Obama listed his administration’s accomplishments—ending DADT, dropping the DOMA appeal, hospital visitation rights, domestic partner benefits for the same-sex partners of federal employees—and he expanded on his “states’ rights” argument about marriage equality, e.g. the federal government should leave marriage to the states and not put its “thumb on the scales” against gay couples in states where same-sex marriage is legal. He also spoke—quite movingly—about how Americans are increasingly recognizing that “gays, lesbians, and transgenders” are their children, friends, coworkers, and cousins. He concluded with: “We are moving in a direction of greater equality, and I think that’s a good thing.”
The president did, however, suggest that it was “appropriate” for different communities and different states to come to different conclusions about the rights of gay couples. Would any other minority group want to see their legal rights determined geographically?
Video via JMG.
Still a cop out. There is just no way that a man with his education and background doesn’t support the rights of gays and lesbians to marry. His sidestepping is purely political and thoroughly disappointing.
He did support it in 1996, he just won’t now because he’s a spineless coward.
So President Obama wants to leave it up to the states to vote/legislate on whether gay people can or cannot marry? FAIL.
He, of all people, should realize that marriage is a fundamental right and cannot be arbitrarily denied. When Obama’s parents were married in 1961, 16 states would have deemed their interracial union as illegal. Does anyone still think that the same warped logic should apply to gays.
If Loving v Virginia taught us anything, it was that marriage is not an immutable institution and should not be left up to the states to confer as they see fit.
http://www.bostonreview.net/BR36.1/cott.ph…
There’s a shocker. Another timid move by a timid leader. Go fuck yourself, Obama.
So, only certain civil right should be left to the states? Yeah, fail.
Pure play to the middle. He knows the left will still support him against whatever wingnut the publicans put up. But if he moves left, the middle might move to the wing nuts. Those insane swing voters drive the whole bus. Great democracy, huh?