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[s7evn]

If I ever see this guy in public, I'm going to just follow him around pointing and laughing until I'm tazed into unconsciousness.

Hmm, this idea might make for the next great game show.

On topic: Great news from the president. I'm not sure I'm prepared to put up with the ads we will see in the future though.

 

[teruterubozu]

There's only so much he can do, but stating that he is unequivocally for full marriage equality for gay people is the right thing to do.

And yes, it's a policy change. He said something before, and now he has gone further (in the right direction, IMO).

Besides, comparing it to Gitmo is apples and oranges. At least Gitmo could be affected by an executive order--it's not like Obama can issue an executive order legalizing same-sex marriage.

Well he has 6 months to demonstrate it. (What, I don't know).

 

[Neuromancer]

I've been seeing this mentioned a lot but how can Biden "force [Obama's] hand"?

 

[reilo]

So when I was posting here actively a few years back, there was this gay libertarian called Gaborn who was always attacking Obama on GLBT issues. His signature argument was that half-measures like civil unions were actually detrimental to the cause, because they'd give the illusion of progress while institutionalizing inequality.

A lot of posters at the time figured he was being disingenuous in an attempt to avoid giving any credit to Democratic politicians, because he disagreed with their economics policies. I chose to give him the benefit of the doubt; even if I didn't agree, I figure gay folks are entitled to get mad at foot-dragging.

Now that Obama's announced his support for completely equal marriage, I'd expect Gaborn to be full of praise, since this is what he said he wanted, over and over. Of course, if those other posters were right and he was just playing the fanboy role, he'd find a way to complain about this too.

So how about it? Does he still post here? What's going on with that guy?

He definitely still posts here. I am sort of curious to hear what he has to say

I give him credit for coming around to equality, I really do. I just really have contempt for someone who publicly supported bigotry until that was a poisonous enough position he could repudiate it. I would give him more credit for it if this didn't look so calculated, if it was an honest reassessment of his personal beliefs rather than in his judgment a politically safe move. Standing up for civil liberties is a good thing, but it's really not what he's doing here. He's trying to make political hay out of returning to his 1996 position (the one his spokesman called a "fake questionnaire" before they retracted that without explaining why he now opposed equality)

FenderPutty - Gary Johnson has publicly supported full marriage equality for a while and is the Libertarian nominee.

He even managed to call him a bigot, once more. You can't make this shit up. His brain must be having a meltdown right about now.

 

[Dan]

Most polling averages show that kind of noise. Here's Gallup's long view:

What the heck led to the movement over the last year?

 

[Clevinger]

I've been seeing this mentioned a lot but how can Biden "force [Obama's] hand"?

Your VP coming out for something while you say you're still "evolving" on the issue (and you having previously supported it) makes you look like a crappy leader.

 

[Kusagari]

I've been seeing this mentioned a lot but how can Biden "force [Obama's] hand"?

Biden came out for gay marriage, and it would have been a mess if he was for it and Obama wasn't.

 

[Al-ibn Kermit]

Why would the Republicans feel the need to defend their opposition of gay marriage?

Republicans shot themselves in the foot with latinos and women, and they weren't even being provoked.

They just can't not act angry about something.

 

[Boogie]

He even managed to call him a bigot, once more. You can't make this shit up. His brain must be having a meltdown right about now.

Now now, I'm sure Gaborn has "contempt" for Bob Barr too...

 

[Pollux]

Call me cynical, but I don't think he has a choice after Biden.

This will not change anyone's mind about Obama. It may energize his base, but I doubt it. It will likely energize the radical right, but I don't think moderate conservatives will care.

I don't give a shit, so there's one. I sure as hell am not voting for Romney.

 

[Evlar]

This makes it a bit less likely he will be re-elected.

 

[BFIB]

Your VP coming out for something while you say you're still "evolving" on the issue (and you having previously supported it) makes you look like a crappy leader.

On the contrary, I think they both have had this agreement on the issue, but wanted to "test the waters" with Biden's announcement.

 

[GhaleonEB]

you know reading that response, I actually say I can understand where they're coming from. It really IS a day too late, if you consider what happened in NC. I disagree with them, but I understand now

Their response presumes Obama's views will sway voters, which it won't (if anything it will just polarize things further). It's even more amusing since it's from a GOP group. They sure didn't send anything out roasting Romney for continuing to be opposed to gay marriage. Highly selective outrage.

 

[Rentahamster]

lol Santorum, cry moar.

 

[Clevinger]

On the contrary, I think they both have had this agreement on the issue, but wanted to "test the waters" with Biden's announcement.

That's possible. They also had some cabinet member do the same thing this week, so who knows.

 

[giga]

What the heck led to the movement over the last year?

DADT and DOMA?

 

[Sibylus]

I wonder how fuming Rapture Ready are.

Like every other week, they can't wait to die.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

What the heck led to the movement over the last year?

GOP Primaries.

 

[Cheebo]

There is no way to convince Gaborn. I mean he supports Paul for President when Paul is 100% against gay marriage. I don't get why people are still in shock at his absurd view points. I know it's a dirty word of sorts but Gaborn is the textbook example of a certain character of Harriet Beecher Stowe's when it comes to gay rights and it has been the case for many years but what are you going to do?

This is a GREAT day. Let Gaborn stew in his bitterness, no need to get down on his level.

 

[FLEABttn]

you know reading that response, I actually say I can understand where they're coming from. It really IS a day too late, if you consider what happened in NC. I disagree with them, but I understand now

I still don't like the argument. It's a day late only if his support yesterday closed the supposed 20 point gap.

 

[Boogie]

There is no way to convince Gaborn. I mean he supports Paul for President when Paul is 100% against gay marriage.

We're not trying to convince Gaborn. We're just having fun at his expense.

 

[NullPointer]

How is it too late? Is it all over? Is society done?

Mayans?

Anyway today is a good day. Yes it should have come sooner, but its here now and not six months or a year from now. Better late than never.

I honestly don't understand Gaborn's perspective on this day.

 

[reilo]

I don't think he's a shoe-in. I still think he'll win, but it will be close. The key swing states are likely Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and New Hampshire.

Bold aren't even swing states, they're pretty much Obama's to lose. The underlined states all lean Obama.

The only real toss-up is Florida -- and that state is almost meaningless with how many different paths Obama has to 270.

Now now, I'm sure Gaborn has "contempt" for Bob Barr too...

Not in the polling booth.

There is no way to convince Gaborn. I mean he supports Paul for President when Paul is 100% against gay marriage. I don't get why people are still in shock at his absurd view points. I know it's a dirty word of sorts but Gaborn is the textbook example of a certain character of f Harriet Beecher Stowe's when it comes to gay rights and it has been the case for many years but what are you going to do?

This is a GREAT day. Let Gaborn stew in his bitterness, no need to get down on his level.

He rationalizes it by claiming that Paul's views will bring out supporters of gay marriage in droves and force Paul's hand. Or that he would leave it up to the states. Or something. Mindfuck.

 

[kinggroin]

I was typing Rick Santorum's name into my browser and lookie at what the first auto fill suggestion was, ha!

 

[Clevinger]

There is no way to convince Gaborn. I mean he supports Paul for President when Paul is 100% against gay marriage. I don't get why people are still in shock at his absurd view points. I know it's a dirty word of sorts but Gaborn is the textbook example of a certain character of f Harriet Beecher Stowe's when it comes to gay rights and it has been the case for many years but what are you going to do?

I think Ron Paul is against it personally, but believes states should be able to do whatever they want (unfortunately, this includes discrimination and doing things like making sodomy illegal).

 

[BFIB]

It just baffles me how the GOP, as a whole, lives in their own little world, and honestly cannot fathom the idea of change.

For the past couple days, FoxNews has been all over this John Edwards case, citing details that show how big of a piece of shit he really was during his marriage. But then Obama makes his announcement and they are all over it like its a plague on the world.

 

[Evlar]

I still don't like the argument. It's a day late only if his support yesterday closed the supposed 20 point gap.

Not to mention that the NC amendment also banned civil unions, which Obama explicitly supported.

If his support for civil unions didn't kill the amendment I don't see how his support for gay marriage would help much.

 

[Alligatorjandro]

I thought he always was for it?

 

[ConfusingJazz]

I thought he always was for it?

Publicly, he was for civil unions.

 

[Binabik15]

What did Biden do to "force" Obama to do this?

Between uni and elections closer to home (and the new Community section) I didn`t check PoliGAF in a while.

 

[Clevinger]

I thought he always was for it?

He was for gay marriage a long time ago, stopped while he was running for president, and now is for it again. Total Romney move.

 

[Big Baybee]

So the response to this by the GOP is to call Obama a flip flopper? Nevermind how stupid the term is to begin with, but its not a very smart angle to go with when Mitt fucking Romney is your nominee.

 

[Neuromancer]

Your VP coming out for something while you say you're still "evolving" on the issue (and you having previously supported it) makes you look like a crappy leader.

Biden came out for gay marriage, and it would have been a mess if he was for it and Obama wasn't.

I see, thanks.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

What did Biden do to "force" Obama to do this?

Between uni and elections closer to home (and the new Community section) I didn`t check PoliGAF in a while.

Went on a Sunday talking heads show and said he was pro gay marriage.

A lot of speculation of how this came about.

 

[Dr. Malik]

What did Biden do to "force" Obama to do this?

Between uni and elections closer to home (and the new Community section) I didn`t check PoliGAF in a while.

He came out for gay marriage during the weekend

Edit: Beaten..

 

[Kinyou]

A slight majority of Americans appears to support marriage equality, but the theory is that:

1. This won't most blacks and Latinos from voting for him;
2. The people who are grossly homophobic weren't voting for him anyways; and
3. This will help energize the youth vote, which was a huge part of what carried him to victory in 2008.

I hope they're right, and I think they might be.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/05/does_america_support_same_sex_marriage.php?ref=fpblg

oh, wow. So it's split pretty even. Always assumed that majority would be against it. Maybe some people weren't perfectly honest with their response, but still, much more positive than I thought.

It varies greatly state by state, which is how you should look at it for a presidential election. Nationally, it's about split and support is growing.

True. I tend to forget that it's mostly about winning states.

 

[Deified Data]

Republicans shot themselves in the foot with latinos and women, and they weren't even being provoked.

They just can't not act angry about something.

True, but...I just see it as Republicans alienating people with whom they already have a rocky history, i.e. the sort of woman, minority, or homosexual who is naturally inclined to vote Republican is going to vote Republican anyway. I just don't see many Independents in the above groups being swayed to vote Republican. I could be wrong.

 

[FLEABttn]

Not to mention that the NC amendment also banned civil unions, which Obama explicitly supported.

If his support for civil unions didn't kill the amendment I don't see how his support for gay marriage would help much.

Never mind that it's easy to imagine a scenario where Obama supports gay marriage a week ago and the anti-gay marriage people in NC come out to vote even harder to stick it to Obama/"protect marriage".

 

[cousins]

Historic, I haven't been this proud of my President in a long time. But, does he assume he's going to lose? He seems to be constructing his legacy now, instead of aiming for a second term.

 

[Lunchbox]

I was typing Rick Santorum's name into my browser and lookie at what the first auto fill suggestion was, ha!

eww

android

 

[Kinyou]

Santorum's delicious bitter tears: “The announcement today by President Obama should come as no surprise to the American public. President Obama has consistently fought against protecting the institution of marriage from radical social engineering at both the state and federal level. The President recently opposed the North Carolina constitutional amendment and, of course, he refused to defend President Clinton’s Defense of Marriage Act before the U.S. Supreme court. The charade is now over, no doubt an attempt to galvanize his core hard left supporters in advance of the November election.

Thankfully the American public, when it has had an opportunity to consider the real world consequences of such a fundamental change to our society, has consistently voted for maintaining one man one woman marriage - the basic building block of our society. I will continue to fight to make sure that the cultural elites don’t further undermine the institution that gives the best opportunity for healthy, happy children and a just and prosperous society.”

 

[Tamanon]

In all honesty, I wonder if Maurice Sendak's passing helped influence things, even a small amount. Parts of his life-story were immensely sad.

 

[SolsticeZero]

eww

android

Ewww [insert thing you like here]

 

[kinggroin]

eww

android

Hold thy tongue sir!

 

[yellow submarine]

I hope this doesn't lose him the election. It's great news in general, but I think this has a real potential to make Romney president, even though it's 2012 and not the 1800s.

Well -- maybe now he can actually talk about legal immigration before the election? That's the other hot button social issue that's around. Dey terk de jerbs!

 

[Gaborn]

He even managed to call him a bigot, once more. You can't make this shit up. His brain must be having a meltdown right about now.

You fail at reading. I called the position he supported (civil unions) bigotry. I did not say the man is a bigot.

 

[Clevinger]

So the response to this by the GOP is to call Obama a flip flopper? Nevermind how stupid the term is to begin with, but its not a very smart angle to go with when Mitt fucking Romney is your nominee.

I don't think it's as dumb as you'd think. Republicans realize that this line of attack would be absolutely useless if we had a functional and semi-intelligent media, but we don't, so attacking your opponent for your own weakness works. Well, maybe not always, but a lot more than it should.

 

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

He came out for gay marriage during the weekend

Edit: Beaten..

Dropping bombshells everywhere.

 

[BertramCooper]

I really didn't think Obama had the balls to publicly support SSM, at least not before the election.

Good on him.

 

[reilo]

You fail at reading. I called the position he supported (civil unions) bigotry. I did not say the man is a bigot.

Hahhaahahaha.