Proposition 8 ruling puts Obama on the spot

[derby378]

A federal judge’s ruling Wednesday striking down California’s ban on same-sex marriage is a historic and possibly pivotal legal victory for gay rights advocates, but the decision also poses a formidable threat to President Barack Obama’s strategy of relegating divisive social issues to the back burner...

“His position on Prop. 8 has always been clear. What has not been clear is how he squares his position for equality with his refusal to embrace actual equality in marriage. That is unclear, increasingly unclear, and there’s no good reason to explain it,” said Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry. “That’s an unsatisfying position that does nothing but frustrate those of us who look to him as the champion he promised to be…He’s not gaining anything and Judge Walker just made that crystal clear.”

Same-sex marriage opponents also view Obama’s position as unsustainable in light of Walker’s decision.

“He’s got to show his cards,” said Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage. “Do you support one San Francisco judge in imposing his view of marriage on the rest of the country or not?... Anyone who just looks at this from an objective point of view realizes the president’s position is untenable.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/40683

[VMI Dem]

1. He is clear. Marriage is between a man and woman.

Those are the cards.

[derby378]

3. I think a growing number of liberals no longer care

They only care about whether or not the Constitution limits marriage to heterosexual unions.

Last I saw, it doesn't, so I think they're waiting for Obama to get on the bus.

[VMI Dem]

4. His bigotry is rooted in religion, which is hard to shake.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. His "bigotry" is only political expediency.

His church of 20 years is a very liberal Christian church that is not against gays in any way. Besides, O was for gay marriage before he was running for President. He pussied out and went the civil unions route out of political fear.

[VMI Dem]

8. IF true...that makes it worse.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

Can't get much more clear than this:

"I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages." Barack Obama, 1996.

[villager]

13. That must've been back when he was for a public option, too...

n/t

[Poboy]

14. This is the correct answer. -nt

[frebrd]

10. Exactly! eom

[Hell Hath No Fury]

Well, he is on record as supporting it --

back in the day, before he was against it. :shrug: Just like he was for single payer before he was against it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/13/obama-once-supported-same_n_157656.html

President-elect Obama's answer to a 1996 Outlines newspaper question on marriage was: "I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages." There was no use of the phrase "civil unions".

This answer is among those included in this week's Windy City Times feature on Obama's evolving position on gay marriage. Windy City Times also includes his answers to the candidate questionnaire of IMPACT, at one time a gay political action committee in Illinois. In that survey he also stated his support of same-sex marriage.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

2. Yes it does.

And he can step up and do the right thing or continue to cower on this issue. I suspect I know where he will go with this but I hope that I am surprised.

[zipplewrath]

6. Supposedly he's willing to change his mind

He did on the 16 month troop pullout from Iraq
He did on mandates
He did on cadillac taxes
Who knows, maybe he can change his mind here?

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. He sure does change his mind!

Always in the wrond direction, sadly.

[laughingliberal]

5. K & R nt

[jberryhill]

11. He's on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals?

Man he gets around.

And here I thought we had three branches of government.

[Bonhomme Richard]

12. All he has to show is a support for the rule of law. n/t