part of your platform this year? >> no, i'm not. >> you want it in the platform. >> i want defending, traditional marriage in the platform. i think it is the essential building block to our civilization. look, chris, in all of western civilization, you know, there have been societies that have celebrated homosexuality, the ancient ancient greeks. but they protected the institution of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. they got the joke and the american people get the joke. >> you heard the argument. i wish you were more -- you are an optimist, ross. i hope you're right. ross levi and thank you, ken black blackwell. when we return, let me finish with one simple question. why should we reward the people who got us into the economic mess we're in now? why reward the bad guys? you're watching "hardball" only on msnbc. [ doctor ] here's some health information for people over 50.