Obama approves of same sex marriage

[Political Junky]

Obama tells Robin Roberts of ABC.

 

[WillowTree]

Yay obama

 

[Katzndogz]

I am THRILLED. Dancing on the ceiling thrilled. He has just decided the battleground states.

 

[BDBoop]

What!? I thought he did that the minute he decided to run in 2007.

 

[BDBoop]

First Read - Obama backs same-sex marriage

The president had found himself under increasing pressure this week to state his position unequivocally after Vice President Joe Biden voiced support for same-sex marriage.

He explained that he had hesitated in fully supporting same-sex marriage because he thought civil unions would be sufficient.

"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married," he told ABC.

"I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties," Biden said on NBC’s "Meet the Press." "And quite frankly, I don't see much of a distinction beyond that."

 

[Political Junky]

First Read - Obama backs same-sex marriage

Updated 3:01 p.m. - President Barack Obama endorsed the right of same-sex couples to marry on Wednesday, a landmark pronouncement made in light of mounting pressure from gay right advocates.
Obama became the first U.S. president to back the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry, a reversal from views expressed during the 2008 campaign, when he said he opposed same-sex marriage but favored civil unions as an alternative.
Obama told ABC News that, after reflection, he had "concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."

In making his announcement, Obama completes what he had described as an “evolution” in his views on this issue, hastened by growing fervor this week involving gay rights. The growing pressure was capped Tuesday by North Carolina voters’ approval of a constitutional amendment banning not only same-sex marriages, but civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, as well.
Obama’s shift not only speaks to a broad swath of the electorate, which has exhibited increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage in opinion polls, but also gay and lesbian voters who compose a core part of Obama’s base, and have been major fundraisers for his re-election.
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[old navy]

He was trying to have it both ways but realized he had to make a decision. I personally support gay marriage as well but think Obama has been punking out due to his "evolving" views. Will it be a big deal in the election? Probably not. The economy as always will be what elects the next president.

 

[BDBoop]

I have nothing but respect for the man. Talk about being true to your convictions. He made this announcement in an election year, six months before we vote. Knowing what it could cost him. NOTHING but admiration and respect, Mr. President. Thank you.

 

[g5000]

Well, I hate the bastard, but if he is unequivocal in his position on gay marriage, then he gets Respect points from me.

This is the kind of courage and leadership we need on a whole raft of issues.

I am not hopeful the age of the prevaricating triangulators is over, though.

I doubt anyone will change their votes over this, but it will probably cause some black Christians to stay home in November.

Gutsy move.

Let the hysterical outrage begin!

 

[BlackAsCoal]

A political calculation without question.

It doesn't matter how much whining the right does, there is no way they can stop this from becoming the law of the land.

Why? Because gays and supporters are gaining enough political power to demand it. It's that simple.

In America, rights are determined by what you can demand .. not by what is right, just, fair, humane, or what Jesus would do.

It's just that simple.

 

[Synthaholic]

I have nothing but respect for the man. Talk about being true to your convictions. He made this announcement in an election year, six months before we vote. Knowing what it could cost him. NOTHING but admiration and respect, Mr. President. Thank you.

ESPECIALLY since no POTUS has any Constitutional power to do anything about it in one way or the other.

 

[Synthaholic]

 

[BDBoop]

 

[Katzndogz]

He was trying to have it both ways but realized he had to make a decision. I personally support gay marriage as well but think Obama has been punking out due to his "evolving" views. Will it be a big deal in the election? Probably not. The economy as always will be what elects the next president.

This is the kind of issue that galvanizes people to get out and vote. Because this was on the ballot in North Carolina, the turnout was huge and the bill banning same sex marriage passed with 61% of the vote. North Carolina is (or was up to this point) a must win battleground state for obama, as Colorado is (or was) a battleground state. Colorado banned so much as civil unions.

This is just the kind of issue that is going to get people to the polls. There are conservatives on the fence about Romney, they won't be after today.

 

[Nosmo King]

As there is no justification for keeping restrictions on the marriage contract when two committed adults want to enter this contract, I can't see how the president could voice any dissent. Maintaining restrictions makes no sense and no rational argument has ever been proffered to the contrary.

 

[mascale]

In the face of the mounting Socialist victories worldwide, opposed to the lie of "austerity," which is another name for "hoarding" by the rich: Then Obama claims marriage should be legal for anyone getting married.

First Read - Obama backs same-sex marriage

That probably even includes white people marrying black people: Which was more thought like breeding dogs, only a few decades ago.

Now they too, are likely included(?): Excepting maybe over at RNC, which claims to know more about the deities: Than they do(?)!

"Crow, James Crow: Shaken, Not Stirred!"
(Even Great Leadership of the West, Las Vegas, NV: Knows that Jesus knew that Ceasar's money was after all: Ceasarss money! RNC does not hold that truth to be self-evident(?), a concept which likely the Romneys promise to change at RNC--just in the nick of time(?)!)

 

[California Girl]

I have nothing but respect for the man. Talk about being true to your convictions. He made this announcement in an election year, six months before we vote. Knowing what it could cost him. NOTHING but admiration and respect, Mr. President. Thank you.

You're easily impressed.

 

[Ravi]

Good for him. Even if it gets the bigots out voting in droves, he did the right thing.

 

[G.T.]

I thought two ways about this:

If your theory is that he was against it for partisan Election purposes in 2008, then this flies in the face of that theory because he's heade dinto an election now.

#2. He's flip flopping because he's more confident in the election this time anyways, but both times were b/c of Election.

 

[Oddball]

The hell you say?....Little Lord Obammyroy throwing a bone to a favored political pressure group in an election year??

I am shocked, shocked, I tell you!