Bill Clinton records robocall opposing NC anti-gay marriage amendment

Former President Bill Clinton recorded a new robocall urging North Carolina voters to reject a proposed state constitutional amendment which would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

The call will be pushed to voters beginning Monday, the Raleigh News & Observer first reported.

"I’m calling to urge you to vote against Amendment 1 on Tuesday May 8.  If it passes, it won’t change North Carolina’s law on marriage.  What it will change is North Carolina’s ability to keep good businesses, attract new jobs, and attract and keep talented entrepreneurs," says Clinton in the call.

"If it passes, your ability to keep those businesses, get those jobs, and get those talented entrepreneurs will be weakened.  And losing even one job to Amendment 1 is too big of a risk.  Its passage will also take away health insurance from children and could even take away domestic violence protections from women.

"The real effect of the law is not to keep the traditional definition of marriage, you’ve already done that.  The real effect of the law will be to hurt families and drive away jobs.  North Carolina can do better," Clinton says.

Same sex marriage is already outlawed in North Carolina, but the referendum on Amendment 1 could also ban marriage equality under the state constitution. Critics of the proposal say it would also bar heterosexual domestic partnerships and civil unions.

Polls show that a majority of North Carolina voters oppose the amendment.

President Obama criticized the measure last month as a "divisive and discriminatory effort" to take rights away from the gay community.

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