Rand Paul: Obama's Views On Marriage Couldn't 'Get Any Gayer' (VIDEO)

Rand Paul mocked Obama's recent support of gay marriage at an Iowa Faith & Freedom event on Friday.

Rand Paul took a swipe at Obama's recent support of gay marriage on Friday, saying he "didn't think his views on marriage could get any gayer."

Speaking at an Iowa Faith & Freedom event on behalf of his father Ron Paul's Republican presidential campaign, the GOP senator mocked Obama's announcement that he had concluded "same sex couples should be able to get married."

“Call me cynical, but I didn’t think his views on marriage could get any gayer,” Paul said, according to Kathie Obradovich of the Des Moines Register.

Both Paul and Obama's comments come less than a week after North Carolina residents passed Amendment One, which prohibits gay marriage and civil unions in the Tar Heel State. A poll released Tuesday shows 50 percent of Americans support extending full marriage rights to gay couples.

Watch a video of Rand Paul's remarks above.

Below, a slideshow of other politicians' reactions to Obama's gay marriage announcement:

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• Mitt Romney

  "I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman," Mitt Romney said.

• Kyrsten Sinema

• Daniel O'Donnell

• Kirsten Gillibrand

• Jeff Merkley

• Elizabeth Warren

• Michael Bloomberg

  "This is a major turning point in the history of American civil rights," said New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. "No American president has ever supported a major expansion of civil rights that has not ultimately been adopted by the American people - and I have no doubt that this will be no exception. The march of freedom that has sustained our country since the Revolution of 1776 continues, and no matter what setbacks may occur in a given state, freedom will triumph over fear and equality will prevail over exclusion. Today's announcement is a testament to the President's convictions, and it builds on the courageous stands that so many Americans have taken over the years on behalf of equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans, stretching back to the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village."

• Jerrold Nadler

  "I applaud President Obama for announcing his support for marriage equality today," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) "For the first time in this nation's history, a sitting president has shown the courage and leadership to stand up for all American families by pledging to support the fundamental right of every person to marry the person they love, and to have that marriage fully respected. I commend President Obama for this brave and honest step. Those who seek to politicize civil rights for personal or political gain will certainly attack him, but the course toward marriage equality and justice is the correct and inevitable path."

• Brad Lander

• Fred Karger

  "I'm thrilled!" longshot GOP presidential candidate Fred Karger told HuffPost, referring to Obama's embrace of marriage equality. Karger is the first openly gay Republican or Democrat to run for president. "The Karger pressure has worked," he joked. "Particularly after the defeat in North Carolina, we welcome him to the full equality position."

• Vince Gray

• Martin O'Malley

• Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

• Barack Obama

• Mark Udall

• Senator Chris Coons

• Rep.George Miller

• Jim Himes

• Nancy Pelosi

• Nita Lowey

  "I have been blessed to have a long and happy marriage. I strongly believe all Americans deserve that same opportunity," said Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.)

• Antonio Villaraigosa

• Jackie Speier

• Michael Steele

• Dennis Kucinich

• John Brunner

• Cory Booker

• Chris Gregoire

• Fred Karger

• Ted Strickland

• Jared Polis

• Reince Priebus

  "While President Obama has played politics on this issue, the Republican Party and our presumptive nominee Mitt Romney have been clear. We support maintaining marriage between one man and one woman and would oppose any attempts to change that," said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.

• Debbie Wasserman Schultz

• Chellie Pingree

• Christine C. Quinn

• Mike Huckabee

  "Barack Obama just announced he supports same-sex marriage," Mike Huckabee wrote in a fundraising appeal to supporters. "Nancy Pelosi immediately jumped on the announcement and emailed Democrat activists nationwide promising to continue their fight. This is going to be a defining issue this election. Obama, Pelosi and the Democrats have been a complete failure on economic issues so now they are going to focus on issues that will rile up their base. Well, Mr. President it's going to rile up our folks also. Men and women who support traditional marriage."

• Rep. Bill Taylor

• Deval Patrick

• Frank Lautenberg

  "President Obama's support for marriage equality marks an important moment for civil rights in America," said Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), who co-sponsored legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). "We simply can not treat same sex couples as second-class citizens in our country. Marriage equality is one of the most significant civil rights battles of our time and is critical to guaranteeing the equal protection under the law promised to every American in the Constitution. The President's support for marriage equality should inspire Congress, Governors and state legislatures to advance civil rights for all Americans."

• Allen West

• Ann McLane Kuster

• Sen. Patrick Leahy

• Peter Welch

  "This is an historic moment and I applaud the President for his decision and courage," Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said. "One of the greatest and most liberating human emotions is acceptance. And what the President did today was accept that the quality of love two people share is more important than their gender. The President's decision required him look within and engage his heart. It is truly wonderful and welcome news."

• Senator Patty Murray

• Steve Rothman

  "As an early and strong proponent of Marriage Equality, I am very happy that President Obama has made this announcement," said Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) "Marriage Equality is a matter of basic human rights and all of America's same-sex families are now closer to having their unions recognized by our government. This is an important step in our country's march toward achieving true justice and equality for all."

• Chuck Schumer

• JackieForNH

• Howard Dean

  "President Obama's public support for marriage equality is an historic affirmation of the fundamental American value of equal rights for all," said Howard Dean. "Having signed the nation's first law allowing Civil Unions as Governor of Vermont, I'm also proud to see our president affirm the belief that I and so many other Americans hold: loving and committed couples should have the same benefits that are extended through marriage. Marriage equality is a right and a benefit to all families."

• Mike Quigley

• Senator Ben Cardin

• Sen. Barbara Boxer

• Senator Dick Durbin

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[TommyObama]

11:03 AM on 01/15/2013

Not only has Kentucky given the country perhaps the two homeliest US Senators, it has elected two of the most hypocritical and laughably self-serving ones. Strong work, KY.

[StillAmused]

01:37 PM on 05/28/2012

Methinks little Rand doth protest too much.

[mngnman]

10:22 AM on 05/15/2012

The only thing gayer than obama's view is rand Paul a lot of priests and most of the GOP oh lets not forget pat Robertson

[neon shadows]

11:25 AM on 05/28/2012

cool Capitalization

[sully1yanks]

09:35 PM on 05/14/2012

I heard SNL's next show will have Obama in the Village on the down low maybe
with his old buddy Larry Sincl*ir. Having a little man on man disco dancing.....
ending with Barack singing (backed up by a karaoke machine).... I will survive.

ROMNEY
2012

[Coffee4Me]

07:59 PM on 05/14/2012

A guy with hair like that should refrain from criticizing anyone.

[zcruz11]

12:49 PM on 05/14/2012

I must admit that as a Ron Paul supporter, this statement is a little disappointing, especially since the media will associate everything Rand says with his father because he supposedly is speaking "on behalf of his father," which I would disagree with. Rand is not his father, unfortunately. While Rand shares many fiscal views and civil liberties views with his dad, Ron Paul simply does not project his opinion on social issues. On the rare occasion he does, he means for it to be his personal preference, and go no further: he does not want to turn his view into policy because it is not the role of the federal government to decide on such issues.

However, I still haven't heard the full context of this speech, and won't judge Rand fully on a soundbite; I get the feeling HuffPost might simply be using this as a way to indirectly attack Ron Paul. RP 2012: Peace and Liberty

[johnny strike]

03:46 PM on 05/14/2012

yeah obviously no one else here has listened to the whole speech, where he goes on to defend gays. typical gotcha cheery picking. is obama going to make gay marriage part of his platform? NO. politics as usual folks.

[SpiritOfHope1]

10:27 PM on 05/14/2012

I agree with your premise {i.e., Rand ≠ Ron} mostly except: "On the rare occasion he does, he means for it to be his personal preference, and go no further: he does not want to turn his view into policy because it is not the role of the federal government to decide on such issues."

I wish Ron would apply that philosophy to women's issues.

[zcruz11]

10:54 PM on 05/14/2012

Women's issues? Are you referring to him being against Planned Parenthood? He is against it strictly because of economic purposes, he has no quarrel with birth control and contraception, but when the government subsidizes something, they are politicizing a social issue, not to mention they will likely make the cost of contraception go up if birth control is completely free.

But he wants the government to have no role in women's issues, and he is also against the government subsidizing Abstinence education (something that the hypocrite Rick Santorum voted in favor of).

[zcruz11]

10:59 PM on 05/14/2012

Oh and you might also be referring to abortion, forgot to mention that. He is indeed in his personal opinion and his moral compass he is pro-life, but due to his idea that the fetus, which he deems as an individual with rights, shares the rights as the child-bearer in that they are two individuals with rights. But he doesn't wield his justification from religion like so many correlate with pro-life advocates, he has made the medical decision that the fetus is a human. He understands he will not win over everyone with that, but he would remove the federal mandate of Roe v. Wade, and if every single state still decided to withhold abortion policies as is, so be it. He would not override the states who might share different moralities on the issue (i.e. California vs. the Bible Belt).

[Talkingjunky]

12:33 PM on 05/14/2012

What a homo

[cojonius]

12:22 PM on 05/14/2012

OK Kool Ade Drinkers.....the five minutes of hate is over...OOPS! I forgot! Unionized teachers stopped assigning Orwell's 1984. That curriculum has bee replaced by self esteem class with a reading list that includes "Heather Has Two Mommies" and recess games that include 'Bobbing for Boy Scouts and advanced Drum Circling.

[TheDRBostonGuy]

12:10 PM on 05/14/2012

Coming from the guy wearing a squirrel on the top of his head...

[dvglass3]

11:16 AM on 05/14/2012

Hey Rand...did you ever figure out what the capital of KY is????? Lol, this guy is just as much a quack as his father.

[zcruz11]

12:52 PM on 05/14/2012

They share many views, but Rand is not Ron. Rand sadly shares a lot of establishment republican views, though of course not all; very much unlike his father in many ways.

[dvglass3]

01:31 PM on 05/14/2012

They may not have the exact same views or they may have the exact same views...we will never know because they are both simple liars doing nothing but collecting a check for sitting in their office.

[capnjakva]

10:42 AM on 05/14/2012

Mitt got cut off on his speech on marriage. It must have read "My view on marriage is it's between a man and a woman and a woman and a woman and a woman and a woman."

[zcruz11]

05:21 PM on 05/14/2012

As a veteran, how do you feel about Ron Paul? Your fellow military service members overwhelmingly support him, proven through empirical data in the form of individuals campaign donations. If you support Ron too, or if you don't, why or why not?

[capnjakva]

06:22 PM on 05/14/2012

Aside from his view on national defense, he has little to offer me in the way of a set of job skills required to run the Country. I think his rhetoric over the years, much of it way over the top, has caused him to be marginalized to the point that it cannot be overcome by his stance on one issue.

[Nik DeWitt]

07:46 PM on 05/14/2012

Come on now, are really trying to tell us that the military overwhelming support Ron Paul? You are going to try to tell us that he has received donations from the majority of service men? Are these the same people that river boated Kerry when he ran for president? Have you and zcruz11 been drinking out of the same punch bowel?

[Varmithunter]

10:10 AM on 05/14/2012

Libertarian? No way. Kiss the ring of the self appointed holy phonies that will endorse your election from their tax exempt pulpit.
Ron: leader
Rand: politician

[BPCentrisAmerican]

10:42 AM on 05/14/2012

I think Ron Paul is a flake, but I've never heard him say something like this. I still don't understand why so-called Libertarians are so drawn to such an extreme party that wants to insert itself in into people's private lives and decisions. It's not like the GOP is fiscally conservative, talk is cheap on the right and the GOP hasn't balanced a budget since Eisenhower and the wing-nuts called him a communist.

[zcruz11]

12:56 PM on 05/14/2012

Ron Paul doesn't want anything to do with your private life in the social or economic sense, aka why he wants to limit taxes so much to allow you to spend your privately acquired money as you would like to do in the private sector. Unfortunately Rand does look bad in this soundbite, but these sentiments are not shared with his father, who thinks the government has no business in marriage at all, straight or gay. Ron Paul is part of the GOP but mostly so that he could actually compete: the two party dictatorship doesn't allow third parties on national debate stages, adn getting your name on all 50 states in the general is difficult. I say this because he is indeed fiscally conservative, and would balance the budget for the first time in years, from either party. Romney and every other candidate would not, nor will Obama.

[johnny strike]

10:08 AM on 05/14/2012

So let's re-cap. Rand jokes Obama's views 'couldn't get any gayer', then says that individuals who don't believe in the gay lifestyle should not be harsh and mean towards the people who choose to live that lifestyle, then cites an example of violence and brutality towards an LGBT individual-- ALL AT A GATHERING SPONSORED BY THE IOWA FAITH AND FREEDOM COALITION. Is your mind blown yet?

In short, Rand Paul OWNS. ;)

[Eccentricism]

10:07 AM on 05/14/2012

Libertarians not being empathetic? Nothing new here.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

10:44 AM on 05/14/2012

There not supposed to care about people's private lives either, so comments like that from little Randy Paul makes him a phony.

[anotherUScitizen]

10:01 AM on 05/14/2012

Hillarious! If people want to take the term "gayer" offensive, you need to grow up. It's just like saying a sitution or viewpoint could be "darker" or "brighter". He just added a simple "er" on the end. Let's all be adults here, people.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

10:45 AM on 05/14/2012

You aren't.

[anotherUScitizen]

10:32 AM on 05/15/2012

You've never used the term "gayer"?  If you answer no, i'll seriously doubt you.

[ZeraLee]

07:59 AM on 05/15/2012

Couldn't/doesn't "get any gayer" has been a disparaging expression for decades. The implication is that Obama is gay.

[anotherUScitizen]

10:33 AM on 05/15/2012

Have you ever heard of Larry Sinclair?  Google it and you'll be surprised.