Joe Walsh: Gay Marriage Is A 'Socioeconomic Issue'

Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), who is running against Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth in Illinois, considers gay marriage to be a "socioeconomic issue," according to the Chicago Tribune.

The Tribune reports:

Walsh argues that "male-female, two-parent households" produce children who do better in school, stay away from drugs and are less likely to be in poverty.

Walsh has downplayed the issue of gay marriage in the past. After North Carolina voters adopted a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and put the issue in the national spotlight in May, Walsh brushed off a question about gay marriage in a debate against Duckworth, saying it "is not the most important issue in this campaign."

The Republican also raised eyebrows earlier this week when he told reporters that there should be no abortion exception for the "life of the mother" because "with modern technology and science, you can't find one instance" in which a woman would actually die.

"There is no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing," Walsh said.