Lindsey Graham Says Gay Marriage Should Be Decided by States
metroweekly.comState of the Union program on Sunday, Graham participated in a debate with Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut over the effects of a Democratic tax, spending, and climate bill that ultimately passed on a party-line vote.At one point, the topic turned to whether the U.S.
Supreme Court might overturn its own 2015 decision in the Obergefell v. Hodges case, which nullified state bans on same-sex marriage.
Graham indicated that the Supreme Court could potentially reverse its own precedent at some point, which would result in same-sex marriages being outlawed in 36 states that ban same-sex nuptials either by statute or constitutional amendment.CNN host Dana Bash asked Graham if he was saying the decision should be overturned, to which he replied: “No, I'm saying I don't think it's going to be overturned.”“Nor should it be?” asked Bash.“Well, that would be up to the Court,” Graham said. “I think states should decide the issue of marriage.”Bash asked him how many more issues he believes a “states' rights” approach should be applied to, raising the case of Loving v.
Virginia, which overturned state bans interracial marriages as an example. Graham replied in the negative when asked if he was suggesting whether the Loving case should be revisited, reports the Independent.Graham then pivoted, accusing Democrats of talking about issues that are not relevant to or currently prioritized by most Americans, accusing them of trying to avoid issues where Democrats are viewed as weaker, like inflation and rising deficits. “We're talking about constitutional decisions that are still in effect,” Graham said, trying to downplay the issue of the Supreme Court reversing precedent.
