Flash Points USA III - God & Country - Gary Bauer
Flash Points USA III - God & Country - Gary Bauer
Flash Points USA III - God & Country - Gary Bauer (raw material of interview with Gary Bauer - President of American Values) 03.07.33 Gary Bauer speaks about moral legislation "One of the un-challenged so-called truths these days is that you can't legislate morality. I think that's one of the most foolish things I've ever heard of. All the great debates in American history, the more important debates in Congress, are in fact an attempt to enshrine somebody's morality. Lyndon Johnson, when he came up with the "great society" in our obligation to help the poor, which many Conservatives disagreed with as programs, nonetheless Johnson had the high moral ground. He argued, as well as other Liberals argued that we had a moral obligation to help those who were less fortunate than us. So, I can't imagine having debates on these public policy issues, without attempting to legislate somebody's idea of what's morally correct." 03.09.26 Mr. Gary Bauer is asked for his opinion of the courts ruling of Lawrence v. Texas, Bauer responds "The Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas was embraced by some conservatives quite frankly, because they felt that these laws on sodomy were virtually never enforced anyway, and that it's a bad idea to have laws on the books that are not being seriously pursued. But, I think what was really troubling about the Lawrence case is the sweeping terms the Supreme Court used to write their decision. The Supreme Court traditionally uses very narrow language to avoid exactly the problem that they ran into in Lawrence, the language is so broad that it looks like it's virtually impossible in the Supreme Court mind, for any state to in any way regulate what goes on in somebody's home. My goodness, the ramifications of that are severe, there's everything from child abuse, to drug use to child pornography, I certainly don't think the country's at the place where if three people want to get married and have relations in the privacy of their own home that we're ready to embrace that. So, the court was very broad in their statement and I think have raised some really troubling implications." 03.10.45 Gary Bauer states "It's a nice bumper sticker, Keep the Law Off of My Bedroom, but sure there's all sorts of things that go on in every room in the house that the state has an interest in. If someone is abusing somebody in the bedroom, that is in most states a crime. Incest in the bedroom, that is relations between close blood relatives is crime. There are a number of people in certain areas of Utah that want to have the right to be with their six wives in the bedroom, we made a decision way back in the 1800's that America would not tolerate that. So, yes there are things that go in our bedroom that the state does have an interest in." 03.11.36 Speaking about gay rights Bauer says "We live in a democratic republic and there are times when on specific legislative issues you have to make compromises, but I'm not willing to compromise on basic issues on the public policy agenda for that movement. Marriage is between a man and a woman, it has been for over three thousand years of western civilization. There is no country in the world nor any state in the United States who has ever voted to make marriage anything other than the union of one man and one woman. I don't see where there's a compromise on an issue like that. Marriage is either the uniting of the two sexes or it isn't, so there are some things where folks like me will resist with every ounce of political strength that we can muster." 03.12.41 Mr. Gary Bauer is asked his personal view of homosexuality, Bauer replies "Well, my faith teaches that homosexual conduct is a sin. It's no worse or any better than any other sin, and my faith also teaches we're all sinners, so it's not that I look down upon those that are engaged in homosexual activity, they are in need and as an evangelical christian I believe their in a savior just as I am. But, I do believe that conduct is a sin, just as stealing or other sins that the major faiths teach about. I'm not a theologan however, and my role in this debate is not a role about the moral issues of homosexuality. My life has been devoted to public policy and I believe the "gay rights" political agenda is from top to bottom terrible, and I think most Americans disagree with that agenda." 03.13.47 Interviewer asks Gary Bauer if homosexuality should be made a crime, Bauer responds "The country is no longer debating by and large the question of whether the question homosexuality should be a crime and in fact the Texas v. Lawrence case struck down sodomy statutes, ati-sodomy statutes which I think pretty well ends that arguement." 03.14.09 Helicopter noise heard in background, interviewer compliments Gary Bauer and says his response was perfect but they want to do another take, then Gary Bauer says "My wife accuses me of speaking in sound-bites." Gary Bauer restates remarks on homosexuality, then says that gay and lesbians can "change" lifestyle, he says he knows people who have left the gay lifestyle and now have a normal family life. 03.16.33 Gary Bauer says "I reject completely any comparison of the battle over the radical "gay rights" agenda with the "civil rights" battle and some of the other issues that we've dealt with in this country over the years. This is a fundamental question about something that every culture agrees about. Every culture over thousands of years of history has attempted to discourage homosexual activity and certainly no culture has tried to elevate it. On the basic question of whether homosexual relationships between two men can be morally or legally the equivalent of the love between a husband and wife, I'm confident that we're on the right side of history and that this radical movement will in fact fail."