Obama Will Support Gay Marriage (Before 2012 election), Kirsten Gillibrand Says

[jefferson_dem]

Obama Will Support Gay Marriage, Kirsten Gillibrand Says

By On Top Magazine Staff
Published: May 18, 2011

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand thinks President Barack Obama will reverse course next year and support gay marriage.

Obama has previously said he's “wrestling” with and “evolving” on the issue of marriage equality and currently supports recognizing gay and lesbian couples with civil unions.

<SNIP>

“Our work is not finished,” Obama responded.

In an interview with gay glossy The Advocate, Gillibrand, a supporter of gay rights including marriage, was asked if she believes Obama would come out in support of the issue before 2012.

“Definitely,” she said. “He put the repeal of 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' in his State of the Union address. So there’s no reason why he can’t lean into marriage equality in a public speech or through some action he could do through the White House. I’d be thrilled if he decided to do that. He did take the step of not DOMA through his Department of Justice, which is a fantastic step because it was one that he was unwilling to do in 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.' So it shows a shift in his willingness to use the power of the White House — the power of the administration — to change public perception and to change policy.”

“So I think we could get a very strong public statement out of him,” she added.

http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=8406&MediaType=1&Category=26

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[jefferson_dem]

2. Call me cautiously optimistic that POTUS will do the right thing...

It's past time. Stand up, Barack! We got your back... :patriot:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

3. I think he'll endorse it in his second term.

It'll be one of his last major acts. He won't have to worry about re-election at that point, obviously -- not that his thinking is morally correct, but that's how I think he's viewing the issue.

[LonePirate]

5. I agree. He will probably endorse it sometime after the 2014 mid term elections.

I don't think there is any chance he will endorse it before the 2012 presidential election.

[bigwillq]

13. How brave of him to do it when he doesn't have to face re-election

What a brave, brave man.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

15. I didn't say that was the right way for him to go about it.

But from his pragmatic POV, it makes sense. And if he does do it, he will be the first sitting president to ever endorse gay marriage at all.

[bigwillq]

16. I hope he does it before 2012.

That would win major props from me.

[Enrique]

4. as a Christian he believes marriage is between a man and a woman

but yeah, I could see him flipping on that for 2012. I would welcome that, it could make gay marriage the defining issue of the campaign and I think public opinion has shifted in our favor lately.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

6. As I've stated many, many times, it's ALL political. Once Obama is safely and securely reelected

he will come out in full support of equal rights for the LGBT community. I'm willing to bet one of my paychecks on it!!

[Bluenorthwest]

11. That's what Ensign says too. And Arnold. And Newt....

ya know?

[Very_Boring_Name]

12. As a Christian? Is that why he was FOR it when he ran for state senate

and it was politically popular in his district? It's 100% political. His "I'm a Christian" spiel is just as disingenuous as when republicans do it.

[DURHAM D]

7. so throw me a bone already...

[vaberella]

14. If a bone where he supported the DOJ's decision not to defend aspects of DOMA.

I figured it's already done. Obama has been pushing a repeal of DOMA since before his campaign and I figured that would say something.

[jenmito]

8. He always supported gay marriage. Here's to hoping he openly supports it again very soon. n/t

[dsc]

9. I literally can't imagine him doing this before 2012

I also have to say what is unknowable is the extent to which he really believes what he says on this subject. If he really believes that his religion bans gay marriage and that ban should be enforced by secular law, then I can't see any poll numbers changing his opinion of marriage equality.

[MNBrewer]

18. I doubt he will address it before 2015.

[JoePhilly]

21. Probably why he is against the repeal of DADT ... yes?

[Hippo_Tron]

23. There's a fairly low probability that Obama is actually against gay marriage

If you survey people who identify (not the same as registered) as Democrats, have Ivy League post-graduate degrees, live in urban areas, and are Obama's age or younger, you're going to find them pretty overwhelmingly favorable to gay marriage. However, if you take those demographics and then narrow it a step further to people who hold or are seeking public office then the support for gay marriage skews heavily in the other direction.

The bottom line is that it's entirely possible that Obama is actually against gay marriage. It's just that if he is, then he fits into the very small demographic of Ivy League educated Democrats who oppose gay marriage.

[OhioBlue]

24. I can..

I'm not religious but my opinions on Gay Marriage have changed and evolved over the years. Quick background - I grew up in a very rural and conservative area - I did go to youth groups at the Church with a friend, but neither parent went to Church. My parents divorced before I started kindergarten in the 70's and I was the only kid with divorced parents until about 5th or 6th grade. I ended up with 2 suck ass step-parents and never really held much regard for the institution of marriage. to date - I'm still not married even tho my SO and I have lived together for 10 years and have a 4 year old child together.

So... I started out with... what's the big deal... just live your life and be happy.. who freakin' cares about getting married. It's all BS and just a piece of paper. If you want to have a ceremony and pledge yourself to each other - just go do it.

Then, I started to hear about and think about the legal and civil rights implications... and a civil union vs. a marriage... sounded to me like... well... a civil union would cover the legal implications so... what's the big deal... if a Church doesn't want to marry a couple.. so what? Just make it legal - who cares about a Church marriage...

But, through the conversation on DU.. I've evolved even more and do recognize the fact that civil unions vs. marriages do create a second class of civil rights... I do get it now... it is about equality and not just a Church wedding with flowers and organ music. Even if a straight couple gets married by a Mayor in a non religious setting.. it is a marriage and a gay couple's isn't

I've evolved a lot on the issue in the past decade. I was never against gay marriage, but rather apathetic because I didn't understand the importance of it to others. I think once that finally clicks for some of us... we feel much more passionate about the issue.

For me, it wasn't my religion that made me hesitant to give my full support to marriage equality, but rather my lack of understanding and lack of trust or value in the institution of marriage. But, no matter what the reasoning, I can absolutely see how people can evolve on the issue in a short period of time. The Pres is a product of broken marriages himself and while he is educated, worldly and very intelligent... he is still a human and all of us with open hearts and minds can evolve in our thoughts on issues when we recognize the importance that they hold for others.

[Safetykitten]

10. Of course he will.

[DrToast]

17. For First Time Ever, Gallup Finds Majority Support Same Sex Marriage

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/for-first-tim-ever-gallup-finds-majority-support-same-sex-marriage.php

I think he's always been for it, but public opinion seems to be coming around rapidly.

[BlueIris]

19. Too little, too late.

And I won't be holding my breath waiting for this to happen.

[Ramulux]

20. Its patheic that he doesn't already support it

Yet people on this site try to claim hes a progressive. I'm pretty sure supporting gay marriage is one of the few requirements necessary to be a progressive.

Seriously whats his argument? Why doesn't he support it? It blows my mind that anyone who isn't a flaming evangelical could be against gay marriage.

[Name removed]

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[and-justice-for-all]

22. I don't care what the hell it is called, just give us equality...nt

[Pirate Smile]

25. Isn't there something in June? I vaguely remember that there is some type of Gay Rights event in

June and I was guessing that he would include a passage that he was now supporting gay marriage. I'm not sure where I got this impression but I hope it is true.

[Blasphemer]

27. Poll-watching eh?

I don't doubt it - I do not believe he has ever been against it except for political expediency. Same as Bill Clinton and all the Democrats who were pro-Civil Union in 2004.

[truth2power]

28. Speaking of which (DADT)...

When is that going to be a done-deal? Is the military still doing surveys, or whatever?