WASHINGTON — President
Obama's decision to endorse same-sex marriage staked out a stance that
carries uncertain political risks but one he said was rooted in the
biblical admonition "to treat others the way you would want to be
treated."
Obama's endorsement Wednesday, a milestone for the gay
rights movement, was the first from a sitting president and a
potentially powerful tail wind for a cause still struggling for
electoral approval. It comes as the country remains divided over whether
same-sex marriages should have the same recognition and legal standing
as traditional ones, and six months before an election expected to be so
tight it may hinge on small slices of votes in a handful of key states.
He
equivocated for more than a year, saying that his position was
"evolving." More recently, he came under considerable pressure — from
his somewhat deflated base and a powerful network of gay donors — to
speak his mind before the November election. His announcement was
hastened by a similar declaration from Vice President
Joe Biden on Sunday, which prompted calls for Obama to speak out or risk falling behind the curve.
"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," Obama told
ABC News'
Robin Roberts in an interview hastily arranged by the
White House to quiet the fallout from the Biden remarks.
Obama told the
"Good Morning America"anchor
that he arrived at the decision by talking to gay friends, staff
members, his two daughters and his wife, who he said shared his support.
His Christian faith and the golden rule factored in. "In the end, the
values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is
how we treat other people," Obama said.
Obama had cited religion
in opposing same-sex marriages as he campaigned for president, but in
December 2010 declared his position was evolving. That position was
widely viewed as a wink and a nod to supporters of gay rights, who
believed the president was withholding a public declaration of support
out of concerns about alienating some key voters.
Nationally, a
slim majority of voters favors gay marriages, according to most polls — a
majority that has been increasing because of shifting attitudes among
young people and middle-class voters. Still, religious, African
American, Latino and older voters remain more likely to express
opposition, and 38 states have adopted prohibitions of same-sex
marriage, according the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Some
Democrats
contend that the voters most strongly opposed are unlikely to vote for
Obama anyway, adding gay marriage, like abortion, to the list of social
issues dividing partisans.
But the president's announcement is
likely to hurt him in the South, where 1 in 3 swing voters strongly
opposes gay marriage, a recent Pew Research Center poll found. Just this
week, North Carolina, which Obama narrowly won in 2008, approved one of
the strongest bans on same-sex unions in the country. The state
increasingly appears out of reach for Obama this year.
More crucial to his reelection chances will be the impact in Virginia, where a recent survey showed him with a slight lead over
Mitt Romney.
Polls in the state show the electorate nearly evenly divided. There's
also a danger of turning off some religious voters, such as white
Protestants in the Rust Belt or Catholic Latinos. On the other hand,
young voters and strong supporters of gay marriage may be energized.
White
House aides believe there's no way to predict the "crosscurrents," said
a senior administration official who, like others, requested anonymity
to be able to discuss internal deliberations.
But Obama's decision
is unleashing a wave of financial support from gay and lesbian donors
and is likely to heighten demand for tickets to a June 6 LGBT
fundraising gala in Los Angeles featuring the singer Pink.
"Within
minutes, people were calling with their credit cards. They're
thrilled," said Andrew Tobias, treasurer of the Democratic National
Committee and a top fundraising bundler for Obama. He said one donor
pledged $10,000 and decided to fly with his partner from Los Angeles to
attend an Obama fundraiser in New York on Monday.
The president's campaign was quick to capitalize on his decision, sending an email to supporters asking for donations.
On Wednesday, Republican nominee Romney emphasized his consistency on the issue in response to Obama's changed position.
"I
have the same view that I've had since running for office," he said in
reaction to the president's statement. Romney was a staunch advocate of
gay rights when he was running for governor of Massachusetts in 2002.
But he never endorsed same-sex marriage and later became an outspoken
leader of the drive to ban it after a court legalized the practice in
Massachusetts.
"My view is that marriage itself is a relationship
between a man and a woman, and that's my own preference," he told
reporters Wednesday. "I know other people have differing views. This is a
very tender and sensitive topic, as are many social issues."
For
months, the president's advisors gave no indication that he planned to
reveal a new stance before the November election, believing that Obama's
record on other gay rights issues would suffice to win over an
increasingly powerful network of gay donors and other ardent supporters.
Obama ended the "don't ask, don't tell" policy barring gay soldiers
from serving openly and dropped the legal defense of the Defense of
Marriage Act.
But advisors say the president decided a few weeks
ago that he had changed his mind and wanted to make an announcement
before the Democratic National Convention in September.
Michelle
Obama was a strong influence, administration officials said. She went
out of her way to invite gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender couples
to events she sponsored for military families.
Her words are from God as shown here, men will blame disasters on not keeping Sunday holy . 
Rev. John
MacLeod (photo: Grampian TV)
