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Before yesterday. >> gene, what about the question of standing? the justices asked a lot of questions about whether that case should be before them in the first place. so you think that would be something that the court would use as an out to get out of answering the other question that is before them and whether there is a constitutional right to marry? >> i think it's entirely possible that they could use standing to get out of answering this question, because it is a weird situation where, you know, a state of california initiative that the state of california government won't defend. so a ...

1868 when the 14th amendment was adopted? >> may i ans this in the form of a rhetorical question? when did it become unconstitutional to prohibit interracial marriages? >> so it's just about the label in this case. >> the label is -- >> same-sex couples have every right but it's just about the label. >> the label marriage means something even to -- >> sure. if you tell a child somebody has to be their friend, i suppose you can force the child to say, this is my friend, but it changes the definition of what it means to be a friend. and that, it seems to me what supporters of proposition 8 are s...

Were going or not going to do in this case. has your opinion changed at all based on what you heard yesterday? >> not really. first of all, as we know from the health care decision, what it sounds like in oral argument is not necessarily what they are going to do. >> right. >> nonetheless, let's just plow forward because it was a fascinating day and they have the whole range of options from upholding proposition 8 which it seems unlikely they are going to do, just flat-out uphold the thing, to declaring a new constitutional right a constitutional right to gay marriage. i thought there was a sl...

To get married, it doesn't hurt the marriages of straight couples. it has no effect on it at all. and had, in fact, enhances marriage. slightly different issue in prop -- in the doma case, chris, because there the question is, if a state does decide to grant same-sex marriage, can the federal government refuse to recognize it, and there's a question here about whether the government has always or usually or normally deferred to the states to let them decide what marriage is. and lurking in both of them, it should be warned, is this question about whether the parties have legal standing to brin...

Michigan. gentlemen, congratulations. good see you. so you've been together for 30 years. tim, why was it so important for you all to get married now? >> well, timing had a lot to do with it because of the doma case. then there is another case in the state of michigan that's pending as well. that actually will not be heard until the doma case is ruled by the supreme court. and gene had a heart attack last year and so it was just time and i love him and it's just overdue. 30 years? no one should have to wait that long to be happy. >> tim, was this your idea? you're the member of this tribe that...