Question about Obama and Gay Marriage

I have been scolded several times now for saying that Obama is not for Marriage Equality by a DU member who claims Obama has stated he plans on using Civil Unions as a vehicle to Marriage Equality. Is this true? If so can anyone point me to his statement online that he:

1) Support Full Marriage equality including the name
2) He wants to use Civil Unions as the vehicle to do this.

I have searched online and on Obama's site for this and cant find it anywhere.

(If its true it worries me that we are headed for another compromise that will take even longer to get eventual equality - similar to Don't Ask Don't Tell - the politics of compromise don't work with Civil Rights IMO).

"You want the word marriage and I believe that the issue of marriage has become so entangled - the word marriage has become so entangled with religion - that it makes more sense for me as president, with that authority, to talk about the civil rights that are conferred" with civil unions, Obama said. Individual denominations should make the decisions about what to recognize as a marriage, he said.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071030/NEWS09/710300384/-1/caucus

the poster said the goal was Marriage with the name...

He supports civil unions because marriage is tied up with religious meaning and symbolism.

I would agree that Obama would sign gay marriage legislation if Congress passed it though.

its just not what I was asking about - I was told he was for the use of the word Marriage in government for GLBT persons. Im looking for evidence of that.

I dont want to call out the poster:



and this one:

That's where most Democrats stand. Civil unions first, gay marriage when the support is there.

saying thats his plan or beliefs? Thanks for your help though - I have read everything I could find nothing but speculation or people saying they have heard...

GOD I love Canada!

My step mother is from Alberta and her friend live there as well and they have NO problem with gay marriage.

Alberta isn't a liberal oasis.

civil liberties are afforded to minorities.

Gay people need to continue resting under the bus until Democrats say it's okay?

get it through your thick gay skull. :eyes:

I saw that it was you.

And OMFG, I was about to go through the roof. hahaha

BTW, best of luck to your candidate tomorrow.

I read you're supporting Hillary. I'm shocked.

i'm in Iowa right now phone banking for her w/ flvegan. :patriot:

who's phone banking for Hillary DU survey thread.

we're making a difference. :thumbsup:

the VAST, VAST majority of the country opposed the army being integrated in 1948, but Truman did it because it was the right thing to do.

The VAST, VAST majority of this country opposed interracial marriage in 1967. Yet, the Supreme Court banned "miscenegation laws" with one decision.

It's called courage and leadership.

If he honestly believes marriage is entangled with religion, then it would still be entangled with religion the day after Congress passed such a law.

And yes, if gay marriage legislation were signed it would still be entangled with religion. Just like my church doesn't recognize my marriage and so what.

He wants to give Homosexuals civil unions and then downgrade marriages to civil unions. He thinks that the term "marriage" should be left for people and their churches not for the government to name. It is a smart plan that actually has a shot at sneaking by republicans. IMHO

The selfish heterosexuals who already have a marriage license are not going to be at all willing to trade that in for a civil union.

thats civil Unions - not the same thing even if you want everyone to have civil unions. Thats the opposite actually of what the poster was claiming LOL.

n/t

:think:

I really hate that word when used to describe the community.

but yes, yes, i know there's going to be a brazillion posts below stating that he's somehow for it, without being for it.

no Dem is for it save for DK and Gravel. beyond that, you just have to hope that some are just secretly holding back just to get elected, and once in office they'll change their minds.

I just wanted to make sure I was not missing something and posting positions he did not support. :)

(secretly holding back) but John and Bill have really seemed to spiritually/scientifically struggle with gay marriage so I don't think they would be true supporters.

I gave up on any hope of Barack supporting the gays when he stayed with Donnie.

if anything, they'd be for it if that's what the country wanted. but, neither will push for it.

As long as they don't stand in the way of our uprising, it's enough.

as a champion panderer, if he caves on equal marriage?

:puke:

"I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman." - Senator Barack Obama

The only thing I find odd about this is that HIS brand of Christianity, his own Church (UCC) supports same sex marriage.

So, he's taken a personal and political position to the right of his own demonination.

"Now, I realize that for some Americans, this is an important issue. And I should say that personally, I do believe that marriage is between a man and a woman."

"I agree with most Americans, with Democrats and Republicans, with Vice President Cheney, with over 2,000 religious leaders of all different beliefs, that decisions about marriage, as they always have, should be left to the states.

Today, we should take this amendment only for what it is - a political ploy designed to rally a few supporters and draw the country's attention away from this leadership's past failures and America's future challenges.

There is plenty of work to be done in this country. There are millions without health care and skyrocketing gas prices and children in crumbling schools and thousands of young Americans risking their lives in Iraq.

So don't tell me that this is the best use of our time. Don't tell me that this is what people want to see talked about on TV and in the newspapers all day. We wonder why the American people have such a low opinion of Washington these days. This is why."

But, here's why that or the other 'leave marriage to the churches give the gays civil unions' argument doesn't float with me ... it still excludes gays from full participation, albeit, in a rather tactically smooth political move.

It allows politicians to talk out of both sides of their mouths to placate those who can't accept that a same sex couple deserves to take the same vows they do -- in a church, synagog, or whereever and be afforded the same respect and legal protections.

I just don't understand why someone can't come out and say "Yeah, any adult couple who is committed enough to voluntarily take the vows of marriage should be allowed to and should be afforded the respect and legal protections of that union."

What are they so afraid of?

is not a very progressive position. It's the same position that Fred Thompson and Dich Cheney hold. It's a dodge.

when there are federal judges who will block it like Oregon's civil unions.

so I can't be anything but pro-gay argument

his "this is (not) the best use of out time" comment that there were plenty of white people who probably argued the same thing when it came to issues of segregation, etc.

yeah - I'm waiting for him to give a KKK member a platform - because they vote too, ya know!

Wonder if Senator Obama thinks the USSC should have passed on this one, and let the states decide on interracial marriage.

(Am waiting for the poster who "told me" a few weeks ago that gays wanting to marry was TOTALLY DIFFERENT than interracial marriage... because. Well, you know, BECAUSE.)

I'm so sick of this guy.

okay just a little background: I've been out 11 years. My type a bar is leather/bear - thats all I go to anymore. My coworker that I share an office with is a cub - or he wishes he still was one ;0

And here is the kicker: I assumed you were female until just now... LOL.

And the name was right there for you all along lol

might be because I have 5 sisters - or maybe Im really a lesbian LOL (I have been accused of that before).

Now if only we could get a Bear/Cub duo to run for president;)

Wait, that's about reproductive choice. It's all so damned confusing.

:cry:

I was just going through my pro's and cons for each candidate and forgot to list that one! How easy it is to forget...

Of course he doesn't support real equality. That would be an authentically progressive position.

Obama is for change, as long as it poses absolutely no political risk. :crazy:

The OP said they had a question.