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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And the children shall lead them...
Yep. The kids know best. I know when it comes to serious decisions, I always consult my kids. Good thinking. On another note, will Obama get a pass from the press for flip-flopping on this issue like Romney did on abortion?
Thank you Mr. President! I am in tears!
Thank you Mr. President. You already had my vote but this reaffirms it.
Gay marriage is like a mosquito that will be squashed. The real marriage is here to stay.
President Obama is a loser, he will be defeated this November. As long as we are changing the definition of marriage,the new definition of Democrats is someone who needs someone to run their lives as they are too stupid to run their own lives.
Great Republican – your name is an oxymoron.
Finally! Mr. President, my esteem for you just increased. Human rights are not a choice to be decided by people trapped by 2000 year old dogma. There still is hope for our country.
PRINCETON, NJ - Gallup finds 64% of Americans saying gay or lesbian relations between consenting adults should be legal, the highest since it first asked the question more than 30 years ago.
SOURCE: http://www(DOT)gallup(DOT)com/poll/147785/Support-Legal-Gay-Relations-Hits-New-High(DOT)aspx
I believe Obama made the right move.
Relations are fine – marriage is another matter altogether. I'm not paying taxes to support perverts and deviants
they pay taxes that support you denroy so why should you be the only 'deviant' supported?
Oh, BANG! Good one, Cedar Rapids!
So at least 10% of America is gay, 4 out of 10 families have a gay person in their family, gay marriage is now at 55% approval. I think if we look back at this issue it's similar to denying women the right to vote, or blacks were 1/4 of a vote,or racial segregation. It wasn't popular at the time but ultimately these were issues that needed to move us forward as a civilized society.
thank you Mr. Biden
what an ass he truly is – flip flopping from one liberal position to another, led by Biden lol – funny how CNN doesn't say this about Obama isn't it but is first to say it about Romney
At least he has now lost votes!!!!
He didn't lose any votes . Those who won't vote for him because of this would never have voted for him either way anyway.
Well, just as Romney was fading Obama has to put his foot in it, so now I am back with Romney. Way to go Bam-Bam.
And in the feeble hope of not being misunderstood, I am in favor of traditional marriage for one-man one-woman relationships and civil unions for non-traditional relationships.
Nc just voted against even civil unions, thats the people you are siding with.
yes because "traditional" marriages are working out so well for you straight people. I just don't understand why people like you need to meddle in our business. how does it affect you?
So, Anne, this ONE issue, considering everything each candidate will bring to the table, this ONE issue means sooooo much to you that you would vote Romney just because Obama says he supports gay marriage? Mind you, this changes nothing – the states are still making their own laws about this. If this ONE issue is more important to you than the economy, healthcare, social security, medicare, then I guess you do need to vote Romney. But really think about it, and if it is really that important to you.
This is not flip-flop. I prefer my President or anyone representing me to learn, evaluate and value other opinions and change the way they think. He's doing what he thinks is best not what his party wants. That's not flip-flopping. He said it was an evolution. Go Obama!!!
Evolving stance! That's a lot of BS. It's flip-flopping!
Of course he does, it's an election year. If most of the country wanted public hangings – he would support that as well. He's so transparent!
He supported gay marriage as a senator. He is not waffling here.
Go President Obama!! Way to stand up for civil rights!
Marriage between MAN and WOMEN!! You lost my vote Obama.
Are you a polygamist?
Did he have it before?