Obama has outed himself as being for gay marriage. Now back in '96 as a candidate for the state house, according to a clip on The Daily Show, Obama stated on a survey he was for gay marriage. Then his views "evolved", due in part to his re-emergent Christian faith, to a no on gay marriage. Now they've evolved (or re-evolved) back to his '96 position.
It was this bit for me, though, in a Washington Post article that stuck out.
“They are much more comfortable with it,” Obama continued. “You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them and, frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”
So beautifully done. 'See, the children hold no fear. Why do we? The children are not hurt? So why say no?'
I respect that politicians have to shade their views, even conceal them at times. Though in truth that can be dangerous if it's a fanatical ideology that they wish to imprint on government (1). But I do understand it. The need to wait in the shadows on an issue then nudge it along where you think you can, then step into the light and take it the rest of the way. Perhaps he waited until Don't Ask Don't Tell was embedded and that to suggest roll-back would be retrograde? Perhaps it was Joe Biden's candid acceptance of gay marriage that forced Obama's hand? Whatever it was at least Obama's out about saying it and that can only be a good thing.
Unless, of course, you're against gay marriage. And presumably a whole host of other things too. Damn kids ... and their understanding of gender and sexual identity issues.
(1) See Joe McGinniss' book The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin
for just how terrifying it would have been for the world had Palin
gotten in given her somewhat extreme dominion beliefs and the dominion ideology
in relation to influencing government. Just buckets of scary stuff
there. Not to mention the more mundane mind-boggling failures in governance that she committed at every single level of government she has ever been involved in.
There's a petition-type thing doing the rounds at the moment where users can sign up to say thank you to Obama. It's a cute idea.
ReplyDeleteIt's here if you want to sign: http://www.allout.org/en/actions/thanksobama
Weird, my post didn't come through. Is it in your spam filter?
ReplyDeleteThey made it!
ReplyDeleteAh, a thanks petition. That's an excellent idea. I'd like to use it though for sarcastic purposes against Tony Abbott. Thanks for making your rock-hard abadabas making me feel inadequate...