Chuck Todd asked President Obama about gay marriage in today’s press conference (starts at 5:45 above). Among other things, the President said that the legalization of gay marriage in New York was a “good thing” and that “we are moving in a direction of greater equality.” Laura Meckler pressed him on the issue later in the news conference (at 4:20), and he then stopped short of endorsing gay marriage saying, “I’m not going to make news on that today.”
At this point, the President’s statements on this issue have gone past the point of absurd. In his policies and public statements, everything he says and does would seem to favor the gay rights agenda in general and gay marriage in particular. Most notably, he calls the Defense of Marriage Act “unconstitutional” and has directed his justice department not to enforce this law. At the same time, he will not openly endorse gay marriage in so many words, though he says his views are “evolving.” What gives? Is he for it or against it?
It is a truism that you will know them by their fruits. I do think his actions speak much louder than his words. His tepid statements to the effect that he does not favor gay marriage just don’t really look all that convincing. And I am not alone in this opinion. Chris Cilliza of The Washington Post says it this way:
There’s also the matter of the campaign next year… Obama risks losing the support of at least some of his base by embracing gay marriage. The black and Latino communities remain steadfastly anti-gay marriage, and high turnout among both of those populations was a big reason Obama did so well in 2008… Even as gay marriage has gotten significanly more popular in the intervening years, it remains a risky proposition (no pun intended) with black and Latino voters, and Obama needs them in 2012.
There is a take-away here for supporters of traditional marriage but who otherwise favor progressive policies and Democratic candidates. The President appears to be angling for your vote. He reads the polls and knows that he risks losing you if he comes out openly in favor of gay marriage. That is why you are unlikely to see him lay his cards on the table until after he wins the 2012 election. It appears that he made a political calculation and that he’s saving the announcement until after the potential for political damage is past.
If there’s still anyone out there who is thinking that the President is with them in opposing gay marriage, think again. There is more than enough evidence to make us skeptical.
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Listen to Albert Mohler’s discussion of this issue from today’s episode of “The Briefing.” Download here or listen below.
8 Comments
Greg Alford
Denny,
Good article…
No one is discussing the issue of what this new Gay Marriage Law will do to the “Religious Liberty” Rights of the Private Citizens of the state of N.Y.
Here is a link to my post on this issue… http://gritsgrace.blogspot.com/2011/06/gay-agendas-assault-on-religious.html
Make no mistake about it “Religious Liberty” is under full assault in this nation… and with the global rise in influence of Islam, and the back lash to it’s influence, things are only going to get worse.
Grace for the Journey,
donsands
I would ask Barak, “What do you think Jesus Christ your Savior and God thinks of homosexual marriage?”
I know he would side-step it, but it may cause a change in his countenance.
Allie
What he means by “I am not going to make news on that today” is “I will wait till after I am re-elected and than all those bigots who like to cling to their religion and guns won’t be able to do anything to me.”
CD-Host
President Obama belongs to the United Church of Christ they are pro gay marriage and have been for a 1/2 dozen years:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/05/national/05church.html
yankeegospelgirl
He’d think of something don. Though he’d have to do it without a teleprompter, for once…
Andrew Lindsey
Re: “Most notably, he calls the Defense of Marriage Act ‘unconstitutional’…”
-This was the most frustrating part of the press conference in my view.
Why is it that our President thinks it’s his job to decide what is and is not constitutional on this issue (especially when he, minutes before, denied the idea that it is his role to define constitutionality of the War Powers Act), and none of the media present question this statement?
If the President thinks that he can override legislation signed into law and determine constitutionality, then one way he could cut government spending is by disbanding both the Congress and Supreme Court, since he is, in effect, the only branch of government that matters.
CD-Host
Why is it that our President thinks it’s his job to decide what is and is not constitutional
Because that was the oath he took:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
I don’t agree with him on either issue either, but yes the executive branch should interpret the constitution to the best of its ability and try and uphold it.
Greg Alford
Denny,
“If the President thinks that he can override legislation signed into law and determine constitutionality, then one way he could cut government spending is by disbanding both the Congress and Supreme Court, since he is, in effect, the only branch of government that matters.”
I have heard some refer to President Oboma as “The most dangerous man alive!”… I am beginning to think they just may be right. Very Scary Stuff!!!