Posted on 05/06/2009 8:33:28 PM PDT by presidio9
President Obama was noticeably silent last month when the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
But now Mr. Obama — who has said he opposes same-sex marriage as a Christian but describes himself as a “fierce advocate of equality” for gay men and lesbians — is under pressure to engage on a variety of gay issues that are coming to the fore amid a dizzying pace of social, political, legal and legislative change.
Two of Mr. Obama’s potential Supreme Court nominees are openly gay; some advocates, irked that there are no gay men or lesbians in his cabinet, are mounting a campaign to influence his choice to replace Justice David H. Souter, who is retiring. Same-sex marriage is advancing in states — the latest to allow it is Maine — and a new flare-up in the District of Columbia could ultimately put the controversy in the lap of the president.
Mr. Obama’s new global health initiative has infuriated activists who say he is not financing AIDS programs generously enough. And while the president has urged Congress to pass a hate crimes bill, a high priority for gay groups, he has delayed action on one of his key campaign promises, repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule.
Social issues like same-sex marriage bring together deeply held principles and flashpoint politics, and many gay activists, aware that Mr. Obama is also dealing with enormous challenges at home and overseas, have counseled patience.
But some are unsettled by what they see as the president’s cautious approach. Many are still seething over his choice of the Rev. Rick Warren, the evangelical pastor who opposes same-sex marriage, to deliver the invocation at his inaugural, and remain suspicious of Mr. Obama’s commitment to
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Engage in what? “Marriage” to Larry Sinclair?
No pictures, please...
LOL! Nah, probably Rahm Emmanuel, his bee-utiful ballerina.
I’ll fix the title:
With Gay Issues on ‘The View’, Obama Is Pressed to Engage.
BIAS! This story is so slanted, the author might as well make it her middle name...oh, wait.
Politically speaking it’s a tough issue for the Democrats and Obama. If they push for same-sex marriage and repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, then they give the conservatives an issue to use in 2010 and 2012. All these Democrats are such good liberals, they would love to see the courts impose same-sex marriage everywhere so they don’t have to deal with the issue.
Some say gay marriage is the civil rights battle of this generation. But, if we compare to the civil rights struggles of the ‘50s and ‘60s, there were many mainstream politicians in both parties who supported that agenda. And eventually civil rights laws were passed in Congress. In the case of homosexual marriage, hardly any mainstream politicians of either party are willing to say that they support same-sex marriage. I know the good Democrat liberals including Obama want same-sex marriage, they are just afraid to say so out loud.
I think they hope for a “Brown vs. Board of Education” type ruling on same-sex marriage in the U.S. Supreme Court after Obama appoints more liberal judges. Then they will have this issue behind them. If this is really the civil rights issue of this generation, wouldn’t these liberals be proud to stand for civil rights, as previous generations stood for civil rights in the ‘50s and ‘60s??????
He got a gay dog, what else do they want him to do?
i guess the Souter seat is now seen as the “gay seat”. Not surprisingly.
What do you mean “now?”
Don't give them any ideas. I don't believe that there's anything in the Constitution that says that a Supreme Court Judge has to actually be a lawyer who's been admitted to the bar, or that has even gone to law school. And frankly, they've now got the votes to put the Easter Bunny on the court.
As for his lack of funding for AIDS, just wait till they see his Universal Healthcare stance on it. More deaths than ever because there will be NO MORE research money. What we have in medicine is all we will ever have once he signs that bill giving us all care brought to you by the same folks who run the post office.
Nobody presses the sneaky little bitch to engage in anything. He will lie and cheat his way out. He does this sort of thing on a daily basis.
Come on oh great “messiah”, come out of the closet and tell us of those homosexual experiences you had there obamma, pal.
Only, conservatives no longer have a party vehicle to ride in. The RNC has amply proven their unwillingness to ever represent conservative values again, and either a third party will have to become viable, or a massive, bloody house cleaning will have to occur among Republicans. I don't see either happening anytime soon.
If the Republicans really think that making a bigger tent and becoming more moderate is attractive to voters, all they have to do is look at New England to see how well that works.
Not one single Republican from those states in either the House or Senate.
RINO's don't win and their policies are poison.
They are like a female impersonator at a strip club wondering why no one is putting a dollar in his thong.
And they act mystified with our lack of support. I keep getting solicitation letters from the RNC wondering where my contribution is after I’ve repeatedly explained how they no longer represent republican value - that I might as well vote for a Democrat if that’s what “Republicanism” now has to offer.
good point....should have been more precise with my wording
“describes himself as a “fierce advocate of equality” for gay men and lesbians”
I absolutely agree. Gay men and lesbians are equal to each other. ;-)
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