(06-29-2011 01:35 PM)UofMemphis Wrote: I really like Obama...but I'm not going to pretend he's perfect...I don't like his politicking on gay marriage or his stance on gun rights...but he's pretty much stayed out of those debates and taken a "pick your battles" type mentality.
I support Obama as well, but there are instances when I disagree with him completely, and this is one of those moments.
It's clear he's made a political calculation of one of the following:
1 - his support of gay marriage would do more harm than good at this point.
Possibly true; many Libertarian and Tea Party types who really don't care about gay marriage, or who even support it as a states rights or individual liberty issue, loathe Obama. Would his support for Gay Marriage make the issue more about Obama and less about marriage equality, and if so would that generate more passionate opposition from those who currently are mainly on the sidelines? Who knows. Public opinion in support of gay marriage is steadily rising; introducing an unknown calculus - Obama's specific support - could change that. Maybe it helps, maybe it hurts.
2 - He feels his re-election chances could be damaged by supporting gay marriage, and if he's not re-elected then he won't be in position to advance gay rights.
Possibly true; many in the Hispanic and African-American communities are staunchly opposed to gay marriage; but would they abandon Obama in numbers sufficient to harm his election chances?
I think the answer to both of these questions ultimately is NO - that leadership from the White House would only help change the cultural tide in favor of gay marriage, and that his support would not harm his re-election chances. And the time has come for him to stand up for what is right - it's a matter of simple equality - and let the political chips fall where they may.