MR. RUSSERT: Towards the end of the campaign, the president reaffirmed his
opposition to gay marriage, but said he was open to civil unions. Would he
support federal legislation to honor and respect civil unions with gay couples?

MR. ROVE: Well, my understanding is is that he was referring to civil
relationships defined at a state level. He clearly believes that states have
the right to define such things as the right to visitation in the hospital or
inheritance rights or benefit rights. Those ought to be up to states. But he
does believe very fervently that 5,000 years of human history should not be
overthrown by the acts of a few liberal judges or by the acts of a few local
elected officials. Marriage is and should be defined as being between one man
and one woman.

MR. RUSSERT: But no federal law for civil unions?

MR. ROVE: He believes that the definition of relationships ought to be left up
to the states and that proper protections can be put in place for the right to
visit in the hospital or the right to inherit or other legal contractual
questions like that.

Pass the marshmallows.