Obama Supports States’ OK of Same-Sex Marriage

[Ian David]

Obama Supports States’ OK of Same-Sex Marriage
By Rex Wockner
Published: March 6, 2008
Highlights Differences with Clinton on DOMA

In a Feb. 28 open letter to the LGBT community, presidential candidate Barack Obama stated his support for full same-sex marriage in states that choose to go that route. To date, only Massachusetts has done so. Bills legalizing same-sex marriage have passed California’s legislature twice, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed them.

“As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws,” Obama said. “I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples - whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage.”

Obama also said he’s better on the issue than Hillary Clinton. “Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) - a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate,” he said. “I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does.”

But achieving full equality for gay people will not be easy, Obama said. “If we want to repeal DOMA, repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and implement fully inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and discrimination in the workplace, we need to bring the message of LGBT equality to skeptical audiences as well as friendly ones,” he said. “I have been talking about LGBT equality to a number of groups during this campaign - from local LGBT activists to rural farmers to parishioners at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. ...

“I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT Americans. But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need to be convinced. That is the work we must do to move forward together. It is difficult. It is challenging. And it is necessary.”

More:
http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=7646


See also:

Obama Cites Sermon on the Mount in Defense of Pro-Gay Stance
Topic started by IanDB1 on Mar-03-08 05:44 PM (127 replies)
Last modified by maddiejoan on Mar-04-08 07:02 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4864547

[Connie_Corleone]

1. K&R.

[RoadRage]

2. Waiting for the Clinton lovers to show up, scream McClurkin..

Justify how she is still better then Obama even though he's for a full repeal of DOMA, and then leave.

Wait for it.....

Wait for it........

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

6. I'm a Clinton supporter who is thrilled to see this. If he is as unequivocal in his actions as his

words, it would be wonderful.

I do like his words.

[Renew Deal]

9. Look down

#7

[RoadRage]

11. Well, that didn't take long, now did it!

"Obama might actually do better for GLBT then Clinton, but i've already pledged my support and stuck the McClurkin knife down everyones throat, so i will just cut off my fact to spite my nose and keep chanting the same old thing".

:eyes:

[Apollo11]

3. McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin

McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin McClurkin

"But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need to be convinced. That is the work we must do to move forward together."

OBAMA THE MIRACLE WORKER - CONVERTS BIGOTS BY LISTENING TO THEIR HATE-BASED PREJUDICES!

It means gay couples can enjoy equality, but only if they live in a pro-gay State.

Is it OK for States to make the decision on whether to allow mixed-race marriages?

:P

[angie_love]

14. do you have tourettes?

[anonymous171]

15. Clinton attended a fundraiser by a racist sheriff

I guess bigotry is OK if it gets Clinton money.

[Ian David]

17. CcClurkin wants Obama to win so he can feel safe enough to be openly gay again. n/t

[Bill McBlueState]

4. It's more than we've ever seen from a Democratic candidate for Pres

But in my view, it's not enough to advocate a state-by-state approach. Americans are Americans; our rights shouldn't depend on which state we happen to live in.

At the very least, one should demand that the full faith and credit clause apply to same-sex marriages. All marriages performed in Massachusetts or any state must be considered valid in every other state.

[yodermon]

5. NO! We CAN'T "bring the message of LGBT equality to skeptical audiences"!

We have to tell the "skeptical audiences" to fuck off, eat shit and die, and go to hell! In that order.
Be expressing willingness to engage with so-called "skeptical audiences", he's clearly a bigot-loving anti-gay interloper with an agenda.
How *Dare* he agree to negotiate with the enemy without preconditions.












:sarcasm:

[xchrom]

7. ''we'' haven't come a long way since the stonewall riots -- lgbtq folk have come a long way.

''we'' keep coming with folk like mcclurkin to get a vote.

[RoadRage]

8. K&R'd...

[Labors of Hercules]

10. If I was Gay...

I would have SUCH a crush on Barack. (As long as he's quit smoking)... K & R!!!!!

[Bluenorthwest]

12. This statement is encouraging

And it is the result of the constant and unrelenting activism of GLBT Democrats who refuse to take the doormat position. His choice of words has improved very much. As has the strength of those words.
But anyone mocking the actual movement politics you saw addressing the issues many had with this candidate should consider the impact of our activism upon the campaign's message. It came slow and late and only when he knew he needed the votes, but he has taken small steps along the way, and stopped using loaded code speak, and this was not by accident.
So rather than mock those who hold a candidate's feet to the fire, I'd say consider taking the lesson. I asked all of my fiends who committ to a candidate to do so with conditions, always telling them 'I don't like your position on no non-profit health care' or 'why keep Blackwater. I may not vote for you if you do.' The fan club positions on both sides don't do much for the Party, or the people, just the candidates.
I still have some qualms about Obama but this is a step and I'm watching them all. The netroots moved that campaign toward a better more winning message, by the way. Should have listened before CA and NV and NH and TX, but oh well, better late than never. I'm a May voter, so I have loads of time to sit on any fence I wish to sit on, or pretend to sit on, or whatever it takes to get my goals met. Yes, we can. But can y'all?
To the Obama backers, in all honesty I say this. What the GLBT community does, with this McClurkin stuff and everything else, is in fact what Obama calls on you to do all the time. Think about it. He says it is us, not him. This is what 'us' taking part looks like. We've done this before with far higher stakes. Far higher. I'd say, gee, if everyone was like us GLBT folkken, we'd probably have a Single Payer candidate by now. Think about it. Instead of shoutinig people down, I'd say take notes. Instead of writing love letters to candidates, try sending them lists of areas that need imporvment. They can not be the voice of the people if the people hold their tounges and sack their principles, you can love a candidate, except for this one thing, and you can tell them that. Self advocacy.
The lesson here is not for GLBT people. We know what made him clean up his language. WE did. Go ye all and do likewise.

[rinsd]

13. Very encouraging.

[gaspee]

16. States Rights?

Hey, where have I heard that before? Sounds kind of familiar!

[terrya]

18. This is very encouraging news.

Thanks for posting this.