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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Obama doesn't believe what he's saying for a minute. It comes down to him thinking he'll get more votes if he's for it than if he's against it. I'm sure he's as discusted as the rest of us. And that goes for all you politically correct, church going hyporcrites that dont dare admit you think it's discusting too. Gays would become extinct quickly as they obviously cant breed. Its all you cowards pushing the tollerence nonsense that is their major enabling factor.
answerman28 – So procreation is the only reason for two people to enter a committed, long term, loving relationship? If you have a spouse, I'm sure they're thrilled at that one.
"Gays would become extinct quickly as they obviously cant breed"
are you really that dumb or are you trolling? you cant seriously believe that only gays have gay kids?
you sound so darn smart, Answerman! I hear banjo's in the background...
Marriage shouldn't be acknowledged by the government. Civil unions should. Churches should be the ones that acknowledge marrige. And if they dont' want ot marry gays, then they shouldn't have to.
Thank you Mister One-Time, Socialist President! Your liberal and radical views will now be forever buried along with your one embarrassing term in the White House. Let's see how the Hispanics and African Americans will feel now toward your new-found revelation!
tularockstar – I think a lot more closeted Hispanics, African Americans and others have an incentive to come out....as well as come out and vote.
Love the sinner, hate the sin...I have a problem with someone saying they're a Christian when their actions clearly indicate otherwiset. If we're decieved about something that important, what else?
Not everybody can follow your religon. Seperation of church and state. Does that ring a bell?
If you noticed he waited until after the vote on Amendment 1 in NC to make this statement. The DNC wants to make legalizing gay marriage as part of the platform in Charlotte. This evolvement is just a political ploy to engage highly disgruntled LGBTs in NC to get motivated and work for him in November. I just hope they remember that if he had used his political clout to persuade the black community in the state to vote against the amendment it would most likely have failed. That was not the agenda, he wanted LGBTs mad and motivated and he know he will get the black vote in NC anyway....cunning, deceitful, yet brilliant.....but will it work. The answer is probable.
Which ever way the wind blows. He said once that he is a polition first.
Whichever way the wind blows.... so goes our prez. And to think he actually got away with it last election. C'mon November.
Romney is well known for flip-flopping. But no mention of him. Hmm???
This is a president who has a spine, unlike the flip flopper Romney.
Yes a spine like a jellyfish....
Jellyfish so cool that it grew a spine, walked on land and roundhouse kicked Chuck Norris!
Most Americans don't have an issue with gay people getting married anymore. Leave it to republicans to be behind the times as usual.
You hit it right on the nail!
You mean everyone should follow like sheep instead of thinking for them selves? I am okay with gay civil unions, with God we all have free will. But please don't tell me I am behind the times not believing it is okay, natural or normal. God did not sanction marriage for this.
Thank goodness our president has a clear head about this issue. Just officially won my vote for 2012.
It's about time the prez came out in support of equal rights for all citizens!
Ah...so to hell with the peoples vote...thank you mr president. you will be gone soon.
Let's review. He has a web site to generate black voters for Obama. He has spoken out about a shooting in FL where a young black male was shot by a white man which garnered black voter support. He spoke out about Rush Limbaugh's remarks about Sandra Fluke, to garner both young college kids and female voter support and now he is in favor of gay marriage, when he wasn't in favor of it before. Could that be to garner the gay and lesbian vote? Is this person to be trusted? Just who does he really represent? He was against the Navy Seals because they roughed up a Jihadest they took into custody, he sang their praises when they killed Bin Laden and now he is taking the credit. We are no longer a Christian Nation and he apologizes for the US to our enemys. He spends our money like it is going out of style. The majority of the US is against Gay Marriage and wants to keep marriage between a man and a women and now he supports Gay Marriage. Whenever he speaks, I have to realize that he is a politician and says what he thinks will get him votes.
What about all of the lies he has told then went back on when it comes to state marijuana laws?
in 3 days he'll deny it all
And let's add in that when he found out the shooting in FL was NOT a white guy but rather a Hispanic guy he dropped the topic altogether. Obama is doing nothing more than building up a race war by attempting to turn all races against the whites. To all his supporters – How is this equal treatment?
So when will Obama come out?
I'm sorry what does equal mean to you. To me it means the same rights not less than.