I just got this note from President Obama, and I thought you might like to see it:
Greg —
Today, I was asked a direct question and gave a direct answer:
I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
I hope you’ll take a moment to watch the conversation, consider it, and weigh in yourself on behalf of marriage equality:
http://my.barackobama.com/Marriage
I’ve always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. I was reluctant to use the term marriage because of the very powerful traditions it evokes. And I thought civil union laws that conferred legal rights upon gay and lesbian couples were a solution.
But over the course of several years I’ve talked to friends and family about this. I’ve thought about members of my staff in long-term, committed, same-sex relationships who are raising kids together. Through our efforts to end the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, I’ve gotten to know some of the gay and lesbian troops who are serving our country with honor and distinction.
What I’ve come to realize is that for loving, same-sex couples, the denial of marriage equality means that, in their eyes and the eyes of their children, they are still considered less than full citizens.
Even at my own dinner table, when I look at Sasha and Malia, who have friends whose parents are same-sex couples, I know it wouldn’t dawn on them that their friends’ parents should be treated differently.
So I decided it was time to affirm my personal belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
I respect the beliefs of others, and the right of religious institutions to act in accordance with their own doctrines. But I believe that in the eyes of the law, all Americans should be treated equally. And where states enact same-sex marriage, no federal act should invalidate them.
If you agree, you can stand up with me here.
Thank you,
Barack
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“I’ve always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. ”
Obama has gone out of his way to put his alleged belief into any kind of real shape; every advance in LGBT rights that has occured during his administration, he had to be shamed into.
Theists believe in God, so I would like to ask the President the same thing I ask theists: PROVE IT.
Sorry, I’m tired and angry at all the people who are wetting their pants in glee over yet more empty words. I meant to write above that the President has gone out of his way to avoid putting his alleged belief into any kind of real shape.
Given the insanity of much of the American electorate, I find Obama’s words to be pretty brave. I’m very concerned that this could cost him the election so I’m hard pressed to fault his motives. These are certainly the strongest pro gay equality words I’ve ever heard from a president.
Okay, two things:
Gregory in Seattle, read this post:
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/05/09/glad-to-see-i-didnt-miss-anything-big-today/
Then come back.
Second, Greg, you might want to remove or fix the link in your post, because currently the page it links to has your email and zip code already filled in. If you don’t care, that’s cool, I just thought you’d like to know.
That could explain all those same sex couples hanging around outside my house. I was wondering about that.
After reading the president’s books, I came to the conclusion that he’s ALWAYS been a lot less progressive than many of his supporters wished/imagined him to be. He is what he’s always been — someone who would be a moderate to conservative in any European country, portrayed as a raging leftist by our batshit political system.
While it’s transparently obvious to most people around here that support for gay marriage is The Right Thing To Do, it still isn’t that easy for most Americans — including some in my family. LOTS of people have been making a slow, painful journey of tolerance over the past decade, from outright hostility to gruding acceptance of civil unions to full support.
What I’m saying is, if the president says he’s changed his mind, I think we should take him at his word. And as skeptics, if he’s willing to be influenced by evidence to change his opinions, we should salute that, even if we might wish he’d taken the step years ago.
If his very next statement didn’t directly contradict his supposed change of mind that might be sensible. Saying that fundamental rights are state concerns is saying that they aren’t rights at all, and Obama knows that full well. He’s a reasonably intelligent black man in American politics and knows exactly what “states’ rights” means.
He didn’t say that the courts currently allow states to engage in marriage discrimination, that that’s wrong, and that his administration would do everything it could to change it. He said it’s a state issue, without qualifying or condemning that. That’s straight out of the Lee Atwater playbook.
Ack. Missed after the first sentence. Ugh.