This is becoming a perfect storm V1.2

[longship]

Last edited Thu May 10, 2012, 11:11 PM - Edit history (6)

What a week! It is like a roller coaster ride.

*V1.2- item 13 corrected re senate activity

Earlier this week, when ABC broadcast their exclusive, I posted that this may turn out to be like a Rope-A-Dope for President Obama. Look what has happened.

0. Friday, 4 May. The likely trigger event. Richard Grenell, foreign policy advisor to Mitt Romney resigns under blistering attacks by party-not-named Rmoney supporters for Grenell's gay lifestyle, as they often phrased it.

1. Sunday: Vice President Biden answers a question on MTP about gay marriage, affirming his support.

2. There are ripples in the press about this, some speculating whether this was a shift in policy by the Obama administration. But no hard news either way. Party not named goes ballistic. Republicans don't say much.

2.5. Monday: Secy of Education Arne Duncan supports Biden's position.

3. Tuesday: NC votes a state constitutional amendment basically outlawing any but heterosexual marriages, and simultaneously removing existing rights for other relationships.

4. Wednesday: President Obama comes out for equal marriage rights. It makes a huge splash.

5. Party not named doubles down. FOX calls it war on marriage. Mitt doubles down with party not named. Log Cabin Republicans double down.

6. Centrist Republicans and Shep Smith of FOX News back Obama position. Ornstein and Mann screed hits big. Danforth's also.

7. Thursday: WaPo publishes that Rmoney was an anti-gay high school bully, alleging that he assaulted a student because he was gay.

8. Rmoney equivocates. Says he can't remember the incident in spite of the fact that WaPo cites four witnesses, three on the record! Makes weak apology.

9. Party not named doubles down again, implying that Rmoney was right by cheering the bullying.

10. Rmoney exposed as having specifically opposing anti-bullying commission while he was governor of MA, a commission whose mandate was to specifically address gay bullying.

11. Log Cabin Republicans flip-flop and basically support the Obama position. FOX News flip-flops on war on marriage.

12. Major Jewish organizations make prominent announcements in support of Obama. This takes away the religious arguments of the party not named. Waiting for more of the same from others, like Episcopals, UCC, Methodists, UU, others?

13. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee announces the intention to bring the Employment Non Descrimination Act (ENDA) on June 12.
Majority Leader Reid intends to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Hoyer and Reed make statements in support of Obama position.
*Clarifications at responses #30, #41, thx Tx4obama

14. Pelosi supports Obama in the face of House Republicans and party not named attempting to strengthen DOMA, doubling down yet again.

And the hits are going to keep coming.

This is not going to go away. I think we will always remember this week. Cherish it. It could be very important.

Let's not waste it though. We can leverage this by all getting together and before the election and joining hands in DC and as people of reason and intelligence and of all faiths and no faith. We can show the Republicans and the party not named what politics are about. Even though we throw a lot of chairs at each other here at DU, we'll be together as one in DC.

I have no resources to make this happen. But many of you do. It would be an incredible thumbed nose to our ideologically pure opponents.

Thanks for your time.

Nota Bene: low bandwidth here. Please don't ding me for getting days wrong. This week's been fast moving. The take-away is the order of events and how fast the story is developing.

Thank you to everybody supporting this thread. I thought it might be useful in this hectic week. Substantive additions will be added to the chronology.

Love you all!


Gotta go for version numbers

[The Magistrate]

1. This, Sir, Is Why I Do Not Believe The 'Biden Spoke Out Of Turn' Line...

The timing his too perfect.

[longship]

8. Well, Obama said he did.

That's not something that he would volunteer. Plus, it played out like it was serendipitous. Biden was asked a question, and he answered it. Maybe he primed it; maybe he didn't. Maybe they planned it; maybe not.

It really is irrelevant what we think really happened. I am happy with the story being told because the outcome will not change whether it was planned or not.

Serendipity is sometimes a nice thing. Regrettably, for the party not named, it may be very grave.

Thx

[crayfish]

40. If it won't fight the GOP with every available weapon, it probably deserves the 'grave'

Either we...er, they have principles or they don't, right?

[jillan]

10. I agree 100%. I've been following Biden for many years, and that was deliberate ;)

[fascisthunter]

13. I Agree...

...and it was well played.

[DevonRex]

25. Besides, Joe's gaffes are done on purpose

so he can blame purposeful remarks on just making another gaffe anyway. Anybody who hasn't figured that out...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

31. tfh

[spanone]

37. The Magistrate speaks the truth!

[MADem]

44. Of course he didn't--it was Tinker to Evers to Chance, that whole business.

WAPO "RMoney The Gay Bashing Bully" story is finished, goes through final editing, is assigned a publication date. Someone tips the WH.

Biden goes on TV, and in Biden-ish fashion, "talks out of turn." (Totally believable--it's his 'best asset' in the right situation.) Wonder if he rehearsed it to make it seem more "off the cuff" or if his years in politics enabled him to wing it without too much agita?

Ooooooh, nooooo! The Biden babble "forces" Obama to give the ABC interview, conveniently right before the RMoney "compare and contrast" article hits the streets.

The Take Away? Obama is compassionate, he is a person who "evolves" and can grow; RMoney is a bastard who beat up gay kids in school and STILL can't admit that what he did was wrong.

It's Priceless Like Mastercard!

[longship]

47. I love baseball analogies!

Thank you for your support.

Sometimes things just happen. The human brain is evolved to assign design in what happens by chance. They see Jesus in a pizza pie, Mother Mary in a tree stump, fucking Elvis everywhere.

Just because there is a pattern does not imply it's deliberate. If you have no specific evidence for it, Occam's razor demands that you cut it off.

[MADem]

51. My favorite Occam's Razor quote is "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras."

I saw this thing unfold, I heard the hoofbeats, and I thought "Ahhh, horses!"

[longship]

56. I believe that would be Arthur Conan Doyle

AKA, Sherlock Holmes.

[MADem]

62. Yes, our pal Sherlock was essentially invoking Occam's Razor!

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth...!

[Lugnut]

59. I don't believe he did either.

Joe was the perfect foil since he's well known for opening his mouth to insert his foot. I think this was a well orchestrated plan that was executed with perfection. My only question is why now?

[aquart]

70. Well, if they hadn't done it, what would the news have been covering?

North Carolina? The bullying story? The economic news, whatever its been? The White House swept the airwaves.

Billionaire cash couldn't beat it.

[Lugnut]

78. That's true.

It was the story of the week until the report about Mittens being a bully, surprise, surprise.

[Number23]

60. 100% agreee. The president's comments were no surprise to me at all

And I honestly don't believe they were a genuine (emphasis on "Genuine&quot surprise to anyone that's heard a word the man's said during his tenure so far.

Hillary/DoS have done great things re: marriage equality for over a year. Then Biden makes his comments. Then Duncan. These folks ain't going to say a damn thing unless they know the big dog feels the same way. No surprises here at all.

[tcaudilllg]

68. Biden calculated that this was his moment to push Obama his way.

[sarcasmo]

2. The Sheperd Smith statement was a classic and pretty much caught faux news off guard.

[longship]

48. He did that during Katrina, too.

ABC ought to hire him. No, he should remain at Faux news as the only sane one.

[jaysunb]

3. It's not just THIS week you'll remember, but the entire

campaign...watch every thing the republicans thought they'd gotten away w/ start coming back.

Step by step...slowly I turn...Obama to the right of me, Obama to the left of me....

The debates and Romneys words will stand out for all to see. Each Obama accomplishment and every republican NO will be rerun.

I can hardly wait.

[longship]

12. I am not a cynic, but I try to be cautious

But this seems to be great. Obama has played the Republicans and the party not named like a fiddle. It's Cassius Clay's Rope-A-Dope all over again.

Whoever is running Obama's campaign this time, has cojones.

But I think this week's events were not planned. Obama merely siezed the initiative, and the advantage.

Thx

[jaysunb]

39. The landmines were planted by the republicans themselves

and it won't matter much whether they're stepped on inadvertantly or by design.
Let's GOTV w/ a smug smile on our faces. :Hi:

[liberal N proud]

4. Is Obama not brilliant?

Well played Mr. President, well played.


The GOP will now talk about marriage and drop the ball on attacking Obama on the economy.

[longship]

17. It was an orthogonal move.

If Republicans and their party not named allies want to make this about women, gays, and other social issues, let's go!

Biden played the trump card early, but the avalanche of bad news for the opponents has been stunning. WaPo almost had to be sitting on the Cranbrook story. Or, more likely, Obama's announcement on Wednesday and Rmoney's equivocation spurned these guys from Cranbrook to contact WaPo about what they knew about Rmoney.

The latter is what I think happened. People do not like Willard. They like his father -- as a Michigander, I still do -- but Mitt is a douchebag. That's why they gave the WaPo the scoop. Well timed, it was.

[DCKit]

5. An excellent synopsis and analysis. nt

[longship]

18. Thank you

I was almost glassy eyed as I saw this all happening. I knew that this was important enough to put together a rough chronology of the week's events to put in perspective how important it may be.

Amazing, all because of Joe Biden.

Whatta fuckin' guy.

[rhiannon55]

66. That's our Joe!

We love him

[lark]

71. Beat me to it -

I Love Joe too, he's so "real".

[mmonk]

6. Good idea and watching naked hatred should be a learning experience for the country.

[yardwork]

7. I think it was planned, but my state and my rights got chewed up in the machine.

Polls indicated that North Carolina voters would pass the hate amendment outlawing not just equal marriage for gay people but all other non-marital relationships as well.

I believe that the Obama campaign made a carefully calculated strategic decision to leverage this loss. Their strategy worked. I'm glad it worked for them because I want Obama to be reelected.

As a gay North Carolinian, I can recognize and respect the successful strategy, but personally, it hurts like hell.

And, please, don't rush in and tell me how everything will be seashells and balloons when Obama is reelected. North Carolina probably won't overturn this constitutional amendment in my lifetime, and neither will most of the 40 other states that have constitutional amendments outlawing my relationship with another human being, which we consider sacred. The map will solidify with perhaps ten states recognizing the right of gay people to marry or have civil unions, and 40 states treating us like dirt. And that's the way it will remain for many years, as presidents and congresses come and go, until one day, maybe, the will of the people requires a federal remedy, as with the Civil Rights Movement and women's rights to privacy and family planning. The states' rights that Obama knows will help him get reelected aren't going to help me or millions of other Americans at all.

[longship]

33. I promise.

I will not give you any platitudes. I do not know how even to empathize with you. I am out of your element, so to speak.

But, I will be with you all the way, as will a great, great many of us here at DU, and across the nation.

The LGBT has done the requisite and prodigious spadework by themselves. Although always an ally, I confess that I have not always been an activist. That changed a decade or so ago for me.

There are many of us like us in the world. I sincerely hope you realize that we wouldn't all be together at this time if the LGBT community hadn't done that spade work to change culture.

That is a battle we all fight together now. I bow to the LGBT community because you have done such an exquisite job that maybe, just maybe, victory is at least in sight.

You're against LGBT? Bully for you, you bully!

Things are changing for all of us. We have to sieze the nettle.

We're all together.

Thanks.

[MADem]

45. Don't give up, don't give in. It's not easy but it can be done.

This is why local elections matter. This is why state elections matter. This is why federal elections matter.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/10/usa-civilunions-colorado-idUSL1E8GAMRG20120510

DENVER, May 10 (Reuters) - Colorado's Democratic governor called on Thursday for a special legislative session to consider a civil unions bill that would grant legal rights to same-sex couples, setting up a potential showdown with Republican lawmakers.

Governor John Hickenlooper said in an executive order calling for the session, due on Monday, that the bill was needed so couples, regardless of their sexual orientation, could "take care of each other and their families."

[mmonk]

50. Republican leaders have predicted it will be repealed in 20 years.

So what kind of people do this while thinking it won't last long term? Hateful is all that comes to my mind.

[MrModerate]

53. I disagree with your gloomy assessment . . .

But then I don't have to live in North Carolina.

That having been said, I see this as very close to the tipping point. I think you will begin to see those hate laws rolled back in some of the states that have passed them, either by the legislatures, the courts, or the people (actually a combination of all three). Remember too, that once California cleans up the leftover uncertainty arising from Proposition H8 -- which will happen the next time the people get a voice -- then the number of states denying their citizens' civil rights will be insignificant compared to the percentage of the population that lives in the real America (even if it's only 10 or 15 individual states).

And time is not on the haters' side. To a majority of young people, being gay is roughly equivalent to being left-handed: it just doesn't matter. And being persecuted for being left-handed doesn't sit well with them. The haters are dinosaurs and they are doomed.

Which doesn't help you a bit today, in North Carolina.

I'm the sort who likes to move around, so if I was facing what you are, I'd just move. Over time, the brain drain from no-opposable-thumb states will tend to disadvantage them and hasten their descent into irrelevance. At some point, we'll start taking their Senators and Congressmen away.

But they won't notice.

[NNN0LHI]

9. There is no such thing as coincidence in politics

[longship]

19. There are always coincidences

But neither of us has any definitive information to indicate that it was anything but a coincidence.

Obama, Biden, and the campaign had obviously talked about it. It was planned before the convention. Biden may have primed MTP about it to tweak things. But that's all we really know. To extrapolate would be a mistake. We may never know. Be happy with that.

[jillan]

11. What I am loving is hearing people like Rush Limpo trying to defend the sanctity of marriage!

[Quixote1818]

15. You will like this!

[azurnoir]

14. Don't hold your breath for the Methodists just last week -

Methodists Uphold Policy that Calls Homosexuality ‘Incompatible with Christian Teaching’

http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2012/05/methodists_upho.html

[xmas74]

32. It's more from the growth in third world countries

than anything. Many of the third world members have made comments about it and some in the ministry are afraid of upsetting them. There's a decent sized movement in the U.S. that want it recognized and are becoming more organized about the cause.

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

Basically, what it'll take is the current generation in power to finally relinquish the reins for the next generation to vote it in, no matter what the Asian and African contingencies demand.

[Tx4obama]

16. And here's some MORE : Hoyer, Reed, Reid, and ENDA news

House Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announces support for marriage equality

Rep. Steny Hoyer Comes Out For Marriage Equality

Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is adding his voice to the growing chorus of lawmakers endorsing marriage equality following President Obama’s historic declaration that gay and lesbian couples should have the freedom to marry. “I have believed that the phrase ‘civil union’ was an appropriate definition of a relationship that is both different and the same between two people of the same sex. And I have believed strongly that such couples must be treated equally under the law,” he says:

Because I believe that equal treatment is a central tenet of our nation, I believe that extending the definition of marriage to committed relationships between two people, irrespective of their sex, is the right thing to do and will not, in any way, undermine the institution of marriage so important to our society nor impose a threat to any individual marriage. It will, however, extend the respect due to every one of our fellow citizens that we would want for ourselves and our children.

Since Obama announced his support on Wednesday, Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Harry Reid (D-NV) have also backed the LGBT community and the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee announced that it will take up the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) on June 12.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/05/10/482369/hoyer-marriage/

[longship]

22. Thank you. Keep the hits coming! Added.

This is what I was posting about. The Republicans and their party-not-named allies are going to have to either stand their ground (with the bullies -- I might add) and lose their seats, or support the bill. Either way, they're screwn. And they still may lose the support of the few moderates left.

For Christ sakes, Susan Collins came out in support of Obama's position.

This isn't going well for the Repukes.

[Tx4obama]

27. Nancy Pelosi

"My religion compels me to be against discrimination of every kind” -- Nancy Pelosi on marriage equality

https://twitter.com/thinkprogress/status/200729475804176384

[Tx4obama]

30. Clarification

your edit addition here:

13. Senate Democrats (Reid, Hoyer, Reed) announce the intention to bring the Employment Non Descrimination Act (ENDA) to a vote in June. On edit!

That sentence above is not exactly correct, too much lumping together there, it's wrong.

Reid, Hoyer, and Reed did NOT make the ENDA announcement - "a Senate committee spokesman" made the announcement.
See here info below:

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, headed by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) will be holding hearings on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act on June 12, a committee spokesperson tells Metro Weekly. -snip-
http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2012/05/harkin-sets-senate-committee-hearing-on-enda-for-j.htm

Steny Hoyer came out supporting marriage equality - May 10, 2012: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014118404


Jack Reed came out supporting marriage equality - May 9, 2012: http://www.towleroad.com/2012/05/senator-jack-reed-d-ri-follows-obama-comes-out-for-marriage-equality-repeal-of-doma.html

[cherokeeprogressive]

26. TP says Hoyer endorses marriage equality but Reid "backed the LGBT community". His website says

his personal view is that marriage is between a man and a woman. It also quotes him as saying he believes the states should be the final arbiter in this issue. Yes, he says "people should be able to marry whomever they want", but that seems a pretty tepid way of agreeing with the President if you ask me.

Why does he get to have it both ways? From http://www.reid.senate.gov/newsroom/pr_050912_marriageequality.cfm

"May 9, 2012


Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid issued the following statement today following President Obama’s announcement of support for marriage equality.

“My personal belief is that marriage is between a man and a woman. But in a civil society, I believe that people should be able to marry whomever they want, and it’s no business of mine if two men or two women want to get married. The idea that allowing two loving, committed people to marry would have any impact on my life, or on my family’s life, always struck me as absurd.

“In talking with my children and grandchildren, it has become clear to me they take marriage equality as a given. I have no doubt that their view will carry the future.

“I handled a fair amount of domestic relations work when I was a practicing lawyer, and it was all governed by state law. I believe that is the proper place for this issue to be decided as well.”

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. I thought Biden misspoke but considering the interview was taped Friday and the administration

knew about it then, it's obvious it was a very well orchestrated political play. David Axelrod's tweets Sunday seemed like he was caught off guard but I'd bet my right arm he was in the room during Biden's interview. And watching Carney on Monday in the face of the tough questions still makes me think he was left out of the loop on purpose. Good idea; giving your Press Secretary "plausible deniability".

The biggest question I have about this whole episode though is why now? Given the American propensity for "moving on" and forgetting about yesterday's top story means any bump President Obama gets from this won't even be visible in the rear view mirror by the time November rolls around.

[DevonRex]

23. Perhaps because of upcoming legislation mentioned by Tx above.

I think this was the kickoff for an event-filled summer. And I think the choice of the convention in the South was done with this in mind.

[longship]

28. Good question, why now?

I still think that that argues for serendipity, to an extent. As I said earlier this ended up being classic Rope-A-Dope. The Republicans and their party-not-named associates were playing the social politics card so often, and throughout the country, that how better than to do the Rope-A-Dope.

The Repukes now have to live with this. In the meantime, Obama moves on to the economy while Repukes still have to defend against the social political Rope-A-Dope. Certainly, the Repuke led state legislatures don't seem to be willing to let it go. That means more Rope-A-Dope.

It was brilliantly played and the consequences for the Rmoney have been profound.

The lights will be burning late tonight at Camp Rmoney. I have a feeling that will be a common occurrence until November.

[DevonRex]

34. Oh, no, not serendipity at all.

This was totally planned. They knew the NC bill was going to be on the ballot and that it would win big. They had absolutely no control over that. None whatever. But the convention is going to be held there and perhaps that was part of why the North Carolina Republicans had put it on the ballot to begin with. But passage of Amendment One was going to be a devastating blow to LGBT Americans. The only way to possibly ease the pain a little bit was to make the announcement then. So Biden did a little "gaffe" prior and Obama came out for marriage equality right after.

[longship]

49. I don't buy that, but I cannot refute that

Orchestrated or not, this is classic Rope-A-Dope. At some point in the game somebody's eyes lit up and said, "We've got them."

I truly believe that the WaPo story was outside the box. No newspaper would conspire with a campaign. Those Cranbrook guys, Rmoney's classmates had to be discussing this stuff for a while. Maybe WaPo pushed it when Obama and Rmoney made their positions clear, but that had to be a surprise for the Obama campaign. A gift at an opportune time. Thank you WaPo!

[wryter2000]

21. The Episcopalians should speak up

We've been LGBT affirming for years, including marriage equality. Not all parishes agree, and some have split off, but the church has stood firm.

[hifiguy]

24. Democrats have received a windfall of ammunition

this week. More might be on the way if Democrats get rid of Snotty Scotty Walker next month. Speaking only for myself I have become much more excited about this election. As James Carville famously said, when you see your enemy drowning, throw the SOB an anvil. We now have a lot of anvils to throw, as a party, and I'd bet that Mittens and the repukes will give us a lot more. We must use them at every available opportunity.

[FailureToCommunicate]

29. I agree with your reactions to these events...but on your point #12

Last edited Thu May 10, 2012, 08:42 PM - Edit history (1)

Specifically two of the religious bodies you mention have been at the fore front of acceptance and advocacy of marriage equality and LGBT rights for a long time: Unitarian Universalists and United Church of Christ (Obama's denomination)

They could rightly respond by saying 'what took him so long'


http://www.ucc.org/lgbt/lgbt-history-timeline.html
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_and_affirming

From Wiki:
"On same-sex marriage:
Churches in the UCC can sanctify same-sex unions. The resolution "In support of equal marriage rights for all", supported by an estimated 80% of the UCC's 2005 general synod delegates, made the United Church of Christ the first major Christian deliberative body in the U.S. to make a statement of support for "equal marriage rights for all people, regardless of gender," and is hitherto the largest Christian denominational entity in the U.S. supporting same-sex marriage."

[longship]

36. The Episcopals, too.

The Church of England (Anglicans) is a very liberal church, no matter what some idiot bishops may say. In this country they are called the Episcopals. AFAIK, They've supported marriage equality for some time.

[edbermac]

35. Mittens, Obama is going to beat the white off your ass.

I cannot wait!

[NightWatcher]

38. Remember last election how Obama worked? (re: chess v checkers)

He's great when it comes to campaigning. Hillary would have a good news day, he'd counter with a great day. McCain would do something, BOOM , he'd blow that out of the water.

He's got this election planned out. Somewhere at O 2012 HQ there's a folder with what story will drop on which day along with a counter to every attack from Moron Rmoney.

Chill out.....he's got this.....again.

[longship]

42. When you chill out, 2010 happens. There is no chilling' out.

Shame on you.

Our opponents are very organized and they have (Monty Python here) hugh!!1!! Tracks of land.

It's the chilling out that lost us the House in 2010, although Obama was seemingly also depending on people who were maybe too chilled out.

It looks like this year will be won by hard work, as is evidenced in my little chronology. I don't think anybody in this is chilling out.

[jaysunb]

43. You are 100% correct ! n/t

[Tx4obama]

41. Senate may try to repeal Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA )

Senate may try to repeal Defense of Marriage Act
Source: Politico

A day after President Barack Obama endorsed gay marriage, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid suggested Thursday that Democrats may move to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, the Clinton-era law that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

Such a move would energize the liberal base and provide a contrast to House Republicans, who passed their own measure this week aimed at bolstering DOMA.

But it could also alienate conservative Democrats in the middle of an election year.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2012/05/senate-may-try-to-repeal-defense-of-marriage-act-123110.html

[MADem]

52. This REALLY needs to happen.

Right now, spouses of military personnel who are gay are in a perverse limbo because of that fucking DOMA. State Department personnel are (only for now) not in the same fix because HRC is paying for their transportation and No Fee Passports and other administrative expenses out of her own departmental budget--not because there's any funding allocated.

The challenge will be getting it past the House. Maybe they can attach it to a "No Stomping on Pictures of Ronald Reagan" amendment or something!

[rufus dog]

46. Agree and can add two other key events

Kicking off the storm was Romney staffer Grenell quiting, under pressure from the religious right.

The day after the Biden "gaffe," Team Obama sends out Duncan to be interviewed by a guy who called the President a "Dick." Halperin (the actual Dick) hits Duncan immediately on gay marriage. Duncan answers Halperan calmly and honestly, setting up the President and making Halperin look like a DICK! A twofer.

Oh and Halperin is a DICK!

[Blue Owl]

54. (rubs hands together)

I look forward to surveying the flotsam and jetsam of SS GOP...

[Arctic Dave]

55. Also,

[longship]

57. Also... Huh?

[Arctic Dave]

58. Fat fingered my phone.

Meant to say it was great the way Biden spoke up first because it shuts down a lot of the catholic poutrage.

[Waiting For Everyman]

61. WaPo's story was in the works "for weeks", I think Obama/Biden found out about it

(sometime last week possibly?), and got ahead of it. If they had not done that, their statements would've looked like piling on and expediency. Just a guess, but I have a hunch something like that is right.

[southmost]

63. what a difference 10 years made

back in 2004 election , I felt the marriage equality had to be in hiding

[varelse]

64. I think you're on to something

I am an independent who is very far to the left of the Democratic party.

For the first time since shortly after President Obama took office, I feel motivated to do more in support of him than just vote for the 'lesser of two evils' in the Presidential election.

This, for me, was the tipping point.

Hopefully it will be that for hundreds of thousands of other independent voters on the left.

[Scurrilous]

65. K & R

[tcaudilllg]

67. Agree with your assessment, not your conclusion.

Exploitation bids rarely turn out well. It's trending in the direction of a SCOTUS overturning of DOMA and invalidation of the state amendments. The real direction the country is heading is this: government has no business legislating anything related to marriage. Period.

[longship]

69. Well, we will have to see how far this goes

The media can be fickle. But I cannot see that this won't have legs for the long term. Rmoney doubling down on the issue will undoubtedly shore up his party-not-named support, but probably at the cost of moderates. That seems to be his only strategy at this point, campaigning to the right. If he loses moderates, he loses the election in a big way.

That's kind of my take on it. We will have to whether it's correct.

Concerning marriage rights, I agree with you entirely. This will only be resolved by SCOTUS, and I think Obama is smart enough to know that. That is why I am not too worried about his apparent splitting of the difference in his mentioning states rights. Does anybody who's upset with that doubt whether Obama would support marriage equality in front of the court?

This would be especially true if this really was stage craft, as many DUers (and elsewhere) are saying.

Thanks for your well thought out response.

[adigal]

72. And Romney is ahead of Obama by 7 in the latest poll

My head is about to explode!! I hope it was taken before the bullying came out.

[longship]

73. That would be Rasmussen, forget it! nt

.

[Tx4obama]

76. Rasmussen polls always favor the republicans. Keep an eye on the other polls other than Rasmussen

Latest polls here: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/

and here: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html

[stopwastingmymoney]

74. Rec and kick for later

[Tx4obama]

75. Cover of 'The New Yorker'

[Zalatix]

77. President Barack "Gigamind" Obama?

Because 'Megamind' just doesn't effin' cut it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

79. A possible '-1' bullet point for you:

'Will & Grace' creator: Biden gay marriage remarks looked 'choreographed'

Mutchnick told CBS "This Morning" that while he was attending a private function in Los Angeles, Biden made clear his support for same-sex marriage, weeks prior to the vice president's public comments Sunday expressing backing for gay marriage.

"It says to me that this was all very choreographed. Look, I'm just a man that experienced this, but Vice President Biden made it very clear that day that these were his views and so much so that they wanted to record them," Mutchnick said.

Mutchnick told CBS that Biden's remarks at the L.A. function were being recorded by White House staff.
...
"He [Biden] was testing the material out of town and then he took it to a larger house, which was 'Meet the Press.' It was verbatim what he said," Mutchnick added.

http://thehill.com/video/administration/226687-will-a-grace-creator-says-biden-gay-marriage-remarks-choreographed

I read some blog (but I can't find it now) that also said Biden had dropped some hint about support for gay marriage a few weeks ago - whether it was referring to this private function or not, I can't remember.

[pinboy3niner]

80. Convention chair Villaraigosa says he was told a cpl wks ahead that Pres. would make statement soon

L.A. mayor said he knew same-sex marriage announcement was coming

Posted by
CNN Political Unit
May 10th, 2012
07:46 PM ET


(CNN) - Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Thursday he was forewarned of President Barack Obama's announcement that he supports same-sex marriage.

"I did know a couple of weeks ago that something would be said soon on this issue," he said on CNN's "John King, USA."

...

Story and VIDEO of Villaraigosa interview (05:50):
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/10/l-a-mayor-said-he-knew-same-sex-marriage-announcement-was-coming/?iref=allsearch

In the interview Thursday, Villaraigosa said specifically that he was told a couple of weeks earlier that the President would be making a statement on marriage equality "soon."