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Obama: Same-sex couples should have right to marry
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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Shwew! That just guaranteed a Romney election. Dont have to sweat it now.
How can you figure that if over 50% of the country are in favor of it. Mathematically, yo have nothing behind your claim.
Obama, you rule! Thanks for helping to bring America into the 21st Century.
Personally, I don't like gays, because I can't stop thinking about nasty things they do in bed. But my son goes to school where some kids have two fathers or two mothers. I can't imagine explaining to my son that these parents are not the same as any other families. Kids indeed don't see the difference and they see things much simpler – that families can be different.
Obama has my vote for being democratic and honest on this issue. He did what a true President should do.
Ling, that is a very thoughtful comment. I appreciate the fact that you may have personal feelings about gay relationships, but are able to still let others live and let live. I wish everyone could do that.
USA has not other problems: It had not lied about bay of pigs, it have not lied about 800 000 tons of WMD's, it have not lied about "no flights zones" above Libya. 3 wars it started on lies was SUCCESS. All problems left is gay marriage.
Let the states, and the voters in their states, decide.
It's a terrible idea to let the majority decide on minority rights. Do you really think Southern states would have voted to give African-Americans the right to vote given the opportunity to choose?
Btw the president has definitely lost Virginia because of this stance as well as north Carolina.. I think it's going to be hard for him to win reelection
What's the real fall-out of this new position for Obama? Gay marriage is a demonstrated state regulated issue so what is the impact of this other than pandering to his base or substantial donors?
This is just a whole bunch of nonsense. Complete NOT Civil Rights related at all.
Same gender couples are allowed to be couples and do whatever they wanted. It only became a hot topic of heated discussions when they wanted to change the traditional definition of marriage.
Come'on people, no one is stopping them from being together. We just don't want traditional definitions changed whenever a new group feels like it.
We don't want the definition of "weekend" changed because some people want Fridays to be included as well.
We don't want the definition of "water" to change because some people wanted carbonated versions to count.
We don't want the definition of "fresh bread" changed because vendors wanted to include day-old ones.
We don't want the definition of "etc." changed because of various reasons, etc.
Wrong...this is all about civil rights!
sir, marriage gives us rights and benefits that just being a couple doesn't. LEGAL stuff. it's not just so we can be married. taxes, hospital rights, health insurance, the list goes on and on.
I can't tell if this is meant to be humorous or not...
James, water is still water no matter if its carbonated or not, bread is still bread even if it's a day old. Marriage is marriage, even if it's between two men, or two women.
james, the "weekend" does start on Friday (night) and "water" has many forms, purified, distilled, carbonated, tap...
so your examples are nothing but Epic Fails.
Something that even more news Worthy! is it true that president Obama seeks to sign away our Navy's rights to navigate or operate freely in our own territorial waters, let alone on the international seas. He seeks to have us pay a royalty on any oil recovered both within or territorial waters as well as anything found in international seas. In short any activity of free people on any open water, anywhere in the world would be subject to United Nations approval.
This is a treaty that is in the works NOW!!
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Ronald Reagan refused to sign this treaty, but John Kerry is working hard to get this done now
UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA
AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
PART XI OF THE CONVENTION
white christian, southern conservatives think the country is more "theirs". They just cant get over the civil war outcome and the teachings of the magic book number 1
oh what rot, really.
It's interesting how some people view gay's and their rights as a threat to their "traditional" and "moral" lives. Everyone in this country should be treated EQUALLY. The hypocrisies of anti-gay policies are overwhelming and frankly childish. Anyone who does not believe in full rights for EVERY citizen in this country is a bigot and does not actually understand what this country is about,LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
Thank you!
The reactions to POTUS statement just come to show that the GOProuders and Log Cabin republicans are more in line with the GOP agenda than with the needs of the LGBT community. They too are using the events of the past 48 h for political benefit, and what is worse, for the benefit of those who oppose LBGT's civil rights. Pathetic, to say the least
He knows he's not getting one conservative vote anyway so this is pandering to those gays on the bubble. 'gosh, Obama is for gay marraige, i'm voting for him'. it's all about votes folks and that's it.
anything that keeps reps out is a good strategy in my book
using that logic means the vote yesterday in NC was just pandering to the anti-gay mob.
Obviously then, your kids are smarter than you.
What a brave man, President Obama is. To support gay marriage during an election year, at a time when the public is so divided on his job performance. Politicians shy away from "controversial" or polarizing issues on election years so they can come into office. Meanwhile, Obama is putting it all on the line for human rights. So inspiring – this is the man I want leading our country the next four years. Someone who isn't afraid of change and isn't afraid to stand up and do what's right.
I applaud him for saying what he honestly feels and not saying what he thinks the people want to hear just to get elected. I'm straight – and was considering voting for Romney – but Romney can't even defend his own gay staff member and gets rid of him under pressure. This outdated way of thinking (that gays are diseased or sick) should have been gone by the turn of this last century.