Mr. President, nearly half the country supports marriage equality

[ruggerson]

So why are YOU in the half with the evangelical Republicans, the teabaggers, the Mormon Church and the Phelps family?

Isn't it way past time you started standing up for the half of the country that gave you your job?

[scheming daemons]

1. Has Obama done anything to limit gay marriage initiatives in the states?

Yes.. he hasn't given it any ringing endorsements - admittedly been rather silent on it....

but has he taken any action to block it from becoming law in the half-dozen or so states that have done it?

Marriage law is in the hands of the states, per the 10th amendment.


Obama's DOJ is not getting in the way.... and a steady set of dominoes has been falling in the past year. A year ago, one state allowed gay marriage. Now 5 or 6 do. By this time next year, another half dozen will.


This isn't really a federal issue, other than DOMA. And DOMA will be ruled unconstitutional the first time some state takes it to the supreme court.....even with THIS supreme court.

[donco6]

3. So we should be grateful that Obama - a Democrat - hasn't acted against it?

Wow. I'm all aquiver.

[scheming daemons]

4. No...

Like I said... admittedly, he hasn't been public about it..... but he's getting the federal government out of the way and letting it happen.

That's really all that is in his power to do. He could use the bully pulpit, but public opinion is already rapidly moving in the direction of acceptance of gay marriage.

It's inevitable.

Obama knows that. And he's not acting on his "official" position of being against it. He's stepping out of the way.

[donco6]

5. Why not ride the wave, dude!

Even the RW nutjobs are getting on board. Who is he afraid of now? I don't get it.

[Forkboy]

6. "He's stepping out of the way."

That's being a fierce advocate? :shrug:

[scheming daemons]

7. No.. it's not.... I said as much

He could be more forceful.


But he's not fighting it, at least.



Don't be surprised if he uses the bully pulpit of the SOTU address next week to jump on the bandwagon, though.

Just a hunch.

[Forkboy]

9. I would love to see that.

[Smashcut]

8. His statements against equality were used by the defendants in the Prop 8 trial

What is he doing (or planning) to repeal DOMA? Which, BTW, his DOJ has supported with some pretty heinous arguments.

[ruggerson]

10. actually the DOJ and the WH

HAVE been getting in the way, in almost every case where there has been an opportunity to do so.

The latest cases, heard by Federal judges acting in administrative hearings, ordered the administration to start giving spousal benefits to legally married employees of the federal judiciary.

The administration could easily have complied and helped weaken DOMA. They were under orders from the Chief Justice of the ninth circuit.

Instead, they defied the judges and cited DOMA as their reasoning.

[donco6]

2. Don't forget Cindy McCain

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/01/cindy_mccain_joins_californias.html

I mean, Jesus. Is Obama even AWAKE anymore?

[bullwinkle428]

11. He probably needs to check with the Blue Dogs first...

;)