Comments on: More from The President on Gay Marriage

By: R Johnston

R Johnston — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:33:24 +0000

Ack. Missed after the first sentence. Ugh.

By: R Johnston

R Johnston — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:32:35 +0000

What I’m saying is, if the president says he’s changed his mind, I think we should take him at his word.

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.

By: brucegee1962

brucegee1962 — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:24:13 +0000

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.

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:58:18 +0000

That could explain all those same sex couples hanging around outside my house. I was wondering about that.

By: gravityswings

gravityswings — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:45:32 +0000

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.

By: MarkNS

MarkNS — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:27:50 +0000

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.

By: Gregory in Seattle

Gregory in Seattle — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:33:29 +0000

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.

By: Gregory in Seattle

Gregory in Seattle — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:32:12 +0000

“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.