We all knew Obama was in favor of gay marriage. Now, he's said it (watch). Not sure how this will effect him politically. Some people who voted for Obama will vote on that issue alone. For example, in progressive California, where gay marriage was surprisingly banned, 7 out of 10 black people voted to ban gay marriage in 2008, based on religious reasons. But it will certainly energize the left. It will raise the stakes for Romney. After all, no one in the media has asked him what his stance is.
OBAMA: 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. TP
NY Mayor Bloomberg's statement:
“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,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “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.” Read moreWhat a thinking and enlightened president looks like:
More reaction:
"I'm almost in tears," said Steve Clemons, a foreign policy blogger and the director of the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation. "This is a major historic moment." Mr. Clemons, who is gay and who married to Andrew Oros, in California in 2008, expressed euphoria, but added that he was struggling to figure out what made Mr. Obama come out in favor of gay marriage now. "Maybe it's his response to the Karl Roves out there," Mr. Clemons said. "He could be saying, 'you want to have a culture war? Bring it on.'" More at NYTA politically courageous move:
So while this is an important moment in civil-rights history, it is also an important moment in political history—in which the lesson, for the gay community and, perhaps, for anyone advocating for change, is that words are important, but we have to insist on action from our friends. Read more at the New Yorker
Historic:
Obama's going to face serious backlash. He may even lose the election, but that's okay when you hear Melissa Harris-Perry tell it:
