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Overheard on CNN.com: Will Obama's same-sex marriage support help or hurt him?
Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.
President Barack Obama had said he was "evolving" in terms of his position on same-sex marriage, but then he said Wednesday that he in fact supports it. There was plenty of discussion on Tuesday as North Carolina headed to the polls, and the issue continued to gain steam. There are different views on the consequences of such a move. If you have an opinion, share your views via CNN iReport.
Writer Charles Kaiser asserts that Obama has made an important statement.
Gay marriage support: Obama's most courageous move
We've received a number of iReport video responses to this development.
These readers said there could be political consequences, but applauded Obama nonetheless.
dinydave: "Courageous move, definitely. I hope like crazy it doesn't come back to bite him, though. Nothing loses votes like riling up your reactionary opponents, and nothing riles up reactionary 'phobes like the opportunity to deny someone else equality. Witness North Carolina. Courageous move, and Obama is showing just how much more of a LEADER he is than any of the pandering, pansy-arsed regressive Republican field of this year could dream of being. All this, while there's another article fawning over the slowly growing number of Republicans who are finally getting it and going on record as in favor of marriage equality."
Duke Smith: "Courageous, but stupid. Can you envision the TV ads now?"
Some said calling the move "courageous" is a bit much.
sirm777: "How is this courageous? I support gay marriage. There, I must be courageous. No, in Afghanistan facing gunfire is courageous. This here at home is just politics, get real Kaiser."
And this reader said Obama will not be getting her vote.
talicia: "Well he certainly won't be getting my vote this time. I'll abstain rather than vote for him. He's not courageous at all, he's following the liberal lockstep. Gay marriage is being voted down because black people don't support. A huge percent of us believe in God and the Bible. Homosexuality is immoral and unnatural and we're offended that's its constantly being compared to civil rights. All sex is a choice and same sex is wrong. I can't support anyone who doesn't believe in that basic moral principle."
But then again, writer Timothy Stanley opined that if the vote in North Carolina was any indication, same-sex marriage may be too much for now.
Is same-sex marriage too radical for America?
These readers debated the future of same-sex marriage.
macphile11: "I am Christian. I support gay marriage. I support the separation of church and state. This country has had a very confusing time of it because while there's no official religion and the government is supposed to be effectively secular, most politicians are religious–specifically, Christian. So our country, which was founded on ideas like freedom of speech and religion, is ultimately a religious country, with decisions based on religious ideologies. And you know, even Jesus suggested that man's law and God's law are two different animals. I suspect that in the end of the day, gay marriage will win. Even if it's never a federally protected right, most states will legalize it. The few that don't will be just like the outliers now–and in fact, will probably be the exact same states–doing their own thing but mercilessly mocked in pop culture. That's the American way!"
Pofo: "The national average doesn't agree with you, time after time when put to the vote, gay marriage loses. The Average Joe doesn't feel two men can get married, that's just the way it is. Someday when morality is completely gone, and there are no rules, then yes, the gays will have their marriage. ... Sounds weird, but same-sex marriage wasn't even a concept in the '80s. Where will we be in 20 years?"
Some of the commenters said it can't come soon enough.
Feste Plague: "As American citizens, we want equality under the law. My partner/spouse and I have been together for 12 years, married in California four years ago and yet the federal and state governments treat us as if we are strangers. How is that the American way?"
Do as the Canadians do?
GeorgeToronto: "Canada already opened the floodgates to gay marriage and equal taxation and benefits, whatnot ... and life as we know it did not end."
And then, there were some that have no problem with other people's relations but would rather that marriage was just between men and women.
parentof6: "Guys, this is silly. I don't hate gay people. I try to live my life by the teachings of Jesus and that dictates that I disagree with the view that marriage is anything except between a man and a woman. That said, the decision to let people have a piece of paper that recognizes them by the government as a married couple is exactly that ... the government making that distinction. I can't agree that it's OK because of my beliefs but as a follower of Jesus, I'm not condemning you to hell or calling people names like whats going to happen to me when I hit the post button."
What do you think? Share your opinion in the comments area below and in the latest stories on CNN.com. Or put yourself on video via CNN iReport.
Compiled by the CNN.com moderation staff. Some comments edited for length or clarity.
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The President is speaking in favor of equality, in favor of civil rights to free association, to adults consenting to have a relationship of whatever sort.
In short, he is doing his Duty with a capital "D". It doesn't matter if it helps him get re-elected, as it is quite likely to do, it matters a great deal more that he is willing to do the right thing, the equal thing, the respecting other people thing.
That part of it will gain him votes.
Those who are against gay marriage weren't much in favor of tolerance, respect, or equal / civil rights in the first place, were they? They weren't part of his target demographic for re-election anyway. But I'm proud of him. That took guts.
Omg ty Ted! I cant tell you how refreshing that was to read, a positive post about our POTUS! And i agree l000%.
Even though he has the real moral high ground on the issue, it will probably hurt him in the less educated and culturally more closed South and Mid-West.
Those ilk would already be voting for the white republican anyway.
Can we see this as a civil rights issue rather than a religious issue? Gays are not confined to the back of the bus; they can not get on the bus! Look at the witch hunt conducted against gays internationally, especially in Africa and many countries in the mid east. Think of their persecution under the Nazis. This is not to trivialize other disenfranchised groups, But gays are disenfranchised, too. Never forget Laredo and the bullying in this country, too. I am an independent voter and have personal religious convictions. However, religion and politics are a toxic mix.
you all are full of baloney...America does not agree obama's gay marriage and abortion...these extreme and immoral policies are the reasons why he is lame duck and the house of representatives became a house of republicans...obama need to quit focusing on bodily orafisis and redirect the oval office to effortt legitimate issues and the business of
the people...
Your morals, which you have the right to practice. Why does a gay couple have to wonder how to take care of each other? The way the current tax, estate, medical disclosure and family law works, it is almost impossible.
Best thing you can do, is have monogomous gay life partners as friends. They're no different than any loving married couple besides the private choices they make in the privacy of their bedroom.
@ mmmm you are arguing with my troll.
thanks...really addressing the point more than the person...
Gay marriage will always be an issue of god. and it didnt take guts for obama to flip flop. he is just desperate for a vote. i find it disrespectful that obama wants to diminish the meaning of marriage. marriage is an agreement between 1 man 1 woman and 1 God. government has no place in that agreement. end of story.
What's civil marriage then? What does God have to do with that?
How does it dimminsh marriage, we already have 50% failure of marriage. Yeah would not want to tarnish that record. In fact they may raise the numbers to the positive and gays can make decisions about their partner when in the hospital.
and the antichrist has revealed himself. obama would sell his soul for a vote.
Yeah because coming out and supporting gays is popular.
Romney had the religious right vote anyway, and now Obama has some more of the gay vote. Probably won't change the outcome much overall. Voters will be voting on the economy.
romney's belief system is outside the realm of christianity...two godless men vying for the oval office...
@chrissy nice to know that you can spot my troll.
lmao @ hamsta, been spottin your troll for a few months actually. One was quite clever but she just couldnt get kelvins name right. 🙂
Stable committed relationships are a good thing. If gay marriage promotes stable relationships then it is alright by me.
Gettin used to it hamsta, doesnt mean i like it much though.
Bama is a lame duck pres. He's not gonna change a thing and try to take credit for it at the same time... politician he is indeed.
Not with a republican congress.
That is the reason most people who are against Obama are, they are racists, who can't stand the fact that a black man is The Man
obama is morally inept...as an attorney he should be well read regarding legitimate philosphies and truths...apparently he is educated by the post dinner intellectual absurdities discussed over a cups instant of instant coffee...
Mmmmm:
Once again, your thinking is faulty. A lawyer "should" know the law. That's the main reason I would hire a lawyer.
It's good if a lawyer can speak well. Sometimes I would want a lawyer who could appear to be unable to speak well. That would depend on the venue. In North Carolina, for instance, I'd want a different speech pattern from that of a Collegiate-Harvard man.
Mmmmm, for someone to know what you, personally, know about philosophy and "truths," I would pay nothing.
what make a wicked attorney "good" is his/her complete understanding and acknowledgement of the truth...he does not deny they exist and knows them well...so as to manipulate misunderstandings and facilitate its denials....to put it simply...not well spoken as much as he is great a liar...
Yeah, caring for the sick, dying, young, old, and education is stupid. This one belief and your gone. You were never going to vote for him anyway. Right? It's just a point you will drill into the ground for months. You are smiling and in heaven or will you be in heaven? Like the person from Mass. said they have had it there and nothing has changed and they did not get hit by a meteor.
Romney is a parasite and preys on ailing business makes him a stand up guy, cause he says he opposes gay marriage at this time. Where's the compassion all the holy rollers profess to have? Oh, I see they are too busy doing God's work, judging others and casting stones.
Being President is making hard unpopular decisions and bringing our country forward. It seems the religious right is like Al-Qaeda, it is not what is best for the economy, insurance, SS, and working people, but the belief that the very people who say they are country strong are country wrong.
♚Mmmmm♛, you are dead wrong!! Obama has consistently tried to do what is morally right, and he's been thwarted at every turn by a bunch of lazy, do nothing, Republican plutocrats who want to turn this country into a singleminded oligarchy
of the Chinese sort. So just can all that "socialism-communism" nonsense and vote for one of your circus clowns, the ones who dance to Limbaugh's loony tunes.
"obama is morally inept...as an attorney he should be well read regarding legitimate philosphies and truths"
Oh, you mean truths like....The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Association of SocialWorkers, together representing more than 480,000 mental health professionals, have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus is not something that needs to or can be “cured."
@Mmmmm And judged by the religious hypocrites. (Ya, know cast the 1st stone thing) And it would be over a beer. I think we are all sinners and should not judge anyone too harshly, when history tell us that the crusades and such were wrong. Being tortured into a belief and all. Some people do not believe in the bible and that should be their choice, cause the last time I looked we lived in a free society, with religions that do not believe the same customs. Tolerence instead of under God should be in our pledge. And Under God was put in I think in 1954. Scottish
Sad to say but I am afraid that you are correct. What a country!!!!
You got it, mickey1313. Racism – "Get that black guy out of MY Whitehouse!" – is the basis for opposing Obama.