VP Debate - Same-Sex Unions: Do you support granting bene...

SEN. BIDEN: Absolutely.

Do I support granting same-sex benefits? Absolutely, positively.

Look, in a(n) Obama-Biden administration, there will be

absolutely no distinction from a constitutional standpoint or a legal

standpoint between a same-sex and a heterosexual couple. The fact of

the matter is that under the Constitution, we should be granted --

same-sex couples should be able to have visitation rights in the

hospital, joint ownership of property, life insurance policies, et

cetera. That's only fair. It's what the Constitution calls for.

And so we do support, we do support making sure that committed

couples in a same-sex marriage are guaranteed the same constitutional

benefits as it relates to their property rights, their rights of

visitation, their rights of insurance, the rights of ownership, as

heterosexual couples do.

MS. IFILL: Governor, would you support expanding that beyond

Alaska to the rest of the nation?

GOV. PALIN: Well, not if it goes closer and closer towards

redefining the traditional definition of marriage between one man and

one woman; and unfortunately, that's sometimes where those steps lead.

But I also want to clarify. If there's any kind of suggestion at

all from my answer that I would be anything but tolerant of adults in

America choosing their partners, choosing relationships that they deem

best for themselves, you know, I am tolerant. And I have a very

diverse family and group of friends, and even within that group you

would see some who may not agree with me on this issue, some very dear

friends who don't agree with me on this issue.

But in