Biden apologized to Obama over same-sex marriage comments

CBS/AP

(CBS News) Vice President Joe Biden walked into the Oval Office and apologized to President Obama a few hours before the president announced that he supports same-sex marriage yesterday, sources familiar with the conversation confirmed to CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Norah O'Donnell.

The sources said the president expressed that he understood Biden's comments came from the heart.

On Sunday, Biden said he was "absolutely comfortable" with the prospect of people of the same gender getting married. At the time, Mr. Obama's official position on same-sex marriage was that he opposed it, though he was "evolving" on the issue. Biden's comments generated headlines and prompted a fevered damage control effort by the White House and Obama campaign, which insisted that Biden had not broken with the president.

Mr. Obama told ABC News that before Biden's comments, he had "already made a decision that we were going to take this position before the election and before the convention." But the vice president's remarks seem to have moved up the timetable. A Democratic source told CBS News that the president had intended to announce his support for same-sex marriage on ABC's "The View" next Monday.

Instead, Mr. Obama made the announcement Wednesday in a hastily-arranged interview. The decision to move forward the timetable may have been tied to the fallout from Biden's comments: According to a source in the fundraising community , the damage control effort in the wake of his statement seriously angered the gay donors and bundlers the president is counting on to fund his super PAC and campaign.

"The President has been the leader on this issue from day one and the Vice President never intended to distract from that," Biden press secretary Kendra Barkoff told CBS News.

Asked if he was upset with Biden, the president told ABC News that the vice president "got out a little bit over his skis, but out of generosity of spirit."

"Would I have preferred to have done this in my own way in my own terms without I think there being a lot of notice to everybody? Sure, but all's well that ends well," Mr. Obama said.

The New York Times, which first reported the apology, reported that while the president may not have been mad at the vice president, his comments "enraged Mr. Obama's senior advisers in the White House and on the campaign."

The vice president has not made public comments about same-sex marriage since his remarks on Sunday

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[takacrat]

Big Stick Obama
First Lady Biden
For President

[aaggd]

In America standing up for justice is considered WRONG.

[jflynn5110]

Obama is destroying this country. I truly feel sorry for you Montopoli. Life as a perpetual propagandist must be nauseating.

[cbs_bull]

I think we should thank Biden and Obama for being honest and moving this country forward. Only those who don't believe the world is flat can keep America as a leader in the 21st century world.

[train99]

Wow! What a gullible person you are! That's the kindest thing I can say.

[wtcmedic911]

What a CROCK!!! this is an election year and Biden just made an oops moment? Please readers dont be this stupid. This is an election year. If Obama truelly cared about gay rights this statement would have been made a few years ago!!!

[RealiteBites]

Biden was brought in over the likes of Hillary because he had the foreign policy credentials that Obama lacked.

But let's face it - Biden's a disaster.

Has any sitting President up for re-election ever 'switched out' a VP in an attempt to increase their chances of gaining re-election?

I think with Hillary as VP, Barack could re-energize enthusiasm, and carry off a win.

Biden's served his time well, but a lot of things can change in 4 years ...

[train99]

Biden was chosen as a gofer, and brother is he ever. Hilary is not a gofer.

[Big-Daddy-Kahuna]

JB shoots himself in the foot .... once again ....

[tryingtodogoodwork]

Best U.S. prez of my lifetime. Best since FDR.

Obama, 2012!!!!!!!! (eight exclamation points, eight years in office)

Hillary, 2016!!!!!!!!

[cbvill72]

I thought it was for the over 8% unemployment that is the signature of his Presidency.
Lemming!

[web6242a]

With all the pressing problems we have --- This is what the Politicians and the news thinks is relevant ? It is beyond a joke!!!!!! How about solving some important issues !!!!

[rockychance]

People of Faith know what all this immorality will do to us as a people. We have let the Hollywood crowd force us into decadence that is hard to fathom. Morality and Faith were the things that keep our dark sides in check and now as a country we have unleashed the evil Geni who will never return to his bottle.

[chyenna-2009]

I agree Rocky!

[LVwidow]

No, if morality and faith were the things that keep our dark sides in check - ask all the altar boys who had faith and were in the church when they were abused by gay pedophiles! The evil Geni has been around for years.