At New York Fund-Raiser, Obama on Gay Marriage
Barack Obama attended a private fund-raiser with gay supporters here last week where, according to this account in The Advocate, he spoke about his position on gay marriage:
Obama said he did not think it was “politically feasible” to secure marriage rights for same-sex couples in the country at this point. Sen. Obama acknowledged that the community wanted full marriage rights but said that he favored civil unions for now while leaving open the possibility that his position might evolve in the future.
Later, Obama reportedly promised to do more interviews with gay news outlets.
It's not the first time Obama has discussed his position on gay marriage but he did so this time in Hillary Clinton's territory. In the New York primary, gay voters favored her by a margin of nearly 2-1.
Corey Johnson, one of the attendees quoted in the article, is pictured here with Obama at the event.
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 46.0
- 42.0
- Obama +4.0
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.7
- 33.0
- +22.7
- McCain
- 52.7
- 34.1
- +18.6
It must be April Fool's day,because I feel like a fool for every thinking that Obama or Clinton would every think of us as equals. Not politically feasible to have equal rights? My goodness what is feasible then. No rights,no vote. I think Nader will get my one vote. I am sick of the pandering and promises that go nowhere.
Marriage rights will never come to gays. Give up already.
Christ, you'd think that would be the end-all of the homosexual movement.
Work on the gay priest problem first, then tackle marriage, which is never going to be recognized in a majority of states.
Randy LaBolle - neither Clinton or Obama can promise gay marriages all they can do is support or reject it. Congress would have to pass a bill that allows gays to marry which they will not do. That is why Obama said he did not think it was “politically feasible”. He didn't say he was against it.
By the way I live in Canada and as I'm sure you know gay marriage is legal here even though it was rejected by the Conservatives but we had a Liberal majority at the time so the bill passed. And so far the sky hasn't fallen, the sun still comes up in the morning and I have yet to see a locusts. So maybe those idiots who reject others the right to happiness can look to the Great White North and see the world will not end because gays wed.
Lite in Loafers - If you haven't noticed... The LGBT community is continually securing rights granting equality under the law. It is actually only a matter of time before marriage becomes legal for gay couples. These advances are growing at an exponential rate as the older generation dies off... maybe YOU should just give up.
Maggie,
Thanks for the reply,I know that O&C cannot by themselves change law. What I object to is that if they work towards civil unions being our goal then we have to backtrack to go forward towards full marriage rights. I'd rather wait for the real thing than go for a lesser right. I can well imagine that the non-gay populace will consider the deal done once we are accorded c.u.. Whereas not having c.u. will keep up the pressure for change. TruthBeTolds example of incremental change is valid (as are your thoughts) I'd just like to go on hold till the courts take us to the promised land. Canada has shown us the way on this and you are correct,the sky didn't fall and other countries have followed (and preceded) Just waiting for this one,founded on equality to get there. Forgive me,fellow gays,for putting up with no rights,rather than settling for lesser ones. I can't somehow bring myself to condone a candidate who openly declares that I am not his or her equal. And do not see the merit in voting for them. Perhaps if as a group,or substantial block of a group,we openly protest by denial of votes,until such support is given we could hasten that day's coming. In a tight election year even 10% of our 10% would be enough to call some shots. Just a thought,after all it would only take one major loss to get them to come around. And after this president,even McCain would have to be a minor improvement. Although for the record,I do approve of Obama's "promise" to repeal all aspects of DOMA. Clinton,not so much. Randy
On a pragmatic level at this point in time, I think the endless quest and pursuit for gay marriage rights, granting the numerous legal advantages and benefits that heterosexual marriages have, is an exercise in futility. Granted, gay marriage is a worthy goal but it doesn't take a mathematician to tally the huge numbers of homophobes and fundamentalist Christians that oppose all rights, not only marriage rights, for the GLBT community.
In the business arena, the gay rights movement is making progress. However, in the political area things are still rather bleak.
In California, a new anti-gay foe has entered the picture-- born-again Russian immigrants Over 100,000 Russian immigrants are currenly living in the Sacramento metro area and they have changed the equation quite dramatically for the gay community in Sacramento. Hundreds of born-again Russians picket gay rights parades/events and they're extremely vocal. Several years ago, a gay man was murdered in a park by a group of Russians.
The Portland and Seattle areas have seen a new tide of homophobia. I think one born-again Russian immigrant newspaper is now based in Seattle.
What happens in California is sometimes indicative of what happens on a national level. Certainly more Russian immigration, and immigration from former Soviet Republics such as Ukraine, Belarus, and Latvia, doesn't bode well for the gay community.
I think same-sex marriage is eventually in the cards, but not in the near future. Changes in the birth/death statistics will change the demographics of the country, and younger generations tend to be more supportive of gay rights.
As far as I know civil unions grant only a limited number of legal rights. Marriage should be our targeted goal, because it grants a long, long list of rights and benefits that's much more comprehensive than a civil union.
Well if you don't like immigrants coming in, then don't vote Democrat. Geez, that's a no brainer.
Republicans are better for gays (except the fundamentalist ones)anyway.
These immigrants will bring their old world ways with them; that includes bashing gays, beating wives, genital mutilation, and other religious backwardness (I'm speaking about Muslims.)
Not so fond of multiculturalism now, huh?
Many Republicans, non-fundamentalist or more mainstream, vote along party lines, so they're just as much anti-gay as the more rabid right-wingers.
Immigration to America is the wave of the future. We desperatley need workers; Muslim workers; Hispanic workers; Ukraine workers; you name it. Many retired workers are going to be leaving their jobs in the next 15-years, and we need a huge amount of the immigrant workers' paycheck to fund all of the senior citizen entitlement programs.
"Many retired workers are going to be leaving their jobs in the next 15-years, and we need a huge amount of the immigrant workers' paycheck to fund all of the senior citizen entitlement programs."
Great, so America will become a turd-world cesspool like Amsterdam, Sweden and France, overrun with under educated, underpaid welfare rapists demanding a mosque on every corner.
Get a clue, readers - stay straight, and BREED.