Obama supports same-sex marriages

[EllieArroway]

I know this was posted on TN, but I can't get the post to load.



President Obama today announced that he now supports same-sex marriage, reversing his longstanding opposition amid growing pressure from the Democratic base and even his own vice president.

In an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, the president described his thought process as an “evolution” that led him to this place, based on conversations with his own staff members, openly gay and lesbian service members, and conversations with his wife and own daughters.

"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,” Obama told Roberts, in an interview to appear on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday. Excerpts of the interview will air tonight on ABC’s “World News with Diane Sawyer.”

The president stressed that this is a personal position, and that he still supports the concept of states deciding the issue on their own. But he said he’s confident that more Americans will grow comfortable with gays and lesbians getting married, citing his own daughters’ comfort with the concept.

“It’s interesting, some of this is also generational,” the president continued. “You know when I go to college campuses, sometimes I talk to college Republicans who think that I have terrible policies on the economy, on foreign policy, but are very clear that when it comes to same sex equality or, you know, believe in equality. They are much more comfortable with it. You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them and frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”

news.yahoo.com/obama-announces-his-support-for-same-sex-marriage.html

[doctorwho]

As long as he's calling it a states rights issue, he's got an out. Don't get me wrong, this is an improvement, but his position still has no weight if he's leaving the ball in NC's court, KWIM?

[emilyj]

It is a big step. Huge. I am highly curious to see what the GOP is going to do with this. I forsee a lot of pearl clutching. Did any of you catch what Fox News originally posted as their headline for this?

[Lucille Bluth]

May 9, 2012 20:16:31 GMT -5 emilyj said:

It is a big step. Huge. I am highly curious to see what the GOP is going to do with this. I forsee a lot of pearl clutching. Did any of you catch what Fox News originally posted as their headline for this?

This one?



LOL.

[EllieArroway]

OMG is that real?? haha

[Lucille Bluth]

Not sure. I took it from George Takei's twitter lol.

[emilyj]

Yes. That one. Assholes.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

So far on FB I've seen mostly detractors, a la "OF COURSE he would say this now to get all of you libtards to vote for him." I think it's a major step, and while I'd like to see more, I'll hold out hope that 2013 will be the year.

[EllieArroway]

Surprisingly, my FB feed seems to be full of supporters. I must have finally hidden all of the assholes.

[One Girl In All The World]

May 9, 2012 20:16:31 GMT -5 emilyj said:

It is a big step. Huge. I am highly curious to see what the GOP is going to do with this. I forsee a lot of pearl clutching. Did any of you catch what Fox News originally posted as their headline for this?

Christ. I will have to show DH - he was just musing to himself about what Fox's spin would be.

[myst]

May 9, 2012 20:41:46 GMT -5 EllieArroway said:

Surprisingly, my FB feed seems to be full of supporters. I must have finally hidden all of the assholes.

Mine, too. I think it has to do with a few posts of mine that made the assholes unfriend me .

[twotrue]

May 10, 2012 10:40:14 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

May 9, 2012 20:03:31 GMT -5 doctorwho said:

As long as he's calling it a states rights issue, he's got an out. Don't get me wrong, this is an improvement, but his position still has no weight if he's leaving the ball in NC's court, KWIM?

I completely agree. I'm glad that he's stating his own personal position, I mean, I'd be troubled if his personal position was that gays don't have the right to get married. But gay marriage is a 14th Amendment issue and Obama knows that.

Yup. Don't get me wrong, as a queer, it was very nice to hear the leader of our country say I should have the right to marry. But calling it a state issue is bull shit. The entire problem right now (well, aside from DOMA) is that each state has different laws. It's a clusterfuck for those of us that have to navigate them and they reinforce the inequality of it all.