Free Republic

The debate over same sex “marriage” has engaged the heartfelt feelings and convictions of millions of Americans. Then there is Barack Obama. In his ABC interview, the president pretended that his much touted “evolution” had now led him, ineluctably, to speak out now, today; he simply could longer stay silent. ABC let him off the hook, but this is not a credible account. In March, the Washington Post was reporting the debate among his advisers on whether the issue would help or hurt the reelection campaign and what, therefore, Obama should say: “Obama’s top political advisers have held serious discussions...

With the endorsement of the amendment for the State Constitution of North Carolina, I thought that the true “ground zero” for the same-sex debate would now be Minnesota.  It will also now be every ballot in every state in November.From FNC: President Obama on Wednesday endorsed same-sex marriages, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to take that position following days of speculation about his “evolving” stance on the issue. The president used a hastily called TV interview to make his position clear. “At a certain point, I’ve just concluded that for me personally, it is important for me to go...

For President Barack Obama’s ground-breaking interview on gay marriage, the White House turned to a friendly face - ABC’s Robin Roberts. She’s a respected journalist who knows both Barack and Michelle Obama well, isn’t regarded as a difficult “gotcha” interrogator, and whose own identity - and shared love of sports with Obama - was a key factor in the decision to grant her one of the biggest gets of the president’s time in office, according to insiders at ABC and elsewhere. “The White House went with Robin because of her personal rapport, their friendship, the past interviews — but also...

President Obama endorsed same-sex marriage Wednesday, just hours after North Carolina adopted a constitutional amendment to ban it -- one of 41 states where same-sex marriage is illegal. President Obama's declaration does not change any law, but it does inject a contentious social issue into the race for the White House. "For me personally it is important for me to affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married," Mr. Obama said. CBS News correspondent Norah O'Donnell reports Mr. Obama has often said he was in favor of civil unions for gay and lesbian couples and...

This is the ultimate in narcissism. Obama, commenting upon his sudden public approval of gay marriage, was just shown stating that he couldn't stand the idea of soldiers and sailors out there fighting on HIS behalf when they were not free to be in gay relationships. Forget the gay marriage issue. Our military is fighting on HIS behalf?

Mr. Obama’s statement today is a marvel: “I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together; when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve...

In 1996, Barack Obama supported gay marriage. In 2004, while running for Senate in Illinois, Obama was against it, he said, because of his religious faith. But in his big interview today, President Obama cited the teachings of Jesus Christ as a reason for his decision to support gay marriage: Roberts asked the president if First Lady Michelle Obama was involved in this decision. Obama said she was, and he talked specifically about his own faith in responding. “This is something that, you know, we’ve talked about over the years and she, you know, [the First Lady] feels the same...

Barack Obama might be the first major candidate for president to support same-sex marriage. He won't say as much. His definition of a "new politics" is capacious enough to allow for pose and slipperiness (as long as he's the one engaged in them). But his stance on a California Supreme Court decision that ripped away any middle ground on the issue makes him operationally pro-gay marriage. In California, a domestic-partnership law gives gay couples, in the words of the decision, "virtually all of the legal rights and responsibilities accorded married couples under California law." But that's not enough. Marriage must...