Same-sex marriage an awkward issue for Obama
Same-sex couple Jeff Tabaco, left, and Thom Watson kiss as they hold paperwork for a marriage license Aug. 12, 2010, in San Francisco.
/ Getty ImagesUpdated 3:56 p.m. Eastern Time
(CBS News) Over the past two days, two members of President Obama's administration have - more or less - come out in favor of same-sex marriage.
On Sunday, Vice President Joe Biden stated that he is "absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties."
And on Monday, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said flatly that he believes same-sex marriage should be legal. Asked on MSNBC why he had never said so publicly before this morning, Duncan replied, "I don't know if I've ever been asked."
The president, meanwhile, has been asked plenty of times while in office - and he has always stopped short of supporting same-sex marriage. (He offered " unequivocal" support for same-sex marriage in 1996, when he was an Illinois State Senate candidate, but later changed his position.) Mr. Obama, who supports civil unions, says he is "evolving" on the issue.
"I struggle with this," he said in the wake of the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. "I have friends, I have people who work for me who are in powerful, strong, long-lasting gay or lesbian unions. And they are extraordinary people. And this is something that means a lot to them and they care deeply about."
In an election year, his struggle with the issue is not just a personal one. That was illustrated in what happened after Biden's comments on Sunday: The vice president's office insisted that Biden's comments did not reflect an endorsement of same-sex marriage, arguing they matched the president's position. The attempt to walk back Biden's remarks angered gay rights groups, who see the administration as woefully behind the times - and the Democratic base - on the issue.
There's polling to back up that perception: Gallup found last year that a majority of Americans now support same-sex marriage, the sort of finding that has gay rights activists imploring the president to "evolve already."
But Mr. Obama's team is wary of a high-profile embrace of same-sex marriage. They worry it could drive turnout among Republicans in November - in the 2004 election, the Bush reelection team used referenda on the issue to bring voters to the polls. Spotlighting same-sex marriage could also suggest to voters that Mr. Obama is focused on social issues instead of the struggling economy, the issue voters overwhelmingly cite as their top concern. It's notable that while the president has released a statement opposing a controversial North Carolina amendment Constitutionally defining marriage as between one man and one woman, he declined to mention it when he visited the state last month.
Though gay rights activists have been pushing for support for same-sex marriage to be included in this year's Democratic Party platform, few expect Mr. Obama to come out in favor of same-sex marriage before November. They hope, however, that the country's first African-American president will at the very least rally behind what they see as the defining civil rights cause of the era in his second term, when he doesn't have to worry about reelection. And they are taking advantage of the headlines generated by Biden and Duncan's comments to increase the pressure.
"Arne Duncan joins Joe Biden now in embracing civil marriage for committed gay and lesbian couples. Duncan speaking out is particularly important given his role as the nation's top education official," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese in a statement Monday. "In supporting marriage equality, he communicates to all students that they deserve an equal shot at the American dream of love, family and equality. There's no doubt in my mind that the president shares these values and that's why it's time for him to speak out in favor of marriage equality as well."
The Obama reelection team, meanwhile, is playing defense. During a conference call with reporters on Monday morning, Obama senior campaign adviser David Axelrod again insisted that Biden had not broken with the president. He said Mr. Obama has shown his support for gay rights throughout his term, pointing to the decision not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act outlawing federal recognition of same-sex marriage. Axelrod also argued that "there's a very clear distinction" between Mr. Obama and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on the issue.
"[T]here couldn't be a starker contrast on this issue than with Governor Romney who has funded efforts to roll back marriage laws in California and other places, who believes that we need a constitutional amendment banning the right of gay couples to marry, and would take us backward, not forward," he said.
Asked about Biden's comments on Monday, Romney told a Fox affiliate in Ohio that "[m]y view is that marriage is between a man and a woman. That's a position I've had for some time and I don't intend to make any adjustments at this point...or ever, by the way."
Same-sex marriage measure set for vote in North Carolina
Below, check out White House Press Secretary Jay Carney defending the administration position to skeptical reporters on Monday:
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Everyones opinion should matter, not just a select few. No one should have to defend ones opinion nor have to argue the points. You are allowed your opinion is a basic right. Put it to vote and let that tell the whole world our opinion on the subject.
Sexual immoralliy whether gay or straight is detremental.
Look at the damage adultry and casual sex has done to families and friends. If you have no moral character then you are capable of anything.
It is pointless to tell you what you already know but will deny for what ever reason you choose.
We all know deep down inside what is right and wrong but sometimes choose to ignore it and do as we please. Unless a person is insane they know.
It's part of being a human being.
After all we are not animals.
We are suppose to be above them. If not, then we are just like animals
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I suspect cheating has gone on since the day there were more than two people IN this world! Well we know it has - if you ever read the Bible you'll find it reads like a soap opera in places! And guess what? The world's still turning!
Part of being a human being is the need for Love and acceptance and even the need for sex!
Who are we to tell so many people in this world they aren't allowed to have Love?! They aren't allowed to love who they choose!
WAR, killing, greed, those kinds of things have a bad affect on our "society" and on our world.
But how in the world LOVE can have a bad affect is beyond me!
Two people behind closed doors have sex - HOW does that have an affect on society?
And while you're on the subject, tell me is there an affect on society when people cheat on their spouses?
Is there an affect on society when people take naked pictures for other people to look at?
Everytime a young person gets their hands on a Playboy/Playgirl magazine is there some negative affect on society?
What would be next? Everytime a person has a fantasy? Would that ultimately be against the law too? See the "slippery slope" argument goes both ways!
Zann I'm sorry I burst your bubble about Obama.
Can you say it's not true with all certainty?
I don't have a problem with gay men or Bi or lesbians.
It is they who have the problem with unnatural behaviour and need help and counseling
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I can't say a word about Obama's sex life! I haven't had sex with him!
I CAN say its none of my business! Or yours!
I don't see why anyone's sex life could be a problem for anyone else, as long as its kept behind closed doors, and between consenting adults.
It was illegal once in this country until the left made adultery fashionable like the Hollywood.
Marriage is sacred so what in the world are you talking about crazy person?
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"The left made adultery fashionable"???? Seriously? YOU are going to say that? Are you missing the days when it was acceptable for men to cheat - but not acceptable for women to cheat? You think divorces came BEFORE all the adultery?? NO! FINALLY women (and men) had a way out of relationships that turned bad!
2 years on the first mistake.
27 years with the love of my life!
Cheating had nothing to do with either one.
And you?
a new Gallup poll shows half of Americans think same-sex marriages should be legal.
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We've got to get that number above 1/2! And I'm afraid the only way to do that is patience, its going to take time. But mostly its going to take the older people dying off that can't accept it.