The evolution is complete, and President Obama told ABC News this afternoon that he now supports marriage equality. He told Robin Roberts:
"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."
It's a breakthrough moment for a president who already has a rather impressive record on advancing LGBT rights, and an unexpected step forward for the gay-rights movement.
The remarks also end the confusion surrounding the White House's position, made more complicated by Vice President Biden's comments made over the weekend, and help clear the way for a more progressive Democratic Party platform when the party meets in (of all places) North Carolina.
Update: Fox News has decided that the president has "declared war on marriage." It'll be interesting to see if other Republicans target Obama with similar rhetoric.
Second Update: A full transcript of the president's remarks is not yet available, but ABC's report noted that Obama went on to say he talked with First Lady Michelle Obama about his position, and reflected on his views as they relate to his family's Christianity: "We are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it's also the Golden Rule: treat others the way you would want to be treated. And I think 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."
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… and , of course, the Right is already condemning it. The Manatee has the most interesting formulation of his "position": He, claiming a Libertarian streak, says he does not care what people do in the "private lives," but does not think "society" should "legalize or endorse it"
As intellectually slow as The Manatee is, coming up with that must have taken him a very, very long time. It is nonsensical, but I guess its the best the plump old inanity can muster.
Fox News, the Republicans, Romney and the religious right are going to be talking about this issue while Obama is talking about jobs, income inequality, student loans, etc. Which message are the undecided voters going to listen? My bet is on Obama.
I wonder how many self-righteous heads are going to explode over this. Should be fun.
Not to mention those Very Serious People who were wont to give us Very Serious Lectures about Very Serious Political Realities whenever anybody dared urge Obama to take this step. Will those same Very Serious People now accuse Obama of threatening his own re-election and being a supporter of Mitt Romney?
Out here in California, we KNOW that this decision is perilous; back in 2008, legions of politically-moderate, but socially-conservative Black and Hispanic voters ignored their allegiance to Democratic principles, and voted in favor of Prop 8 to Eliminate Rights of Same-Sex Couples to Marry. I am rightly concerned that the same `good people' across the country will shun voting for the President when his `personal opinion' is misrepresented as `Obama's War on Traditional Marriage'...the President needs even these voters to counter-balance vote-suppression and vote-rigging by RepugniCan'ts.
You know, this has been roundly disproven and needs to stop popping up as a meme among progressives. The personal racism often displayed on this blog is more upsetting, but the Very Serious True Facts About Those Blacks is the more pernicious phenomenon. Liberals are not immune to truthiness. Fact-check yourself and do what it takes mentally to stop believing and spreading this lie.
Social liberal Democrats err in believing blacks and Hispanics are also social liberals because they are Democrats. Blacks and Hispanics may be Democrats but they are not necessarily liberal. Blacks were mostly Republican until the Republican Party drove them away by pandering to white racists and Hispanics are perfect Republicans if Republicans were what they said they were, that is, focused on family and religion, which Hispanics certainly are.
Minorities are Democrats because Democrats claim to represent the people, not the white ruling class. I would like to see Democrats act more strongly to serve the people by opposing the privileges of the ruling class but Democrats are bought. At least Republicans make a virtue of necessity and make embracing the ruling class and its money its aim. Democrats are indecisive, claiming to serve the people while taking bribes and serving the rich.
The BEST tweet of the day (from @Alyssa Rosenberg):
Joe Biden's etch-a-sketch.
YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am crying. Damn.
Me, too.I couldn't be happier. There are no equal rights for any of us if there are no equal rights for all of us! I liked him before, now I think I love him.
I am happy that you are all happy , BUT !.. We all know this president is going to pay a political price for his BOLD announcement today. It is time for the LGBT community to stop complaining and strap your work boots on and get to work to make sure BARACK OBAMA is re-elected president of the United States in 2012 !.. MITT ROMNEY and the republican party are going to MILK this for as much political gain as they can get. I can already see the KARL ROVE commercials for television using his super pac money trying to bury BARACK OBAMA !.. We cannot allow this to happen people !..
BARACK OBAMA has made history today but that will not get him re-elected , we must ALL UNITE once again as we did in 2008 !..
LGBT RIGHTS , CIVIL RIGHTS , WOMEN RIGHTS ! IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES , PROGRESSIVES , LABOR , HEALTH CARE ADVOCATES !..
We have to come together once AGAIN , remember that the next president will probably end up selecting one or two more supreme court nominees !...
And we CANNOT allow that president to be a 1%er like MITT ROMNEY !...
If we all care about the direction this country takes in the next four years we MUST make sure BARACK OBAMA gets another four years in the White House.
MARRIAGE EQUALITY is the Civil Rights issue of the 21st Century and this president has come out on the side of the LGBT community , He now deserves the full support and financial backing of the LGBT community nationwide to make sure he does not pay the ultimate political price for demonstrating PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP !.
I will do everything to make sure this president wins re-election in 2012 !..
Will you ?....
Well stated.
Yes i will.
when did we start calling him Manatee? That is awesome, except I like manatees.
YAY!!!!!!!
It was a Keith Olbermann (remember him?) creation...
Some of us managed to follow him after he decided there was a slight conservative trend at MSNBC and was convinced he might do beter elsewhere (do a statistical analysis and watch the daytime programming if you doubt me... Think Mark Halperin, Michael Steele, and Abby Huntsman; S.E. Cupp has appeared even thought she works for Glenn Beck).
Keith stepped in some doggie do with the Current crowd; if you think the trolls are bad over here, on Current they were able to gin the "who we vote off the island" apparatus as well... I've got a couple of e-mails as keepsakes, and i spent some time with my ISP number "locked out" for the same reason. My friends stormed the Bastille and had me freed, but at a cost.
I came up with Rush Humbaugh® while I was over there. Whaddya think?
My take is even the righties I mentioned above want some unpolluted water to swim in, and the FAUX cesspool is particularly odorous.
i definitely agree with you about manatees...
I think it was Colbert who I first heard use the term "Manatee of the Airwaves" in reference to Limbaugh.
Bought d*mn time.
Easy to say, but hard to do. Sometimes progressives, don't always manage the march towards equality in a wise or even logical fashion. Let us remember, that for African Americans, gaining civil rights was the culmination of a longterm, coordinated legal effort led by eventual Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. The Achilles heel of the progressive approach to attaining civil rights since that time has been less than spectacular or inspiring. Let us hope that the president didn't throw out the baby with the bath water. If Mitt Romney and the right win in November, the president's courage will mean little.
Mayor Bloomberg says it all: "This is a major turning point in the history of American civil rights," said New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. "No American president has ever supported a major expansion of civil rights that has not ultimately been adopted by the American people - and I have no doubt that this will be no exception. The march of freedom that has sustained our country since the Revolution of 1776 continues, and no matter what setbacks may occur in a given state, freedom will triumph over fear and equality will prevail over exclusion. Today's announcement is a testament to the President's convictions, and it builds on the courageous stands that so many Americans have taken over the years on behalf of equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans, stretching back to the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village
All right, Bloomberg is good for something...
All right, Mayor Bloomberg!
I worry about the political consequences for Obama and all down-ticket Democrats, but what the @!$%# -- HOORAY! Thank you, President Obama, for your courage and your service to America.
Glad we got that one out of the way early .
The best part will be in the debates when it is brought up and Mr. Obama asks Mitt the Mendacious why he against equal rights for American Citizens.
I am investing in pearls and fainting couch futures as we speak.
Good for you Mr. Obama
Like my dear old Ma used to say
You want something to cry about . I'll give you something to cry about.
The virtual whack on the ass . Take that Republicans .
They will waste so much time on social issues they will forget about the economy .
Rope a Dope anyone
Everyone should have the same rights and be treated fairly, Thank You President Obama you have made a lot of people very happy, I know dear friends that are elated.
Yahoo reports "The president stressed that this is a personal position, and that he still supports the concept of states deciding the issue on their own."
From North Carolina's Amendment 1 vote, the majority shouldn't be voting on minority rights. In fact, rights shouldn't be voted on. Also, with states deciding marriage rights binational couples don't have a chance. Obama needs to cross the finish line on this, don't stop short!
It is not a states rights issue in light of the SCOTUS ruling that is a half century old. The SCOTUS has ruled that marriage is fundamental right under the US Constitution and was the basis for overturning miscegenation and birth control laws. With the California Prop 8 case moving to the SCOTUS, it is going to be interesting to see how the conservative majority tries to work their way around the old ruling.
Until SCOTUS weighs in, if the issue is left to the states, one could plausibly argue that those states that already allow SSM should immediately be exempt from DOMA's strictures, incrementally allowing federally afforded marriage rights/benefits sooner rather than later. At all events, great long game, Mr Prez!
I think Mike is correct about the direction of any solvent conclusion on the issue. States' rights were never afforded the liberty to directly violate the US constitutional rights of American citizens. But they are testing the integrity of our republic wherever they think they have the majority authority to get away with it in increments.
I'm not sure we needed to hear President Obama's personal beliefs. My own support for him remains unwavered based upon his actions, successes, and fortitude in the interest of our country and the people.
Still... I appreciate the dazed afternoon and serene evening.
What?
MODERATEPREZ is evolving!
Congratulations! MODERATEPREZ has
evolved into a PROGRESSIVEPREZ!
YAY I wasnt the only one who though "POKEMON" when they said that! I was just joking about that with my partner. Considering how much I have heard "evolve", "evolving", and "evolved" from the media in the past two hours, you think a herd of PROGRESSIVEPREZ's were popping up! =)
Obama uses Moral Authority! It's moderately effective!
Of course the right is already condemning it. What else can they do? (Other than come out and support progress) I'm sure the OUT Republicans are wishing they were on this side. Still, for anyone, it must be comforting to know that your president believes you should be treated equally.
This is also quite a bold and historical move. I really hope it doesn't affect the swing states negatively, as cynical as that sounds. I really hope those people have sense and a heart.
And I especially hope this reinvigorates North Carolinians!
...that would be "...a bold and historic move." In a 100 years historians will examine the historical record when Obama made this historic decision.
Republicans are to democrats as the Klu Klux Klan is to African Americans, as the Black Panthers are to American whites, and currently, as the self righteous are to homophobia.
Whoa on slamming black panthers in your analogy. Who the Black Panthers were angry with wasn't all of white America; that is simply fallacious. They were angry over the same issues that Occupy Wall Streeters are angry about; they were warning us of the kind of white supremacists attitudes described in full detail (which Mr. Griffin, president of MSNBC, in a fit of patronization, mistakenly choose to shield the public from) in Pat Buchanan's book. The truth is, since the financial meltdown, poor whites and middle class whites have been treated similarly to how blacks have been; prompting many to say po' is the new black. The Panthers were smart enough to see the connection to Wall Street and the socioeconomic condition blacks and of society at-large and they warned, under the right conditions whites would suffer as blacks had. The Black Panthers worked closely with white Americans.
The all white, grey haired leaders of America have always feared the rising up of any group. Branded as Reds, Marxist or Communists - MLK, the Panthers, the Wobblies/IWW, Women Suffragettes, Muckrakers, Vietnam Demonstrators, these folks where always pushing for the rights of all & for the good of the country. With the recent assault on Women's, workers & gay rights, I have to ask myself, is the next repeal going to be the ban on slavery? How long are we, the thinking population going to let these elected officials get away will this?
I have started asking my Republican friends if their hatred of Obama out weighs the love for their children & grand children, if so, vote for Romney, & see how many more rights you will lose.
One more about the Panthers. They supplied breakfasts to children so they did not go to school hungry. I don't remember which politician said it, but he called the food program "the most dangerous thing to happen to America in years", or words to that effect.
During the Vietnam demonstrations, a Nixon aid looked out at the 1000's of protestors, make the observation "This is what a revolution looks like", or words to that effect.
Again these leaders fear & need to label & oppress to try and keep control. You see this with the laws being passed to change the internet. Information & truth is knowledge.
The Panthers were protecting their people from apparent harm that nobody else seemed see or to do much about. Very real to those involved, but the media made sure they put forth the most radical images. Still done today. They were feeling attacked, and were attacked.
I can think of many groups that set out to protect "their" people, KKK, Minutemen, even the neighborhood watch are usually viewed as heroic by "their" people.
I just wonder if there will ever be a day where there is truly liberty and justice for all, without saying your liberty violates my liberty. It is entitlement that is the problem. Why can't others have any entitlement and be part of the picture of "our country", America?
All this voting for taking and defining who has rights and who doesn't just is wrong. Equal is equal, people are people, not we don't like those people because of our beliefs.
The Republicans stand up for corporate personhood, embryonic personhood, yet pound away at real people that breathe and have already been born. Only denying the pounding as if it is their right to vote in discriminatory laws.
Yes, they are disguising the desire for repealing the ban of slavery. Only it's in the form of outsourcing, off shoring and privatizing. Cut the programs that are lifelines to poor, elderly and infirm.
I am hoping the Democrats will showcase their platform is one that is pro liberty/equality, a continued support for the poor, elderly and infirm despite the charges from the right that a non humanized "they" are all cheats, lazy, undeserving and stealing "your" money. While they conspire to send jobs to the cheapest possible place, or create the cheapest labor here. Tom Delay and Scott Walker see the solutions in busting unions and Saipan.
I am moved by the Presidents personal expression and depth. He knows the political risks and went all out. I applaud his courage.
Yes, but, he and his people thought long and hard about the ramifications, and studied its effect on the coming elections.
Why? Because he is smart. Unlike the "gang that can't shoot straight" over in Romney Land.
Historic, indeed and this may be one of President Obama's signature positions our grandchildren will read in history books. Tea baggers should just give up on this position now. Guess Santorum is upset today and I'm looking forward to his small-minded stupid comments, sure to show up even though Mitt Wit will remain silent.
Good for you Mr. President. Now lets evolve on reparations please. The treaty of 1866 would be a good start.
Taking into account the Full Faith and Credit clause of the U. S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 1) and the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment, I do not understand how any state government or the federal government can legally deny any unattached U. S. citizen the right to enter into a marriage contract or civil union with any other unattached citizen, either male or female. I also do not understand how any state can refuse to recognize such a contract that has been approved by any other state. Can anyone help me out here?
likely full faith and credit will apply in those states that recognize SSM- but what does the equal protection clause have to do with this- first historically it was deal with the status of former "slaves"- but beyond that it precludes the states from denying equal protection of the laws- it does not create rights etc-
Loving v Virginia cited marriage is a right and states cannot create laws that limit whom free persons may marry.
Equal protection of the laws, means e q u a l, so if a person is a person, and we are not to infringe upon a persons' right to happiness, or equal protection of the laws, then how can we, the people deny a person the right to marry the person of their choice, provided they are not already married and age of consent?
Loving v Virginia cited equal protection clause in the 14th amendment
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Persons/citizens, not only former slaves are covered by this. Equality and Freedom are cherished by Americans, whether some Americans can find exclusions, the foundation of this country was also in the Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
The so-called Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutionally allows states to ignore the full faith and credit clause where same-sex marriages are involved, violating the equal protection clause in the process. This is why the Obama administration stopped defending DOMA in the courts, but DOMA is the answer to your question.
Regarding the Federal Government's restriction of marriage (DOMA), see Gill v. Office of Personnel Management and Commonwealth v. United States Department of Health and Human Services.
A new day is dawning on civil liberties. Now let's watch the wolves come out against
on this politically...let's not allow this to be a wedge issue but speak clearly about it being a civil rights issue for all.
Please, I like wolves, and they and their allies are fighting a similar battle against extermination out here in the Wild West.
Hyenas? That's the one I settled on...
Noo not hyenas, I like hyenas too. How about right-wing antagonists?
Small minded bullies is a better title. What have the animals done yo us.
...maybe roaches. Yes, roaches definitely work for me!
Sewer rats anyone?
Whoa.
Republicans, your turn.
When I found out about the NC Amendment One business this morning, it really darkened my little day (I voted absentee against it). This kinda brings the sun back into my day :)
Now all they need to do is move the convention from North Carolina to a state that recognizes it's the year 2012 and that it's way past time to stop putting the rights of minorities up for popular votes.
I pray everyday the intolerence in this country would just disappear. I guess some of it has...just keep praying till it is completely gone.
same sex marriage is totally wrong and should have never happened i'm sorry if you disagree with me but that's how i feel about the whole thing
Wrong for whom ? No one is making YOU marry a man .
You can choose who to marry and so should gays and lesbians
It's fine to disagree. That is a whole other issue. But everyone should have the same rights to the pursuit of their version of happiness. You wouldn't stop the production of strawberries just because you personally disliked them.
Here's the thing, George: your right to decide what's right and wrong maritally ends at the boundaries of your own life. Everyone else gets that right for themselves, and your input matters not one whit.
Adultery is "totally wrong" so we can shore up traditional marriage by a federal constitutional amendment outlawing adultery and making it a crime.
What else do you FEEL, George? Do you feel it's wrong for a black man to marry a white woman? How about a Muslim family moving in next door? And, the Indian getting a job as your supervisor? Ya know, George, if you THINK it through, they/we are all Americans and have CIVIL rights according to the constitution. If we all THOUGHT about things instead of how we FEEL, we might start progressing toward a democracy.
Look I'm a straight great grandmother, and this isn't about being gay, it's about our constitution, and bill of rights. They promise equal rights for all of our citizens. This is the right thing to do, and the best argument. They are always using the constitution.
put that argument out there .
So you you don't like gay marriage, don't marry a gay person. (Someone should have mentioned that to Michele Bachmann, but I digress.....)
If we're REALLY concerned about preserving the "Sanctity of Marriage", how about a constitutional amendment banning divorce and remarriage. I call it the "Giuliani-McCain-Gingrich/Anti Trophy Wife Amendment"
You currently enjoy the right to marry the person you love, Gays will very soon enjoy that right too. Your feelings don't trump their rights. Sorry.
Just freakin' incredible! Fantastic! I hope he feels good making this decision. Biden really pushed it with his statement - Obama was going to have to respond, and he'd tie himself in knots doing anything else. Sort of like Clinton's war vote.
Can we mention that Romney's Mormon friends payed for the Prop 8 outcome in California? And that any state should be ashamed of itself letting the majority vote down the rights of a minority?
As an Obama supporter I'd like to say that this is a darned good day to send some $$ to his campaign. Just sayin'.
Oh, and George - you'll get used to it.