I can't help but think

[cilla4progress]

that Michelle had much ado with her husband's pronouncement today. Especially after reading "The Obamas"...these are the positions she has been pushing him towards. I believe if Emmanuel were still President Obama's COS, the President might not have made the statement he made today. She is a truly great 1st lady, in the mold of Eleanor Roosevelt, and every bit as responsible for moving this country forward on civil rights.

[TBMASE]

1. I think he took a cowardly position

sure, he endorced it but what is he going to DO about it?
He believes it's a state issue so he'll just cheerlead from the sidelines instead of getting down in the trenches and really making a difference.

I'm not satisfied and neither are a lot of my friends

[liberalmuse]

2. The fact that he's said...

"I am for Gay Marriage" is very courageous for a politician. I wouldn't discount that. He did a lot about it today - by helping to nudge people towards accepting that two consenting adults in love should be allowed to commit to each other in the eyes of the law. Cowardly? Hardly.

[TBMASE]

9. Puhleaaase

nudging people? People are there, leadership is taking action. He needs to do more than just "this is my personal view" DO THE RIGHT THING.
I mean, could you imagine a president saying " I believe blacks shouldn't be lynched and kept from voting but it's a state issue"? Would that be a courageous statement?

He needs to come out with something bold, not empty words, politicians SAYING they support gay marriage is nothing new. Dick Cheney thinks gay marriage is a state issue...and the states do what NC did yesterday

[FarLeftFist]

19. Have your pity parade somewhere else.

[TBMASE]

22. Pity Parade? Would you applaud someone who said this?

"My personal belief is that schools should be integrated but it's really a state issue"

[AtomicKitten]

5. It took mondo balls to drop this in the midst of an election.

You and your friends are fucking welcome.

[TBMASE]

10. Mondo Balls? He's not breaking new ground

he's saying "it's a state issue" ...hardly ballsy to say you believe in something but that you're not going to take any action to make it a reality

you know who else thinks it's a state issue? Dick, fucking Cheney...

[Solomon]

12. Yes it did. The bellyaching is ridiculous.

He's staked his presidency on civil rights. Yet you get this kind of crap.

[TBMASE]

13. He staked his presidency on Dick Cheney's position?

Well, I think that freedom means freedom for everyone. As many of you know, one of my daughters is gay and it is something that, uh, we have lived with for a long time, in our family. I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish. Any kind of arrangement they wish. The question of whether or not there ought to be a federal statute that governs this, I don't support. I do believe that historically the way marriage has been regulated is at the state level. It has always been a state issue, and I think that's the way it ought to be handled today, that is on a state-by-state basis. Different states will make different decisions. But I don't have any problem with that. I think people ought to get a shot at that.


The fucking states put amendments in their constitution that forbids it....

[freshwest]

14. I didn't know Darth was running for office.

[TBMASE]

15. Does it really matter what Darth is doing? The president has the same view on the

the issue as that souless fuck, Cheney and I'm supposed to stand up and cheer for the man?

If he REALLY wanted to stake his presidency to civil rights, he'd be pushing for something REAL

[freshwest]

16. Why bring Darth into this at all? No difference on other issues for you, too?

[TBMASE]

17. Why? Because all I see is how brave Obama is for

taking the exact same position as that asshole

If I wanted a president who took the same position as a man with no heart, I'd be a fucking freeper

[freshwest]

20. Obama has not done one single thing right, has he?

[TBMASE]

21. Who said that?

DADT was Leadership. It was bold action and certainly more laudible than his personal opinion and deference to the states that write constitutional amendments denying rights

[FarLeftFist]

6. Cowardly position?! You're a plant. And anyone who responds that way is also. Sorry.

That's how I feel. Pres. Obama has been ANYTHING but cowardly. His entire life story is one of courage. I'm sick of this BS. It's like somehow everyone expects more from him because he's an African-American. Like because he's black and white people voted for him he's somehow indentured to bow to your every command. There's a hint of racism on the prof left and it's disgusting. Feel free to alert on this or whatever, but I'm so sick of this BS divisive tactic that takes place here. A coward?! Statements like that belong over in FR. HOPE>FEAR This place is becoming the fucking doom and gloomers playground. Whatever, outside my window today here in NYC I heard cheers, hope, and happiness.

[TBMASE]

11. You sure get excited about words that mean nothing

what if he said "Blacks should have the right to vote and not be murdered for exercising that right but it's a state issue"?

Would you say he was doing anything REAL? Politicians are cowards when they give their "personal view" and then follow up with statements that show they're not going to do anything to change the status quo

Basically he's taken the Dick Cheney position..hardly courageous

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. There's been an increase in "Obama the bigot" and "Obama the coward" threads. Makes me wonder...

[spanone]

8. pfffffft

3t

[Flatpicker]

3. I think

The Biden comments were intended to be an indicator of what Obama should do.
If Joe had reaped the whirlwind, then today would have not happened.

I applaud Obama for his actions today, but realize that this is just a step in the long process that will be the fight for equality.
At least he opened the door at the executive level.

[cilla4progress]

7. You are entirely right!

Joe's statements were not necessarily off-script, and were more in the vein of running it up the flagpole.

Obama's statement today was important and impactful. There is no diminishing it.

[stlsaxman]

4. your speculation along this line does ring true in many ways, but-

to put it correctly- "Michelle had much TO do with her husband's pronouncement today."

ado [əˈduː]
n
bustling activity; fuss; bother; delay (esp in the phrases without more ado, with much ado)
[from the phrase at do a to-do, from Old Norse at to (marking the infinitive) + do1]

as it is- the GOP is making "much ado" with Obama's pronouncement today.