Biden Said to Apologize to Obama Over Gay Marriage Issue

[boston bean]

WASHINGTON — A few hours before President Obama offered his historic endorsement of same-sex marriage on Wednesday, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. apologized to the president in the Oval Office for forcing Mr. Obama’s hand by airing his own views three days earlier, several people briefed on the exchange said on Thursday.

Mr. Biden declared in an interview on Sunday that he was “absolutely comfortable” with same-sex marriage, a position that went considerably further than the president’s “evolving” views on the matter and scrambled the White House’s carefully laid plans for confronting one of the most sensitive social issues in the election.

Mr. Obama, in an interview with ABC News, said the vice president had gotten “a little bit over his skis” but had done so “out of generosity of spirit.” The president bore Mr. Biden no lingering ill will, according to several officials, though the episode enraged Mr. Obama’s senior advisers in the White House and on the campaign.

It was easily the biggest instance of crossed wires between the garrulous vice president and his more button-down boss, in an administration that has been marked by occasional eruptions by Mr. Biden. And its effect was magnified both because it involved a fraught social issue and because it came just as the general election campaign is heating up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/us/politics/biden-said-to-apologize-to-obama-over-gay-marriage-issue.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1336734251-4QFCncHOnmTqaFpQulgDoQ

Really...

[pinboy3niner]

1. Convention chair Villaraigosa says he was told a couple wks ago 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."

Villaraigosa also said a vote held Tuesday in North Carolina to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage wouldn't prevent Democrats from holding their convention in the state.

...


The mayor, who serves as the chairman of the convention, continued: "Look, we're already far down the way in terms of planning for this convention. It's going to be the most open and accessible. North Carolina is an important state, we're going to work to win the hearts and minds of votes, of the voters there. We're going to go ahead with the convention there in September."


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 yesterday (Thursday), Villaraigosa said specifically that he was told a couple of weeks ago that the President would be making a statement on marriage equality "soon."

[NYC Liberal]

4. Yes, I think the idea that this just randomly happened is silly.

It was very well planned (and that's not at all a bad thing).

[pinboy3niner]

8. It's a very good thing--for us

And some doubt our President's multi-dimensional chess skills.

Nice sigline, btw.

[morningfog]

2. I'm glad Biden gave his evolution a swift kick in the butt.

Sooner is always better than later to support civil rights! Thank you Biden and President Obama!

[vaberella]

6. Read post 1. It was going to happen regardless. Biden doesn't make gafes unless it's in the works.

n/t

[morningfog]

7. I understand it was in the works.

Obama's hand was still forced. Even if by just a days or weeks.

And who knows what could have happened in the interim to delay or postpone.

[vaberella]

10. I don't think much since I think Obama has been moving in this direction for a while. n/t

[rucky]

3. Obama should be thanking Biden

or will be soon. This will make a positive impact on his campaign.

[pinboy3niner]

5. It looks like they punk'd RMoney and the GOP

Just before WaPo broke the RMoney bullying story (which both political camps knew about for weeks in advance), first the VP and then the President made marriage equality statements that dominated the news cycle.

Looks like brilliant strategery on the part of the Obama/Biden campaign.

[Mass]

9. Why did he need to apologize?