Barack Obama has become the first US President to publicly support gay marriage. Those who hated him before will now do so even more, but such an announcement is finally evidence of social evolution from the top-down.
“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 News.
It’s been four years coming. In the 2008 Presidential debate, Obama and Biden bent over backwards to make clear that they did not support gay marriage. Politics is politics and you have to win votes before hearts, but it was still rather galling to watch them stutter out their alignment with McCain on the issue. While many of Obama’s supporters will be pleased with today’s development, others like the African-American evangelical Christians will likely be angry.
“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, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated,” said Obama.
This writer could not agree more. Rights based on sexual orientation are as grotesque as those based on those based on color or gender. According to a Gallup poll Tuesday, 50 percent of the population agree. It must be mentioned that 48% remain actively opposed to gay-marriage, and without doubt Romney and Fox News will smell blood.
Nevertheless, despite taking four years for pro-civil union to become pro-gay marriage, that Obama has become the first POTUS of recent years to say something that actually rings true is a watershed moment. It’s up to the people to decide which way we go from here.
I’m actually surprised no one’s really mentioned how this can hurt his campaign…I mean, realistically, he took a very dangerous stance on this politically. Like Nick stated, pro-Obama voters who are religious may look at this and decide to NOT vote for him…It’s a big step/chance he’s taking and I’m very proud of him for it. Change takes time and I see progress with him. Just my two cents
What politician has ever done everything they stated in their campaign speech? What politician has not changed his/her mind on a situation? I think it’s interesting how many people are attacking his motives when they are the same motives of every politician in America. They all want to be re-elected and they all make promises that won’t stick. There is also something to be said for someone changing their opinion; it means they are analyzing, reflecting on, and evaluating their thoughts constantly, it means they are capable of admitting they were wrong in their thinking, that reflects a great level of character.
Conviniently he is now speaking out when elections are around the corner…I support people marrying whoever they choose whatever their sex I think its something the govnt. Should have a say in…but seeing what population of americans are (for a lack of better word) gay…I dnt want to be offensive obama knows what he’s doing people who now vote for him aren’t bound to see a change within the next four years just like thode people who voted him in for his promies in the dream act did haven’t either and since he’s aleady played that card and failed to do his word his moved on to the next biggest party….
The problem is you’re stuck. Obama’s hope for change didnt happen (but what do we expect when he had to clean up after Dubya?), but I also cannot support the only other candidate because he wants to place the U.S. back in the 1950s. Romney doesn’t want change or progression, he wants to take away the rights for everyone. While Obamas’s intentions may be to bolster his votes, I still see him as something a lot more optimistic than Romney.
I have been back and forth on this all night. I am so psyched that a president finally came out and said this and am a little upset that we can’t enjoy this moment, just this once, by saying it’s too little too late, or that it’s not sincere, although I understand that stance as well. I don’t know what to make of the accusation that, “It’s all politics!” I mean, of course it is, it’s certainly not day camp. Although I still worry that this will push away some of his more moderate supporters, like those in North Carolina who made NC go blue in 2008, but just aren’t down with gay marriage.
i totally agree with what you’re saying about playing the political game. you assume he’s being sincere and not lying, as he is the president of the united states and POTUS’s shall not lie thus saith the lord. but at the same time, he is the president of the united states… and everything he says in a sit down televised interview is going to be specifically measured for a desired outcome. and we may never know the actual reason behind his decision to say as much. how much it was personally motivated and how much it was politically motivated.
Okay, let me rephrase that. It’s not hurtful because I could care less what you think, but it is ignorant.
For what it’s worth, nobody would describe me as pro-Obama. However, I do support gay-marriage. It is also a fact that while the majority of African-American evangelical Christians ARE pro-Obama, they are also predominantly AGAINST same-sex marriage. Furthermore, it’s hard to argue against Romney and Fox being both anti-Obama and anti-gay marriage.
After all this is taken into account, it is hard to fathom how you construed this brief article as calling those not pro-Obama “bigots”. With all due respect, that is inaccurate and I hope I’ve cleared up your misconceptions with this rare foray into the comments section.
Hey now, this article isn’t very fair to us that don’t like Obama! I think the guy is an idiot but I love the fact that he supports gay marriage. Just because you don’t like Obama doesn’t mean you automatically are against same sex marriage. Kind of hurtful that you assume just because someone has an issue with Obama that they must be a bigot. :/
Rather than wait for a “president” with a long history of saying one thing and doing the exact opposite; be a participant in our government (they work for us) take action, consistently (and simply with just clicks) with the ACLU: Tell Congress to Support Equal Marriage Rights for All: https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?id=1747&pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&cr=1
belie* (of an appearance) Fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict: “his alert manner belied his years”.
Fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray.
Remember Obama campaigning on the “Hope” and “Change”. He went against his word and escalated the war in Afghanistan. He betrayed that, turned his back on what he promised. He is a “politician”. He says things that gain him support. However his actions belay his words? He is just a puppet for hire? I do hope he supports Gay Marriage and Equality. But then again he was against the unconditionality of “Indefinite Detention” to change his mind and support crimes against the People and the US Constitution