McCain Challenger Hayworth on Gay Marriage: Could Human-Horse Unions Be Next?

J.D. Hayworth, the former congressman challenging Sen. John McCain in Arizona's Republican primary, said he supports a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages because otherwise men might end up marrying horses.

Hayworth appeared on an Orlando, Fla., radio station over the weekend. When asked about the gay marriage decision handed down by the Massachusetts Supreme Court, he had what The Huffington Post described as a "Rick Santorum 'man on dog' moment."

"You see, the Massachusetts Supreme Court, when it started this move toward same-sex marriage, actually defined marriage -- now get this -- it defined marriage as simply, 'the establishment of intimacy,' " Hayworth said. "Now how dangerous is that? I mean, I don't mean to be absurd about it, but I guess I can make the point of absurdity with an absurd point -- I guess that would mean if you really had affection for your horse, I guess you could marry your horse. It's just the wrong way to go, and the only way to protect the institution of marriage is with that federal marriage amendment that I support."

Listen to Hayworth's comments here:



In 2003, then-Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) offered a similar response to a gay marriage question during an interview with The Associated Press.

"In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality," Santorum said. "That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be. If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."

McCain has said he opposes a federal marriage amendment, though he has backed state-level laws banning same-sex nuptials.