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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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OMG religious people are stupid.
I don't care what President Obama says. No way would I vote for a person that puts his money outside of the US.and flip flops every time the winds blows. And the way republicans treat women. Any woman that votes republican has to not know how they are treating women in state after state..
So you'll vote for Republicans who hide their money out of the country though?
I will state this again:
Vote what your conscience dicates.
Mine is clear.
Nonsense...
hard to figure this man out he says one thing at this time and another thing at a differant time,does not want to offend anybody by NOT dressing the part with a united state flag pin on his suit, but he will be wishy washy on other issues, puts his feet on the desk that was given to us by the queen,and then goes ouer there and insults them. i say : i s s on him and his classless behavior,he pats himself on be back way too offen. IF your going to be the presTHEN act like the pres.......very disapointed.....very sad that our country is going in the dirrection its going......ONE NATION UNDER GOD IS WHERE WE SHOULD STAND ............and not stand for the other crap!
Please stop saying the President has changed his mind on gay rights, first he help strike down Dont Ask Dont tell, and he always said he supported a Civil Union his stance has EVOLVED not Changed. Remember the campaign slogan YES WE CAN. He meant it. FORWARD!! (Finishing, Our Responsibility,When,Anyboby, Requires ,Direction)
@♚Mmmmm♛
go back to China and see how long your sanctimonious prattling lasts. Banasy, Mickey1313 and Mary930 are ALL
spot-on right about President Obama and his positions. You're just another racist, religious bigot and WRONG.
This country has a seperation of church and state to protect the church. Look at your history and the crown forcing people to practice one religion.
If the church wants to force it's values on those who don't subscribe to their beleifs, that's a violation of church and state.
If the church want to affect a change in law to support their beliefs, then they need to pay taxes on the millions they and their leaders take in for the Mega-churches and mansions. That alone could solve the deficit crisis.
When ever a person does what is right, a bigot will say it is wrong. Remember gays are all colors of the human RACE! Why should it hurt him. The should be a no divorce law on the books: one marriage per person per life in America! People a lost when it come to civil and religious unions! Leave it to the states: I live in the south, what would that say about repealing the 13th!
What cant you gays understand about the fact that marriage is an agreement between 1 man 1 woman and 1 God? what cant you understand about that being a privelege given by God and not a right given by government?
Hamsta, you might have a case if everyone BELIEVED in God. No everyone does. Therefore, the point is moot; the same rights SHOULD be afforded to everybody! What is it were legislated tomorrow that anyone believing in God would not be able to marry? Plus, if you think there are no gay Christians, you are sadly mistaken. Your views notwithstanding, gay people are taxpaying citizens of this country, and to deny them a basic right is unpatriotic and totally wrong. Treat them like second class citizens? Then let them stop paying taxes. When a big chunk of YOUR basic freedoms get taken away, I'll bet you'd change your views quickly enough...God created them, according to you, so it cannot be all bad. Did one hit on you? What the hell is your. DEAL?
@hamsta – "What cant you gays understand about the fact that marriage is an agreement between 1 man 1 woman and 1 God?" Huh? this aint a fact. its your opinion. Plenty of marriages have been made without any reference to any god. Now that's a fact...
@terry Try coming back from the dead. then you can tell me about god and your rights.have you met the grim reaper? i have. i dont need some phony preacher in a bogus church to save my soul. if you think that preacher man can save your soul he is going to take your money and you both will rot in the feilds of the nepholeme. i find it very offensive that atheists try to force their belief that there is no god on the rest of the world. just because you cant see him, touch him or feel him doesnt mean he doesnt exist. but dont you worry one day you to will meet the grim reaper. i just pray that he gives you a second chance like he did me. as for the gays and that right they think they have god will not take very lightly this perversion of the privelege he has given you. God destroyed sodom and gammorha for a reason. where do you think the word sodomy came from?
Ask Larry King what he saw when he died and got a second chance. Absolutely nothing. Bunch of BS this God stuff.
And the aliens destroyed Sodom and Gammorha. Don't you watch Ancient Aliens. Geeez!
@ terry when meteors start falling on washington dc im sure the atheists will find away to use global warming as a reason that meteors didnt fall on any other place on earth.
scottish mama, yet...you haven't been hit yet. But Mass. was already cursed with the big dig, Mitt Romney's healthcare bill, Mike Dukakis, John Kerry, and the Red Sox so I went easy on them. I'll be honest, I don't really care aboutthis issue and I barely havethe energy to deal with the wrath thing anymore. That was a long time ago in the old testament. I've moved on from that. I would assume most Christians have heard of the New Covenant. I'm more mellow now. I had a kid, he just turned 2011 years old last december. So why would I send a meteor over this entire gay marriage thing? Now the wars, wall street, and the Federal Reserve get me going, but again, I'm more mellow now.
I doubt that it will hurt or help him. If you are a Democrat you will vote that way. If you are a Republican you will vote that way. Remember though the man with the most money has to win. That is the American way.
@jen there is a difference between fact and opinion. one day you to will meet the grim reaper. then you will have your chance to tell god about his opinion.
Barack Hussien Obama does not deserve my vote, this time. He is too radical, and at the same time I heard him saying Jesus Sermon on the Mount is radical, but I see this president blessing the gay marriage. I know he is destroying the Christian value in America. He has already said that America is not any more a Christian country. I saw him bowing to the most brutal king os Saudi Arabia. I saw him addressing the Muslim word during his Cairo speech by opening his speech and saying "Salam Aliquim" instead of using the English language, the official language of U.S.A. I am very offended by approving the gay marriage. Jesus blessed the wedding marriage between man and a woman at Cana in Galilee. Jesus didn't go to a gay marriage feast.
Was the world still flat then?
When the christian world could not recruit by crusades did they change their minds about murder.
Religion and the interpetation has bben changed in the bible by man many times. It is not the word of God or Jesus, it is a pick and choose book made by men. Marriage is between two consenting adults, who love each other.
Our government wants a piece of paper to say you are married, so you can have legal rights to that person, make decisions, and have joint tax returns.
Having a gay, lesbian, marriage will not affect your marriage or make churches or Synagoges marry them. Because I assume our church believes the way you do.
Marriage is a word, whether you jump a broom or take a vow in church.
It will not affect your life, just make a gay or lesbians life mean more to them by professing their love to one another.
If you think it is a sin, then it is their sin, not yours to be concerned about. Cause you are not on earth to judge the living or the dead.