President Obama announces support for same-sex marriage
May 09, 2012
US President Barack Obama has announced his support for legal recognition of same-sex marriage.
Speaking just 3 days after Vice President Joseph Biden said that he was “absolutely comfortable” with same-sex marriage, Obama told ABC television interviewer Robin Roberts: “I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”
Obama, who has consistently been supportive of gay-rights causes, had been under pressure to clarify his stand on the issue, particularly after Biden’s public statement of support for same-sex marriage.
Although it was not unexpected, Obama’s statement represents a clear reversal of his earlier stance on the issue. During the 2008 presidential campaign he said that “my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.” More recently he said that his views on the issue were "evolving."
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Further information:
- Obama endorses same-sex marriage (Washington Post)
- Obama Endorses Same-Sex Marriage (New York Times)
- Obama says he supports same-sex marriage (CNN)
- Biden signals support for same-sex marriage (CWN, 5/7)
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Posted by: Skip -
May. 10, 2012 3:49 PM ET USA
Duh!! He drew this line in the sand a long time ago. Shocking how many folks still don't get that this man is, without exception - the most liberal president EVER. The scary thing is this - if we vote him back in, what does it say about our country as a whole? Frightening.
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Posted by: djcastel7241 -
May. 10, 2012 11:49 AM ET USA
Note that Obama tactfully included the phrase "for me personally," hoping not to scare away voters who disagree. This is the same kind of dodge used by liberal Catholic politicians on the abortion issue. This was a thoroughly unprincipled political calculation.
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Posted by: chasann113163 -
May. 10, 2012 7:45 AM ET USA
Our President will say and support anyone and anything that will get him a vote. This is not the hope and change I expected.
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Posted by: jimr451 -
May. 10, 2012 7:00 AM ET USA
It's about time he came clean with his true feelings on the subject. I am surprised though, since it will probably cost him votes when it all nets out.
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Posted by: Leferink557202 -
May. 09, 2012 10:07 PM ET USA
"US President Barack Obama has announced his support for legal recognition of same-sex marriage." And in other world news, the earth is round.
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Posted by: unum -
May. 09, 2012 7:24 PM ET USA
This is one more issue on which the President and a large number of voters disagree. I hope he continues to cave on liberal/progressive issues until November because each issue means additional votes for Romney. Obama certainly lost some votes in North Carolina today, and that's one of the swing states.
