Obama’s gay marriage balancing act gets awkward

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Gay rights advocates protest outside of a June LGBT fundraiser where Obama spoke. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/obama-gay-marriage-balancing-act-gets-awkward-182425913.html

By Liz Goodwin | The Lookout – 47 mins ago

Ever since Vice President Joe Biden appeared on Meet the Press on Sunday and described his own journey to accepting gay marriage, President Obama's campaign has been insisting that Biden's comments are "entirely consistent" with Obama's own position on the issue. The vice president's office also walked back the statements, clarifying that Biden was saying that gay married couples in states that allow it should have the same rights as straight married couples.

The vice president's exact words to David Gregory were: "I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly, I don't see much of a distinction—beyond that." (See his full comments here.)

Some of the top gay rights advocacy leaders in the country are skeptical, however, that Biden wasn't advocating the legalization of gay marriage in full. Biden was endorsing the legal right for same-sex couples to marry, they say, something that Obama has stopped short of doing as president. And the effort to walk back Biden's comments could backfire.

The president says he supports civil unions but not civil marriage for same-sex couples, although he has indicated that his views are "evolving." (As a state senator, he supported gay marriage.)

Some advocates told Yahoo News that Obama surrogates endorsing gay marriage is a way for the campaign to "wink" at second-term support for the policy without taking the political risk of out-right embracing gay marriage in an election year. Mitt Romney has said he would pass a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and appoint judges who oppose gay marriage, placing himself far to the right of Obama, who helped end the military's ban on openly gay service and abandoned the Federal Defense of Marriage Act. But despite this gulf, both candidates oppose gay marriage--an uncomfortable fact when it comes to rallying the Democratic base or fundraising from passionately pro-gay rights donors.

"It seems like their strategy is to try to have it both ways on this issue," said Jimmy LaSalvia, the president of the Republican gay rights group GOProud, to Yahoo News. "They know that many in their base support same-sex civil marriage, but they also know that not everyone is there yet. So it appears to be a strategy to go as far as they can short of endorsing same-sex civil marriage. And to me that indicates that it's purely a political move in this election cycle."

But not everyone thinks it's a smart political plan.

"I just think it becomes very hard for the White House to finesse this much longer," said Richard Socarides, who advised President Bill Clinton on gay rights in his second term. "We're having a national discussion about this important issue about the way we treat our citizens and the president can't be on the sidelines."

Socarides said it's "unbelievable" to say Biden wasn't endorsing gay marriage in his comments. In his comments, Biden added that he doesn't know whether President Obama would support same-sex marriage in a second term. The vice president said his feelings changed on the subject after meeting gay families. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said on MSNBC Monday morning that he also thinks same-sex couples should be legally allowed to marry, joining fellow cabinet member HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, who has also publicly backed gay marriage.

After Biden and Duncan's comments, gay rights leaders urged Obama to follow the lead of his advisers.

"The way [biden] described now being in support of the freedom to marry is exactly…what we want to hear from the president as well," said Evan Wolfson, president of the Freedom to Marry advocacy group and a one-time intern to Senator Biden in the 1970s. Wolfson argues that hedging on the issue doesn't make political sense--Obama voters from 2008 overwhelmingly support gay marriage, and a plurality of Americans overall do as well, according to the latest polls. (Some polls have shown a narrow majority in support.) "Efforts to split the difference or stop short or give a wink but not say the words don't do anything to appease the small slice of voters for whom the president will never be anti-gay enough," he said. "But [it] does deprive him of the energy and credit that true authenticity and support would bring."

Ken Sherrill, a Hunter College professor and pollster specializing in gay issues, tells Yahoo News that the overall trend toward popular support for gay marriage still doesn't change the fact that this election will be fought in a handful of battleground states, where gay marriage isn't always a winning issue."They're worried about North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia and so on," he said. Even though the economy--not gay rights--will dominate the election, "they have to worry about 1 or 2 percent in these swing states" who could be swayed by the issue.

Joe Solmonese, the president of the gay rights group the Human Right Campaign, said in a statement on Duncan and Biden's comments that "it's time for [Obama] to speak out in favor of marriage equality as well."

But in an interview with Yahoo News, Solmonese focused on criticizing Romney rather than Obama. "I'm a lot less concerned about the distinction between the vice president and the president or any members of the president's cabinet," Solomnese said. "I'm a lot more focused on the difference between the president and Governor Romney."

That's the same contrast the Obama campaign is hoping to drive home. "There couldn't be a starker contrast on this issue than with Gov. Romney, who has funded efforts to roll back marriage laws in California and other places," Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod said on a conference call with reporters.

Edited May 7, 2012 by Why_Me

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

The one on the left of that pic holding the banner looks like he might be crying.

Obama is walking a tight rope on this one.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Marriage is not a Federal issue. Obama and Biden's correct answer should be: "we support our citizens having equal rights and access, but this is a decision left up to the individual states and these citizens should appeal to their state legislatures, governors, and above all else their fellow citizens."

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Marriage is not a Federal issue. Obama and Biden's correct answer should be: "we support our citizens having equal rights and access, but this is a decision left up to the individual states and these citizens should appeal to their state legislatures, governors, and above all else their fellow citizens."

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I wonder if he'll support gay immigration fiance/spouse visas?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I wonder if he'll support gay immigration fiance/spouse visas?

If it does ever happen then let it be after I'm dead.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

If it does ever happen then let it be after I'm dead.

:lol: You're not going to sponsor a gay male from a third world country?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

:lol: You're not going to sponsor a gay male from a third world country?

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Marriage is not a Federal issue. Obama and Biden's correct answer should be: "we support our citizens having equal rights and access, but this is a decision left up to the individual states and these citizens should appeal to their state legislatures, governors, and above all else their fellow citizens."

My State, Washington just legalized gay marriage and it bothers me not the least little bit. I agree it's a State issue, not Federal, although to some extent it bleeds into civil rights.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

My State, Washington just legalized gay marriage and it bothers me not the least little bit. I agree it's a State issue, not Federal, although to some extent it bleeds into civil rights.

I was born and raised in Washington St. (Enumclaw), and I can honestly say that state has went to h*ll in the past 20+ years. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse there....

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/nc-votes-constitutional-ban-gay-marriage-072611162.html

NC votes on constitutional ban on gay marriage

By EMERY P. DALESIO | Associated Press – 1 hr 16 mins ago

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The national debate over gay marriage turns its attention South on Tuesday, as North Carolina could be on the verge of becoming the next state to pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman.

In the final days before the vote, members of President Barack Obama's cabinet expressed support for gay marriage and former President Bill Clinton recorded phone messages urging voters to oppose the amendment.

Supporters of the amendment responded with marches, television ads and speeches, including one by Jay Bakker, son of late televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. The Rev. Billy Graham was featured in full-page newspaper ads backing the amendment.

Experts expect the measure to pass, despite the state's long history of moderate politics.

North Carolina law already bans gay marriage, but an amendment would effectively slam the door shut on same-sex marriages.

The fate of the amendment hinges on who shows up to vote. More than 500,000 voters had cast their ballot before Tuesday, more than the 2008 primary when Obama and Hillary Clinton were fighting for the Democratic presidential nomination. Both sides said that bodes well for them.

Obama's North Carolina campaign spokesman issued a statement in March saying the president opposed the amendment. Obama, who supports most gay rights, has stopped short of backing gay marriage. Without clarification, he's said for the past year and a half that his personal views on the matter are "evolving."

His election-year vagueness on gay marriage is coming under fresh scrutiny.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan broke ranks with the White House on Monday, stating his unequivocal support for same-sex marriage one day after Vice President Joe Biden said he is "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex married couples getting the same rights at heterosexual married couples.

One fault line that could determine the result is generational. Older voters, who tend to be more reliable voters, are expected to back the amendment.

State House Speaker Thom Tillis, a Republican from a Charlotte suburb, said even if the amendment is passed, it will be reversed as today's young adults age.

"It's a generational issue," Tillis told a student group at North Carolina State University in March about the amendment he supports. "If it passes, I think it will be repealed within 20 years."

The amendment was placed on the ballot after Republicans took over control of the state legislature after the 2010 elections, a role the GOP hadn't enjoyed for 140 years.

The amendment also goes beyond state law by voiding other types of domestic unions from carrying legal status, which opponents warn could disrupt protection orders for unmarried couples.

"I understand that we already have a law on the books invalidating gay marriage. I feel like it's really important to stand up and be heard against any further discrimination," elementary school teacher Amelia Rogers of Raleigh said before casting her ballot last weekend. "That's the No. 1 reason why I'm coming out to vote today and it's against any further discrimination."

Those who oppose changing the traditional definition of marriage to include gays and lesbians said the amendment is the only chance average people have to weigh in.

"In other states, judges have redefined marriage, without a vote of the people. That's happened in California, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts," said Tami Fitzgerald, who heads the pro-amendment group Vote FOR Marriage NC. "The origin of marriage is from God, and I think most people in our state know that."

While polls suggest a majority of likely voters supporting the amendment, an Elon University poll of adult residents in March found two-thirds of the state as a whole supports either gay marriage or civil unions.

"The Elon Poll is pretty consistent in indicating that people favor rights for gays and lesbians, but when you look at all the other polls that look at likely voters, they're all pretty consistent" in predicting passage, Peace College political scientist David McLennan said.

Edited May 8, 2012 by Why_Me

[Leatherneck 693]

I was born and raised in Washington St. (Enumclaw), and I can honestly say that state has went to h*ll in the past 20+ years. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse there....

You do know that many wacky Californians moved up there starting in the late '80's -- could that have anything to do with it?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

You do know that many wacky Californians moved up there starting in the late '80's -- could that have anything to do with it?

That had by far the largest impact. Boeing and Microsoft hired thousands of Californians. They sold their homes in California for big bucks and bought out everything in Washington. Some even purchased farms (not the livestock) and then stuck cut outs of animals in the pasture to make it look like they were grazing. Then to make it worse they mow the pasture with a riding lawn mower. They even complained about the real farms smelling bad because of the manure. But those are the ones that vote, and it got so bad with the taxes that the farms are no more. Where you had giant dairy farms you now have neighborhoods where all the houses look alike. I go back there about every 5 years or so to visit and it turns my stomach when I see what has happened to my home town and surrounding towns.