our lives, our children, our families, our assets, and our faiths that every heterosexual enjoys.

But you're right about the two things not being the same. We have to fight for a basic right for couples that have together for 43 years, as my friends Andy and Paul. But any man and woman can get married as often as they are legally eligible to do so, divorce as often as they can afford to, kill their spouses and children, and get married again, pull a Newt, pull a limbaugh or a kardashian...

And people like you will not say one word about it.

[disgustedwithpols]

11:31 AM on 01/22/2012

Just what I was going to say!!!!!

[jimmysan]

06:35 AM on 01/20/2012

Sickening. Don't let the devil in.

[rockysparks]

07:05 AM on 01/20/2012

Some would say he's already in the governor's office. Others would say he's standing behind some church pulpits.

[starrigavan]

03:38 PM on 01/20/2012

He's already in and hiding under your bed...

BOO!

[auburncynic]

06:09 PM on 01/20/2012

Dunno if Christie could exactly fit under most people's beds....

[phal4875]

10:31 PM on 01/21/2012

No, that would be a Republican like Santorum. The Devil has more important work to do.

[sukdu]

05:18 AM on 01/20/2012

ALL legal marriages are Civil Unions. This is obvious when a couple is married by a judge or clerk at the courthouse, but not so obvious in a church wedding. Right after the couple says their "I do's." the religious officiator says "Now by the power invested in me by the State of ___, I now pronounce you . . ." THAT, folks, is the Civil Union that makes the marriage valid in the eyes of the state. The various religions have smoothly worked the civil words into their ceremony for so long that most people don't realize it's there.

Much of Europe continues to keep the religious and civil aspects of marriage totally separate. Couples are married civilly at their local registrar's office before any church ceremony, which has no civil aspect to it. The United States has chosen to recognize the civil aspect when conducted in a church ceremony by an authorized person.

Regardless of the Governor's PERSONAL beliefs, he has to represent ALL the people of his state, including those who do not hold to his beliefs. It is proper for him to accept same-sex marriage as a legal right to assure that all consenting adults have the same rights as any other adults engaging in an ordinary contract, even if he is personally against it. This right to marry does NOT require any church to perform the ceremony, as those remain free to pick and choose to whom they will provide any religious service.

[twospiritme]

02:08 PM on 01/21/2012

Well said!!

[gmfr]

03:51 AM on 01/20/2012

Gay marriage would be great! The German people were very open about it in pre WWII Germany. And look at where all the financial worries took those people and with it homosexuality! Even though many nazi leaders were gay, they persecuted all non macho (read: non-passable) gays. Same as today here in most of the USA!

[chesscub]

02:33 PM on 01/20/2012

Godwin's law says you fail.

[Doug Watt]

05:19 PM on 01/20/2012

The fallacy that the Nazi's were gay has been debunked many times over. Give up on pushing that lie.

[phal4875]

10:38 PM on 01/21/2012

Many members of the Sturmabteilung (SA) were gay, including Ernst Röhm, the leader of the SA. A lot of the SA (including Ernst Röhm) were killed during the "Night of the Long Knives."

This says nothing about any large number of gay Nazis. The SA was led by a gay man, who recruited other gay men to his organization.

[tccat4]

03:25 AM on 01/20/2012

Time for all Americans to have the same rights as most of us have, lets move forward not back.

[SassySquirrel]

03:13 AM on 01/20/2012

Between 2 adults, weddings are good for the economy...live your own life.

[phal4875]

10:38 PM on 01/21/2012

Newt should be complimented for helping the economy.

[thudula]

12:17 AM on 01/20/2012

VIEW ONLINE: (www.inthewoodsdocumentary/wordpress)

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ORANGE COUNTY New Jersey HAS NO HOMELESS SHELTERS

IT's FREEZING, SAVE LIVES. email GOV. CHRISTIE

[LintLass]

02:50 AM on 01/20/2012

Don't elect gaybashers and big-finance toadies and call it holy, then.