Listen: Full Audio Of Rep. Chris Smith's Views On Gay Adoption

COLTS NECK, NJ — In May of this year, Congressman Chris Smith, a Republican who represents large parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties, spoke before a group of students at Colts Neck High School. During a Q&A period with the students, several questions came up about Smith's views on same-sex marriage, and later, adoption by same-sex couples.

This video, first reported in the Washington Blade, an LGBTQ news site, purports to show Rep. Smith replying that he thinks orphanages are better than a child being adopted by same-sex parents. That video has been spreading like wildfire Wednesday on social media and was circulated by Smith's Democratic opponent, Josh Welle.

Welle's team sent a press release out to the media on Wednesday, with the headline: "Chris Smith caught on tape: tells students orphanages better than gay adoption." Democrat Congressman Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., who represents NJ-6, even joined in, criticizing Smith in a tweet.

Smith's team described the entire video and article as a "dirty political trick."

"At no time does Smith express the view that children waiting to be adopted or in foster care are 'better off in an orphanage' than placed with same-sex parents," his team said.

Smith's campaign provided the entire 53-minute recording of the lecture to Patch; you can listen to it for yourself here and be the judge. Full audio of his lecture is below.

Here are the key moments in the exchange:

Around 41:42: A female student asks, "In 1999, this is a while ago, but you voted 'yes' on banning gay adoptions in D.C. Do you still stand by that?"

Smith: "My belief, and it's a strongly held belief ... in 2008 President Obama, he was then Sen. Obama, spoke at the Saddleback Church — I was in the front row! — Barack Obama was asked a question about marriage. Define marriage, was the question. And he said I believe marriage is between a man and woman and he said, God is in the mix. That was from Sen. Barack Obama. Now he has changed. He now supports same-sex marriage. My belief is squarely where his used to be. Uh, that marriage is between a man and a woman. And adoption ... adoption is all about the best interest of the child. Now there are people who feel the best interest of the child is for gay couples to adopt. I really believe that the best interest is you find a home where they are more likely ... I mean ... a home study is done that takes in all kinds of factors. And I would vote the same way frankly as I did then."

Smith was referring to his 1999 vote the student mischaracterized: He voted in favor of an amendment that would prohibit federal funding from being used in same-sex adoptions in Washington, D.C.

Smith went on to say that he finds it "disconcerting" that "some of the best organizations for adoption have been put out of business because of their refusal to facilitate same-sex adoptions," and referenced Catholic Charities, which can no longer arrange any adoptions in Washington, D.C., Illinois, Massachusetts and other states because they do not facilitate gay adoption.

At 44 minutes: The next question by a female student is a little hard to hear: “So you would say that foster care and orphanages would be in the better interest of the child?”

Smith: "No, Lord no! We have waiting periods for families to adopt children, uh, often by years. But certainly long waiting periods of couples who would love to adopt, but the child is simply not available."

Other questions are then asked, about the tax cut bill, and the conversation then circles back to gay adoption.

At 48 minutes: A female student (identified by Blade as Hannah Valdes, a senior) asks: "My sister is gay, and she’s talked about wanting to adopt a child one day with her partner, and I just wanted to know if you think that based on household studies she would be less of a legitimate parent and why she couldn’t have —"

Smith: "Well again, the issue, legally, is moot, at this point, especially with the Supreme Court decision. And she’s free to adopt."

Student: "Right. But why do you think she shouldn’t be able to adopt a child?"

Smith: "Well, I think you’re getting to — I do believe that there are many others who would like to adopt who can’t acquire a child. As I said, the waiting periods are extremely long, and uh —"

Question by another female student: "Okay, so what makes them more legitimate than her sister, those other people who are waiting for a child?"

Smith: "Well you know, in my opinion, a child needs every possibility of — somebody mentioned orphanages before, orphanages are still a possibility for some kids, but um —"

Student: "You'd rather have kids in an orphanage than with —"

A man's voice (it was apparently a school administrator) interjects with an off-topic question, and the topic of gay adoption is not resumed.

Welle was quoted in the Washington Blade article, slamming him:

"Chris Smith’s out-of-touch views might have flown in 1980 when he was elected, but his time has passed. In 2018, in Central Jersey, it is unacceptable to imply a child would be better off in an orphanage than with a loving LGBTQ family," said Welle.

Smith's team said the article is fake news.

"A video that can best be described as a political dirty trick presents a false narrative of Congressman Smith’s discussion with students at Colts Neck High School last May," said Smith's campaign in a statement. "The video, presented as a 'gotcha moment' and widely circulated by his Democrat political opponent and his supporters as a way to raise money, includes only part of Smith’s remarks and purposely cuts out his comments that do not fit with the lie that is being presented."

Smith also called out on the Washington Blade to reveal who released the doctored tape.

“Anybody can twist your words and make false representations when they splice up a tape,” said Smith in a statement. “It is despicable that someone thought they could score political points by distorting the truth and raising false questions about my record and the full range of topics discussed at the assembly.”

The video in Washington Blade:

The actual 53-minute audio of his talk. The part in question starts at 41:42 and continues through minute 48:

Audio of the exchange in question provided by Smith's campaign:

The midterm election between Smith and Welle is Nov. 6.