Obama Frustrates Gay Marriage Allies By His Wobbly on Prop 8
Obama Frustrates
Gay Marriage Allies With Wobbly Prop 8 Stance
BY CARLOS SANTOSCOY
Gay marriage advocates are becoming increasingly frustrated with
President Barack Obama.
Immediately following Wednesday's ruling that struck down California's
gay marriage ban, known as Proposition 8, the White House issued
a statement in support of the decision.
“The president has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because
it is divisive and discriminatory. He will continue to promote equality
But an unnamed White House aide told POLITICO.com that the president
does not support gay marriage, only civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.
“He supports repealing the Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA],”
the aide added, referring to the law that defines marriage as
a heterosexual union for federal agencies.
The next day, White House adviser David Axelrod appeared on
MSNBC to reiterate the president's confusing position on gay unions.
Axelrod said the president opposed Proposition 8 because he felt it was
“mean-spirited,” but emphasized that he supports recognizing gay and
lesbian couples with civil unions, not marriage.
Venting on the Internet began soon after Axelrod's appearance.
“Oh yes, I've seen you and your team dancing on that [gay marriage]
hotplate lately!” Tom Foreman wrote from New Orleans in an open
360 blog. “David Axelrod was sweating and stammering like one
of those guys who has been picked up on COPS when he was
questioned about your stance. I can't blame him because it looks
like you either haven't decided what you think, or are desperately
trying to hide your opinion on this one.”
“Sure there is a lot of political risk in taking either stance.
Everyone knows that. But what you are doing just looks spineless,
wishy-washy, and like any old politician,” he added.
Writing at the Huffington Post, Marcus Baram suggested Obama's
chiefly former president Bill Clinton.
Clinton, of course, signed DOMA into law, but said in 2009 that
he regretted it and gave his support for gay marriage.
On Thursday, gay blogger John Aravosis began an online petition
“You simply do not support equality for gay and lesbian couples
if you don't support letting them marry,” the petition reads.
Whether genuine or political calculation, Obama will be forced to
explain himself in greater detail as the case wends its way to the
Supreme Court, landing squarely in the middle of the 2012
presidential campaign.
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