Marriage: One Man, One Woman | John Raese For Senate

The President recently told us his view on same sex marriage had evolved and now he supports it. This abrupt announcement was hastened by comments made by Vice-?President Joe Biden while appearing on a Sunday news show. The Obama campaign said the President was planning on making this announcement before the Charlotte convention this summer but whether you buy that explanation or not it doesn?t really matter now.

President Barack Obama is on the record supporting same sex marriage ? a complete 180?degree departure from where he stood on the matter while running for a first term in 2008.

My position is firm and has evolved. I believe that marriage is a union between one man and one woman.

When you discuss a matter of faith in these turbulent times it is probably best to stay somewhat socially relevant. So with that touch point in mind here is what supports my heart-?felt position.

• The LGBT community argues that denying them marriage is denying them the ability to have a loving commitment with another person.

That is simply not true. People have loving, committed relationships with other people all the time ? we just don?t always call those relationships marriage.

• Advocates argue they are being denied civil rights.

Restrictions have always existed regarding the state of marriage. It is, first of all, a state between a man and a woman. No one has ever been permitted to marry someone simply because they loved them. The would-?be spouse must be an adult ? must be free from any other marriage ? and cannot be closely related to the other person just to name a few. Would advocates who preach same sex marriage also be willing to allow the other restrictions be relaxed or eliminated? It is undeniably part of the same argument.

• Those in favor of same sex marriage believe they are being denied government benefits.

Let?s be clear about what this issue is not about. It is not about homosexuals being treated as less than equal citizens. All the rights and dignity of American citizenship should, and must, be afforded all individuals. If it?s about government benefits then that is a completely different set of circumstances and a warrants a different discussion all together.

While marriage can be richly rewarding for adults it?s really not about that. It?s a building block of society and has always been family based. Through thousands of years of human history, and across each landmass of this planet, marriage has been the accepted social norm ? the way that we?ve moved forward from generation to generation. It is about the well being of the children transcending religion, politics, culture and law. Human nature requires marriage.

The libertarian in me always thirsts for less governmental interference and less governmental influence in general, but a civilization without rock solid principles is really no civilization at all.

Same sex marriage is a question that?s been forced into this political season to take focus away from our staggering economy ? or from the very real attempt to gut our military ? or our collective ability to make the tough decisions necessary to provide hope and opportunities for that next generation. While American?s believe in freedom and personal choice, they balk at the idea that politicians anywhere can redefine marriage. After an overwhelming twenty??point margin of victory in North Carolina recently, a total of 30?states have now banned same sex marriage in their respective constitutions.

Marriage is a union between one man and one woman ? and that basic principle, Mr. President, has evolved since the very beginning of time.

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