Aug 16, 2008 7:45 pm US/Central
Obama: 'I Support Civil Unions'
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (AP) ―
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Presumptive Democratic Presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) talks with pastor Rick Warren (R) during the Civil Forum on the Presidency at the Saddleback Church Aug. 16, 2008 in Lake Forest, Calif.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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Presumptive Democratic Presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) waves to the crowd with pastor Rick Warren (R) before the start of the Civil Forum on the Presidency at the Saddleback Church Aug. 16, 2008 in Lake Forest, Calif.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has reaffirmed his stance that marriage is "the union between a man and a woman," although he supports civil unions for gay partners.
Obama said Saturday he would not support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage because the issue is one for state governments to handle.
He said gay partners should be given rights such as visiting one another in hospitals.
He made the comments as the first guest in a two-hour forum on faith hosted by the minister Rick Warren at his megachurch in Orange County, Calif. Republican John McCain was scheduled to speak with Warren for the second hour, after shaking hands with Obama during the switch.
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