Biden supports same-sex legal benefits; Palin 'not if it goes closer and closer towards redefining the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman'

Here's the CNN transcript of the vice presidential candidates' debate on legal benefits for same-sex couples:

Moderator GWEN IFILL: The next round of -- pardon me, the next round of questions starts with you, Sen. Biden. Do you support, as they do in Alaska, granting same-sex benefits to couples?

Sen. JOE BIDEN: Absolutely. Do I support granting same-sex benefits? Absolutely positively. Look, in an Obama-Biden administration, there will be absolutely no distinction from a constitutional standpoint or a legal standpoint between a same-sex and a heterosexual couple.

The fact of the matter is that under the Constitution we should be granted -- same-sex couples should be able to have visitation rights in the hospitals, joint ownership of property, life insurance policies, et cetera. That's only fair.

It's what the Constitution calls for. And so we do support it. We do support making sure that committed couples in a same-sex marriage are guaranteed the same constitutional benefits as it relates to their property rights, their rights of visitation, their rights to insurance, their rights of ownership as heterosexual couples do.

IFILL: Governor, would you support expanding that beyond Alaska to the rest of the nation?

Gov. SARAH PALIN: Well, not if it goes closer and closer towards redefining the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman. And unfortunately that's sometimes where those steps lead.

But I also want to clarify, if there's any kind of suggestion at all from my answer that I would be anything but tolerant of adults in America choosing their partners, choosing relationships that they deem best for themselves, you know, I am tolerant and I have a very diverse family and group of friends and even within that group you would see some who may not agree with me on this issue, some very dear friends who don't agree with me on this issue.

But in that tolerance also, no one would ever propose, not in a McCain-Palin administration, to do anything to prohibit, say, visitations in a hospital or contracts being signed, negotiated between parties.

But I will tell Americans straight up that I don't support defining marriage as anything but between one man and one woman, and I think through nuances we can go round and round about what that actually means.

But I'm being as straight up with Americans as I can in my non- support for anything but a traditional definition of marriage.

IFILL: Let's try to avoid nuance, Senator. Do you support gay marriage?

BIDEN: No. Barack Obama nor I support redefining from a civil side what constitutes marriage. We do not support that. That is basically the decision to be able to be able to be left to faiths and people who practice their faiths the determination what you call it.

The bottom line though is, and I'm glad to hear the governor, I take her at her word, obviously, that she think there should be no civil rights distinction, none whatsoever, between a committed gay couple and a committed heterosexual couple. If that's the case, we really don't have a difference.

IFILL: Is that what your said?

PALIN: Your question to him was whether he supported gay marriage and my answer is the same as his and it is that I do not.

Comments

[C A Wren]

Joe six-pack as President of the United States

I do not want a vice president that winks and says GOLLY.

Sarah Palin did not stumble. She memorized her material well. However the vision of Chatty Cathy kept coming to mind.

What about HER Dealing with the economy, war or the security of our country?

No talking point cards to help her there.

John McCain is the oldest individual to run for the Office of President.
Given McCains age and health history Ms. Palin could in deed become Commander in Chief.

The Thought Of
Sarah PALIN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Chills me to the BONE!

[willi chirino]

Sp Joe Biden contradicts himself within the span of 90 seconds and some folks think he won the debate? Ridiculous.

He says, according to your transcript, "We do support making sure that committed couples in a SAME-SEX MARRIAGE are guaranteed the same constitutional benefits..."

And then later says neither he nor his running mate support same sex marriage.

The man is a a driveling moron.

[David L. Wylie]

Chirino,

Go back and read the transcripts on CNN's website and then tell me who the 'driveling moron' really is.

DLW