I don't think he's a homophobe. I believe that he believes he's not a bigot in the same way fundies

[cherokeeprogressive]

deny their own bigotry. He's said, and I paraphrase, that his faith leads him to believe that MARRIAGE is between a man and a woman. In other words, his FAITH leads him to believe something, so believing that thing isn't bigoted. That's the same argument the fundies would take. I'll add that as a parent of a Gay Teenager, I'm not a fan of the result of what he believes.

He believes that Marriage is between a man and a woman. Period. End of sentence. His faith takes him there. He said so in so many words.

At the time, I took his words to mean "hey I can't do anything at all until I get elected..." but what they really meant, in my estimation, was "You need to elect me and I'll tell you exactly why later".

I'm still waiting. My gay teenage Daughter is still waiting. Gay friends of my parents who have only recently felt comfortable coming out are still waiting.

Civil Rights are Human Rights and Separate is Not Fucking Equal.

Calling Barack Obama a homophobe over this though is confusing the issue by inserting the kind of hyperbole that renders most arguments moot. He's just convinced due to his faith that Men should never marry Men, and Women should never marry Women.

The "Fierce Advocate" comment? Well, he had to get elected, didn't he?

Yeah, but the alternative... wait, what? There IS no alternative.

I'm fucked, but I know who I'm voting for... things are fucked up now, but dog dammit they could be worse. Live on my feet rather than die on my knees and all that...

[jonnyblitz]

1. you are making excuses for his bigotry because it came

about by his faith. BY your definition the KKK aren't bigots because the use their christianity and bible quotes to rationalize their racism.

and just because HE thinks he isn't a bigot doesn't mean he isn't one.

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. Easy Turbo, I'm not making excuses. My daughter is gay. My alternatives are nil.

I was making that point that others can rationalize HIS bigotry because it suits their politics.

[LAGC]

3. Obama's not a bigot, and its not his faith holding him back.

He's on record as supporting gay marriage when he was running for Illinois senator in 1996.

No, his opposition to gay marriage now is pure politics. Which some would argue, is even worse.

[TheKentuckian]

4. If he can make an exception for usury then gay marriage should be a breeze

Usury is admonished many more times than homosexuality. Plus, how does he get to being okay with gays but then get stuck on marriage when there is no verse that even deals with that aspect.

Hell, lying seems to be a much bigger focus but whatever.

[Kitsune]

5. Hiding behind religion is not and should not be a get-out-of-jail-free card for bigotry.

[JI7]

6. It's Political Strategy, he doesn't really believe that ,

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. See? There's the rub... If he is saying something he doesn't believe in, to satisfy those who would

vote for him, then he's no better than the WORST of the rethugs who convince their constituents to vote on things like border issues by using fear.

He told me he'd be a "Fierce Advocate" for my gay Daughter. No hint of that promise being worked on, given the adjective he used... Maybe his definition of "fierce" is different than mine.

I find being told something by the candidate I favor that turns out be only be half-true at best to be insulting.

[JI7]

9. he isn't doing it to satisfy those who wouldn't vote for him but more

from the media turning it into something it's not like with the "mosque" issue you see right now.

[LAGC]

8. You'd think with 52% of the American public supporting gay marriage now, he'd change his tune.

Guess he's still sees his shot at winning more conservative states in 2012 by maintaining his opposition to it.

Triangulation.

[JI7]

10. he isn't going to support any ban on same sex marriage

what will matter most is how his supreme court justices vote on the issue. one is a lesbian though they arne't saying it . but i think it will help in the long run.

you dn't want it to be something like in california where it's legal, then easily taken away, given back, taken away etc.

you want it to be long lasting.

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. ONE STEP FORWARD followed by One Step Back or even TWO still means that one step was FORWARD.

Personally, and I speak for one Gay person, I'll take ONE STEP FORWARD followed by WHATTHEFUCKEVER, because the ONE STEP FORWARD will be a permanent part of history. We're coming, and you can't stop us, even if you find it politically expedient and a way to get incumbents re-elected.

This is a bus you want to be in, NOT under.

[JI7]

13. he isn't stopping the bus and will help move it along with things like Supreme Court

Justices.

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. You'd think.

Yeah, you'd think.

This small minority gets short shrift because of the low number of voters they bring to the table.

Equal Rights for All is what will forevermore influence my vote.

[niceypoo]

15. Republicans arent going to vote for him

Why would he have any delusions otherwise?

[Balbus]

14. So you're saying he's not a bigot but lying about being a bigot?

[niceypoo]

16. Apparently he is not a bigot

But he is pretending to be one so republicans will vote for him? I just dont buy it.

[QC]

17. Why doesn't his declared faith influence his positions on any other issues?

I never hear him referring to anything even vaguely Christian when it comes to things like war, social and economic justice, etc., but let the homos start getting too big for their britches and suddenly he gets all Billy Graham on us.

I don't buy it. Not for a minute.

Obama's extreme discomfort with any issue even remotely gay is a matter of his larger fear of offending conservatives, a personal quality that has, so far, denied him the transformational presidency he most surely could have had.

[VMI Dem]

18. The root cause does not matter. It is homophobic to have such attitudes.

I don't care who the fuck you are, bigotry is bigotry.