Given that the conservative California Supreme Court finds same-sex marriage bans to be discriminatory, the issue of marriage equality is sure to reverberate nationally, just in time for the November presidential elections. The presidential candidates have given their statements on California's historic legal ruling.

The Christian Broadcasting Network reports that the ruling may force Sen. John McCain to pledge to support a constitutional amendment to ensure the Defense of Marriage Act passed into law under President Bill Clinton will hold up to legal challenge.

The David Brody Article also quotes the candidates:

• "John McCain supports the right of the people of California to recognize marriage as a unique institution sanctioning the union between a man and a woman, just as he did in his home state of Arizona. John McCain doesn't believe judges should be making these decisions."

• "Barack Obama has always believed that same-sex couples should enjoy equal rights under the law, and he will continue to fight for civil unions as President. He respects the decision of the California Supreme Court, and continues to believe that states should make their own decisions when it comes to the issue of marriage."

• "Hillary Clinton believes that gay and lesbian couples in committed relationships should have the same rights and responsibilities as all Americans and believes that civil unions are the best way to achieve this goal. As President, Hillary Clinton will work to ensure that same sex couples have access to these rights and responsibilities at the federal level. She has said and continues to believe that the issue of marriage should be left to the states."

As you can see, the leading Democrats continue to hold the line on civil unions, or at least that the federal government should ensure at least civil union protections while the Republican nominee continues to support marriage inequality with no mention of domestic partnerships.

More specifically, McCain only supports the right of men and women to marry, thus he does not support the rights of others. To me that seems unpatriotic and I have a problem with a presidential candidate who does not respect the rights of people in California who in about thirty days or so, will have the right to marry.