President Obama Has an Odd History of Flip-Flopping on Gay Marriage
- Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:27am by
Billy Hallowell
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On Wednesday, President Barack Obama made the historic announcement that he endorses same-sex marriage. While his public pronouncement — uttered during a hastily-organized interview with ABC News following Vice President Joe Biden’s verbal slip-up – is being treated as big news, this is a stance Obama has taken before. In fact, the president has a complicated (some might even say bizarre) history of flip-flopping on the issue.
(Related: Obama: Same-Sex Marriage Should Be Legal)
Take, for instance, a Windy City Times article from 1996, in which Obama, then a candidate for the Illinois State Senate, affirmed his ”unequivocal support for gay marriage.”
“I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages,” Obama proclaimed in an interview with the newspaper (in a separate survey for a gay political group, he also issued the same sentiment).
Curiously, by 1998 — just two years later — Obama’s “favor” had turned lukewarm on the issue. During yet another election cycle, he answered that his position on the issue was “undecided.”
In 2004 (yes, another election year), Obama took a more middle-ground route, as he publicly supported domestic partnerships and civil unions. He also took the opportunity to say that, unlike his statement in 1998, he did not support gay marriage.
“I am a fierce supporter of domestic-partnership and civil-union laws,” he said. “I am not a supporter of gay marriage as it has been thrown about primarily just as a strategic issue.”
Flash forward a few years to the 2008 election cycle, during which Obama affirmed that he believes marriage to be between one man and one woman.
“I am not in favor of gay marriage,” Obama said. “But when you start playing around with constitutions, just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that’s not what America’s about.”
As Fox News notes, he also said: ”I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian … it is also a sacred union.”
In 2010, after already assuming the White House, Obama began to set the groundwork, it seems, for an “evolution” on the issue. Only, at no point did he mention the 1996 endorsement he purportedly gave same-sex unions. In fact, while discussing the issue, he acted as though he had always held a position against gay marriage.
“I have been to this point unwilling to sign on to same-sex marriage primarily because of my understandings of the traditional definitions of marriage,” he said. “But I also think you’re right that attitudes evolve, including mine.”
Then, on Wednesday — just six months before the 2012 election — the president changed his tune once more.
“I’ve been going through an evolution on this issue,” the president told ABC News on Wednesday. “At a certain point, I’ve just concluded that for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”
A screen shot from the Obama-Biden web site advertising the president's newfound stance
As The Blaze has already reported, Obama’s campaign quickly sent a fundraising e-mail, Tweeted and began promoting the president’s “newfound” stance on the issue.
Considering this past history, one wonders if the press will take the time to explore the motivations behind the president’s constant ideological changes — particularly during electoral cycles.
(H/T: The Blaze Blog)
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Comments (101)
1WhoQuestions
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:41amI think the title of the article could stop at “… History of Flip-Flopping.” Surprisingly he is correct in that the individual states should be the ones to decide whethe or not to allow it.
Too bad states won’t put these two questions on the ballot. 1. Should homosexuals be allowed to marry a member of the gender? 2. If not, should they be allowed to join in a civil union and be provided all the same rights, priveledges and benefits as a married husband and wife?
I have no problem with a homosexual couple becoming joined in a civil union and them receiving all the rights, benefits, etc, that a husband and wife receive. Just don’t call it marraige as, IMO, marraige is between a man and a woman. What’s so hard about that?
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:51amDEMOCRATS evolve, Republicans Flip-Flop. Isn’t that what is common knowledge among the MSM??? Are those sattelite dishes on the sides of Obozo’s head, where he heard the Flip-Flop command?? From screwy Louie’s mother ship.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:54amHe does what his TelePrompTer tells him to do…..kinda like running the country with a magic 8 ball….
Report Post »JRook
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:02am@13th Imam Even if one concedes this is a flip flop. That makes it about Romney 3,000 and Obama maybe 5. Oh and Romney also has a record of flip flopping on this one.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:35amName the 3000 Flip-Flop’s . All 3000 Name Obozo’s 5. All 5. Submit it in triplicate. single spaced. ALL 3000.
Report Post »JGraham III
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:19pmThere was a grafitti-ed saying seen on the walls of the stairwells at the U of Washington in the late 60′s that said “you don’t need a Weatherman to tell which way the wind is blowing”..meaning the Weather Underground. Today with the prez and his association with some of the survivors of that wretched time, I believe the ol’ saying is still true. Obama is nothing but a marxist weathervane and will tell you by his latest position which way the wind is blowing. With this supposed epiphany all semblance of logic and common sense have left the room. Not that we are surprised.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:31pm@13th Imam I’m sure you can do it. Just keep a list of everything Romney takes a position on til it reaches 3,000 as he flip flops on everything.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:00pmLame , Crook, Alinsky not spoken here. Come’on, YOU Mentioned 3000, Bring the 3000 on, Dope.
Report Post »Saint Mike
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 6:07pmWell said, a civil union is fair and reasonable for a free society, and churches define marriage as they should; I actually support traditional marriage even though I am not in a traditional relationship myself. This gay marriage thing is a red flag to get the Tea Party off track. I think it is essential we stay focused on the constitutional rights, economic/ budget concerns and the growing imblance in the seperation of powers this election. Thanks for posting. Reading most of the other post was like having a parasitic zombie sucking out my brain — wow so much anger and lack of civility; it was like reading post from teenagers.
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:12pmYou folks forgot Obamas statement many times – “I voted aginst it before I voted for it or I voted for it before I voted aginst it.”
“Polticians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.” Nikita Khrushchev
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:36amWith this revelation from Barry that he now endorses gay marriage I wonder how his beard reacted to it?
Report Post »napoleon_solo
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:53amGreat comment. And will POTUS now openly embrace the Chicago bathhouse scene and admit his relationship with Mr. Sinclair?
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 6:34pmOf course he’s flip-flopping. Sometimes he likes being on top …..
Report Post »thibx
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:35amjust because he is married with kids mean nothing he is a closet queer. he has used the marriage and the kids to get what he wanted.
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:35amODD? are you kidding? this idiot makes a habit of crap like this.
Report Post »JustPeachy
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:27amHmm, what’s that smell?!? Oh yes. . . I think some call it “Desperation.”
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 6:35pmK9 jelly
Report Post »milo75
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:25amSo now our President has proclaimed that GOD was wrong in what he created and blessed which is marriage between a man and women. What was deemed holy in Gods eyes,has now became perverted by these extremely sinful people who have chose a disgusting form of sex. Even if you don’t believe in God this form of sex is against nature! I thought we sank to the lowest of low with the slaughtering of our unborn children but now i see we can go even further. I pray there is enough moral people left in America on election day.
Report Post »skimmer57
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:58amMilo75–Thump thump is that your Bible ? Statistics are that 50% of all posters on here are divorced and it is clearly written in the Bible that if you re-marry you are an adulterer. Even your hero Glenn. Nobody seems to want to talk about that. Let’s just keep the focus on the gays because what they do is icky. All sins are equal in God’s eyes maybe not so much in yours.
Report Post »cosette
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:31am@ Skimmer… I‘ve been a member of this site since its’ inception. I have not been polled. You state what appears to be a statistical fact. Please site your source. Thank you.
Report Post »skimmer57
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:46amcosette– Divorcerate .com
Report Post »cosette
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:27am@ Skimmer.. I went to “divorcerate.com”, that site is for sale. I then went to “divorcerate.org. They have statistics which state that 50% of first marriages end in divorce. They have no stats concerning the divorce rate of people who post on the Blaze. Your statement assumes those stats hold true for a specific group i.e., “50% of all posters on here”, your words not mine, which is misleading. Unless and until you can support your stats with verifiable proof your statement is in question at best.
Report Post »skimmer57
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:51amCosette–I have drawn the assumption that those stats. would hold firm for the swath of society that posts here. I may be wrong it could be 80% or 10% but I do feel comfortable with the average of 50%. I dare say that we maybe splitting hairs. The question remains. Why the silence on adultery? I find it the height of hypocrisy. You know throw that first stone and glass houses and such!
Report Post »JRook
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:42pm@cosette You point is perhaps accurate as it would depend on the size of the population who post here. But your indirect inference that because they listen to GB or post here the population statistic would not apply has no foundation at all. Perhaps Skimmer was referencing the divorce rate by religion which based on the US Census Bureau is 30% Jewish, 27% Born Again Christians, 24% Other Christians and 24% Atheists. Which groups do you think are most represented here. Again, depending on the size of GB following, which he claims is very large and growing everyday, the rates of this group should approach those of the general population. But either way you missed the point as clearly as displayed here almost daily the group here has much better sight and much higher objection to other peoples sins as opposed to their own.
Report Post »cosette
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:12pm2 Skimmer, So you’re admitting that your claim about the people who post “on here” could well be inaccurate? How about you stop making claims you can’t support with valid sources? It‘s pretty easy to fabricate stats when you want to make a point isn’t it. It’s a common tool used by people with weak arguments. I don’t care to debate the bible with you or anyone for that matter. I just wanted you to cite your source , that’s all. Nuf’ said.
Report Post »cosette
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:37pm@ JROOK… Why you feel compelled to defend Skimmer with your lengthy response is beyond me. You both missed my point. Don’t present stats unless you can verify them. You both make assumptions which may or may not be accurate. Read your final sentence. It’s called human nature. It is indicative of common human frailty, not at all limited to the people who post “on here”.
Report Post »On The Bayou
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:22amWe should all be praying dailey that this man is removed from office in November
Report Post »v15
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:18amApparently Obama is confused about his sexuality again.
Report Post »His white half wants one thing.
His black half wants something else.
And the two sides are at constant odds.
While his teleprompter gently weeps….
nocalifornia
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:17amHe lost the wall street money, the small business money, the “rich” people money so who is left? The gay people money, and he will stick it to them like he has everyone else after the election.
Report Post »ginger100
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:07amMore reason for muslims to think America is run by satan
Report Post »HowardSternIsABigot
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:15amGetting harder and harder to hold together the coalition of racists, haters, perverts, feminists, abortionists, alien invaders, faux minorities, hoody wearing cherubims, and antichrists. Now when the looters and the baby killers just cant agree if civil unions good enough for the nonreproducing sexual partners they may not be able to demonize the middle class Christians. Why if we cant borrow another 5 trillion to finance the headlong rush to hell it may just make perverts question our committment to finance their ******** adventure s in the dark recesses of the anus. It may force a decision between Michellorilla obamas multi trillio dollar vacations and subsidizing gay adoptions and divorces. oh the dilemas.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:49amTruly a way to thin out the herd by being non-reproductive.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:14amAs the Gump would say,“gay is as gay does” imho.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:13amDoes anyone still doubt that Obama will do anything to get re-elected, to stay in power?
A person who has no morals will lie, cheat, steal, rig an election or stage an event that will lead to Marshall Law to get what he wants. This is a man who will not go quietly into that good night.
Report Post »65Mustang
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:22amI agree totally…how much more of this man (?) must we endure.
Report Post »term limits for congress
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:10amSo, are gays immune to the economic and business conditions in the US today?
Or, are gays socialist/communist anyway and this little anouncement just seals the deal on this voting block?
Luckily, he gets the votes of one block (or is it bloc?) without pandering. Next Up: purple smoking coming from the white house – TSA joins the SEIU.
Report Post »Homeycat
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 2:29pmThe loudest screams from HELL into eternity will be from BHO.
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:11amAmazing, Blaze. I put in the name of a song heard by millions on Rush Limbaugh, taken from a column written by a black journalist and published in the LA Times, and you censor a word we commonly used as children? It‘s a sad state of affairs when you’re so hog-tied by political correctness.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:30amTell me about it,the blaze shut me down last week for using a word that was in the story the blaze used.
Report Post »I emailed them and they lifted the restriction but it’s very odd to say the least.
cosette
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:36amYou’re both spot on. I used a word in a post, a pejorative against white people, which Glenn said the day before on his radio show, and it was censored. BTW the word is a common pantry staple, think Ritz.
Report Post »Athinkerinaseaoflibs
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:03amTo say that the Svengali in Chief (BHO) is anything other than an opportunist is foolish. His rudderless ship never has any wind in the sheets. This allows for maximum agility to allow to change whenever the wind changes. He’s not a homosexual or heterosexual; not muslim nor Christian; not black nor white; not a capitalist, communist, socialist nor Nazi nor is he a male or female. He is whatever he needs to be to keep his power, line his pockets and destroy the United States at all costs.
The only church he consistently attends is the church of BHO. When he kneels down at night it must be in front of a mirror. I just cannot figure out how he has been able to fool so many people.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:15amExcellent post, you nailed him.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:20amAgree……excellent post.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:26amI’ve never seen the appeal in the narcissist in chief and as for the rest of the population I suspect the dumbing down of America through the public school monopoly has helped him immensely.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:57amI’m so tired of seeing his smug-mug every time I turn around .
Report Post »The only time we catch a break from this guy …
Is when he goes on vacation.. Then it cost us millions of dollars…
It’s pretty bad when you have to PAY for someone to go away.
iampraying4u
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:19amWell we know now he is not a Christian
Report Post »JustPeachy
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:23amOh, but we’re paying, and we’re paying *dearly!*
As I’ve seen bumper stickers read: One B-A MISTAKE, America!
And we WILL be payin’ for this one for quite some time to come. . .
Report Post »Obama Nation
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:55amMaybe the reason Obama flip flops on gay marriage so much is that he likes to go both ways.
Report Post »(pun intended)
bpodlesnik
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:55amThis president would not even stand a chance if the media would actually do a half decent job on reporting who he really is. Even just a little better then what they do now, and you could throw anyone up against him and they would win hands down.
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:49amOh, Barack the Magic *****, lives in D.C.
Report Post »The L.A. Times, they called him that
‘Cause he’s black, but not authentically.
Some say Barack’s “articulate”
And bright and new and “clean.”
The media sure loves this guy,
A white interloper’s dream!
Gonzo
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:46amTell it like it is. He lied through his teeth about opposing gay marriage to get elected. What else has he lied about? You’ve got to reelect him to find out. Had enough America?
Report Post »RedDirtTexas
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:43amPreaching to his choir! But this discussion is just another distraction from the fact that he has accomplished nothing!
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:41amAs the story goes… Larry Sinclair said “that guy” Obama did a lot of flip-flopping with his “bottom up”… or would that be top down or inside out? Only the LGBT community in Chicago knows for sure I guess when it comes to “that guy” Obama’s “positions”…
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:50amNews Flash: “Obama Comes Out Of The Closet”
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:06amCORP. I’m not sure Obama was ever in the closet? Like stories that are that are floating around about John Travolta playing tiddlywinks with his male massage (therapists?)… Obama might be having/or has had his own “Rub-a-Dub-Dub moments. Referencing the NY Post’s headline regarding Travolta.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:21amI just Googled the Travolta thing Time 2, first I had heard of it. Sad to hear.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:47amTravolta’s the same nitwit that said everyone needs to cut back on their fuel consumption, yet tries to justify his use of jets to get around for “business” and such. Another Liberal Follywood star (like Obama has become) who might be getting his jollies and using his “jet fuel” in the most unnatural of ways.
Report Post »dove11
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:52amIs it a Man’s Country or is it a pickup basketball game? Where are all the stories about Larry Sinclair, Donald Young, Larry Bland, Nate Spencer, Kal Pen, Rahm Emanuel and Alexi Giannoulias? Oh well, did someone make all the evidence for the stories go away?
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:12amDOVE. I go with “pick-up” game… not sure if it’s just basketball where “this guy’s” concerned. I have a hard time calling him President Obama. I like McCain’s description… lol.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:39amThe narcissist obama hasn’t spoken the truth is his life time neither has his fatas* wife. They are both racist.
Report Post »chnswstr
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:37amwhatever
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:34amObama is gay….. we all knew that
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:33amhe endorses ANYTHING that will get him votes, he has no morals,no character and is about anything un-American as you can get
Report Post »starman70
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:50amSomeone of the radio mentioned that he is losing the support of a wide majority of independant voters so in order to make up the shortfall in support he is now pandering to the gay and lesbian community. He is also pandering to the Hollywood voting block, who have supported this kind of thought for many years.
Report Post »VIDGMER
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:22amCASSANDRA, Yes I agree with your post.. HE is full of S****!
Report Post »