Bush reiterates support for gay marriage ban

During a short-notice press conference on Wednesday, President Bush was asked about Monday's California court ruling striking down the state's ban on same-sex marriage and whether Social Security reform and other issues were causing him to back off from his support of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. "I haven't changed my position," Bush responded. "And as a matter of fact, the court rulings are verifying why I took the position I took. And that is, I don't believe judges ought to be deciding this issue. I believe this is an issue of particular importance to the American people and should be decided by the people. And I think the best way to do so is through the constitutional process. I haven't changed my mind at all. As a matter of fact, court rulings such as this strengthen my position, it seems like to me. People now understand why I laid out the position I did."