Evolve already:
Mr. Obama’s legal formula suggests he is fine with the six states that now permit same-sex marriage, and fine with the more than three dozen other states that ban it. By refusing to say whether he supports it (as he did in 1996) or opposes it (as he did in 2008), he remained in a straddle that will soon strain public patience. For now, all Mr. Obama promised was a gauzy new “chapter” in the story if he is re-elected, and his views remain officially “evolving.”And, his current position means that same-sex couples aren't equal.
Fundamental equality, however, is hardly the equivalent of a liquor law that can vary on opposite sides of a state line. Why is Mr. Obama so reluctant to say the words that could lend strength to a national effort now backed by a majority of Americans?
In the 2008 campaign, when Mr. Obama said he supported civil unions and believed marriage should be between men and women, he may have wanted to appeal to slightly more conservative voters who were wary of him.
After he took office, it became evident that Republicans intended to portray him as a radical, out-of-touch leftist no matter what he did. Supporting same-sex marriage at this point is hardly going to change that drumbeat, and any voter for whom that is a make-or-break issue will probably not be an Obama supporter anyway.
Firm support for gay marriage is, on the other hand, likely to help him among his cheerless base. Mr. Obama opposes the Defense of Marriage Act and is presiding over the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” He signed the United Nations declaration on gay rights, and allowed the Census to count same-sex relationships. But he has been absent from the biggest and most difficult drive of all.
Public opinion has swung toward acceptance of gay marriage since 2008; five more states and the District of Columbia have lifted marriage bans. Thousands of gay men and lesbians now possess marriage certificates and many former skeptics have come to realize that the moral foundation of the country has been strengthened. It is long past time for the president to catch up. He often criticizes discrimination with the memorable phrase, “that’s not who we are.” Favoring this discrimination should not be who he is.
Seriously, the politics have evolved to the point where Obama is on the wrong side of history. And, not that any of us mere mortals should ever deign to give political advice to Team Obama, who, as we know, are the smartest politicos ever. But, last week, AP talked to Messina and Axelrod:
"We are going to take the old map and expand it," Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said in an interview at his office in Chicago. He argues that demographic trends are moving in Democrats' direction in several states, which could help them hold Virginia and North Carolina and possibly win Georgia and Arizona.One big change among the electorate is growing support for marriage. And, since Messina brought up Virginia, let's look at some numbers. The Washington Post recently polled Virginians about a variety of issues. For the first time, more people support marriage than oppose it. But, digging a little deeper, the poll shows that among young voters (18 - 29), a prime target for the Obama reelection, 73% support marriage. Not saying they'll make marriage their top priority. But, on that issue, the President looks out of touch.
"Changes in the composition of the electorate" make the states attractive, said David Axelrod, Obama's top political adviser.
At this point, no one -- on either side -- believes Obama doesn't support same-sex marriage. He made a political calculation in 2008 to oppose marriage. And, for whatever reason, he's sticking with it. Hopefully, someone at campaign HQ will look at the numbers -- and realize taking a strong position for equality could help with the otherwise "cheerless base."
