same-sex marriage – Page 2

#rsrh African-American voters and the Democrats’ false Hegelian choice of 2012.

I understand the issue: on the one hand, Barack Obama is now in favor of same-sex marriage (for the record, so am I, and have been considerably more honest about it than he ever was). On the other hand, African-American church-goers have been told for some time that Mormonism is a cult (it is the official opinion of MoeLane.com that Mormonism is not*). What to do, what to do?

:shrug: If you’re an African-American voter? Stay home. That’s not partisan hackery, either: more accurately, partisan hackery is lining up nicely with the uncomfortable truth that politicians will never take a group seriously if they know that they can also utterly take it for granted. So it doesn’t really matter whether I am being self-serving, here (I totally am) – I’m also being right. Continue reading #rsrh African-American voters and the Democrats’ false Hegelian choice of 2012.

#rsrh Here we go: 1st Appeals Court strikes down part of DOMA.

Technically, it struck down Section 3 of DoMA, which prohibits federal benefits from being provided for same-sex couples married in states that allow same-sex marriage. Section 2, which allows individual states to not recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, is still in effect. The whole thing is under a temporary stay until the Supreme Court gets a crack at it; I assume that this will happen… soonish. Continue reading #rsrh Here we go: 1st Appeals Court strikes down part of DOMA.

#rsrh Popcorn watch: Obama to explain same-sex marriage views this afternoon.

(H/T: AoSHQ) Clear your schedules, folks: because there’s gonna be some tap-dancing today.

President Obama, who is under mounting pressure to clarify his thinking on same-sex marriage after top aides publicly embraced it in recent days, will sit down for an interview with ABC News on Wednesday during which he is likely to be pressed on his “evolving” views on the issue, according to people familiar with the matter.

The interview, to be conducted by Robin Roberts, an anchor on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and was secured in the wake of a declaration by Mr. Obama’s vice president, Joseph R. Biden, on Sunday that he was “absolutely comfortable” with same-sex marriages.

Well, let’s see. What are Barack Obama’s options? Continue reading #rsrh Popcorn watch: Obama to explain same-sex marriage views this afternoon.

#rsrh Quick observation on this Hot Air post on Biden’s gay marriage gaffe.

While I see Ed Morrissey’s point (I don’t know if I agree with it, but I see it) about whether it’s a big deal right now whether or not Barack Obama comes out in favor of same-sex marriage or not…

…it’s unimaginable that enthusiasm for Obama among black voters would suffer much, even if he reversed himself on gay marriage. Even a slight reduction in turnout would be a rather doubtful assumption. If Obama’s hold on this demographic is that fragile, he’s already lost the election. The swing-state vote is a more realistic concern, but the current vacillation won’t help if those voters are keying on this topic, either, and they almost certainly aren’t.

Continue reading #rsrh Quick observation on this Hot Air post on Biden’s gay marriage gaffe.

#rsrh Joe Biden Opens His Mouth, Same-Sex Marriage Edition.

He’s for it.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Fine, so am I. But you know what the difference between me and Joe Biden is? My primary site (RedState) doesn’t go into full panic mode every time I happen to mention that; Biden’s (the White House) does. Continue reading #rsrh Joe Biden Opens His Mouth, Same-Sex Marriage Edition.

Elizabeth Warren (D CAND, MA-SEN PRI) declares Barack Obama unevolved.

No, really, that’s what she said. The exact statement was “I want to see the president evolve [on same-sex marriage] because I believe that is right; marriage equality is morally right…” – with the implication being that anybody who does not support same-sex marriage is not, ah, fully evolved.

Funny thing about that.

Continue reading Elizabeth Warren (D CAND, MA-SEN PRI) declares Barack Obama unevolved.

QotD, That Would Be Nice edition.

Glenn Reynolds, letting out his inner libertarian:

So now that New York will have happily-maried gay couples, can we get started on letting them have the closets full of assault rifles?

Lurking in that question is the key difference between liberalism and libertarianism – and it’s liberalism that comes off second-best in the comparison.

#rsrh President lying about SSM support?

John Aravois of AmericaBlog Gay is incensed, incensed! that the President’s people – prepare to be shocked at this revelation – lied about President Obama’s past support for same-sex marriage. Apparently, ~~Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia~~ Obama had never… well, the title says it all:

“Senior White House aide: 1996 Obama gay marriage questionnaire is a fake, even though Obama signed it”

Via Glenn Reynolds, who probably is as contemptuous of this as I am. And I support same-sex marriage; the only difference between me and the President is, I’m not afraid to say so. But it’s amazing how outraged Aravois can still get over what is pretty much a routine betrayal of him by the President (perfectly safe one, too*). I mean, come on. For the love of God, how many times do we have to have this conversation? THIS IS WHY THE PRESIDENT WILL NOT SUPPORT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: Continue reading #rsrh President lying about SSM support?

Democratic legislators flee… SAME-SEX MARRIAGE bill? [Fixed]

In Maryland?

Apparently. Maryland has been trying to pass a SSM bill for years – the last time they tried, its failure was a genuine shock to SSM supporters – and it did look like the latest version (HB 55, the “Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act”) would pass once it made it through the MD Senate (barely) last week. But before it could goes to the House it has to get through their Judiciary Committee… and on Tuesday two critical Democrats refused to show up for the meeting, thus making the vote impossible. It will probably surprise nobody here to read that both Democrats (Tiffany Allston, Jill Carter) are African-Americans who represent African-American districts; it might surprise some to hear that both are co-sponsors of HB 55. I called the Maryland Assembly this morning: they confirmed that the bill is still stuck in committee, which means (among other things) that possibly Rep. Allston hasn’t made up her mind yet after all. Or is just worried that her constituents won’t change their minds anytime soon.

This is not actually funny, although I concede that people opposed to SSM may legitimately beg to differ with me on that. Neither is it a case of ends justifying means – and I will not concede that differing on that is legitimate. The Republic will survive the establishment or non-establishment of same-sex marriages in one or many or all states. What it cannot survive is the establishment of the ‘principle’ that participating in the democratic process requires you to continue to participate [only when you are winning]*. If Rep. Allston’s and Rep. Carter’s constituents don’t like HB 55, then those two legislators need to decide whether they agree with their constituents or not. If they do, they should vote no. If they don’t, they should vote yes.

Either way, Allston and Carter can then deal with the consequences that come from making a choice – a choice, by the way, that they implicitly volunteered to make by running for office. These two are no different in spirit than the state Democrats from Indiana and Wisconsin who are hiding out rather than do their jobs, and they should be treated accordingly.

Moe Lane

*[I had somebody point out that I mangled this point horribly. Corrected, and my bad.]

No actual Presidential ‘evolution’ on SSM?

Both Andrew Malcolm and Allahpundit are looking somewhat… askance… at President Obama’s apparent “evolution” on same-sex marriage (SSM). I put “evolution” in scare quotes because there’s no real evidence that he’s actually changed his official opinion on the subject in any way that matters: which should have been apparent from the fact that precisely zero action towards legalizing SSM has been proposed by the President. Congress did pass a DADT repeal*, but there’s been no push for SSM.

And there’s a reason for that:

Bluntly? While the population in general has shifted to disapproving of SSM only within single digits, African-Americans remain opposed to the policy by a two-to-one margin. The President simply does not dare offend that particular demographic. If that means lying – which the President is doing – so be it.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

Continue reading No actual Presidential ‘evolution’ on SSM?