http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-abc-gay-marriage-position-20120509,0,6635227.story
Very big news 
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Wow...I'm impressed that he actually did it! Only took 4 years.
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Wow, amazing!!
I had figured he would wait til after the election to announce this...
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I was thrilled to see that. Some people on my facebook got snarky and posted things like, "just in time for elections!" but I think it's great that he could say that.
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blah nObama.
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My own personal opinion of course, I don't expect everyone to agree with me, but I woke up this morning so disappointed hearing about North Carolina's vote, then at lunch time I saw the news report about Obama, and I couldn't be prouder of him!
Right now I'm reading The Commitment by Dan Savage, very timely with all of this news breaking right now.
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@lemondrop: Agree completely! It was perfect timing as far as I'm concerned. Well, years ago would have been perfect timing, but this is good too!
PS - I love Dan Savage!
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@Rachel: I heard him on a re-run of This American Life on NPR a few weeks ago. His story had me laughing and crying at the same time. Good stuff!
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@lemondrop: I heard that too! About his mom
You should check out his podcast, Savage Love. It's pretty NSFW (love/relationship/sex advice) but he's a funny guy.
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@lemondrop: Me too. We were parked waiting to get out of the car in order to listen to the whole thing!
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I was really disappointed in NC poll results. This makes up for it! Very good news!
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glad to see this after the decision my state made yesterday.
@lemondrop: I was very sad as well last night when the decision was called.
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So proud of my president today!!
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@Rachel: @Mrs. Jacks: it really got me in the Mother's Day mood
I'll definitely look into the podcast Rachel I really hope that these announcements get this country thinking about human rights in general. It wasn't too long ago that different races couldn't marry.
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@lemondrop: Who is Dan Savage?
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So proud!
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I think it's really great. Although im a big supporter of gay marriage his change of stance on this topic doesn't make me want to vote for him and I doubt it will have a huge effect on the elections. If anything I think it may hurt him so I think it was great of him to come out and support gay marriage at a time that the country needed to hear it rather than at a time that was best for him.
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@lemondrop: I agree!! Sooooooo proud of the President right now!!!
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@bluestriped bee: he is a gay journalist and advocate, he writes with a really great sense of humor. The Onion has picked up some of his articles, and as Rachel mentioned he has a podcast
Worth a google for some entertaining writing.
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@lemondrop: Oh, cool. Thanks! I'll check him out.
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Obama didn't mention a Will & Grace reference though. Nice announcement guess Biden got things rolling.
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I was disappointed with the North Carolina results, too. I'm happy that President Obama has stepped up to announce his support for same-sex marriage. I think it's kind of ballsy, especially with the NC vote. I didn't think he would come out as a supporter until after re-election (if that happens).
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@bluestriped bee: @lilteacherbee: I hope you saw the wonderful and eloquent speech made by the head of the NAACP in No Carolina prior to the vote. Here's the video:
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I think it's interesting that he came out in support of this issue after the NC vote. Meaning, he could have affected that election, and chose not to. I actually disagree with him on his statement, but I find it a day late and a dollar short.
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@beka: I thought the NC vote had a 20 point delta?
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@mrbee: Sure. But the President still could have affected it. I mean, why wouldn't you speak when you have a chance before an election determining same-sex marriage in a state, instead of after? Particularly since he's still affirming "state's rights" to decide how to handle it in their state.
http://feministing.com/2012/05/09/breaking-president-obama-announces-support-for-same-sex-marriage/
http://www.logcabin.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=nsKSL7PMLpF&b=6420733&ct=11751137
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@beka: I don't think there are many people who base their opinion on this issue on what president Obama thinks. People vote for politicians who are most in line with their own ideals,they don't make up their ideals based on what their favorite politician says. I think it was really bold of Obama to stand up and basically say he disagrees with what the people of NC had decided.
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@MamaMoose: Interesting. Perhaps it varies by your circle of friends? Mine pay a lot of attention to what national opinion leaders say.
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@beka: I think there is a difference between paying attetion to what national leaders say and letting them make up your mind for you on important issues.
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@MamaMoose: Sure. I never said Obama weighing in would have a, won the election, or b, made up people's minds for them. But are you really saying that you don't think the President could make a difference with people's opinions? I think he clearly could.
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@beka: No I do not believe him announcing earlier would have had any significant affect on the vote which is what you suggested in your first post.
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@beka: It could have worked the other way too though. The majority of democrats support same sex marriage despite Obama's previous stance. So he's not really there to convince the democrats. There's a lot of republicans that are super anti-Obama though and might just go against him because it's Obama. However, there have been several prominent republicans, like Dick Cheney, who have come out to support gay marriage and I have a feeling republicans would more likely listen to those people.
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@MamaMoose: Then that's your opinion and we differ. I work in politics because I believe it matters, not because I believe that it doesn't. We can have a difference of opinion on this issue.
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@beka: Deal.
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@beka: Personally, I think history is on the side of marriage equality... so I chose to view this in that longer-term perspective. But I agree that it's totally fair to criticize the President for not changing his mind sooner (pre-NC and even further back than that).
In any case, NC is the 30th state to pass a constitutional amendment against gay marriage... so I don't place too much importance on any individual state amendment (especially in a state where gay marriage was already illegal).
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@mrbee: Yeah, I think that's the scary thing that no one is really talking about - Amendment one also nullifies any rights between straight unmarried couples. So if you've been living with someone for decades, have children with them, but you aren't married, now in NC you've been stripped of your rights, too.
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@mrbee: I agree - he didn't just make his mind up today, so why not say something when you can have an impact, rather than afterwards when you're guaranteed not to?
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@Rachel: I had heard that there wasn't a consensus yet on whether the language impacts straight unmarried couples? I guess the the NC judiciary will be busy!
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Great news and makes me soo proud!
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@beka: Well, he's the head of a branch of the federal government... I think the impact of his announcement will have a significant impact on federal policy, at least for the rest of his term.
Interesting how we have different takes on marriage equality, and yet we both agree that the President should have said something earlier.
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