President Barack Obama said in an interview with ABC that "it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."
With his Wednesday announcement, the president reversed his longstanding position on the issue. It came on the heels of his own vice president and education secretary saying they were in favor of gay marriage.
According to an ABC blog post, Obama further described his thought process as an "evolution" that progressed as he discussed the issue with staff members, gay and lesbian service members and his own family.
He said he thinks Americans are growing increasingly comfortable with the concept of gay marriage and cited his own daughters' views on the matter.
“It’s interesting, some of this is also generational,” he said. “You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents.
"And Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them, and frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”
Read CNN's full coverage of President Barack Obama's stance on gay marriage
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Post by: CNN's Eliott C. McLaughlin Filed under: Barack Obama • Civil Rights • District of Columbia • Gay and lesbian • Politics • U.S. |
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Dug some grave Obama?
The latest national polls show A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE. So the President is definitely on the right side of this issue!!
No, Obama. No.
Not at all....he actually gained some ground!
I am a Christian. I love Jesus and believe in His teachings. AND I FULLY SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE!!!
Yay!!! President Romney!!!!
Not in a million years will Romney win now.
When I heard this news, I dropped a warm steaming duece into my Depends diaper.
It's a civil union, nothing more. Try getting into the Catholic Church! LOL
I'm pretty sure no one is begging to join the backwards Catholic church.
Your welcome in the catholic church anytime you want. You are welcome to be baptized, confirmed and go through your first communion at anytime. Just be true to the bible and its teachings. Live your life the way God and his son Jesus Christ ask you to.
Why would anyone want to associate themselves with a bunch of Pompous out of touch kiddy touchers.
No thanks
Yes, it's not marriage unless it is recognized by the Catholic Church. Whatever. Also, no Catholic uses birth control. Sure thing. So many people must be beating down the doors to join the Catholic Church because of the Church's brilliant views that they are shutting churches left and right and closing schools.
I want to see them try to get into heaven. It does not matter if a major portion of America is fine with Gay unions. If God says it's a SIN, then it is a SIN. Oh and yes there is a GOD and it has nothing to do with muslims and their false god.
Flip flop
Shouldn't discrimination be something you would WANT someone to change their mind about? This is a good flip-flop.
We're not talking about Mittens, here. Did you miss the part where it said this was his longstanding position? Of course you did.
The President Waffle to you !!!!
Nope. I flip-flop would be if he said he supported then said he didn't and then said he did.
Not really. He explained his reasoning. Read the article. It's not like Romney who only says what he thinks people want to hear even if it means constantly changing his opinions.
YES! YES! YES! It's about time Mr. President!! Thank you for protecting EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL AMERICANS!!!! We need a NATIONAL LAW ALLOWING GAY MARRIAGE - AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!! Love is love is love -
Thank you!!! A voice of reason in this ignorant sea of hateful jerks!
Our new president would never sign off on that.
It's sad to think that someone's vote would be swayed by what his response would be.
Why? I am gay and all I want is the same rights that everyone else has. If this president is going to give me those rights then he has my vote.
BS. If you listened to what the POTUS is saying, you would have known this was his position all along. He has to spell it out to the people that have no sense.
That's exactly what the President is supposed to do in a Democracy.
I disagree. In our current political environment politicians are afraid to voice some of their own personal beliefs and instead pander to the angry fickle mob. I am happy that Obama took a stance that will ruffle some feather (that really needed to be ruffled). If this upsets you, build a bridge and get over it.
so abamo lied, he is not a xtian like he says. no xtian would support gay marriage
wanna bet...if you're "christian" and you don't support it...you're in the minority...
I am proud of my president today, more than ever. Obama 2012
So Christians should hate other people? After all, Jesus preached all about hating other people right? Oh he didn't? You mean these modern day Christians are hypocrites? Fascinating....
The fact that you use the demeaning 'xtian' makes your argument moot. You're reaching.
No true Christian would believe that one of God's children is lesser than another.
Actually, many people aren't Christian – maybe even you. In the bible is also says divorce is a sin. You can't be Christian if you think its o.k. for families to break up yet prevent families from being united. Or does being Christian mean its ok to pick and choose the parts you think work for you?
Roger, you are so very wrong. Don't judge others with your personal indictment.
Wasn't Jesus gay? I mean he was a 30 year old virgin who hung out with 12 boys.
I'm a Christian and I believe in gay marriage. I believe in equal rights for all. I highly doubt God would want us to discriminate.
I am an "xtrian" (catholic acctually) and I support gay marriage... Oh, and no, I am not gay. So what are you saying?
This is why he is the greatest President ever. He will end discrimination once and for all.
end discrimination. bahaha. you can't regulate something like that
HaHaHa. Please just because he flip-flopped on his opinion on gay marriage. Last time he was running he saw that it would help him get elected if he stated he was against gay marriage and this time around he thinks it might help him. Nothing but politics and his desperation to get re-elected.
This. Is. AWESOME!!!
Way to go President Obama. Funny how our youth educate us. Now, let's get rid of civil rights tied to marriage so that single people get the same rights as married people.
He's for equal rights and against discrimination. How can anyone argue against that?
Go Obama Go! Time for the youth to rise up and be heard and let the old farts with their old dated ideas fall by the wayside!
Time to vote Obama off the island.
How about we just send all the christians back to Israel where it all started. I'd favor that!
He has my vote.