AP
President Barack Obama is seen on a monitor in the White House briefing room in Washington, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. President Barack Obama told an ABC interviewer that he supports gay marriage. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
WASHINGTON — Ending months of equivocation, President Barack Obama declared his support for gay marriage on Wednesday, an announcement fraught with history that also injects a potentially polarizing issue into the 2012 race for the White House.
"I have hesitated on gay marriage in part because I thought that civil unions would be sufficient," Obama said in an interview with ABC at the White House. He added that, "I was sensitive to the fact that for a lot of people the word 'marriage' was something that invokes very powerful traditions, religious beliefs and so forth."
Now, he said, "it is important for me personally to go ahead and affirm that same-sex couples should be able to get married."
Obama's announcement cheered gay rights groups who have long urged him to support gay marriage. It also opened up a new area of disagreement with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who opposes gay marriage.
Polling suggests the nation is evenly divided on the issue.
Obama spoke about his support for gay marriage in deeply personal terms, saying his young daughters, Malia and Sasha, have friends whose parents are same-sex couples.
"Malia and Sasha, it wouldn't dawn on them that somehow their friends' parents would be treated different," Obama said. "It doesn't make sense to them and frankly, that's the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective."
Obama said his wife Michelle Obama was also involved in his decision and joins him in supporting gay marriage.
"In the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people," he said.
Acknowledging that his support for same-sex marriage may rankle religious conservatives, Obama said he thinks about his faith in part through the prism of the Golden Rule — treating others the way you would want to be treated.
"That's what we try to impart to our kids and that's what motivates me as president and I figure the most consistent I can be in being true to those precepts, the better I'll be as a as a dad and a husband and hopefully the better I'll be as president," Obama said.
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Comments » 109
unfatcat writes:
Well, you knew that this was coming, right?
The Sacrament of Marriage is from the Bible. That is why Americans ever got married and had children in the first place, because God says to do this; the Bible says so. But the Bible clearly defines marriage as a man and woman bond with sex being for the purpose of having children, not thrills.
Personally, I don't care one way or another that Gays consider themselves married by man/govt. for tax reasons, sharing of expenses, etc; but God doesn't recognize this union under the Sacrament of marriage.
So, it really depends what Gay people believe and want out of this situation as to whether or not they need to get married.
Hollywoody writes:
Be carefully what you ask to... let them suffer like the rest of us.
Lawyers will make mo money from the added number of divorces.
xmanxray writes:
This is great! I feel so comfortable Malia and Sasha approve. What a great leader he is. After all, he has got everything else so figured out that this is an important topic for him to be involved with. Iran, the economy, fuel prices, immigration, housing, welfare, food stamps, health care, taxes and the budget seem to not matter. I guess Malia and Sasha probably don't really understand what's happening with all that other stuff. Neither does their dad.
NeezDutz writes:
All political. So Sad. Only reason he "openly" supports is due to most republicans appose it.
That's it, political.
As far as marriage, i dont care either way.
It's one's belief. Just like http://www.nambla.org/
As long as everyone has the right to do what they want... right?
voltihs writes:
Was Biden a White House "test ballon" or was it just old foot in mouth Joe, forcing O's hand?
Shark88 writes:
Is there anything about this immoral character that isn't polarizing?
If I had a record like his, I'd do my best to keep stirring the pot just to draw attention away from all the failures in the administration. As president, he is no leader.
Urgent. Time for a change.
swfljim writes:
He has simply come to the conclusion that anyone else with common sense and an understanding of equal rights for all humanity would arrive at.
It may not play well with some people, but make no mistake, he is on the right side of history.
Ask anyone under the age of 25 how they feel about the subject-it's a non-issue with the vast majority of them who have grown up in a world that is much more tolerant of people that may be different in some way.
I'm glad he did it-if anyone truly thinks deeply about this election, this is another example of the stark differences in the two parties and the two candidates.
We can move forward as a nation that respects each others differences and works together to raise the quality of life for everyone or we can try in vain (wasting time, energy and resources) to turn the clock back and pretend it's 1962.
OddsMaker (Inactive) writes:
Ty, just disregard anything slowbird27 has to say. He rarely makes any sense.
He has nothing to say but it doesn't stop him from saying it.
mr_1_term_proposition writes:
Someone needs to tell the liar obama that desperation is a stinky cologne, Obama is going to start to try to side with every minority group to gain votes and run his reelection campaign like his first one....all based on lies and deception
People are so fed up with the hack master in chief they are willing to almost vote 50% for an unknown who happens to be a felon in a Texas penitentiary!
Vote this socialist and his clown posse out in November! Its time for real change!
privateroad writes:
if he had a son , he would look like chaz bono
swampbuggy writes:
..........or Rue Paul.
JunkYardDog_1 (Inactive) writes:
Couldn't have said it any better.
Shark88 writes:
Ty writes, "....but make no mistake he, (Barak) is on the right side of history."
Are you kidding me Ty? Barak is on the right side of history supporting homosexuals?
Read your Bible & history books Ty.
Ever heard of Sodom & Gommorrah?
Familiar with the fallen empires of Rome & Greece & other once great nations?
Homosexuality is an abomination to The Almighty.
Nobody treads on The Almighty. Nobody. Not even Barak Insane Obama, II.
JunkYardDog_1 (Inactive) writes:
Keep trolling until then, right?
PHEW!
DinNaples writes:
My guess is that Obama increased voter turnout for Gov. Romney by about 50%.
He certainly has made the gays, atheists and the New York Times very happy.
FLJudi writes:
Thank you, Mr. President. You are right and the holier than thou haters are wrong. I am a proud supporter of equal rights for all. Why are some people so afraid of those who love and believe differently than they do?
DinNaples writes:
How can you, of all people, be against that?
JunkYardDog_1 (Inactive) writes:
Ask OCDBLOWER, he/she would know.
beerbong writes:
I think it's funny, My Democrat wife just changed her vote. Still laughing!!!! Can't stop...
dab writes:
Who cares what Obama says or does anymore? Virtually everything out of that big mouth is a lie or some sort of deception for political gain. Trust me.....he's gone in November. Even Dems are bailing now. Even with the liberal press covering for this dud the real Obama has showed himself repeatedly during his perpetual campaign. And liberals "think" they're "smart"? Those are two words that should never show up in the same sentence with "liberal" - HA!
JunkYardDog_1 (Inactive) writes:
Wheel of Fortune clue: Things that make Obama say, mmmm, mmmm, mmmm?
tampacoco writes:
I know what the bible says , So it's their Judgement Day not mine. Just don't kiss or hold hands ect.. in public please ,It's makes me wanna puke and I don't care to explain to my small kids right now.
artdude writes:
WOW I figured there would be a few primates offering up their drivel and hatred in these comments but never figured there would be so many bigots and scared paranoid posters.
May "your" God forgive you for your hatred. I know mine will but he'll probably make the lot of you sit around for a few decades in purgatory to give you time to evolve into caring souls.
Pragmatic1 writes:
I am proud my President voiced his opinion in favor of Same Sex Marriage.
While not law, it is the first time a siting President has done so and hopefully will lead to acceptance everywhere.
Perhaps we can put denial of rights for Same Sex couples on the history list with Slavery, Women not having the right to vote, only land owners able to vote, segregation, anti-interracial marriage laws, religious, sexual or racial discrimination, Jim Crow Laws and other biases that have stood as blights on our Rights to Freedom and Equality.
Pragmatic1 writes:
I would say it shows we have a President with moral convictions and I am happy we do.
Besides, he's right and we all know it.
profiler writes:
Hope and change = despair and the same old lies.
Here is an educated barak obomber voter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8r...
Here are typical obama voters. Their shoe size exceeds their IQ:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_JJLL...
STOP STUPIDITY! BUY A DEMOCRAT A CONDOM TODAY!
Pragmatic1 writes:
The Bible is many things. It is an anchor for some to believe in. It is a collection of stories, fables, abridged tales, truths, lies and all edited, scrubbed and polished to fit the politics of times over many centuries.
The Bible is like a someone whispering in an ear and repeating that whisper over thousands of years. Imagine what "the elephant is gray" would come out sounding like all those years later.
The Bible can be many things to many people and those who find peace with it, great.
But The Bible, nor any religious text from any religion, should not trump the Constitution and our rights to Freedom Of Choice and Equality for ALL.
There are only two reasons to protest Same SexMarriage.
1. Tradition, as in slavery, no women's vote, Jim Crow Laws, etc.
2. Religion.
Niether are valid.
If you are against Same Sex Marriage I suggest you not marry someone from the same sex. Otherwise, mind your own business.
President Obama put moral conviction first. I am proud of him. His acceptance of ALL people is what this country is all about.
lemonjello writes:
Joined: April 29, 2012
Comments posted: 260
You are a loser....
donate#252606 writes:
To whom it may concern.
This is one sad day in American history.
Barack Obama comes out of the closet in support of homosexuals and lesbians may God have mercy on our country for the active sin is death. Now the world can just call America Sodom and Gomorrah. I wonder what the leader of the free world will come up next with rights for pedophiles Mishra polygamist relationships with multiple wives and mama had a few husbands to.
The sanctity of marriage just got flushed down a toilet by Barack Obama.
and to end my comment. I do not think Barack Obama will ever get reelected for anything except for the president the really big gay rights parade next year.
It is most definitely the time for Barack Obama to be a one term president. Thank you very much for reading my comment.
gladesgator writes:
Perhaps this is a forseeable result of the Church wanting the state to recoginze mariage. If marriage is a sacrement or if it is union under God, what does the government have to do with marriage anyway. Maybe if we render to Ceasar what is Ceasar's and to God what is God's the nation would not be in this sad state in the first place. If marriage is of God, then why turn it over to Ceasar in the first place.
lemonjello writes:
Moral conviction is a subjective assessment that one’s attitude about a specific issue or situation is associated with one’s core moral beliefs and fundamental sense of right or wrong.
He has flipped flopped on this a couple of times. What? Does he have "Moral Conviction" when he needs a lift in the polls from you lemmings? What a terrible POTUS he has been.
keldred writes:
It's a great day and a long time coming.
Some day, maybe all of you old conservative folks will be dead by then, it will be ridiculous that we even had to spend this much time debating it.
brighteyes writes:
So funny, way back when I worked for an attorney who was married to a beautiful woman who bore him two children. His wealthy neighbor asked him to mentor his son who might be "gay" and show him the way. This attorney had numerous affairs with his secretaries, clients, etc. We hired this young man to be our law firm runner. He actually sponsored my baby shower and we have become lifelong friends. We have always joked about how he was supposed to become straight by being mentored by my boss. He has been in a relationship with someone for 30 years and they have remained faithful to each other, contrary to my married boss.
FierceBeagle writes:
I'm a Catholic heterosexual and I'm Ok with gay marriage.
I don't always vote with my church, and I certainly don't vote based on sexuality.
It's about what is fair. I think it is fair to allow gay men and women to marry in our Country.
No one tells me how to vote ... not my priest, not my neighbor, certainly not my bible ... I vote for what I feel is best for the country. Gay marriage seems fair to me.
I think we have a lot bigger issues for our leaders to be concerned with than keeping two gay people from getting married like the rest of us can.
wonderful (Inactive) writes:
'Bout the only two groups present obama has left!: GAY UNIONS, EH?
wonderful (Inactive) writes:
They are all down in Key West waiting for the dimocRATic looney dinner, eh?
Most will have their choice in Charlotte: the wasserman burka or a loin cloth?
YOW!
cman writes:
By the power vested in me...when the President says those few words he changes the world.
He is a brave man and a great President.
4 more years!!!!!
BillBrasky writes:
Um, you do realize that as religions go Christianity is the "Johnny come lately" and that marriage pre-dates Christianity, right? Why do some Christians think they invented marriage?
Question, do you eat shellfish? Because the Bible says eating shellfish is an abomination.
Where are the protests over people eating shellfish?
I am a Christian who is very happy to live in our peaceful, lawful and pluralistic country. The rule of law is what protects my religious freedoms and everyones freedom. Who am I to discriminate just because someone is different from myself?
Thank you Obama for being a true American Patriot.
wonderful (Inactive) writes:
Don't forget the new? black panthers, eh?
Just got this email from baarrack:
Friend --
Today, I was asked a direct question and gave a direct answer:
I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
I hope you'll take a moment to watch the conversation, consider it, and weigh in yourself on behalf of marriage equality:
http://my.barackobama.com/Marriage
I've always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. I was reluctant to use the term marriage because of the very powerful traditions it evokes. And I thought civil union laws that conferred legal rights upon gay and lesbian couples were a solution.
But over the course of several years I've talked to friends and family about this. I've thought about members of my staff in long-term, committed, same-sex relationships who are raising kids together. Through our efforts to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, I've gotten to know some of the gay and lesbian troops who are serving our country with honor and distinction.
What I've come to realize is that for loving, same-sex couples, the denial of marriage equality means that, in their eyes and the eyes of their children, they are still considered less than full citizens.
Even at my own dinner table, when I look at Sasha and Malia, who have friends whose parents are same-sex couples, I know it wouldn't dawn on them that their friends' parents should be treated differently.
So I decided it was time to affirm my personal belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
I respect the beliefs of others, and the right of religious institutions to act in accordance with their own doctrines. But I believe that in the eyes of the law, all Americans should be treated equally. And where states enact same-sex marriage, no federal act should invalidate them.
If you agree, you can stand up with me here.
Thank you,
Barack
Made barney frank feel real good! Remember him when you're homeless!
stranger writes:
The federal goverment or any goverment should not be involved in who marries who.That is the people business. Isn't that call freedom? However, the Radical republicans and the Tea Party members want to control Americans.
UlyssesTales writes:
This type of Gay Baiting worked in the last NY Governors’ race but across the country it makes no political sense to me. This issue is not about the rights of a couple it’s about trying to fit in and be considered normal.
Estimates have the gay population in America at best 4% which does not politically justify this amount of attention. If not attention then it’s a move to add division as was slavery.
I will vote as I have always for the character of the man not the color of his skin.
born_here writes:
Well in that case, Christians shouldn't marry people of the same sex. But don't force your religion on everybody else. It's not like everybody feels the need to live by what the Bible says.
kakman writes:
Thank you Obama! You just sealed your fate.
There is a tremendous groundswell of very quiet people in this country that will make sure you are a one term president.
They are not very vocal in their opposition-- in fact a lot of them would have liked to see you succeed. They probably even like you as a person-- but for them, enough is enough.
You will never even realize they are out there-- they are so under the radar. They will not participate in "polls" or other such foolishness.
They will simply not vote for you. They will not rejoice in your defeat, they simply want their country back.
You will be astounded by the extent of your loss.
It will not even be close.
mamabear4 writes:
OFCOURSE HE SUPPORTS GAY MARRIAGE.....HES A HOMO!!!!!!!LARRY SINCLAIR WILL TELL U.....
prplgds writes:
So let me get this right, Sex is for pro-creation ONLY & not thrills!! I always thought sex was between two people who LOVE each other & truly enjoy the act of having sex!! I am a heterosexual woman & Enjoy having sex for the 'thrill' of it, so I guess that is unacceptable in your eyes?? You must have one UNHAPPY spouse if you only have sex to pro-create!! Not an Obama fan, but Glad he is supporting equality!!!
pauls writes:
So if "limiting" marriage to being just one man and one woman is wrong, why not say the same thing about limiting it to two people? Why not three? Four? Ten?
profiler writes:
I talked to a former barak obomber voter today. He told me he is deeply disappointed in obama and stated he will vote for romney. I am sure he is not the only one. Though he claims a democrat party affiliation he uses his brain to make judgements and isn't foolish enough to vote strictly party lines. He owns his own business, employees people, and believes in the system (more than I can say as far as the "system" is concerned. No doubt there are millions that voted for this dooshbag that now realize they were conned! barak obomber is absolutely the worst president we have known. He will stoop to new lows, say anything he believes will win him political favor, and actually stands for nothing! I am still waiting for him to cut the deficit in 1/2 his first term as he promised. That day he does that...I WILL vote for him! Until that day I will call him exactly what he is: a dooshbag LIAR!
privateroad writes:
What happens in the limo stays in the limo.
HAP writes:
And this surprises anyone? Who cares, he's going back to his hood soon.
volochine writes:
Thank you Mr. President for continuing to advance the cause of civil liberty for all people.
As to some of the reactionaries posting tonight, Man wrote the bible, based on words certain men heard from God. Please do not base any ignorant reactions based on Man's writings.
My God treats all people equally, even the Mormons who had 5 wives in Mexico 100 years ago.
What business is it of mine?
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