Obama supports gay marriage in ABC interview
May 9, 2012 at 9:04 am in Grand Forks Herald
President Barack Obama says he now supports same-sex marriage, ending months of equivocation on a subject with powerful election-year consequences. Continue Reading
Awesome, about time.
Cue the straw arguments in 3…2…
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Romney supported gay marriage in Massachusetts. It would be fun to see him hold onto that viewpoint, just to watch the Evangelicals go into convulsions.
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Not True – Check your facts.
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Does this mean the Republicans will have to quit protending Obama is Muslim?
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Its election time and Obama is looking to pull some votes. 2008 election he claimed he would lay off the medical marijuana industry. While Obama has been in office, the Feds have shut down twice as many MMJ businesses operating legally under state laws as Bush Jr.
If your gay and hoping for change regarding gay marriage don’t hold your breath. Again it is election time Obama would claim to be Jewish if he thought it would pull in votes.
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Yes, but first term for this president has been one hell of a balancing act….He couldn’t just give total carte blanche on the weed or it would come back to bite him in the ass…..As a lame duck he wont have to be quite a cautious all the time……After all the goofy crap he’s had to put up with from the fox party I’m surprised he’d even want to go another 4
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You wont get any argument from me about the “state medical marijuana laws” I don’t use it myself, but I don’t see why the states can’t make their own mind up regarding the medical stuff, and frankly I really don’t see why it all can’t at least be de- criminalized if not out right legalized. The idea that people are still going to jail for possession when there’s so many real crimes out there is beyond foolish……
As for staying away from the voting booth….A lot of people did that in 2010 who didn’t think their primary issues were being addressed fast enough and we got these fox party candidates in there….Often by a very slim margin, All because people thought they’d protest by not voting. They’ve proven to be destructive to democracy and will only continue to be obstructions to getting things done….The last poll I saw had congress at something like a 9% approval rating….and even that seems too high. So unless you like those folks you shouldn’t stay away….on the other hand if you think they’re just fine (Then how can you also support Medical pot?) then forget what I just said and stay home please…
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I agree Tundra states should be able to make up own minds regarding hot button issues such as medical marijuana and marriage laws. 18 states have had their citizen’s vote for MMJ and 27 states have made amendments regarding the term marriage. The U.S. is a diverse country and the Federal Government should stop muddling in individual state rights. You don’t like Californian because they allow gay marriage and MMJ then move to ND or vice versa, bottom line is individual choice and personal freedoms as long as they don’t cause harm to one another.
After Obama’s gay pride speech his campaign pulled in over $1M. He knows what to say. Will BO start sticking his nose in the states rights regarding gay marriage?
As far as staying away from the elections booths this year, donkey dung or elephant turd? A difficult choice and I want no want no part in it.
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Obama just got my vote.
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Obama approves of same sex marriages and thinks states should decide for themselves if they will honor the marriage. That is his stated opinion which he now cannot deny.
Absolutely nothing has changed except he has been explicit in his opinion. Does this bother the gay community that he will take no action on a federal level to recognize rights of the gay community to marry? He’s playing both sides and cannot nut up to his true beliefs, which no one knows.
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I support the rights of any person to marry the one that they love regardless of their gender.
That being said, I hate to burst your bubble.. The United States was set up in such a way that each State was allowed the freedom to govern themselves. It has only been in the last many years that our Federal Government has chosen to expand its role and supersede in areas where I personally feel they have no business. They stretch the constitutional limits of their powers on a daily basis.
I agree with his statement, and how he chooses to deal with it.
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He’s got my vote.
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Probably more developed than Romney’s grandfather.
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During his first camapign Clinton cozied up to the gays and, once elected, dumped them.
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Obama is just doing this for the divorce lawyer lobby.
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Just in time for the election. “Motive” is written all over his face. This is making him look like someone who doesn’t really know where they stand. He was against it until the media got ahold of his opinion on the subject and the next day he claimed to have changed his mind. People really need to know where they stand on issues, especially those who want to hold a leadership position. No one said that a Democrat HAS TO be in support of the issue just like no one said that a Republican HAS TO oppose it. If he opposes it, then he needs to stand his ground and not change his mind a day after expressing a stance against it. I don’t believe this will have a huge impact on the election for him — at least not as huge of an impact that he is probably hoping it will make. I’m not a Democrat, so either way I wouldn’t be voting for him.
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Its pretty common knowledge that the country is closely split on this matter…at the present time. The POTUS isnt a fool. He know this will have no “huge impact”. He is sharing his personal feelings on a topical matter. His daughters and their friends families have impacted his feelings on the matter in recent years. This is a generational issue. People over 40 are generally uptight, hypocritical and homophobic. Young people are now well accustomed to others being gay. They also understand that it doesnt make anyone ‘evil’ or a ‘heathen’. The sex life of 2 consenting adults should make them no less a citizen (in terms of rights) than someones skin color or religion. People who claim to be ‘christian’ and in the same breath, condemn gays, are no less disconcerting than muslim extremists. A hateful intolerant bigot, is a hateful intolerant bigot.
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As a Christian, I have no problems with gays or allowing them the right to marriage. Whatever floats your boat!
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Sadly five people thus far have a problem with Christians or allowing the gay community the right to marriage.
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This is no big deal, just another diversion to avoid the “real” issues…..like the economy, jobs etc.
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Sort of like this?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18028394
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No he didn’t…..That was the other Romney who has kept doing things contrary to the new Romney for his entire life….It only seems like he has flipped on every single thing his entire life…….Kind of make you wonder how he was ever able to get his wife pregnant…..Or was that the other Mittens too?
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It will be interesting to see what effect, if any, this will have on the race. Those who were opposed to gay marriage still are & were not likely to vote for him anyway. Same is true of his supporters. I do not think this will change many votes one way or the other.
I am Liberterian which means fiscally conservative (George W Bush was a Communist. His too big to fail argument guaranteed I would never have a good thing to say about him ever again) & socially liberal.
Since modern Conservatism means socially restrictive & fiscally irresponsible, voting for Romney is doubtful. If the GOP cared more about America’s financial future & less about its sex life, they might get my vote. Right now it’s doubtful.
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Well in 2010 there was an extremely ill conceived movement to have gays stay away from the polls in protest of president Obama not moving fast enough on the “Don’t ask don’t tell” issue like he promised….And it did help sweep in many fox party candidates in many areas who only won by a very slim margin….I think this is a bit of pandering….Even though it’s really nothing solid. Hopefully gays learned that it’s better to try to be patient then to stay away from the polls when their votes are really needed.
I know…It’s easy to preach “Patients” when an issue doesn’t affect yourself, but the alternative is so extremely bad for democracy that being patient for the short run is crucial….Or the long run will really try everyone’s patients…
Oh and FN…..Happy Nurses day tomorrow…
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Thank you & good points about staying engaged. How many people still blame Ross Perot from the GOP losing power?
As I have said before, the electorate was so fed up with Bush et.al. The Dems could have run a seeing eye dog & he/she would have won. The midterm elections were the inevitable pushback.
What is left to be seen is whether or not people are sick enough with the Big O liberal agenda to change horses?
The point that no one is talking about but I think is huge on a subconscious level is Romney’s Mormonism. The Right’s “base” is Evangelical Christian. EC think Mormonism is a cult. This may be one case where the Right’s political litmus test might come back to bite them.
They won’t vote for the Big O, but they might vote Liberterian or just stay home. Either way the Dem’s win.
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Ok…You’re not a right winged knee jerk who get’s all your knowledge from right wing pundits so I’m really curious about your “Liberal agenda” statement. I’ve considered the president as very moderate who has never had an actual history of being anything but. Now I can understand the current bunch of Republicans who would consider Ronald Regan as too liberal for their far right agenda thinking that Obama has been operating a liberal agenda, but I’m wondering what liberal agenda you think he’s been trying to push through?
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Obamacare is the largest liberal program I can think of off the top of my head. That is not to say I am not for it. Since the US has socialized medicine now – it is called the Emergency Department – until they are ready to back their rhetoric up with action & start denying people care who cannot pay, covering everyone makes more fiscal sense.
His Supreme Court nominees were hardly conservative. Again that does not mean I oppose them.
I am for very limited government. I believe in personal choice & personal responsibility. In other words I will not tell you who to marry, or who to sleep with; but neither will I foster a dependent lifestyle. I may feed your children, but if you are an adult who can’t be bothered to work; I will allow you to starve to death.
Responsibility is a very harsh concept. Nano company is too big to fail – no corporate bailouts. No personal handouts.
What was the difference between FDR’s programs & now? Back then you had to work for your government check. Where do you think all those hedgerows came from? WPA & CCC.
We need to get back to that
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The extremely watered down version of the health care reform bill is only considered “Liberal” because president Obama managed to get it through. When the original concept of this very bill was being worked up by Republicans several years ago it was then considered the most logical thing to do to get a handle on the rising cost of health care. They too recognized that we all pay less in the long run if everyone can be covered and hospitals didn’t have to take such a hit by those who can’t afford to pay high rated insurance on their own for whatever situation they’re in. Making insurance affordable for each pay level is just logical because there’s many who would be glad to pay on a plan rather than have to use the emergency care and then be hounded by bill collectors for huge bills. Logic when the right came up with it, but socialism when the left passed a protion of it.
We might not be our brother’s keepers so to speak, but we’re all in this national community together whether we like it or not. How the least of us is effected does send ripples that eventually effect all of us in one way or other. The opposit is also true. How those with the most decide to use their most also effects us all. What I find appalling is how so many of the biggest movers in the country have no sense of patriotism for the very country that’s helped them be so successful.
To me we’re long past this silly Left, Right, Liberal, Conservative crap…..We’re a society that’s way out of balance because we have in many ways quit being “We” and have become “Me” and those who think like me. The really troubling part is that I don’t think we’ll be able to pull together on our own….Without another extreme disaster….Like a depression…..Or another extreme attack on a larger scale. It seems that unless many of us feel venerable that we just lose focus on how we’re interconnected and everything effects everything in some manner
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No matter how anyone feels about this topic, it will ultimately be played out in the courts. The Supreme Court will decide. It is, in the end, a 14th amendment issue. It has far reaching implications. It is similar to the women’s voting rights in the early 1900′s and civil rights in the mid 20th century, where the courts had to decide that a white man could legally marry an African-American woman, or vice versa. Up until then in some states it was a felony punishable by prison time. The founding fathers knew that they wanted a country where we have freedom of and from religion. In 30 or 31 states now, a majority is deciding by their votes who can marry whom and what the definition of marriage is. We are guaranteed ‘the pursuit of happiness’, and equality under the law. By saying that Jill can’t marry Susan, that is creating classes of people, and it is not equality under the law. This matter is being persued at the Supreme Court level by a former attorney general (a republican, no less). The decision will be made there. And when this decision is made by SCOTUS, all the time and effort taken in those staes that voted on gay marriage will be cancelled out if they decide in favor of gay marriage.
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Agreed. The closest parallel is Truman desegregating the Armed Forces in 1948. The military was against it, the legislature was against it, & the majority of the American public was against it. Why did he do it? LEADERSHIP. It was the right thing to do. This is the same type of issue
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I am honored that you would agree with me, flyingnurse.
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Man that’s some rough history….I mean there’s much rougher behind those times, but that’s pretty rough…….I heard someone else recently say something to the effect that maybe a decade or two from now people will be looking back at these issues and shake their heads about how senseless it all was just as we do about that history…..
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We laugh now because no one in their right mind thinks resegregating the services would be wise. Colin Powell won his war – convincingly.
Gays in the military will be more of the same. It is not like they have not been serving with distinction all along.
The next logical step is full equality. That means if you get it, so do they. All of the arguments against special status are just smoke. Those who believe homosexuality is an abomination & wrong want to keep their prejudices cod infield in the law.
What these people fail to realize is the arguments they use are the same ones people used against desegregation & against expanded roles for women.
I could take them more seriously if they had an argument that hadn’t been disproven multiple times before
In the interest of full disclosure: I am Christian. As a conservative bible thumper that does not mean I have a burning desire to outlaw everything I do not believe in.
When I stand before God, I stand alone. The same goes for everyone else. There is no 50/50 or a chance to call a friend. We all answer for our own actions.
Outlawing something has never saved one soul. If that is why it should be illegal you are wasting your time. Look at the Old Testament & then read the Book of Romans. Exactly how much did following the law help the Jews?
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Or against.
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That post is completely in the wrong place. It was a response to something about sixteen posts further up the page.
Just wonder where this one will show up at?
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As was mentioned above, there are only two ways this issue will be settled: either by a constitutional amendment or the US Supreme Court.
In the eyes of the law, marriage is a contract. Under the United States Constitution, a legal contract entered into in one state must be respected in the other 49 states. Therefore, if a marriage is legal in TX, it is also legal in CA, CO, NM, and Maine.
Everyone dances around this issue, and the talking heads go ballistic when it is brought up, because yes: NH can tell ND what it will do.
To get around this the SCOTUS will have to rule or a lot of someone’s will have to change the US Constitution.
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. Its authors said as much during the floor debates. It passed because it was politically popular, and no one has been hot and bothered to challenge it for the same reason.
Pro gay marriage supporters are just going around it. Gay service members being allowed to openly serve effectively killed DOMA. The military will eventually be paying benefits (survivor and otherwise) to the gay partners of service members. It is only a matter of time and the Pentagon has been busy for over 5 years trying to figure out how to make that happen once the order is given.
As usual, the Pentagon is 10-15 years ahead of the rest of the country.
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