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Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-St. Louis Park, says he's surprised that his comments on a constitutional amendment that would ban same sex marriage have blown up on the internet.

"How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around?" Simon asked at a Capitol hearing on Monday.

The comments have attracted more than 178,000 views on YouTube after Yahoo News and other national outlets posted the video.

Simon told reporters today that he doubts his comments will stop Republicans from putting the issue on ballot in 2012 but he said he hopes it sways people to vote against the amendment.

"This isn't about a legislative fight or persuading people in this building," Simon said.  "It's making sure that a year and a half from now when it's on the ballot it goes down in defeat."

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Tom Scheck

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The St. Louis Park Democrat says he hopes the message continues.

Simon surprised his comments have gone viral

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