»» Columnists

President Obama Still ‘Thinking About’ His Beliefs On Marriage Equality

Video

by Tommy Christopher | 8:26 pm, May 31st, 2011

» 21 comments

President Obama has some impressive policy accomplishments when it comes to gay rights, but even though he has presided over the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” has consistently supported a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, and instructed his Justice Department not to defend the law in court, President Obama still has not said that he believes in the right of gay couples to marry. At Tuesday’s White House briefing, I asked Press Secretary Jay Carney why that is.

When last I checked, then-Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that the President “thinks a lot” about the issue of same-sex marriage, but that his personal beliefs on the subject had not changed since he told Jake Tapper that those beliefs were evolving. That was in December.

Here’s what Jay Carney had to say today:

The fact that Carney didn’t break huge news on this is not surprising (and mine wasn’t the only pitch he wouldn’t swing at today), but what is surprising is that the administration hasn’t come up with a good answer for why the President is taking so long to speak out. With reporters like Tapper, The Blade’s Chris Johnson, and I pressing the issue with some regularity, it would seem wise to at least suggest some effort on the President’s part.

There’s little political risk involved here. His policy positions and achievements already preclude the support of anyone who would be offended by such a declaration. A recent Gallup poll shows, for the first time, that a majority of Americans favor marriage equality. But polls are beside the point. The rights of human beings ought not be subject to popular whim, and rights cannot be granted. They can only be recognized, or denied.

Some would argue that actions speak louder than words (and his actions have been impressive, especially relative to other presidents), but words are important, too. My children go to a school where parents think it’s okay to rip down student-made Gay-Straight Alliance posters on back-to-school night. Anti-gay bullying has been blamed for a rash of suicides. These activities are all rooted in the notion that LGBT people are lesser human beings, a notion codified, under the law, by marriage inequality.

President Obama eloquently tried to reassure bullying victims that it gets better. I agree, and do you know when it gets better, at least a little bit? When the President of the United States finally says that they are equal human beings.

Chris Johnson, dadt, Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, Gay Marriage, gay rights, GSA, Jake Tapper, Jay Carney, LGBT, Marriage Equality, President Obama, Robert Gibbs, same sex marriage, white house briefing

cjd ohio 1

what is taking so long? the polls duh
cjd ohio 1

and just a question tommy, should marriage only be for two people, how about 3,4, 5 consenting adults?
Big Eddie

Tommy . You know why . Obama will have completed his evolving the day after the election next November .

He’ll have nothing to lose then .
CaptainAmerica

Tommy writes with a huge personal bias on this issue.

Plus, how many straight kids commit suicide everyday but those don’t get covered? But the media loves to highlight those who aren’t to make the problem seem much larger.

We have nonsense like Hate Crime laws in this country that protects everyone except straight Christian males. Why don’t you bash those laws for their non-equity?
turk281

For change he can believe in, he should consult Dick Cheney who claimed in 2000 that he believes that gays should have the right to marry.

In other words, Libs, Dick Cheney is more “tolerant” than Mr. Nobel Peace Prize.
http://www.nukethefridge.com MartiniShark

Why so long?
Because he’s a politician, and it depends who is watching, and on what day. The President has long made his viewpoints clear on the subject. However when those on the right were demonized with their stance – and answered that they simply felt exactly the same as Obama – that made leftists scratch their head. How could that be???? So he is being compelled to now “evolve” his stance.
CaptainAmerica

Obama should be treated the same as Carrie Prejean by the left wingers. But noooooo …..
illusive man

This is one of the reasons I hate big government.

Rights are not granted by the government.
The role of the government is to protect the natural born rights of the American people.
And if gay’s knew that, then they would know they where born with the right to marry.
And they would know the government has no right to say they can’t get married.

In a free society, if your actions don’t hurt people, you should be able to do what you want.
And that includes same sex marriage.
Barack Must Go

Obama is a certifiable pussy that is for nothing at all, on paper or in speeches, other than bashing anything and everything Republican / conservative until after next years presidential election day.

If the Republican leadership does not begin to drive that point, along with the actual reality facing this country were we stuck with another 4 years of obama’s amerika, he’s all but won already.

Most people in this country are absolute suckers for the tall, dark, handsome guy with the million dollar smile, even if he broke in and raped your wife & daughter every night for the past 3 years.

It’s sick, but also true. Newt could be the smartest guy on earth, no one in America could picture themselves being bent over by him.
cjd ohio 1

illusive man said:
This is one of the reasons I hate big government. Rights are not granted by the government.The role of the government is to protect the natural born rights of the American people.And if gay’s knew that, then they would know they where born with the right to marry.And they would know the government has no right to say they can’t get married. In a free society, if your actions don’t hurt people, you should be able to do what you want.And that includes same sex marriage.

its more about the benefits of marriage really, taxes, benefits, health benefits and visitation etc
turk281

illusive man said:
This is one of the reasons I hate big government.

Rights are not granted by the government.
The role of the government is to protect the natural born rights of the American people.
And if gay’s knew that, then they would know they where born with the right to marry.
And they would know the government has no right to say they can’t get married.

In a free society, if your actions don’t hurt people, you should be able to do what you want.
And that includes same sex marriage.

Amen, IllusiveMan.
Raygun

I’m guessing his mind will be immediately made up after the next election.
tatboy

turk281 said:
For change he can believe in, he should consult Dick Cheney who claimed in 2000 that he believes that gays should have the right to marry.

In other words, Libs, Dick Cheney is more “tolerant” than Mr. Nobel Peace Prize.

THANK YOU…. Dick beleives the same thing I and all right thinking people do. Gays should be allowed to marry and Obama is a bigot to think otherwise and oppress and entire group of people. The MSM helping him do it make me sick… they are doing nothing but providing cover for “their” candidate.
Raygun

CaptainAmerica said:
We have nonsense like Hate Crime laws in this country that protects everyone except straight Christian males.

Uh, No. Hate crime laws are applied against all crime motivated by religion, race or sexual orientation. In any case violence against straight christian men has different motivations than violence against minorities. They’re not equitable. You’re breaking my heart by the way. No one ever addresses the sad discrimination faced by the straight Christian man.

CaptainAmerica said:
Plus, how many straight kids commit suicide everyday but those don’t get covered? But the media loves to highlight those who aren’t to make the problem seem much larger.

Are you’re drawing false equivalencies for fun, or are you just stupid? There’s no pattern of straight kids of systemically targeted for being straight.
White Ninja

The fact that we debate marriage as sanctioned by the government is so ridiculous. Marriage at it’s root is a religious covenant. Libertarians have this whole issue completely solved and everyone is still screeching about civil rights and slippery slopes. I’m so over it I could puke.
OxyCon

Obama hasn’t figured out which position would benefit himself personally yet.
http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

BHO has stated his position on Gay Marriage quite clearly…
it’s just that the Sean Penn types choose to ignore it because of the “elegance” he brings to the office…
Liberal Tormentor

So he’s voting “present”. What a surprise!
LoyalOpposition

If it weren’t for the starch in his shirt this clown couldn’t even stand up straight. He has no convictions or morals, his only goal is to make sure he is reelected so the press and the world can fawn over him like teenyboppers at a Justin Beiber concert. He really is making Carter look like a stud.
david r

He’s weighing his political options. His “beliefs” are non-existent apart from how they serve him politically.
CAconservative

When did this scroungy-president get the authority to instruct any agency NOT to enforce the law? This clown thinks he has far more power than he actually does.