Cokie Roberts came out swinging in her rather civil manner on Sunday’s ThisWeek with George Stephanopoulos. She challenged both Ralph Reed and Reverend Franklin Graham.
Cokie Roberts made Ralph Reed seem rather clueless when he stated that the preponderance of evidence shows children of gays do not do as well. Cokie asked if he was suggesting orphanages was better than a loving gay family. It should be noted that Ralph Reed’s data like that of most homophobic religious zealots are wrong. Many studies reveal there is no real difference.
Cokie Roberts challenge to Reverend Franklin was epic. He stated that gays needed to seek repentance. “There is a lot of gay people who feel that they are sinners,” Cokie Roberts said. “but not because they’re gay.”
Following is the transcript of a snippet of the segment.
Transcript of Cokie Roberts civilly shaming two homophobes
Ralph Reed: This is about what’s best for children here in the United States. And the social science is irrefutable. And it is that a child who grows up in a home without the mother and father present and they both play very unique procreative, nurturing and socializing role, they’re nine times more likely to end up dropping out of high school. They’re five times more likely to end up in poverty. And they’re three times more likely to end up addicted drugs and alcohol.
Cokie Roberts: Orphanages than a child raised in a home. And the fact that people are willing to take these children and raise them and raise them in a loving way is clearly better for these children.
Martha Raddatz: Would you agree with that? Would you rather have a child sitting in an orphanage and not have gay parents?
Ralph Reed: I think that the social science is just simply not in yet on same-sex couples and I think the law has every right to set an ideal. And the ideal is a mother and a father.
Cokie Roberts: The reason the numbers have changed so dramatically on this, first of all, that ideal isn’t true in all kinds of families that … being what it is and the abandoned mothers. But it is also true. I mean, if we got, if we got better men, we’d be in better shape. The reason the numbers have changed so fast and so dramatically on this question of gay marriage — it’s really like no other issue we’ve ever experienced — is because everybody in American now has experience with someone who is gay. People have come out of the closet and said, I am your brother. I am your sister. And then they have seen these families raising children and see these —
Martha Raddatz: I’m going to switch on this last one, back to you, Reverend Graham. And I’m going to ask you about your dad.Your father was known as the pastor to the presidents. Does that rule still exist, do you think?
Rev. Franklin Graham: Well, I don’t know, not like he had it. But our country is different today and it’s changed, no question.
But my father’s doing pretty well within a couple of days ago. And he’s doing a little better. And I appreciate —
Martha Raddatz: Ninety-five years old.
GRAHAM: — 95 years of age. And he’s still — his mind is still sharp. And that’s what’s so amazing.
You know, when we talk about families and we talk about gay people, many people — maybe gays that are watching, you know, want to know can God forgive me or can I go to heaven as a gay person, absolutely. But the same for any of us. We have to repent of our sins and turn. A person cannot stay in adultery and be accepted by God. You have to repent.
Martha Raddatz: What would you say to those children? What would you say to those children of gay parents?
GRAHAM: What children? Of gay parents?
Martha Raddatz: About their parents?
GRAHAM: That, like any parent who is living in sin. If we repent — Franklin Graham is a sinner, and I’m no better than a gay person. I’m a sinner. But I’ve been forgiven, and I’ve turned from my sins.
And for any person that’s willing to repent, in turn, God will forgive. And you can be gay and go to heaven, no question.
Cokie Roberts: There are a lot of gay people who feel that they are sinners, but not because they’re gay.
Martha Raddatz: Thank you, Cokie. Thanks to everyone. And happy Easter to everyone.