Gay Marriage: What Would the Founding Fathers Have Thought? September 27, 2010

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Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2010/09/16/Sep_17_1787_The_Constitutional_Debate_Begins

Former United States Solicitor Generals Walter Dellinger and Paul Clement agree that framing-era documents provide no hints as to Constitutional issues around same-sex marriage. Dellinger adds that the 14th Amendment fundamentally changed the authority of the federal government in the protection of individual rights.

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Walter Dellinger, former acting Solicitor General of the United States, shares remarks entitled "September 17, 1787: The Debate Begins," addressing the ratification debates and the enduring significance of the Constitution today -- despite the ongoing debates about the meaning of particular phrases.

Paul Clement, former Solicitor General of the United States, then provides a response, followed by a question and answer period for those in the audience (both in person and online).

Walter Dellinger is the Douglas B. Maggs Professor of Law at Duke University. He returned to Duke in August, 1997, after having served as acting Solicitor General for the 1996-97 Term of the Supreme Court. Dellinger argued nine cases before the Court, the most by any Solicitor General in more than twenty years. His arguments included cases dealing with physician assisted suicide, the line item veto, the cable television act, the Brady Act, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the constitutionality of remedial services for parochial school children.

Paul D. Clement is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of King & Spalding, and head of the firm's national appellate practice. Mr. Clement served as the 43rd Solicitor General of the United States from June 2005 until June 2008. Prior to his confirmation as Solicitor General, he served as Acting Solicitor General for nearly a year and as Principal Deputy Solicitor General for over three years. His more than seven years of service in the Office of Solicitor General is the longest period of continuous service in the Office by a Solicitor General since the Nineteenth Century.