Republican presidential candidate Tommy Thompson said he misheard a controversial question about whether employers who believe homosexuality is immoral should be able to fire gay employees at a debate among 10 Republican presidential candidates.
The former Wisconsin governor and health and human services secretary under President Bush's first term, debated with nine other Republican presidential hopefuls, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ark., at the Reagan Presidential Library in California.
The moderator of the event asked Thompson, ""if a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?""
""I think that is left up to the individual business,"" Thompson responded. ""I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be.""
The moderator then asked Thompson if the answer sto the question was yes, and Thompson confirmed it.
Thompson has since issued an apology for his remark, calling it a mistake. Thompson said he misinterpreted the question, due to a loss of hearing. Thompson wears a hearing aid and lost his hearing in one ear. Friday, Thompson called CNN to clarify his answer.
""I didn't hear the question properly and I apologize. It's not my position,"" he said. ""There should be no discrimination in the workplace.""
According to a press statement from Thompson, the Republican said he believes marriage is between a man and a woman. He supports states' rights in determining the definition of marriage and believes it should be done legislatively or by referendum.
Wisconsin was the first state in the country to ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. The law was passed in 1982, when Thompson was in the state Legislature.
Thompson also recently came under fire for remarks made several weeks ago to a group of Jewish people.
""I'm in the private sector and for the first time in my life I'm earning money,"" Thompson said. ""You know that's sort of part of the Jewish tradition and I do not find anything wrong with that.""
