OK: is it that I'm that old or that queer that when I first read the news and saw the vid(s) online, my first response
was this ?
So what if he supports it? Really what does this change besides his voting demographic? It's up to the States to define marriage, not the Fed.
It will take a Constitutional Amendment to force the States to comply with a wider definition of Marriage, and good luck with that. That document grants the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...not guaranteed happiness. You've gotta convince the body politic that same-sex marriage is a valid addition to traditional norms on a State-by-State basis.
Tolerance and understanding come in incremental steps.
I support the President's statement and I believe it's his honest opinion, but I am wary of the agenda behind it. I don't agree with anyone pandering to any group no matter how heartfelt the statement, but I know that's something the system we have requires.
This will probably not effect his electorate much. Romney's issues on immigration are just too extreme and non-inclusive for most Lations. And I can't imagine this taking more than, at most, ~10-15 points from the African Americans, to whom Romney is simply unrelatable.
This will activate the Teabagging GOP base, but is actually an extremely good move among Independents, the majority of whom support marriage equality by a substantial margin.
As to this whole Amendment question: the constitution was amended during Reconstruction to enfranchise former (male) slaves, but it took the best part of a century for desegregation and miscegenation laws to be over-turned, both of which were done via the SCOTUS.
I predict that when California's Prop 8 is ruled unconstitutional, the same will follow suit with the other states as well; it's also fair to remind everyone that DOMA will face a SC challenge within five years, and will go down in flames as well.
During an election year, everything is played to an agenda.
Still, some of you eagerly waiting to see the republicans snap on this subject makes me cringe inwardly. Like listening to jabbering hyenas around a dying water buffalo.
Rise above the mantra dudes and dudedettes, you've found acceptance at the highest office of the land.. use that foundation to build something better than what you had.. don't go on and on about how great it will be to see the insane zealots on the far right pounce on this. At the end of the day it's the States that define this topic, not the President.
It's traditional for those who've scored a Culture War victory to take a victory lap; allow us our brief indulgence in emotion and joy to be irrationally exuberant. We've earned it.