Obama in His Own Words on Same-Sex Marriage
CHETRY: Welcome to the "Most Politics in the Morning." Barack Obama campaigns in New Mexico today. But over the weekend he shared the stage with Senator John McCain. They were at a presidential forum on faith in California. The candidates answered questions from Pastor Rick Warren. In an effort to help you make an informed decision in this election, we've been playing longer versions of what the candidates are saying to the voters about the issues. So right now, here is Barack Obama talking about same-sex marriage and abortion.</s>SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am pro-choice. I believe in Roe v. Wade, and I come to that conclusion not because I'm pro-abortion, but because, ultimately, I don't think women make these decisions casually. I think they -- they wrestle with these things in profound ways, in consultation with their pastors or their spouses or their doctors or their family members. And so, for me, the goal right now should be -- and this is where I think we can find common ground. And by the way, I've now inserted this into the Democratic Party platform, is how do we reduce the number of abortions? Because the fact is that although we've had a president who is opposed to abortion over the last eight years, abortions have not gone down.</s>PASTOR RICK WARREN, SADDLEBACK CHURCH: Define marriage.</s>OBAMA: believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian -- for me -- for me as a Christian, it is also a sacred union. You know, God's in the mix. But --</s>WARREN: Would you support a Constitutional Amendment with that definition?</s>OBAMA: No, I would not.</s>WARREN: Why not?</s>OBAMA: Because historically -- because historically, we have not defined marriage in our constitution. It's been a matter of state law. That has been our tradition. I mean, let's break it down. The reason that people think there needs to be a constitutional amendment, some people believe, is because of the concern that -- about same-sex marriage. I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage, but I do believe in civil unions. I do believe that we should not -- that for gay partners to want to visit each other in the hospital for the state to say, you know what, that's all right, I don't think in any way inhibits my core beliefs about what marriage are. I think my faith is strong enough and my marriage is strong enough that I can afford those civil rights to others, even if I have a different perspective or different view.</s>CHETRY: Well, coming up a little bit later, we're going to hear from John McCain about his views on same-sex marriage and abortion as well. Also, a programming reminder. Live coverage of the Democratic National Convention in Denver begins right here a week from today, from the "Most News in the Morning."</s>MARCIANO: A dramatic search and rescue right now at the Grand Canyon. Hundreds trapped when a dam burst. Evacuations could resume this morning. The latest as the danger situation unfolds. Prison cells.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we owe it to the victims to not allow inmates to continue to run their enterprise from behind our bars.</s>MARCIANO: How dogs are helping cut down on a growing problem in prison. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."