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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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This doesn't bother me at all because it doesn't affect me. The fact is I would never vote for a republican anyway even if I would take their side on the gay marriage issue. I just don't trust the republicans one bit because they are never for the working and middle class people.
I'm pretty sure Romney doesn't even know the meaning of the word "work" other than how he "works" a room for support and donations. In his mind "work" equals "pander".
@GodPot,
Seems that's the case with all politicians. To me anyway.
Marriage laws are determined at the state level. Leave them at the state level. If you want to have a gay marriage, fine, go to a state that supports it.
Heard of the Equal Protection clause of the US Consti.tution, idiot?
Yep, that same argument was used for states supporting segregation.
Try reading Amendment 14.
The Commerce Clause requires all states to honor each others contracts. And a marriage license is unquestionably a state-issued contract.
The only thing standing in the way of the enforcement of the Commerce Clause is DOMA, which was enacted in direct response to the first state's proposals to permit gay marriage, and which will be struck down by the Supreme Court next year.
Ok, then if gays can't get the federal benefits like joint income tax filing, social security benefits for surviving spouses, exemption from federal inheritance taxes for the surviving spouse, then let's get rid of that for all couples. Seems fair to me.
From a non religious point of view, I wish more religious people were like this.
“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.”
instead of
Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes... The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!
God help us....please forgive us.
...for waiting so long?
God supported slavery, discrimination against women and discrimination against the handicapped.
What is your point?
There's nobody there.
Idiot.
Your god lies, proven.
Are you talking to the cloud pixie, sky daddy, or flying spaghetti monster? With all the deities floating around up there, you need to be a bit more specific ...
God doesn't help anyone. Though according to your book, he does like to destroy.
...for discriminating against people you supposedly created. Go figure.
what ever get a life, i get up and go to work everyday, pay taxes and yes go to church every sunday, the gay man that god loves
Do not fear, the president will be reelected.
Keep religion out of politics.
Amendment 1:
make no law respecting an establishment of religion
And for those crying, "but States' rights are different than Federal rights"
Amendment 14:
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States
States rights are different than federal rights – its whole reasoning behind having states in the first place. States are a check on the power of the Federal government.
States a check on the powers of the Federal Govt?? bahahaha...that's why a state supreme court can overturn a federal law...oh wait. That's why States had to be told to let those 'other' people vote too...because States were doing just TOO good of a job letting all those minorities in on the party... The purpose of States is to legislate at a very granular level for very local topics/issues, stuff that is too detailed for Fed Govt concern. When talking about US Citizens' rights?... ummm afraid that's outta the States' hands
It probably won't be too long before discrimination against gays fades into history as discrimination against blacks and women is fading. All had similar ignorance to perpetuate them.
I think your right, it could be viewed as social evolution or psychological evolution. In any even, I think it is a good and natural course to take.
Yeah, but this ignorance is religious delusion now. The discrimination will decrease only in proportion to decreasing levels of religious delusion, which is the only thing that is supporting it anyway.
Which just means in 40 years we will only see the more subtle discrimination and silent profiling of gays while some continue stick to their firmly held prejudices and argue that it's their right to discriminate.
This evolutionary thing takes a very long time to unfold. Unfortunately for us we have to fight tooth and nail for human dignity while centuries from now this moral quandary will merely be something in a history book along with god.
We can hope, and work toward that end.
“Abomination” is the term used in Leviticus.
Your use of the term suggests you follow Leviticus law, which is Old Testament. Thus, you must also support slavery. Tell me, do you have a daughter? According to Leviticus you may sell her into slavery, so what is the going rate?
Leviticus also states that eating shellfish is an abomination... have you ever eaten crab or shrimp? If so, guess what? You are an abomination.
Oh, and check the tags on your clothing. If they are made of two different fabrics, from different crops... well, we get to stone you. All of this is according to Leviticus, which YOU have stated that YOU follow.
I am just going to start polishing these stones while I wait for your response. If you truly believe in the Bible why don't you live by it. You can't pick and choose what you want out of it. It also says: Love thy neighbor.
Thank you for posting this. Seems people turn a blind eye to the other "abominations." If I recall correctly it also states somewhere that people born with deformed limbs are an abomination to God.
we no longer go by the law in the old testament because jesus fulfilled the law with his death on the cross by his blood we are able to be with god forever and never be seperated from himj. jesus paid our sin debt with his blood so we could be saved we are saved by gods grace thru our faith,god loves everone no matter who you are or what you have done he is willing to forgive us all for our sins no matter what they are in gods eyes all sins are equal no sin is greater then another sin is sin and god being holy can not be around sin
Don't forget about the guy riding a horse in the clouds pulling swords out of his mouth and killing everyone he doesn't like. What a guy!
I posted something like this on FauxNews (big mistake) yesterday and got called every name in the book. I kept saying that there reason for opposing gay marriage stems from hate masked by religion. This, coming from a straight, agnostic male.
Gay marriage opponents are ultimately going to lose their fight. It's legal in a number of countries already and AFAIK hasn't caused any issues. It's also legal in several states. It's the way the world is going. But while I may disagree with the GOP's position on it, I'll defend to the death their right to say it...and all that jazz. Their uphill battle is only going to get steeper, so I hope they've got good gear.
Kudos to Obama for saying what he said, although I wish he'd said it from the start.
He did say it from the start – during the last election, anyway. He's shoved it deep into a drawer since then and has been silent about his earlier pronouncements as well as utterly inactive, and there's little reason to believe that this round will be any different: another bout of empty campaign rhetoric.
BREAKING NEWS
A Union known as the International Brotherhood of Hamster Inserters has just endorsed Obama.
You think you're funny but you're quite mistaken.
I thought I recognized your name from the meeting the other night. Meant to tell you, it's not very safe to lick the santorum off the hamsters after the meeting. You should probably get checked. Otherwise, it was great to see you. Maybe next meeting, I'll get to see your face? Cheers!
mmm
Gush much has a hamster named Armageddon and a small tube.
Oh Dog Eater, you know my hamster is named Jesus, silly girl. Jesus loves to be inside me. And I loved being inside you!
Dog Eater,
Was that supposed to be funny?
Gush Munch likes it when his hamster claws the inside of his rectum. Makes him feel like a man. Then he lets his partner Rory lick it, before giving it to his mom, who thinks it's a Cheesy Poof.
let me guess, from the south, well this gay farmer can take you
We thank you and the other hamster insters for your ongoing support.
Obama_Dog Eater
BREAKING NEWS
A Union known as the International Brotherhood of Hamster Inserters has just endorsed Obama.
-----------–
Are you the spokesman for the group?
What about my long denied rights? I don't know what they are, but I want them. Now.
You have the right to appear ignorant.
If you don't know what your rights are, then you probably don't deserve them.
You have a right to act like a child, yes, and you are exercising it right here.
Rights have always been over emphasized. It's the secret ones you want, your Lefts. Demand your Lefts NOW! They are truly the Golden Ticket.
Let them get riled up all they want, it doesn't change reality. "Religious conservatives" are on the wrong side of history particularly on the issue of gay marriage.
Romney will win in a landslide in November!
Does this make it official that President Obama is not a Muslim?
...ting
No, he's still a Muslim, ...and an atheist, ...communist, fascist, pig-dog, Satanist, but mostly he's a Kenyan who has been practicing neurolinguistic mind control.
...and he sleeps standing up. The liberal media won't cover that.
... a stander eh... how'd he get elected?
The Flip Flopper in Chief strikes again! LOL!
Flip Flopper? The president was always for civil unions bcs he thought they were sufficient, but now realizes that is not the case. I wouldn't exactly call that a flip flop.
wan2believe, you're pathetic. "He now realizes." LOL He only believes in himself.
You could at least quote me correctly if you're going to just put down my opinion because you can't have an intelligent discussion.
This was an excellent flip to flop.
Obama's brave statement will line up all the Pharisees against him. For them Christianity reduces to the demand that hospitals prevent gay people's life partners from visiting them as they are dying, and that insurers and pension systems won't pay death benefits to them either. That's all the gay marriage issue really amounts to in practical terms. All the rest is hot air. People will love each other, gay or straight, as they have always done.
Let's do a little math, shall we... Two boys and two girls. No problems if the boys marry the girls. Two couples. Bennies, insurance, etc.
Now, if the boys marry the boys it's STILL two couples! The bennies, etc. are the SAME.
Rob
My silly neighbor is flying his flag upside down because of Obama's announcement this afternoon. He's also has Jesus fish and Jesus stickers all over his cars. He's a loose cannon – if you walk on the public sidewalk in front of his house, he'll run out of his front door, shotgun in hand, and threaten to shoot you. Even the the police have told him time and time again that a city owned sidewalk is public land, he will still threaten you with death for trespassing. My point is – he's unstable, ultra-conservative, pro-guns, and is a super dooper friend of Jesus. These kinds of people are unstable no matter what our President says or does, simply because they can't stand that a black man is in the white house. Good for President Obama for doing what is right, even if it means sending idiots like my neighbor off the deep end.
You should kill him before he kills you.
Oh David, you're tho thilly...
@davidWA,
Are you hoping the local law enforcement is reading this blog? Perhaps a phone would work better.
About time, Mr. President. Thank you for finally plucking up the courage to do what is right. You're mobilizing young voters, and let's face it: We're your best shot. My conscience will now be completely clear when I vote for you this November. I finally get to believe in you. It' a good feeling.
I'm feeling it too! He needs to stand real strong and not falter one iota.
meh, he's right in that this is a state, or at most a federal legislative issue. The President's opinion shouldn't really matter.
A small group of people will not be allowed to alter the traditional basic structure of human society.
Brittany Spears, idiot.
Sorry, Rocinante (wow, that name is so appropriate for you)...civil rights are basic rights whether you want them to be or not. No group, no matter how small or demonized by hordes of bigots, can be denied their basic rights in this country. If you don't like this fact then there are plenty of dictatorships and theocracies that I'm sure would be glad to welcome another bigot into the fold. Pack your bags. Don't let the door hit your butt on the way out.
@Rocinante, get off it already. Marriage is NOT the "traditional basic structure of human society." Human society can rise above the confines of religious dogma. You're on the wrong side of history on this issue.
I vote we go back to the real traditional structure, troops, like the Chimpanzees have.
Why don't you go back to torturing caterpillars.
It would be hilarious if Romney followed Obama's move. The religious right whack jobs wouldn't know what to do with themselves. A month ago they couldn't stand the guy because he is a Mormon and now he's probably their best friend. They need a president that supports their prejudices.
This whole mormon thing really needs to be played-out to its fullest. The voting public must be informed of the pure insanity of the cult, not that christianity is any better but it has been around longer and more acceptable, if that makes any sense?
Read mormon com or try talking to a neighbor or coworker who is Mormon to see what you have in common.
@Rocinante
Please explain.
The way I see it, at least God has talked to the Mormons somewhat recently. He gave them an update. The Christians haven't heard from God in almost 2,000 years.
@Ting
You are joking, right?
The Christians stole the religion from the Jews and the Mormons took it from the Christians. I don't see why the Christians make a big deal about it. The Mormon's version is no crazier than the Christians. It just has a more modern twist to it.
"The Mormon's version is no crazier than the Christians"
You got me there. Truth is truth. Planet Kolob is no crazier than believing in immortal souls no one can define that somehow can be burned and tortured is physical and fleshly ways in some invented space beneath the earths crust called heII.
This is very telling. This next election is going to be very, very interesting to say the least. I can only admire Mr. Obama for his fort*itude to "do the right thing" in the face of such a powerful force in our country. It is long overdue for the person at the head of our government to make this stance against prejudice and injustice to humanity. All I can say is "Thank You Mr. President!" May reason, intelligence and logic be with you!
He took exactly the same stance in 2008, claiming that he would work to end band on gay marriage once in office. To date, he has completely ducked the issue. I expect an exact repeat this time around. At best, DOMA will be struck down when it finally reaches the Supreme Court next year, and Obama will claim credit for it, but that bus is already in motion and the defeat of DOMA a near-certainty, which will legalize gay marriage across the nation now that several states already permit it.
@SixDegrees
That sounds plausible and that's fine but in the midst of this North Carolina debacle and the keystone figure of Oral Roberts taking out full page ads it is refreshing for Obama to make a point.
It would have carried a great deal more weight had his epiphany not come a day late, and he had instead used the bully pulpit to get out the vote in NC. Instead, he did what he's done for the last four years: kept his mouth shut and done nothing.
@SixDegrees
I see where you are coming from and yes it is disheartening it is a day late and a dollar short, BUT I am still pleased with it.
@SixDegrees,
Interesting point. But did Obama really say he would work for same-s.ex marriage?
The first thing I found was,
"[Obama] Opposes same-se.x marriage, but also opposes a const.itutional ban. Says he would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment. " (http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.sameseREMOVExmarriage.html)
...but that may not be accurate.
Now, how about my rights? I want multiple wives and we are all consenting adults. You got what you wanted, now it should be my turn! I get tired of the same woman night after night, so I need a few to rotate between to keep the fun alive for us all. We all love each other, so what about our rights? Would you have your rights and deny us ours? We don't want child brides, only grown adult type women, so we should be next to receive approval and recognition.
The reason polygamy is illegal is because it is anti-woman. Unless of course you allow me to have multiple husbands to support me in the way I'd like to become accustomed.
The Bible is on your side.
In addition to LauraJT, as long as all of your marriage benefits are evenly distributed among you and your spouses so that they are equal/fair to that of a man-wife, man-man, or woman-woman couple, I don't care what you do.
Laura makes the point as well as the tax implications involved of having multiple wives. It just goes to show, when you are so against two people in love you'll dredge up anything to try and make your prejudice more appealing.
@wannabe...,
you'd have to actually find more than one woman that would put up with you. I'm guessing that you are struggling to find the first one.
So what? It's a legal contract; if you're willing to accept its terms – which would include division of property amongst all your spouses, financial responsibility for all of them and any children you sire, and a host of other provisions you probably haven't really taken any time to think through – then I don't really have a problem with it. As a practical matter, there are lots of folks who currently practice polygamy in the US in all but legal name, married by their church and recognized as such by them but not the state.
While I have no interest in fighting for polygamy, I also have no particular objections to it. So go fight your good fight if you wish. Just realize that if all the parties in that marriage have equal rights, things could get mighty ugly.
I see no problem with multiple wives plus your bible even supports it.
You are correct up to a point on this issue. Consenting adults should be able to do whatever they want with eachothers consent in their bedrooms. If a man wanted a harem and adult consenting women wanted to be in his harem (see Girl's Next Door) then by all means, enjoy. If a person was attempting to defraud the government by claiming marrital rights with multiple people as tax right offs then no, thats where the line must be drawn. You cannot take on the responsiblities implied with a marriage contract with multiple persons since the State can only recognize one person to be the final word or representative for a person who is unable to speak for themselves which is one of the main rights that comes with a marriage contract. If a husband or wife is injured or sick and in the hospital unable to properly communicate their wishes the State accepts the person they have chosen to represent them, their spouse or closest next of kin. With polygamous relationships that responsibility is unclear and the State would have multiple partners claiming the right to make decisions for their spouse which would cause confusion and frustration of our courts. None of that however is a problem with marriage equality for same gender relationships. Marriage equality takes nothing from any straight couples relationship nor does it cause any legal frustrations as would polygamy. There is NO reason other than personal opinion and prejudice to continue denying them this obvious American right and freedom, the freedom to marry whomever we choose as a life partner.
I have to say that anyone who thinks they want multiple spouses has yet to experience having even one.
@Darw1n
Ha!
@Darw1n,
Heard a polygamist on tv once say, "if you're having trouble with two, marry a third." Maybe you just don't have enough? 😉
@Me II – Lol, not the least bit surprised. Most religions have their "Flood the earth with my children" policy.