Finally! The president has finally decided to come out in favor of same sex marriage. He is not using his evolution to federalize the issue instead leaving it as a state issue. The reality is this is a civil rights issue. While I accept the president’s reasons for taking this long based on his ideological makeup and values it is important that this statement was made.
Chris Matthews of MSNBC news in his narrative on this issue on the Martin Bashir show was happy for those that got validation from this presidential decision but expects Carl Rove and the Republicans to use it as a wedge issue to isolate conservative whites, conservative blacks, and evangelicals from the President. Chuck Todd believes the country for the most part is passed this being a wedge issue and do not believe the election would hinge on this issue.
I completely agree with Chuck Todd on this one. I said as much in a blog post I made yesterday. The election will not turn on this issue. The country is passed this divide.
The President has a very important job going forward. Many in the Black and Hispanic community and other communities that have been prejudiced tend to object to gay marriage. In fact two out of three blacks in North Carolina voted to deny same sex marriage by voting to amend their constitution to codify the denial of gay civil rights. They have yet to see that this is a civil rights issue as they’ve seen their own.
The President must articulate that denial of rights or prejudice against any group is wrong. Most importantly we must all educate our friends and neighbors on why irrespective of our personal beliefs it is incumbent that we support civil rights for all groups lest at some future date ours could be at risk. One loses the moral high ground if selective prejudice is allowed.
Obama says he supports same-sex marriage
By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 3:45 PM EDT, Wed May 9, 2012
(CNN) — President Barack Obama, who previously said his views on the issue were "evolving," said Wednesday that he supports same-sex marriage.
The announcement puts Obama squarely at odds with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who opposes same-sex 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 said in an interview with ABC News.
The president once opposed same-sex marriage.
Obama was "disappointed" by Tuesday’s vote on the issue in North Carolina, which he described as discriminatory against gays and lesbians, a spokesman said earlier Wednesday.
North Carolina voted to implement a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, which was already prohibited by state law. Supporters of the measure pushed for the constitutional amendment, arguing that it was needed to ward off future legal challenges.
Obama spoke Wednesday with ABC’s Robin Roberts. The interview will appear on ABC’s "Good Morning America" Thursday. Excerpts were to air Wednesday evening on "World News with Diane Sawyer."
His interview followed comments by other key administration figures.
Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday on NBC he was "absolutely comfortable" with couples of the same gender marrying, leading observers to wonder when Obama would again address the issue.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Monday also made headlines when he openly backed same-sex marriage rights. Asked on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe" if he supports allowing individuals of the same gender to legally wed, Duncan replied: "Yes, I do."
Obama told Roberts that first lady Michelle Obama was involved in his decision.
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