President Obama finally announced that he supports gay marriage, but was there a reason behind his so-called 'evolution'? Maybe. About 1 in 6 of Obama's key financial supporters are gay and naturally, they wanted the president to support gay marriage. When Vice President Biden announced on Sunday that he supported gay marriage, the pressure for Obama to publicly endorse gay marriage increased dramatically. Along with his support, he added that he still feels it is the responsibility of each state to make the rules regarding same-sex marriage.
Deciding to publicly support gay marriage was a no-brainer for the president. Polls show that the American public is also evolving on their view of gay marriage. Some of his biggest supporters, black Americans, are the most undecided on the issue with only 42 percent supportive and 55 percent opposing. The Washington Post said, "The political upside of coming out in support of gay marriage is simply not as high as the political downside of coming out in support of gay marriage." Now that he has come out in support, will there be a political downside? Unlikely, the people who were upset about his lack of support for same-sex marriage weren't likely to vote for Romney anyway. If anything, this will bring in more support for Obama's re-election.
In another Washington Post article written just days before President Obama announced his support, it was clear that pressure was mounting. "Some leading gay and progressive donors are so angry over Obama's refusal to sign an executive order barring same-sex discrimination by federal contractors that they are refusing to give any more money to the pro-Obama super PAC," wrote Greg Sargent. Surely this election was viewed as a great time to exercise some financial muscle and get the president to speak up.
There's little doubt that the combination of VP Biden's comments, the actions of key financial backers and the support of most Americans created a perfect storm of sorts, good timing for the president to make his support public. Is the timing questionable? Probably. 48 hours before Obama's announcement, Paul Yandura, political adviser to gay philanthropist and leading Democratic fundraiser, Jonathan Lewis, sent the following email to Greg Sargent:
"A number of gay and progressive donors, unsolicited, have indicated to us that they aren't considering requests to donate to the Obama SuperPac because of the president's refusal to the sign the order. And those are high-dollar asks, some in the seven digits. We have heard from at least half a dozen major gay and progressive donors that they stand united with us. There is still time for the President to do the right thing and sign this executive order, our great hope is that he does so immediately."
The threat of action was definitely there, and the timing might be telling. Isn't that the point of donating, to help elect leaders who share your views? No matter what motivated President Obama to make the announcement, it's a good thing. It has no bearing on any laws and it won't force any churches or people to perform gay marriages. However, it sends out a message of fairness and of love and it's admirable that he can admit he changed his mind. As for people who object because of religion, if it is against God's wishes, He will take it up with them later.
© Margie Wilson-Mars 2012
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Comments: 72
In this case, flip-flop, evolved whatever, glad he did it.
If I was Obama's advisor, I would advise not to alienate the SMALL anti gay minority. It's called politics. What is the gay community going to do? Vote republican? We know what repubs thinnk about gay rights.
"Obama JUMPS on the anti-Marriage side..."
There is nothing "anti-gay" about being Pro-Marriage. Wake UP!
In the "swing" states, same-sex marriage is unpopular. This might make it a negative.
Overall, the election will be determined by the performance of the economy. This is likely to be a losing issue for Mr. Obama, as the decline in the unemployment rate is due more to people leaving the job market than people getting jobs.
Worse, many people are still under-employed, either working for far less or working, working part-time rather than full-time or working on contract jobs as opposed to permanent jobs.
All that is a much larger negative for the President than the gay issue is a positive.
If you are unemployed, gay or not, you are not likely to be very favorable to the sitting President.
I will grant his position has changed, but only a 180, not a 350...
I do not mind a person who changes their position based on new information of changes within society. Remember, it has been only about 50 years since inter-racial marriage has become "legal."
My problem is simple: You cannot have 50 States with different laws on marriage. Nor can you have a separate institution for same-sex couples without violating the concept of "separate but equal" (which is never so).
I would say make all "State licensed" unions be civil unions and if a couple wishes to engage in "Holy Matrimony" they must go to a church. After all, for years the Baptismal certificate and record was equal to a Birth Certificate. (My father-in-law, born in rural Florida, has no birth certificate.)
So separate the two. But if there is a Church that will marry a same-sex couple, so be it.
I find myself in the odd position of agreeing with Barak Obama. A rare one indeed, as we disagree on everything else and I still think his contract should not be renewed by the voters...
Yes; and adversely.
"I'm all for positive turns towards marriage equality..." -
Nonsense. We have Marriage "equality," Liisi. You can marry any man that you wish; I can marry any Girl that I wish. Simple.
You attempt to twist Truths and meanings with your foolish game of words. As every Leftist does. With me, you lose.
Point to my words that STATE my belief that there is no use for Government. You, and the Left, pretend to be the intellectuals; the Masters of "nuance." Yet, you twist what I've said into nothing or all. The last refuge of the small mind.
Ridiculous.
But we do need government.
Hey, where are all of my haters?
Vickey, I get what you're saying about God making a man and a woman, etc. Something that I would like to throw in there is, what about all the gay animals? Most dolphins are gay, there are gay animals all over the place.
A preacher I used to admire made that old standby comment-'Put 'em all on an island and let them stay there and they'll die out.' My response to that is, 1. They're gay, not stupid. They WILL reproduce. 2. What will you end up with on the straight part of the world? More gay children. Even if they're never exposed to it, etc. Happens all the time in villages, communities where being gay is unheard of. Why?
See where I'm going?