Ahead of Tuesday's Supreme Court hearing on gay marriage, all three network morning shows hailed the "landmark cases" involved in the "historic arguments." On CBS This Morning, correspondent Jan Crawford proclaimed: "You know, for many people this is the civil rights issue of our time, whether or not gays and lesbians are going to be treated equally and allowed to marry just like heterosexual in every state in the nation."
Crawford added: "Protesters marching outside. Many of these people have waited outside four or five days just to try to get a seat inside and see history, what they had hope is history being made."
Following Crawford's report, co-host Norah O'Donnell declared it to be a "huge story," while fellow co-host Charlie Rose remarked: "I'd love to be there in that court room to listen to that." O'Donnell declared: "It's history. It's history."
On NBC's Today, news anchor Natalie Morales announced: "The Supreme Court taking up one of the biggest legal, cultural issues of our time, whether states must allow same-sex marriage."
Correspondent Pete Williams explained: "And everything about this is big....From crowds on hand outside to more than twice the usual time for argument inside in one of the most important Supreme Court cases in decades....What's at stake? The marriage issue nationwide."
On ABC's Good Morning America, correspondent Jon Karl touted: "It's an historic day at the Supreme Court. People started lining up on Friday, hoping to get a seat inside as the court determines whether or not same-sex marriage is a constitutional right."
After news anchor Amy Robach asked about the possible outcome, Karl replied: "Well, advocates of marriage equality believe they will prevail here. Hard to say if that's actually going to happen."
While the high court hearing was a "huge story," all three networks completely ignored the March for Marriage on April 25 in which 15,000 people turned out in the nation's capital to support traditional marriage.
Here are transcripts of the morning show coverage:
CBS This Morning
7:34 AM ET
CBS GRAPHIC: Same Sex Marriage Fight: Supreme Court Could Set New Civil Rights Standard
GAYLE KING: And the Hill says the Supreme Court will hear arguments on landmark cases involving same-sex marriage. The justices will consider whether the Constitution gives gay and lesbian couples the right to marry. Lawyers will argue for an extraordinary two and a half hours. Jan Crawford is at the Supreme Court with the high stakes cases. Jan, good morning.
JAN CRAWFORD: Good morning, Gayle. You know, for many people this is the civil rights issue of our time, whether or not gays and lesbians are going to be treated equally and allowed to marry just like heterosexual in every state in the nation. Now, there are long lines of people outside the court, stretching around the building. Protesters marching outside. Many of these people have waited outside four or five days just to try to get a seat inside and see history, what they had hope is history being made. Now, right now, same-sex marriage is legal in 37 states. These cases today are going to focus on four where it is not, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee. And the court is going to be taking a look at two different issues, whether or not states must allow same-sex marriage. And then, let's say that they don't, whether or not those states with traditional marriage must recognize same-sex marriages that are performed in states where it is legal. Now based on the court's recent track record on gay rights issues, most people think the justices will affirm same-sex marriage. And that, of course, reflects a remarkable shift, not only in public opinion, but here at the Supreme Court, Norah.
NORAH O'DONNELL: All right, Jan, great to have you there and we'll be following your reporting. Thank you so much. I think it's a huge story.
KING: Me, too.
O'DONNELL: We'll be watching very closely, those arguments. I know people – I read – even over the weekend, people were camped out.
ROSE: Oh, yeah. I'd love to be there in that court room to listen to that.
O'DONNELL: It's history. It's history.
ROSE: Absolutely.
Today
7:15 AM ET
NBC GRAPHIC: Historic Arguments on Gay Marriage: Supreme Court to Answer Two Critical Questions
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Big news today. Natalie's covering the Supreme Court arguments on gay marriage.
NATALIE MORALES: That's right. This is a big one, indeed. The Supreme Court taking up one of the biggest legal, cultural issues of our time, whether states must allow same-sex marriage. NBC's justice correspondent Pete Williams is at the Supreme Court for us in Washington. Pete, good morning.
PETE WILLIAMS: And everything about this is big. Good morning. From crowds on hand outside to more than twice the usual time for argument inside in one of the most important Supreme Court cases in decades.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: You are joined in marriage as wife and wife.
WILLIAMS: What's at stake? The marriage issue nationwide. The Court will answer two questions: Can states refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and can they decline to recognize same-sex marriages that were legally granted somewhere else? How'd we get here? Thirty six states now allow marriages for same-sex couples, but 14 other states ban it, including Michigan where two nurses, Jayne Rowse and April DuBois [PH], each adopted two children, some with special needs. They want to be married so they can both be parents to all the children, in case something should happen to either of them.
JAYNE ROWSE: That's what really scared us the most was that possibility that they could be ripped apart and not see each other again.
WILLIAMS: States with gay marriage bans say only voters, not the courts, should decide such a fundamental issue. But gay rights advocates say states cannot vote to deny a constitutional right to be free from discrimination. The Court is probably split four to four with justice Anthony Kennedy likely to be the deciding vote. There's no live broadcasting from the Supreme Court, but later today the audio recording of the argument will be released. The decision probably won't come until late June.
MORALES: I know you'll be listening in for us. Pete Williams outside the court house, the Supreme Court. Thank you.
Good Morning America
7:10 AM ET
ABC GRAPHIC: Supreme Court Tackles Same-Sex Marriage: Landmark Arguments Begin Today
AMY ROBACH: George, now to a landmark day at the Supreme Court. The justices hear arguments in a same-sex marriage case that could pave the way for couples in all 50 states to get married. And ABC's Jon Karl is outside the Supreme Court this morning with the latest. Jon, good morning.
JON KARL: Good morning, Amy. It's an historic day at the Supreme Court. People started lining up on Friday, hoping to get a seat inside as the court determines whether or not same-sex marriage is a constitutional right. Currently, same-sex marriage is legal in 37 states. The court will determine whether or not to extend that to all 50 states by declaring bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.
ROBACH: And Jon, any early indications as to what the outcome and when we can expect to hear it?
KARL: Well, advocates of marriage equality believe they will prevail here. Hard to say if that's actually going to happen. But the deciding vote once again will come from Judge Anthony Kennedy, justice Kennedy. And we expect a decision to come by the end of June.
ROBACH: All right, Jon Karl with the latest from the Supreme Court. Thanks, Jon.
