In the big Prop 8 trial in California, President Barack Obama’s position against marriage equality is directly harming our community and being thrown in our faces.
Our opponents are saying, “Mr. Obama is not a bigot and he believes that marriage is between a man and a woman. So, how can the proponents of Prop 8 be bigots if they share the same views as the President?”
Well, actually he is a politician who believes in getting elected.
During his run for Illinois state Senate in 1996, Barack Obama stated his unequivocal support for marriage equality, according to an exclusive story in the Jan. 14, 2009 Windy City Times newspaper:
President-elect Obama’s answer to a 1996 Outlines newspaper question on marriage was: “I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.” There was no use of the phrase “civil unions”.
It seems the Windy City Times showed that Obama is a pol with his finger in the wind on this issue.
LGBT groups, including Truth Wins Out, want Obama to take a stand on the Prop 8 trial. Equality California said Friday that it has collected 91,000 signatures on a petition urging the president to file a brief supporting a challenge to the measure. The White House has not responded. (typical)
Mr. Obama, it is time to get off the sidelines. It is time to stand up and do what it right. We are not holding our breath. But, for once, will you please surprise us? The right wing hates you anyway. They think you are a communist and some even hold the view that you are an illegal alien or the anti-Christ.
You will never win over these crazy, irrational people. Never. Ever.
Please, stop trying to do so. If a person hates LGBT people, they are likely not voting for you anyway. Don’t you get it?
As the Tea Party gains prominence, it almost assures that your 2012 Republican opponent (maybe Sarah Palin or Sen. Jim DeMint) will overwhelmingly win the fringe vote. So, why not do what is moral and just, by rallying the people who actually care about your presidency and support you?
We are waiting, Mr. President, and so far we are pained by your silence. Your words are being used as a justification for our oppression. Only you can change this.
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Thank you for posting this, it is exceptional.
Comment by Elizabeth Casswell — January 18, 2010 @ 2:07 pm
[...] As the National Prayer Breakfast approaches and the invite of the person who coined the Uganda anti-gay bill, has the President lost his way on LGBT issues, including marriage equality. Wayne Besen discusses this in a article on the website of Truth Wins Out. Read more [...]
Pingback by What Should Gays Do About the Democratic Party Problem?, Barney Frank Backtracks on Opposition to Senate Health Bill: ‘I was overreacting’, Armed Service Committee Chairman’s Sending Mixed Message on DADT, and More… » DailyQu — January 21, 2010 @ 6:33 am
Because in Obama’s heart of hearts, he doesn’t believe in same sex marriage. Granted, the issue isn’t important to him which is why his public words have swayed. Obama knows how to spin words. If he believed in marriage equality but didn’t want to be held to it he’d say something like “marriage should be defined by the states” or something equally non-committal. He may likely change his mind, but at this point he’s doing what he thinks is right.
Comment by Ephilei — January 22, 2010 @ 12:43 pm
Eh, I dunno, Ephilei. He supported marriage equality in 1995. I’m way too cynical to buy the idea that he changed his mind between then and now. I think it’s all political posturing.
Comment by Evan Hurst — January 22, 2010 @ 1:28 pm