Is Obama against Gay Marriage?

[Dawgs]

Poll question: Is Obama against Gay Marriage?

And, don't tell me what he said. Tell me what you think he actually believes.

There is NO doubt in my mind that by the end of his Presidency he will make a strong push for gay marriage.

[PBS Poll-435]

1. We have nothing to go on but what he said during the campaign.

Both primary season and the GE.

[Dawgs]

6. You're right. I have no proof; actually just the opposite, but...

I think he is smarter than any single person on DU. I think he knows that it could have destroyed his campaign for the Presidency, and coming out against it was the only way to keep the media and Republicans from talking about it. I trust that he really is for gay marriage, and will come out for it only when the time is right.

Not one of his actions, including the Warren pick, show Obama to be a homophobe... to me.

[PBS Poll-435]

7. We must believe!

Let us pray.

[TTUBatfan2008]

11. Yes...

Hopefully this was just a bunch of triangulating. He was very forceful in his support of gay marriage back in the 1990's. It's definitely true that he wanted to keep the Presidential campaign away from social issues because that's how the Republicans get their base entirely fired up. Bush wouldn't have won in '04 without the social issues. Obama wanted things to stay focused on the Iraq War and the economy. Those are universally accepted "fuck ups" by the Bush administration amongst, you know, 80% of the public except for the idiotic 20 percenters that worship Bush. Hopefully Obama will stop triangulating and take a damn stand. I do believe he is for full gay rights though.

[PBS Poll-435]

15. Wow.

We must keep the faith that he was just lying when he said that tradition and his personal religious beliefs let him to the conclusion that marriage was between a man and a woman.

[Dawgs]

23. How long have you've been following politics?

You can't be that naive to believe that politicians, at least the ones that want to get elected, have to sometimes "lie".

[PBS Poll-435]

26. Then I will continue to pray that he was flat-out lying just to get elected.

O8)

[TTUBatfan2008]

2. Back in the 1990's he supported it...

when he was campaigning for the Illinois legislature. But he has triangulated big time and now claims that he doesn't support it. I hope that was just a bunch of BS to get elected and once he gets in, he'll do something to stand up for civil rights.

[Spectral Music]

8. Triangulation always ends up screwing the progressives.

Disappointed and getting more so.

[TTUBatfan2008]

12. Agreed...

It sucks. But there is a sliver of hope based on how forceful he was back then. I think that is where his heart truly is. Sadly it's considered a political landmine to take a stand nationally on this issue. 50 years from now people will look back on homophobes the same way that we currently look at racists.

[Spectral Music]

13. I hope your right, because right now we are political punching bags

And I am sick and tired of the welts.

[Dawgs]

24. Okay, so let's say that he chose to come out for gay marriage before the election and lost.

And, let's say the next Democratic candidate does the same thing. And so does next.

How soon will we get gay marriage?

[Spectral Music]

49. So let's say he didn't pick a famous minister who wants gays not to exist

What then?

[Occam Bandage]

20. It's been twelve years, and since that time

the concept of civil unions has gained widespread acceptance among many people. It's possible that, rather than triangulating, he simply decided at some point over the past decade that civil unions are closer to what he believes is right than gay marriage is.

(Also, not really what "triangulating" means, but it'll work for this conversation)

[TTUBatfan2008]

43. I don't know about that...

I mean the term "marriage" is pretty clear. And Barack was very outspoken in favor of it. You are correct that the civil unions idea wasn't necessarily as big of a part of the debate back then as it is now. Back then it did seem to be an either/or situation amongst many people. So I can see how it's possible that he simply took the stand of the two sides that was closest to his belief. But I guess now there's 3 sides to it.

[IndianaGreen]

50. The same people opposed to same sex marriage are opposed to civil unions

They see civil unions as gay marriage lite

[galaxy21]

3. Didn't his church support it?

I'm not sure. If they did, it's not impossible to believe he did.

[TTUBatfan2008]

4. I think they did support it...

[Laughing Mirror]

21. Yes, Rev Wright has supported same-sex marriage for decades

when almost no other reverend did. Few do today even.

[Critters2]

52. You mean the church he left?

There's strong evidence he's about to become a Baptist.

[QC]

5. Currently, yes, because "God is in the mix." n/t

[WI_DEM]

9. how many politicians are for it?

[Creideiki]

37. Only the progressives with a backbone

Too many progressives are lacking them, so the "center" drifts further and further right.

[Zuiderelle]

39. Oh right. As long as almost everyone else is against civil equality it's ok.

I forgot.

[donco6]

40. As long as he's in the majority, I guess it's OK.

:eyes:

[IndianaJones]

10. it violates his religious beliefs. nt.

[dflprincess]

29. That's his problem

he has no business shoving his religious beliefs onto anyone else.

[donco6]

41. Then his beliefs are wrong.

As wrong as the whackos who thought there was a space ship in the Hale-Bopp comet.

[Eryemil]

14. If his words can be taken at face value then yes, he's just another bigot

I voted yes but I also have my suspicions. The guy's a politicians, you can NEVER take anything they say at face value.
So I wouldn't be surprised if he was much more progressive than he let on.

[Marrah_G]

16. He has clearly said he is against Gay marriage

Either I take him at his words or I conclude that he is willing to put aside his beliefs for votes.

I'll take him at his word.

I approve of a great deal of what he is planning. But not on his views of equal rights.

[stray cat]

18. Biden said the same and I think that is consistent with most democratic politicians

[Marrah_G]

22. Sadly you are right- very few have the guts to stand up for GBLT rights.

They are to afraid of losing funding and votes.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

45. They're acting like cowards for no good reason.

I bet anything that it wouldn't cost Obama or other Dems any popularity to come out in favor of gay marriage. In fact, it might push some of Obama's black supporters off the fence on this issue.

[stray cat]

17. Definitely in favor of civil unions not sure about the term marriage

If I take Obama and Biden at their word and don't consider what they said as political posturing.

[Deja Q]

25. And if civil unions are given 100% what "marriage" has, then the discussion is ended

Except those who feel some psychotic need to hijack terms, if only to annoy those who use the words the most... It's a word. Go for the action and the meaning. Those seem more relevant and worthwhile than a word.

But if they want to hijack the word, that's their problem. This issue has been discussed to death, 6 feet under, and beyond. It's time for everybody to move forward, for pity's sake.

[Runcible Spoon]

27. "those who feel some psychotic need"

THAT'S RICH coming from YOU. You are Mr. Psychotic Need himself. :rofl:

[Marrah_G]

30. People are showing their true feelings about the GBLT community

Better to know up front then be fooled by some pretty politically correct jargon.

[Zuiderelle]

36. Isn't that the truth?

:eyes:

Sigh.

[LostinVA]

28. Which shows we should all be very glad you're not an attorney

[Creideiki]

33. I can already get married

I just can't get any of the rights that go along with it.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Occam Bandage]

19. Yes. I have no doubt that gay rights will advance under Obama's first term, but

equality will have to wait for either a new President or (as I hope) a change of heart from the incoming one driven by a continued and accelerated shift in public opinion.

[rug]

31. Is Obama a liar?

[nodramamama]

34. Obama's exact words on gay marriage

"I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say thatmarriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."

http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/lesbianactivism/p/BarackObama.htm

[harun]

32. He makes that push then be prepared for President Palin.

[Fran Kubelik]

38. ok.

Definitely let's not go there then. Fuck the gay people. Right?

[No Elephants]

42. He said he is against it, but I don't believe him on that. I think he said what he

thought he had to say to give himself the best shot at being elected. I hope to God I am correct.

[Fran Kubelik]

44. I can't know for sure.

But I look forward to finding out. I believe Obama will be more good than bad for me and my family. I hope I am right.

[TheKentuckian]

46. If I take him at his word then he supports equal rights under a seperate status/term

It may be politics or his actual belief, that's impossible to determine without reading minds but I do think he will do what he can to advance the cause of equality. He is only the President, not God Emperor it is pretty limited what he can effectively decree.

[JerseygirlCT]

47. Yes, against marriage, but for all the legal rights that accrue to

those who are married being given to our gay citizens.

I don't think that's enough, personally.

[marlakay]

48. I think he is saying what he feels he has to to get voted in

just a feeling, i have no proof.

[LWolf]

51. You can't have it both ways.

Either he's dishonest and doesn't mean what he says, and therefore untrustworthy, or we have to go by what he says.

Which?