What are they thinking?

[William769]

Allow me to introduce what I expect to become a recurring topic for this column in 2011: What are they thinking?

Let’s kick off the series by beginning at the top:

What is the basis of President Obama’s continued opposition to marriage equality? I mean, I really would like to know what he’s thinking.

He (and VP Joe Biden) made headlines last month with their pronouncements that they, and the country, were “evolving” in their position on this issue. Yet the President made clear that, for now, he still favors civil unions only. If that’s the case, it’s fair to ask: Why? What is the basis for your position, Mr. President?

Although he hasn’t said much about the reasons for his view, what he has said is grounded in religion and “tradition.” Here’s an especially pointed reference: “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 that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.”

http://www.365gay.com/opinion/culhane-what-are-they-thinking/

If he is against Gay marriage just because of religious beliefs, why doesn't he just say so?

[Laelth]

1. Here's what I think Obama is thinking.

It may work to get him re-elected too.

http://laelth.blogspot.com/2010/12/kissing-butt-and-taking-names-obamas.html

-Laelth

[HeroTwins]

2. is the goal equal legal rights?

or is the goal getting the Church and all the other anti-Gay elements to accept gay marriage as equal to non-gay marriage?

If the goal is equal rights under the law, that can be achieved.
If the goal is getting all of those who are Anti-gay to accept gay unions as equal and call them 'marriage', then it may be impossible to achieve.


and Obama has said in the past that his reasoning on this is affected by his religious beliefs. maybe you missed it.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Specious argument

The First Amendment means religious can do as they wish, now and forever. Right now, many churches perform same sex marriages, they are free to do so. They are also free to refuse. Catholics do not have to marry divorced people, although divorce is legal. You must know that. Religions do what they want. That is the law. Only right wing nut jobs think anyone would even want to change that.

[HeroTwins]

5. I guess the question is if a civil union and marriage are equal under the law,

what is the difference?

You know as well as I do, that marriage was an institution of the Church long before it was an institution of the State.
This is why the super-religious anti-gay factions oppose Gay Marriage so vociferously. They think it somehow damages their faith.
This is the massive stumbling block that is standing in the way of equal rights for Gays, and it will remain there as long as the goal is 'Marriage'.

My question is,
if you can get equal legal rights, why does the name it is called matter?

Isn't a rose by any other name still a rose?

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Faith based bigots do not think.

His position and his 'reasoning' for it are the same as Sarah Palin's. He and Michelle have used surrogates so drenched in hate speech it is clear that they are simply prejudiced people. Thinking is not involved in that sort of brittle mind. They look a their Scriptures, reject everything that applies to them, bite down on a few anti-gay verses like bulldogs, and call that Christianity. Done. Now they have a 'faith' that has no rules for them, allows them to attack people they don't like, which tells them they are 'Sanctified'.
Self service with religious rhetoric in play is not actually faith nor religion. It is just self service.