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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I'm from NY where Cuomo recently signed gay marriage into law. I tell you up until the law was signed, I could care less about this issue one way or the other. The day after the law went into effect the media insisted on showing all the gay marriages that were now taking place in the state. TV news clip after TV news clip I was subjected to gay couples kissing and practically putting their tongues down each others throats. That was a revelation for me. I am totally AGAINST gay marriage now!! Why must I and my children be subjected to seeing this ad nauseum by the left-wing media? Every state that has put the issue to a vote has defeated it. This tells me people do NOT want gay marriage no matter what the media and politicians are trying to tell us. The only places where it's legal is where left wing politicians have pushed it thru as law. Total BS! Put it up to a vote by the people, and even in places like NY and California it would NO doubt be defeated!
But when you watch TV and see a hetero couple kissing or getting married, that's not a problem, right? Why should your kids be subjected to that? You should be a good parent and sensor what you don't want your kids seeing. Then they can grow up to be an ignorant moron like you!
The National Socialists were against gay marriage in 1930's Germany, for reasons just as valid as NC demonstrated yesterday: hatred and fear, based upon ephemeral nothingness, of that which seems different. I wonder if churches will start distributing brown shirts at Christmas time.
4 more years!
Thank you Mr. President. President Obama makes a good point. The younger generation simply doesn't understand the views on this issue by the older generation. Logically, as the older generations die out, this will become a non-issue, just like interracial marriage is a non-issue in an ever larger part of the country. As with every civil rights issue, the South is a decade or two behind and may have to be dragged into the 21st century by the Supreme Court, assuming the Supreme Court loses its current conservative majority.
Hey, where's my post?
Typical of this president who is always late to the party when he has an opinion about current events. Thanks President Obama, can you get back to the economy now?
He doesn't adopt a position until he or his staff calculates that there is a political benefit to it. I wish he would've just stated his belief up front rather than making it a part of his political calculus. It's pretty transparent.
I think any couple should have the opportunity to marry the one they love. Why can't the right wing hypocritical extremists simply mind their OWN business.
Dear Neo-cons, goodbye and goodnight, don't let the doorknob hit you on the way out.
BUBBA
GOD has given us the truth to know right from wrong. Because people like you don't care to know the difference shows how you soul has been trampled by the idiotic crap you believe.
The Bible also gave us slavery – what say you on that?
This was the greatest mistake Obama has made. what would it profit a man to be re-elected and looses his soul? God didnt create John and peter. God created Adam (man) and Eve( woman), to multiply. I'm so worried about him. God help humanity .
The analogy you were looking for was "Adam and Steve" and when you can prove "God" made anything, let me know!
God created people to LOVE one another. There are many women who can't bear children. Are you suggesting they shouldn't be able to marry a man since they can't reproduce?
Ayala, can you really stand there and say what you're saying...sweetheart...as a gay woman I'm sure I've accomplished more that you ever have and never lost my soul along the way....and in love dear...can you say you're truly a happy person... obvious you're not. That is exactly what God created a man and woman for...to multiply...what an idiot you are
thats right, god hates gays but has no issue with incest, why wont more people just accept that.
Thank you Mr.President
Obama spoke for the rights of the minority.Thanks .
The government is set up to protect the rights of all. We could just let religion handle all marriages and all government related issue would be unions. This way religion can keep marriage and government can finally but out of it. But if that happens I guess you will see bunch of religions offering multiple marriages since the government is at that time out of the game. I bet the Mormons and Muslims will love it a lot.
Once again this poser president changes his postion to appeal to his faithless liberal hollyweird sheep hoping to acquire additional votes from the immoral who now feel justified in their rebellious and abhorent behavior.
Just curious... How many of your friends and family have spit in the face of God by divorcing?
you dont think gays would have already been voting for him?
Wow... Obama has just committed political-suicide... He will NOT be the next president, Mitt Romney will be the next president guaranteed.... byebye Obama, sorry to see you end up being just a "one-term" president. It's a pity because I have no faith in Mitt Romeny but will vote for him because of this issue.
Attaboy. If your priority is one man / one woman, by all means vote for guy whose church until recently supported polygamy.
@ Rich: Because of this one issue??? Wow! That's smart!