George Bush: 'Examine your own heart' before criticizing gay couples
Mon. July 8, 2013 8:12 AM by OnTopMag.com
President George W. Bush appears to have softened his public opposition to gay marriage.
The former president is in Africa, where he was asked last week whether marriage equality conflicts with Christian values.
"I shouldn't be taking a speck out of someone else's eye when I have a log in my own," he answered in Zambia.
In a wide ranging interview in Tanzania with ABC News, Bush explained his response.
"I meant it's very important for people not to be overly critical of someone else until you've examined your own heart," Bush said.
"Have your views on this evolved at all?" Jonathan Karl asked.
"I'm not going to weigh back into those kinds of issues. I'm out of politics," Bush answered.
During his time at the White House, Bush opposed gay nuptials and endorsed an effort to ban such unions with an amendment to the United States Constitution.
In 2004, Republicans used anti-gay rhetoric to mobilize their base and win large majorities.
In her 2010 memoir Spoken From The Heart, Laura Bush described how she urged her husband not to make gay marriage a significant issue in 2004.
The former president is in Africa, where he was asked last week whether marriage equality conflicts with Christian values.
"I shouldn't be taking a speck out of someone else's eye when I have a log in my own," he answered in Zambia.
In a wide ranging interview in Tanzania with ABC News, Bush explained his response.
"I meant it's very important for people not to be overly critical of someone else until you've examined your own heart," Bush said.
"Have your views on this evolved at all?" Jonathan Karl asked.
"I'm not going to weigh back into those kinds of issues. I'm out of politics," Bush answered.
During his time at the White House, Bush opposed gay nuptials and endorsed an effort to ban such unions with an amendment to the United States Constitution.
In 2004, Republicans used anti-gay rhetoric to mobilize their base and win large majorities.
In her 2010 memoir Spoken From The Heart, Laura Bush described how she urged her husband not to make gay marriage a significant issue in 2004.
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine