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 President Barack Obama addressing a gay rights group in 2011.
May 9th, 2012
04:55 PM ET
Obama's gay marriage support riles religious conservatives, but political effects not yet clearBy Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor (CNN) – U.S. President Barack Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage on Wednesday outraged conservative Christian leaders, who vowed to use it as an organizing tool in the 2012 elections, but the move is also activating the liberal base, raising big questions about who gains and loses politically. “It cuts both ways - it activates both Democratic and Republican base voters,” said John Green, an expert on religion and politics at the University of Akron. “The most likely effect is that it makes an already close election even closer.” In an interview with ABC News, Obama said, "At a certain point 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." The announcement puts Obama at odds with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who opposes same-sex marriage and who voiced that opposition in an interview on Wednesday. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories "Considering that 10 of the 16 battleground states have marriage amendments that could be overturned by the president's new policy position on marriage, today's announcement almost ensures that marriage will again be a major issue in the presidential election,” said Tony Perkins, president of the the conservative Family Research Council. “The president has provided a clear contrast between him and his challenger, Mitt Romney," Perkins continued. "Romney, who has signed a pledge to support a marriage protection amendment to the U.S. Constitution, may have been handed the key to social conservative support by President Obama." Obama stressed in the interview that his support was personal and that he would leave the issue of marriage to the states. But many conservatives chafed at the idea that the president's personal views would not affect public policy. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, released a statement saying the president's comments were "deeply saddening." Dolan's statement continued, "I pray for the President every day, and will continue to pray that he and his Administration act justly to uphold and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman." Bishop Harry Jackson, the senior pastor of Hope Christian Church outside of Washington, DC, said that "I think the president has been in this place for awhile and that he chose this time because he thought that it might shift the balance of power." Jackson has long campaigned against same-sex marriage. Ralph Reed, a top organizer among religious conservatives, said Obama’s announcement was a “gift to the Romney campaign.” Romney, a Mormon who has evolved to a more conservative position on hot button social issues, has struggled with his party's largely evangelical conservative base in the primaries. But Reed said Obama’s gay marriage support would help Romney in many battleground states. “The Obama campaign doesn’t have to worry about New York and California,” Reed said. “They have to worry about Ohio, Florida and Virginia and I don’t’ see evidence that it’s a winning issue in those states.” Green said that public opinion about gay marriage has been shifting dramatically in recent years, with some polls showing more support than opposition. Green said that in many battlegrounds, including Ohio, it's impossible to nail down current public opinion on same-sex marriage. A Gallup Poll conducted this month found that 50% of American adults support legal recognition of same-sex marriage, while 48% oppose it. Reed noted that same-sex marriage bans have passed in virtually every state they have appeared on the ballot, including in North Carolina on Tuesday. That’s a typically red state that Obama won in 2008 and that is the site of the Democrat's 2012 convention. Many liberal groups were ecstatic over Obama’s support for gay marriage. “Congratulations, Mr. President, for making history today by becoming the first sitting president to explicitly support marriage for same-sex couples,” said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. In his interview with ABC, Obama talked about squaring his decision with his personal religious faith. “We are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others,” Obama said, referencing his wife, Michelle. “But, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule,” he said. “Treat others the way you would want to be treated.” One key Obama constituency that may be angered by his Wednesday announcement is African-Americans, who tend to be more religious than whites. Though they hew heavily Democratic, African-Americans are generally conservative on social issues like gay marriage. - CNN's Eric Marrapodi, Shannon Travis, and Mary Snow contributed to this report. soundoff (2,108 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Unfortunately, there are two very different definitions for "marriage"; one for religion and one for legal. Conservatives like to scare their followers by confusing the two. Don't fall for such.
The root cause of the legal problems is that marriage has been written into many of our laws. There is one set of rules (laws) for the married and a different set of rules (laws) for the unmarried.
Because of that, Gays have the right to choose which set of rules (laws) apply to them. So, they have the right to marry and "enjoy" the set of rules (laws) reserved exclusively for adults who are married.
The solution, is to re-write the laws and take "married" vs. "not married" out of them all. I don't know why our elected officials are don't want to even examine this so obvious of a solution.
Yes, Obama executed his political decision of endorsing gay marriage while his "back-to-back" VP and peer, Biden is going the opposite way. This is not only contradictory, it speakes about the "wishy-washy" character of our President. INDEED it's a political strategy but, America has to open his eyes and see that once Obama got into the White House, he endorsed the LGBT community making a political event with them. Surprinsing??? NOT for me! Our President finally got out of HIS closet, and endorsed what he has ALWAYS endorsed, finally!
Now, "masquerades" off... our people needs to MAKE SURE, PTA's inside schools DONT ALLOW a campaign endorsing gay marriage INSIDE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, no collateral materials, books, and punishments for kids/parents who say NO. We need to make sure, our government DO NOT ALLOW birth certificates to be changed (gender), DO NOT ALLOW traditional families to be treated and persecuted with HOSTILITY because we SAID NO! Traditional families should unify as a NATION and FIGHT for our true core values and our new generations to come. President Obama, WE DONT NEED a HIDDEN AGENDA and CAMPAIGN INSIDE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM... Remember, YOU are our employee and WE DONT pay you for that one!
IF LGBT community wants to be treated as everybody else, begin to RESPECT the SOVEREIGN decision of NC and OTHER states that SAID NO! Respect LIBERTY, to be respected. We love EVERY HUMAN BEING but that doesnt mean that traditional families will continue to allow hostile environments and ONE SIDED IMPOSITION because WE SAID NO. Because our VALUES ARE STRONGER than money, power, politics and the personal interests of a FEW!
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
No question about it, this was not a political decision, but rather one based on the right of every American to love who they want to. If any thing, this is going to cost the president the election even though I thought his position to stand up for the right of all is just. In this country being right, and just have not always means being supported by the majority. Politically, this was a domb move. He did not need to do this. Yes, I think history will judge him in the long run as being on the right side, but for now, he just diminish his chances for re-election.
I am disappointed in Obama and he's lost my vote.
And on this one issue you'll bring in Romney and the entire extremist agenda of the radial right???
Jesus was, and is the son of God. As much as I struggle with the issue of gay marraige, I do not struggle with who Jesus was, is, will be. He is the light of the world. As we deal with the issue of right for all, lets not put down the religious believe of others.
The government should not be deciding who can or cannot get married. Legally anyone should be allowed to marry. If churchs don't want to allow gay marriages that is their right. Keep religion out of government.
Straight liberals, GET OUT OF OUR GAY BEDROOMS, MAYBE MOST OF US DONT WANT YOUR GAY MARRIAGES, VOTE OBAMA OUT
The golden rule does not apply to pervertion. The golden rule is not for the wrong behavior others want to practice. The golden rule is for the good and noble. You cannot apply it to everything especially sodomy.
HEY AMERICA......GROW UP ALREADY!!
good one, I agree
My my my...look how many bigots there are posting here on this article. When will some of you realize that religion is not to have any place in politics? Separation of church and state and all that... I don't want to live by your rules – who says your church is the right one anyway?
And obama should keep his gay religious beliefs OUT OF MY GAY HOME,
I'll tell you when... When politicians get the hell out of my church!! Marriage is between a MAN AND A WOMAN, PERIOD!!! It is a religious commitment before God. If gays want to get married, move to canada or some other dump. This is AMERICA. A CHRISTIAN NATION.
@tammy: america isn't a christian nation. we have no recognized religion. our country, the one i fought for doesn't support any one religion; we support them all. that being the reason we have buddist temples, muslim mosques, hindu temples, jewish sinagogs, so with as many religions in america as there are in the world we are far from a "christian nation"........admittedly however we are a religious nation. the down side of that is we each have our own little groups and those groups don't want to get along; if some balance isn't found we will go the way of the roman empire and the british empire, we will be a footnote in history.
Good luck finding any balance with these idiot liberals pushing their gay agendas on the majority that don't want it in this country!! WE DON'T WANT THEM HERE. THEY NEED TO LEAVE.
Tammy, grow up. No one wants in your church. Trust me on that one. Tell me, how does it hurt YOU if a gay or lesbian couple get married? How will this affect YOU? It won't will it?
I will still vote for Obama because as much as I struggle with this position he has taken, I look at the totality of his policies. That is why I am still considering voting for him. However, I do not agree with you that religion should be kept out of politics. One's faith define a big part of who we are. You cannot ask someone to live part of their body at home, in the same token, your faith guides your decision. I pray for this nation that God guide our purpose.
Ben, pray away. No one has said you can't or shouldn't. However, if religion is to be in politics – which religion? Catholic? Baptist? Muslim? Jewish? Mormon? Jehova's Witness? Pentacostal? It just amazes me that people in this country can not see that allowing people who love each other to marry isn't going to hurt them or destroy this country. I mean really...its marriage. It's not war.
Rather than inculcating our children with the primary-color simple Sunday school legends and myths most people do, might I suggest the following ten comandments to enable them to think for themselves.
1. DO NOT automatically believe something just because a parent, priest, rabbi or minister tells you that you must.
2. DO NOT think that claims about magic and the supernatural are more likely true because they are written in old books. That makes them less likely true.
3. DO analyze claims about religion with the same critical eye that you would claims about money, political positions or social issues.
4. DO NOT accept it when religious leaders tell you it is wrong to question, doubt or think for yourself. It never is. Only those selling junk cars get frightened when you want to "look under the hood".
5. DO decouple morality from a belief in the supernatural, in any of its formulations (Christianity, Judaism, Islam etc.). One can be moral without believing in gods, ghosts and goblins and believing in any of them does not make one moral.
6. DO a bit of independent research into whatever book you were brought up to believe in. Who are its authors and why should I believe them in what they say? How many translations has it gone through? Do we have originals, or only edited copies of copies of copies– the latter is certainly true for every single book in the Bible.
7. DO realize that you are only a Christian (or Hindu or Jew) because of where you were born. Were you lucky enough to be born in the one part of the World that “got it right”?
8. DO NOT be an apologist or accept the explanation “your mind is too small to understand the greatness of god” or “god moves in mysterious ways” when you come upon logical inconsistencies in your belief. A retreat to mysticism is the first refuge of the cornered wrong.
9. DO understand where your religion came from and how it evolved from earlier beliefs to the point you were taught it. Are you lucky enough to be living at that one point in history where we “got it right”?
10. DO educate yourself on the natural Universe, human history and the history of life on Earth, so as to be able to properly evaluate claims that a benevolent, mind-reading god is behind the whole thing.
I sometimes think that, if we first taught our children these simple guidelines, any religion or other supernatural belief would be quickly dismissed by them as quaint nostalgia from a bygone era. I hope we get there as a species.
well said – thank you for binging some logic to this comment thread
GAYS FOR MITTENS, PUTTING AMERICA FIRST, HEY LIBERAL STRAIGHTS WE DONT NEED YOUR HELP WITH GAY MARRIAGE, WHATS NEXT? Gay abortions? U liberals and obama are RUINING AMERICA, GO FAR AWAY
A) you're not a gay guy, B) you are a looney radical right wing-nut for posing as a gay guy.
gay guy=poe
not gay, not married, just wishing he could be with a man b/c no woman would ever be dumb enough to have him...bigoted ass he is
Ah! the religious people how close-minded they are.
Always quoting the bible for their agenda but then flip-flop when other verse are mentioned
Is this another one of his "Changes." ? Right now he is going to promise anythng to get reelected. Even if I was gay I wouldn't believe him. He is going to be grasping for straws. Right now he has put us in trillions of dollars worth of debt. He knows that people are dissatisfied with him, and will do anything to get back into office. Well we need a "change," from his "change," or America will be going down the tube.
Anne, thank u, he, Obama is a manure pile, me and my gay friends want him out of office because gay or not, OBAMA STINKS AS PRESIDENT
No question about it. Gays should marry.
Makes it easier gor the Govt. to track them...
LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. has america forgotten it's roots so easily? i do like one comment on here especially, is it still a marriage if two atheists marry? marriage is recognized and permitted by the government, not any church or any god. a church can hold the ceremony, but only the state can say you're married by awarding you a marriage license. there are religions that think it is ok to marry a 13 year old and religions that think it is ok to marry more than one wife; however both are illegal in america......so religion has no control over marriage, but it will provoke the population of this country,those that enjoy discriminating against others to refuse equal rights based on their views.
That is the Declaration of Independence no the Consti.tution you are quoting.
That said, I don't really care enough about the issue of same s.ex marriage to vote either way.
It never ceases to amaze me that despite being in the 21st century, many Americans still cling onto Bronze Age mentality. Especially in the southern states.
Religion has been and will continue to be used as a tool of oppression, injustice and justification for atrocities.
Furthermore religion never had nor does it own trademark on marriage.
Society would benefit greatly if everyone either A) casts off the shackles of religion or B) Kept religion confined to their homes and places of worship. Religion has no place in the public sphere.
A theocratic government is one of the worst forms of government a nation can have.
Sadly many Christians want to turn America into a Christian theocracy.
How exactly does religion "shackle" us? Please elaborate instead of trying to sound learned.
Jerry, religion keeps people from using their minds. It shackles us to a Bronze Age book written by men who thought the world was flat and the center of the universe. Clearer Now?
I just visited two giant holes in the ground in NYC courtesy of people convinced their religion is the right one.
Which is good, being a Christan nation is good.
Yea, being a Christian nation is good.....that's why the pilgrims came here to get away from it! Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Jerry
Any time you are not free to think for yourself or to question that which you find improbable, impossible, or completely immoral because your ideology forbids it, you are shackled to said ideology.
Your rhetoric is further proof of your own intolerance. Can you not accept that some have/choose to live with different views than you and last I checked, we were a republic. North Carolina's decision reflects the will of the people. Your view of the south speaks further about your intolerance of a culture that prefers to believe how they believe, practice what they practice and to assume they do so out of ignorance shows me how ignorant you are to those views. Pontificate as you may, but as I see it, yours is just an exercise in intellectual masturbation.
Yea, North Carolina where it is STILL legal to marry your cousin....just NOT your GAY cousin! Welcome to the inbred redneck south!! Yeee AHHH!!!!!!!
Martog, in your case, ignorance is bliss – cast dispersions as you may; you only have yourself to blame for your own shortcomings...
Martog: It is legal to marry your first cousin in most of the 50 states, as long as they are not a double first cousins It's not just North Carolina. The gay crowd has just picked up on this new meme because it's easier than thinking for themselves.
Martog wouldn't know that because he doesn't know history nor does he understand his own ancestral roots. Anyone that goes back and trace their roots will soon learn that marrying cousins was quite common. Since most of America's white population came by way of Virginia and NC and followed rivers and trade routes throughout the North and South, I suspect ole Martog has some explainin' to do over his ancestors marrying each other's cousin...again, classic case of thinking with half a brain.
None of you have said anything that refutes(with or without facts) anything in Mikes original post. I guess we are witnessing YOUR shortcomings. Also, history has shown that marrying cousins causes numerous Genetic failures. Have you NOT learned from history? That's why it's illegal in most states(except of course the inbred south).
For those of you who haven't yet realized that the USA also went through the throes of getting rid of most 'native Americans' and relished slavery and paid no heed to women voting or working outside of the home.
It took a lot to get rid of slavery – and for women to win the right to vote – and, well, the American Indian is just hanging on and not well, and women had to go to work in order to support their children when husbands were off fighting wars on different continents.
Hail to the Chief!! An honorable human being.
Let's vote in Romney so multiple marriages can be reinstated, just as they were in the bible!!!
Meanwhile – I will once again vote for President Obama 'cause he's shown himself thus far to be honorable, in spite of the garbage around him.
MIckey, Obama likes simpeton's like you that believe anything that is said. Sad but you are part of the ignorant majority
Clearly more of a political action than one of conscience or sober thought or evolving.Bidens pronouncement, in my opinion was planned with POTUS as many political positions are.
Men and women marry for procreation, and I believe that the gay and lesbian population should be a formal union. This redefining of marriage as we know it is troubling. Equal rights can be misunderstood and misused .....we've just witnessed that with the president. From his explanation his kids made up much of his belief. Give us a break.
Marriage has not always been one man and one woman for love, like the Christian ideal. Over the course of history it has been many things.
And if marriage is for procreation, then why can barren women and post-menopausal women get married?
Men and women have sex for procreation, marriage has nothing to do with it.
Actually, I married my wife because I love her and wanted to be with her ...the procreation aspect was not the reason we got married. In fact, if procreation was the only reason to marry we would not have married each other. I imagine that my experience is similar a majority of people.
If Obama thinks there is enough in the gay community to get him elected again, I think he is sadly mistaken. Read the Bible man, marriage is between a man and a woman.....My wish is that he is out ASAP but is the alternative (Romney) gonna do any better. He is for the rich people so where does that leave the middle and lower class? It is a sad day in America.
Norma, if you believe the fake almighty, then you do believe there is a Santa Claus. You are the kind of Americans that have not grown up. No wonder why the US is left with a population like you with poor grades in science, mathematics. Shame on you as an immature adults.
Once again Chedar you show just how ignorant you are.
I've read the bible and don't believe a word of it. Keep religion out of politics!
I'm not gay but I support gay marriage wholeheartedly, and would support any candidate that doesn’t use biblical interpretations of anything as a basis their policies.. Why should gay couples not have the same rights as straight couples? Is a marriage between two atheists also not a marriage because they don't believe in your book of fairy tales?
Read the Bible? Good grief man, if you want to recommend some fiction to him, do better than that.
Incidentally, I love how you pick and choose which parts of the Bible to endorse. Sure you're all in favor of "marriage is between a man and a woman," but how do you feel about the ban on growing more than one crop in a field, or wearing clothing made of more than one type of thread? Hope you don't have any cotton-polyester blend shirts...
I'm sure you endorse slavery too, right? I mean, it's okay in the Bible, right there in Leviticus. Just make sure they're from another country and you have the full approval of your tribal sky god. You can even sell your daughter if you want, Exodus says it's fine.
Obviously you believe that women should be kept isolated while they're on their period, as per Leviticus.
Now, when you see someone working on the sabbath, what's your preferred way of putting them to death, as the Bible instructs you to do in Exodus?
Of course, working on the Sabbath is the least of the sins of pro football players. They touch the skin of a pig on a regular basis, even though the Bible clearly states it's unclean. Most sinful sport of all time.
Ok one of the founding principles of our country is that there is a separation of church and state so one religion can not push it's morals or religious laws upon others. Another of the founding principles is every one has the right to the pursuit of happiness. Why is it that Adam and Steve having the same protections under the law as you and your spouse bothers you so much when your faith tells you that god himself will sort it all out in the end? God commands live and let live. As well as judge not lest you be judged. It is for Gof to judge, not you.
Norma, Mittins aint for rich people girl, ur wrong
The Bible doesn't say it is between a man and a woman.
David..."For this cause a man shall leave his parents and cleave to his WIFE....." Yes, the Bible (Gen 2) does make it clear that it is between a man and a woman.
Mr President. You are truly a unified of rhe American people. You don't leave anyone behind. Rather than dividing America like Mitt Romney, you are the greatest president America has ever have. You deserve another 4 yrs in the whitehouse and if voters permit, another 8 yrs in the whitehouse.
Wake up Chedar, it views like yours that ruin this country, why don't you leave, but maybe you like being fudge packed.
Gays for MITTENS, PUTTING AMERICA FIRST, BYE BYE OBAMA
Cardinal Dolan, you should be busy minding your pedophile priest. It is a much bigger issue than being saddened when Obama agree with marriage equality.
Us gays dont need crap from stanky obama, hes ruining AMERICA, VOTE MITTENS AND AT LEAST WELL HAVE A CHANCE
For the life of me, the adults in the US still believe in the magical ". GOD" that will punish them if they are out of the norm. Grow up America. You are such puritanical idiots you are the laughing stock of the world.
does it ever occur to you that you may have made yourself a laughing stock by your post?
Then you must believe in yourself. Let us all know how that turns out for you when you die.
Flip Flop.... Flip Flop.... that is all Obama is doing. WAKE UP people look at everything he promised to get elected the first time (yes every potential president promises the world but can only deliver a trash bag of goodies) look at what he has endorsed then changed his mind on, look at all the people he guaranteed would be heard but gave them no leeway I can sum it up in 1 word, IDIOT..
Fast and furious, he has by his actions KILLED AMERICANS, VOTE KING HUSSEIN OOOOOUUUUTTTTT!!!!! HE SMELLS OF MANURE, FULL OF IT