Rand Paul: Kentucky Clerk Should Not Have to Approve Gay Marriage Licenses

Rand Paul said he supports a county clerk from his home state for standing her ground against granting marriage licenses for same-sex couples, saying there should be room "for people to exercise their religious beliefs and not be told they have to do something they find morally objectionable."

"I have never been opposed to contracts between consenting adults," Paul told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" co-host Bill Hemmer. "But I am very much sympathetic to the idea that an individual shouldn't have to sign or give their stamp of approval that they object to."

There is an easy way out for Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, though, Paul continued.

Story continues below video.

"Why couldn't we just have a notary public put their seal on it and the clerk would file it?"
The Kentucky senator and GOP presidential candidate said. "My understanding is she'll file it as a contract. She just doesn't want to sign because that indicates her approval."

Part of the issue, Paul said, is that after thousands of years of there being one definition for marriage, now the rules are changing, but he believes it should remain up to states to make the decisions on marriage not the Supreme Court.

Also on Thursday's show, Paul said he will be happy to sign a Republican National Committee pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee and not mount a third-party campaign.

"In the end it's the only way the party structure can be used to defeat the Democrats," Paul said.

"I'm not against third parties. I think third parties are a useful way to make other parties behave and do the right things. But I don't think you should run as a Republican and use the money and effort of Republicans then turn around and run as an independent. Ross Perot gave us Bill Clinton and Donald Trump could give us Hillary Clinton."

Related Stories:

• Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Holds Firm: No to Same-Sex Marriages
• Huckabee: Kentucky Clerk Following Laws of Her Own State