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[Korey]

Obama has proven to be a tactful politician. Probably 83734x more intelligent than the presidents that have come before him. He ran one of the most brilliant presidential campaigns ever.

I'm sure he and his team of strategists understand the consequences (good and bad) to his upcoming election, of him doing this now, more than random people on the internet.

Let's hear what he has to say and what "angle" he's going to use before we judge him

 

[Dr. Malik]

Yes! He has finished 'evolving'

 

[commedieu]

Good stuff. He should come out as an atheist as well. He might want to wait until after the election for that one.

Lol, egyptians weren't atheists..

 

[planar1280]

He can't just win by racking up big numbers in the coastal areas and cities. He will need to hold the midwest and southwest in order to win.

When the Republicans predictably come out with attack ads against OBama's position and it is viewed as Hatred and Bigotry to a high degree, even Romney will walk away from those ads. This can ONLY help Obama, not hurt him

 

[cartoon_soldier]

True; they just may not vote for anyone.

Which Obama can't afford

 

[kehs]

Why is it political suicide? Everyone already knows who they are voting for.

Bigotry knows no bounds. There are tons of homophobic Obama lovers.

 

[ErasureAcer]

He just got my vote if true. Minnesota was going for him anyways but I didn't vote for him last time nor was I this time.

 

[dojokun]

Gaborn, So he's a politician?

They all do the exact same thing. They are all trying to win the game. There are tactics and timing. As you get older, you realize this. They all have special interests to cater to, and they all lie. As people, we just get a few bones thrown our way during their time in office. Thats how its always been. Republicans are the same as Democrats. There is no country on this planet that doesn't flow under political nonsense.

Regardless of the timing, if this is true. Its amazingly significant.

When politicians of the political party that GAF doesn't prefer decide to play the political game, people say they are sell-outs with no integrity. Remember when McCain didn't speak out enough against the implied bigotry against Muslims and also against Obama being half black?

Both political parties need to be held to the same standard. If they play the politcal game to get elected, is it despicable or not? Choose one and stick with it.

If people ONLY called McCain despicable for OTHER things and NOT the fact that he didn't speak out against the bigotry, I wouldn't have a problem with them giving Obama a pass on this. But since they gave McCain grief for doing what it took to keep his base voting for him, it's only fair to criticize Obama for also playing the game.

 

[Marleyman]

Which Obama can't afford

Right; my point exactly.

 

[Rentahamster]

It's about time.

/StarcraftII

This may hurt the black vote a bit, but I don't think it will be too much.

video:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/van-jones-even-if-obama-came-out-as-gay-he-would-not-lose-black-vote/

“I think if President Obama came out as gay he wouldn’t – President Obama is not going to lose the black vote no matter what he does,” responded Jones without hesitation to laughs from his fellow panelists.

 

[The Librarian]

It's done.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/05/09/481147/obama-marriage-2/

 

[dojokun]

Not really.

Yes, really.

 

[Instigator]

It's not irrational hatred. I wouldn't support Obama even if he was pro-gay marriage from the beginning because i don't vote JUST on gay rights. However, since the topic of this thread is gay marriage itself why should I hide my opinion on this issue?

Your opinion should have been: "it's about god damn time".

You just sound petty otherwise.

 

[Marleyman]

It's about time.

/StarcraftII



video:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/van-jones-even-if-obama-came-out-as-gay-he-would-not-lose-black-vote/

I disagree with him, but Jones is a smart guy.

 

[codhand]

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/05/09/481147/obama-marriage-2/

reading the article goes good with the guile theme

 

[KingK]

True; they just may not vote for anyone.

I very much doubt this would decrease black support for Obama at all. I can't see gay marriage being the thing that forces any Blacks to stay home rather than vote for reelection of the first black president in history.

 

[Dr. Malik]

CNN has confirmed it, its true

 

[WanderingWind]

It's not irrational hatred. I wouldn't support Obama even if he was pro-gay marriage from the beginning because i don't vote JUST on gay rights. However, since the topic of this thread is gay marriage itself why should I hide my opinion on this issue?

Never told you to hide your opinion. However, if your dislike of Obama has nothing to do with gay rights, then why bring up his track record on those rights? If that dislike comes from you thinking he hasn't done enough for those rights, then I invite you to show me another president that has even come close to doing what he has for gay rights.

I know he hasn't done everything we have wanted him to do. I know this. But politics rarely work that way, if ever.

Again, you're easily one of the most intelligent, thoughtful posters here. Nothing against you, but you are human. Every person has their spots of irrationality. This one seems to be yours.

 

[Gaborn]

Your opinion should have been: "it's about god damn time".

You just sound petty otherwise.

*shrug* "too little too late" is another way of saying "it's about god damn time." I'll be more interested in the practical effect of this. Will it change ANYTHING in the way he campaigns or is this simply rhetorical red meat that means NOTHING in practice?

 

[cartoon_soldier]

Confirmed

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/obama-same-sex-marriage-should-be-legal

 

[ivysaur12]

Yes, really.

Sorry you took a conversation between myself and Gaborn and extrapolated that towards yourself. I'm ashamed.

 

[Marleyman]

I very much doubt this would decrease black support for Obama at all. I can't see gay marriage being the thing that forces any Blacks to stay home rather than vote for reelection of the first black president in history.

That is a good point; we shall see I guess.

 

[Clevinger]

You know what would be really cool? Instead of Obama losing some of the black vote, he begins to influence the African American community's perception of gay marriage.

 

[FoneBone]

Now THAT I would respect. Still wouldn't vote for the man because of many of his other policies, but I would respect that.

You didn't know that he can't issue an executive order? Really?

 

[shadyspace]

Wow. History being made before our eyes, folks.

 

[codhand]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18615556

McCain shares his recollection of the exchanges the four African-American men had with the lunch-counter staff, the store manager and a policeman who arrived on the scene — and also a lesson he learned that day[in 1960].

An older white woman sat at the lunch counter a few stools down from McCain and his friends.

"And if you think Greensboro, N.C., 1960, a little old white lady who eyes you with that suspicious look ... she's not having very good thoughts about you nor what you're doing," McCain says.

Eventually, she finished her doughnut and coffee. And she walked behind McNeil and McCain — and put her hands on their shoulders.

"She said in a very calm voice, 'Boys, I am so proud of you. I only regret that you didn't do this 10 years ago.'" McCain recalls.

"What I learned from that little incident was ... don't you ever, ever stereotype anybody in this life until you at least experience them and have the opportunity to talk to them. I'm even more cognizant of that today — situations like that — and I'm always open to people who speak differently, who look differently, and who come from different places," he says.

Amen.

 

[apana]

When the Republicans predictably come out with attack ads against OBama's position and it is viewed as Hatred and Bigotry to a high degree, even Romney will walk away from those ads. This can ONLY help Obama, not hurt him

I don't really think attacks against gay marriage in Ohio, Penn, and Virginia will be viewed with repulsion or that Romney will back away from it.

 

[Wilsongt]

I, for one, do not welcome President Robo Romney in November when Obama ultimately loses.

However, I support this new pro-gay marriage Election Year Obama fully.

 

[Invisible_Insane]

I'm having a hard time seeing the political upside here.

 

[FoneBone]

It won't cost him shit. The electorate won't remember this come November if it's May. It won't energize anyone unless it is right out in front of him.

Also, this might help a potential Maryland vote on gay marriage in regards to the African-American vote.

I think this is naive, and I think it ignores the potential impact on downticket races. We'll see, though.

 

[dojokun]

Sorry you took a conversation between myself and Gaborn and extrapolated that towards yourself. I'm ashamed.

If it was just between you and Gaborn it would be in private message. Comments in a thread are purposely open for others so the context is less about the poster and more about the post.

 

[Danthrax]

He's going to lose Ohio and North Carolina now (both have anti-SSM constitutional amendments). Here comes President Romney.

 

[Synth_floyd]

Yay Obama

 

[Mercury Fred]

Boom!

Line in the sand, drawn!

 

[alphaNoid]

He conveniently waited until election year I see.

Possibly the worst time in his career to do it. I hope its true though!

 

[giga]

Romney wants a federal amendment against same sex marriage!? What the fuck.

Live news feed: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/live-news-6105570

 

[commedieu]

Its going to be disgusting to see him get smeared over this. Zealots are going to fall over themselves to condemn him for the support of other tax paying citizens rights.

Going to need a lot of popcorn and Tylenol.

 

[3rdman]

Too little too late

You know abolitionist said the same shit about Lincoln too?

It seems to me you've spent time and energy in creating an enemy when in fact he has always been trying to achieve the things you want most...you are kinda ridiculous.

 

[stufte]

I want more than just him saying this in an ABC interview.

 

[Wilsongt]

Its going to be disgusting to see him get smeared over this. Zealots are going to fall over themselves to condemn him for the support of other tax paying citizens rights.

Going to need a lot of popcorn and Tylenol.

My popcorn popper is ready. I will be passing out the bags shortly.

 

[Mercury Fred]

Possibly the worst time in his career to do it. I hope its true though!

I think this can actually be spun into being an advantage.

 

[Angry Puppy]

Romney wants a federal amendment against same sex marriage!? What the fuck.

Live news feed: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/live-news-6105570

Yea i didn't know Romney wanted to make a federal amendment for bigotry...

Holy shit that man better not win.

 

[MIMIC]

So Obama will murder his presidency and be unable to do anything about his changed stance?

 

[Steelrain]

Time for people to really get out there and vote this year because this shit just got interesting.

 

[Peru]

It's a bold move, but if he wins the election, then it will send a signal, even though it's one tiny detail in an endless list of policies, that the gay marriage-supporting candidate won, and it will make it easier for later candidates to stand firm on that support from the start.

The hope, as others have pointed out, is that it gets the enthusiasm going again amongst the liberal and young voters who have forgotten about the Obama fever.

 

[planar1280]

He's going to lose Ohio and North Carolina now (both have anti-SSM constitutional amendments). Here comes President Romney.

its not an election grabber for independence. its only an election grabber for hard right and left

 

[Gaborn]

Never told you to hide your opinion. However, if your dislike of Obama has nothing to do with gay rights, then why bring up his track record on those rights? If that dislike comes from you thinking he hasn't done enough for those rights, then I invite you to show me another president that has even come close to doing what he has for gay rights.

I know he hasn't done everything we have wanted him to do. I know this. But politics rarely work that way, if ever.

Again, you're easily one of the most intelligent, thoughtful posters here. Nothing against you, but you are human. Every person has their spots of irrationality. This one seems to be yours.

You aren't hearing me. No, I do not like his record on gay rights because he has not gone far enough and because he has not stuck to what apparently was his previous stance on the issue. HOWEVER, I don't vote just on gay rights. That is, I don't vote for a candidate if I agree with their position on gay rights and little else and I don't vote against them just because I disagree with them on gay rights. I base my decision on a variety of issues of which gay rights is 1. Obama has also been even worse than Bush on marijuana, raiding dispensaries at a faster pace than the previous President. He's had a track record very similar to Bush in prosecuting the "war on terror" as well and on civil liberties violations.

He's increasingly being criticized by journalists as well for prosecuting whistle blowers, that's an issue that MATTERS too. Obama promised the most transparent administration in US history. I fully agree with and am GLAD Congresswoman Wasserman is calling Obama out on this subject. Does anyone NOT find this quote creepy?

So they no longer have to force journalists to expose confidential sources. As a national security representative told Lucy Dalglish, director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, “We’re not going to subpoena reporters in the future. We don’t need to. We know who you’re talking to.”

I'm not trying to tell you what to think, who to support, etc though. You have to make these choices for yourself, based on the issues you care about. Because I'm gay I've had people on GAF tell me flat out I have to support Obama and frankly, I find that a frightening view. Obama deserves much more intense scrutiny and criticism than he is receiving and it's not just about gay rights, although that is one issue.

 

[Big Icarus]

Ugh. Why is Obama suddenly convinced it's time to stand up for this issue.
There could not be worse timing on this. This is something that he absolutely shouldn't be so explicity progressive on until he's at least in his second year of the second term. At this point even if he manages a re-election he will have effectively supercharged the conservative opposition which would make the down ticket in any place not NewYork and parts of California start to look a lot more red. He will be beyond a lame duck as a second term president and we will continue to see no traction on gay marriage issue as well as any progressive action to try and resolve the countless economic inequalities that are plaguing the country right now.

 

[The Librarian]

You know abolitionist said the same shit about Lincoln too?

It seems to me you've spent time and energy in creating an enemy when in fact he has always been trying to achieve the things you want most...you are kinda ridiculous.

I'm glad I'm not the only one to notice Gaborn's ridiculous stance on Obama and LGBT issues.

Anyway, very eager to hear the Republican response. This is quite the curve ball.

 

[KingK]

I'm having a hard time seeing the political upside here.

Yeah. I mean, I'm glad he's supported it, but I fail to see this having any net gain on his campaign. It may energize voters in states that will already vote for him, and cost him states that he needs to win. It seems really fucking risky.