Obama treads water on same-sex marriage

President Barack Obama makes an opening statement during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 29, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Asked if marriage is a civil right at his press conference Wednesday, President Obama espoused his support for gay, lesbian and transgendered Americans -- but again declined to express support for same-sex marriage.

In his first solo press conference since March, the president said New York's passage last week of a law making same-sex marriage legal was "a good thing." But he cast that perspective in the context of the value of "having a debate, talking through these issues."

When asked explicitly if he personally supports same-sex marriage, the president declined to answer.

"I'm not gonna make news on that today," he said before moving on to another topic.

Pressed further, Mr. Obama quipped, "I'll keep giving you the same answer until I give you a different one. And that won't be today."

Mr. Obama opposes same-sex marriage, but has said his views on the subject are "evolving." He backs civil unions for same-sex couples.

During the press conference, the president touted his administration's accomplishments on gay rights - but repeated his suggestion that same-sex marriage is an issue states must work out on their own.

"This administration, under my direction, has consistently said we cannot discriminate as a country against people on the basis of sexual orientation," Mr. Obama said. "We have done more in the two and a half years that I been in here than the previous 43 presidents to uphold that principle, whether it's ending 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' making sure that gay and lesbian partners can visit each other in hospitals, making sure that federal benefits can be provided to same-sex couples, across the board - hate crimes - we have made sure that that is a central principle of this administration because I think it's a central principle of America."

The New York state debate over legislation of gay marriage, Mr. Obama said, is "exactly how things should work."

"It was contentious, it was emotional, but ultimately they made a decision to recognize civil marriages," he said, adding: "I think it is important for us to work through these issues - because each community is going to be different and each state's going to be different - to work through them."

The president contended that his administration is doing everything in its power to prevent discrimination while that debate continues.

"We've...filed briefs before the Supreme Court that say we think that any discrimination against gays, lesbians, transgenders is subject to heightened scrutiny," he said. "We've said that DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, is unconstitutional."

"And so I think the combination of what states are doing, what the courts are doing, the actions that we're taking administratively all are how the process should work," he said.

Ultimately, Mr. Obama added, the principle of equality will "win out."

"It's not going to be perfectly smooth," Mr. Obama said. "And it turns out that the president - I discovered since I've been in this office - can't dictate precisely how this process moves. But I think we're moving in a direction of greater equality, and I think that's a good thing."

[BruceInDenver]

I believe that Obama could care less about homosexual "marriage", but deeply wants the vote of the Progressive crowd that has swallowed the "Gay Agenda" kool-aid. The LGBT crowd is only 1 - 2% of the population. Their agenda is supported by the whole Fabian Socialist crowd and their "useful idiot" supporters. That crowd is a sizeable percentage of our population, unfortunately. As much as he wants those votes, he knows that supporting homosexuality will lose him many more Indepent votes, so he skates around the edge.

The Bible and 10,000 years of human culture tell us that homosexuality should be discouraged, at the very least and that "marriage" is between a man and a woman.

Compare the "Gay Marriage" debate here to the Muslim takeover attempt in Europe: Well meaning but misguided Progressives enact their warm-fuzzy, Kumbaya policies that destroy the character of society, despite the desires of the long-suffering but unmotivated majority.

[wfw3536]

Obama should just man up and tell folks what he believes. Most likely after the election he'll throw gays under the bus. He is just another typical politican who is only interested in getting re-elected.

[forsanity1]

Not true.

If he would have made a statement about this at yesterday's press conference, the major issue -- budget and debt ceiling talks -- would have been overshadowed in the press with "Obama speaks out on gay rights".

Yesterday was not the time to answer this question. We have more pressing matters than this one specific issue right now.

Anyway, how can he throw the gays under the bus when he has already done more for their rights than any other president ... ever?

[JV1970]

I'm going to repeat what I posted in another comment board recently. I'm a conservative, Christian Republican and would never vote for Obama anyway but I believe he is playing both sides of the issue until after the election. He knows that most of us of the religious community would never vote for someone who is for gay marriage and he knows that he needs to get at least some of our votes to win. He also wants the gay vote so he is playing up to them too and making them think he's going to come out in favor of gay marriage. He is what the Bible calls a double minded man and that is another reason that I won't vote for him. James 1: 8 says "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."

[forsanity1]

Read my comment above.

It was not the time and place to address this issue. Period.

But since you are consistent in your accusations against Mr. Obama, I hope you find forgiveness for that... Christ had serious words for accusers, their father being the devil and all...

[fxr60]

That's Obama playing politics again! He could care less about the gay community and they should know that by now! If he did he would take a stand. He doesn't have the guts to say "no, I believe a marriage is between a man and a woman" like Bachmann and some of the conservatives say-at least their honest.I believe he thinks that way about marriage, but afraid to say so! Or he could say " I think it's o.k."to the gays.Indicision shows his weakness and inability to tell the truth!! Playing politics is what he's good at and lying ! By NOT saying one way or the other shows lack of character!!! Say what you think you big chicken!!!