President Obama ends his “evolution” by coming out for marriage equality in ABC News interview
CLICK HERE FOR MORE REACTION TO OBAMA’S HISTORIC ANNOUNCEMENT
LISA KEEN | Keen News Service
President Barack Obama said in a White House-arranged interview Wednesday afternoon that “same-sex couples should be able to get married.”
The statement, in an interview with ABC, marks a significant and long expected “evolution” for Obama in his political position concerning same-sex marriage.
“I’ve always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally,” said Obama. “I hesitated on gay marriage civil unions would be sufficient.” But after talking to friends and family, neighbors and staff, he said, “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.”
The president’s remarks can be viewed here. And excerpts will air tonight on ABC’s “World News with Diane Sawyer.”
Reaction was dramatic.
Evan Wolfson, head of the national Freedom to Marry group, said, “The President’s support marks a historic turning point for the freedom to marry movement.”
Incoming Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said Obama’s remarks today would be “celebrated by generations to come.”
“For the millions of young gay and lesbian Americans across this nation, President Obama’s words provide genuine hope that they will be the first generation to grow up with the freedom to fully pursue the American dream,” said Griffin. “As President Obama recognized today, the fight to secure marriage equality is the defining element of our generation’s search for greater freedom.”
MSNBC commentator Chris Matthews called it “earthshaking” and predicted right-wing conservatives “will use everything they can to exploit this” politically in the November campaign.
Ted Olson, lead attorney for the same-sex couples challenging California’s Proposition 8 ban, said, “Today is a proud day for all Americans.”
“The bedrock American principles of freedom and human dignity are central to the political and legal convictions of Republicans, Democrats, liberals, and conservatives alike,” said Olson. “President Obama’s words remind us that marriage and equality are universal values that unite us all. They remind us that we are all—as a People and a Nation—striving to form a more perfect Union.”
The interview, according to numerous media reports, was pre-arranged by the White House to take place with ABC Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts. The media speculated the interview was set up hastily and deliberately to quell the political conflagration that erupted Sunday, when Vice President Joe Biden told NBC Meet the Press that he is “absolutely comfortable” with gay couples marrying and that he believes they should have the “exact same rights” as straight couples to do so.
Prior to Wednesday, President Obama has not previously expressed pro-active legal support for same-sex marriage equality. In October 2010, he told gay political blogger Joe Sudbay that he was “unwilling to sign onto same-sex marriage primarily” because of his “understandings of the traditional definitions of marriage.” He said “attitudes” about same-sex marriage “evolve, including mine.” And he reiterated that position two months later, in an interview with The Advocate’s Kerry Eleveld, saying, “My attitudes are evolving on this.”
Numerous times since then, Obama and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney have been asked whether the president’s position had yet evolved. With the Republican presidential race settling onto Mitt Romney, one national poll indicated the public didn’t see much difference between Obama and Romney on same-sex marriage.
The ABC-Washington Post poll, conducted in early April, found 46 percent of 1,103 adults nationwide thought President Obama would “do a better job” at “dealing with social issues such as abortion and gay marriages,” and 38 percent said Romney would. But the margin of error was 3.5 points, making the difference as small as 4.5 points.
Although there were many big news stories erupting at the same time — including news that the CIA had stopped a plot to blow up a plane —the mainstream media swarmed all over the Biden story. CNN media commentator Howard Kurtz wrote, in a DailyBeast.com blog, “There is absolutely no question that Biden’s response was cleared by the White House. Vice presidents are not allowed to freelance on talk shows, especially on such a sensitive issue. So Obama was sending out Biden to further mollify the gay community without having to actually take a stand himself.” MSNBC’s news anchor Chuck Todd said the White House was being especially “sensitive” about the remarks because “gay money, in this election, has replaced Wall Street money.”
Interest in Obama’s position on same-sex marriage was in the news, even prior to Biden’s remarks. The Obama re-election campaign had issued a statement in March, opposing the North Carolina Amendment One, which bans legal recognition of any same-sex relationship. The statement said: “While the President does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the record is clear that the President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples. That’s what the North Carolina ballot initiative would do – it would single out and discriminate against committed gay and lesbian couples — and that’s why the President does not support it.” The campaign sent out a similar statement April 9 in opposition to a similar ballot measure before voters in Minnesota in November.
Asked about same-sex marriage on the campaign trail, Republican Mitt Romney said Wednesday he supports neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions.
© 2012 by Keen News Service. All rights reserved.
As a Republican, I’m disappointed in the Log Cabin executive director’s decision to call the president’s decision to endorse marriage equality “offensive and callous.” It’s a distortion of history to claim that Vice President Chaney is somehow a leader in the area of marriage equality. Chaney came out for marriage equality long after he was out of office – way later than a day and far more than a dollar short. It also shows a serious deficit in understanding of politics to suggest that, had Obama endorse marriage equality on Monday, the results in North Carolina would have been any different given the 60-40 margin.
Republicans who believe in equality have to give the president his due – like his other policies or not – he has come much further than any other nationally elected official in the past. Certainly no one of sound mind can doubt politics frequently plays a role in the decisions of presidents and vice presidents. Whether Obama’s time was to LCR’s liking or not, he took a strong stance, and the right stance on this issue.
I for one, though not a fan of many of President Obama’s policies, cannot in good faith say anything but “thank you” on this day. I call on LGBT Republicans and conservatives to acknowledge the president did a good thing for our community. Weigh it how you will in the voting booth, but let’s be objective and fair in the assessment of today’s announcement.
Mr. President, thank you for coming out for marriage equality.
Clarke Cooper, LCR executive director, has shown us the true nature of his character, and it’s as ugly as the butt-end of a baboon in heat. His vile remarks and disgraceful attacks on the president have no place in intelligent conversation.
The only place Dick Chaney has supported marriage equality is in the deluded and fevered mind of gutter snipes like Clarke Cooper. There’s a difference between supporting marriage equality and calling it “inevitable in some states”.
Clarke Cooper and his buddies in Log Cabin are sad little patsies for a morally bankrupt party dominated by Theocrats.
He who is free of sin cast the first stone. IT IS A SIN TO JUDGE PERIOD!!!! I am for love n e way shap form or fashion. Marry who u love regardless of RACE or GENDER……..
Let me see,
* President Obama comes out in favor of same-sex marriage.
* Republican Mitt Romney declares he is immutably and forever opposed to same sex marriage and even domestic partnerships
* Log Cabin Republican Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper let’s Mitt Romney slide and attacks President Obama for coming out in support of marriage equality.
Got it.
That’s why Log Cabin Republicans are nothing more than self-loathing Butt Boys for Bigots.
Instead of attacking our President, I suggest R. Clarke Cooper and the rest of the sad Log Cabin Republicans seek mental health treatment for Stockholm Syndrome.
“I’ve always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally,” President Obama
“The best way to honor our son is to keep fighting for marriage equality every day,” Lori Wilfahrt
“Bill, I’ve just handed the South to the Republicans for fifty years, certainly for the rest of our life times.”
President Johnson, a Democrat, after signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964
President Obama, and Family, are boldly honoring Andrew Wilfahrt, Clarke Cooper and so many other “second class” citizens with this announcement. LCR’s Clarke Cooper should publicly poll the Republican leaders he helped protect in Iraq to see if they are as bold in supporting his equality and civil rights at home.
I expect the Texas Republican Party will invite LCR Executive Director Clarke Cooper to speak to the State Convention about his criticism of the President and his undying love for all things Republican, and to be honored for his principled stand on the issue of same-sex marriage.
Oh, wait–the Log Cabin Republicans are not allowed to be in the hall at the Texas State Republican Convention, because, they are, you know, gay. Well, maybe Cooper can stand outside the convention hall and use a bullhorn to shout his thanks to his Republican masters.
The Republican party has now completely substituted reason for madness. It’s the party of delusion: delusional economics, delusional pseudo-science, and public and foreign policy based on a delusional abuse of religious literature. We should not be surprised by R. Clarke Clifford’s comments on CNN which Log Cabin was apparently proud enough to blast to their email list. After all, he’s a member of the same party where Newt “Moon Base” Gingrich, Rick “ooops” Perry, Swiss national dum-dum Bachman, Herman “999” Cain, Pope wannabe Rick Santorum were all at one time this year presumptive nominees of their party.
Obama’s words were very nice to hear. But actions must speak more loudly. Did he call for the repeal of DOMA in the party platform? No. Did he call for legislation federally for same-sex marriage? No. Did he sign an executive order banning LGBT discrimination for federal contractors. No.
So, yes, the words sounded pretty, but my objection to Obama is that it is only WORDS. My other objection is that he is using LGBT like pawns on a chess board for his own gain. I don’t like feeling manipulated.
BACK IT UP!
https://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/04/12/obama_and_lgbt_discrimination_executive_order_refused_.html
https://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/wh-wont-call-repeal-doma/534831
Drop the Kool-Aid, Mr. Schlein. Why don’t you direct your invective where it rightfully belongs: at the leaders of YOUR party, the Grand Old Party. You know, the ones who think a ban on same-sex marriage should be enshrined in our Constitution. You know, the ones who think Lawrence v. Texas should be overturned. You know, the ones who boo a gay veteran. You know, the ones who think bullying gay teenagers is just horseplay. You know, the ones who keep you locked out of their state convention. You know, YOUR party.
I’m glad that the president is finally endorsing the gay marriage issue, however it still feels like he did this just to get the gay vote. He is obviously grasping at straws right now because his numbers in nearly every poll are way down. Too bad he didn’t do this sooner while in office because it just makes him look like a really bad actor. The whole thing is simply all political and even with his so-called endorsement, the idea of gay marriage in this country from COAST TO COAST, still has a long road ahead.
I am so glad that the president has finally endorsed the gay marriage issue, however, it makes him look like a very bad actor. Too bad he couldn’t give the LGBT community his blessing early in office and it’s obvious that he is just grasping at straws at this point because his numbers are so low in nearly every poll. He merely just wants the gay vote right now. Regardless of any of this, with many right-wingers against gay marriage, the sad fact is that this issue still has a long road ahead from becoming law fr COAST TO COAST!!!