No, Rand Paul did not come out endorsing or supporting Kim Davis’ decision to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Depending on what you read though, you might be led to believe that.
Kim Davis is the clerk in Paul’s state of Kentucky who is using “God’s authority” to defy the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage.
While on the Boston Herald Radio program, Paul was asked his thoughts on Davis. His full response stated:
Alabama has already voted to do this. They’re just no longer going to give out licenses and anybody can make a contract. And then if you want a marriage contract, you go to a church.
And so I’ve often said we could have gotten around all of this also in the sense that I do believe everybody has a right to a contract. There never should have been any limitations on people of the same-sex having contracts. But I do object to the state putting its imprimatur to the specialness of marriage on something that’s different than most people have defined as marriage for most of history. So one way is just getting the state out completely. I think that’s what we’re headed towards, actually.
Whether or not people who still work for the state can do it without the legislature changing it is something I’m going to leave up to the courts exactly how to do it. But I think people who do stand up and are making a stand to say that they believe in something is an important part of the American way.”
Most of Paul’s answer focused on a position that he has consistently held and advocated for for years. And when Paul definitively feels one way about something, he makes that clear.
“Guess which part is ending up in headlines,” asks Reason though, linking to the Washington Post.
Headlines have included:
-ThinkProgress: “Rand Paul Defends Kentucky County Clerk Who Won’t Issue Marriage Licenses”
-Daily Kos: “Rand Paul says Kentucky clerk defying the Supreme Court is ‘part of the American way'”
-The Advocate: “Listen: Kentucky Clerk’s Marriage Equality Resistance ‘American Way,’ Says Rand Paul”
Buzz feed’s headline read that “Rand Paul On Clerk Refusing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses: Protest Is Part Of The American Way.” Its subhead and first paragraph did actually address the comments about how he will “leave up to the courts exactly how to do it.”
Many sources don’t seem to get Paul’s point.
It’s not that Paul is saying Davis’ specific actions in this specific instance are “the American way.” Taking a stand and believing in something though, regardless of what others may think, now that is “an important part of the American way.”
