Who knows what Barack Obama, political opportunist extraordinaire, truly feels about gay marriage, since he's changed his stance from a "yea' to a "nay' back to a 'yea' again.
The Independent Journal Review posted the above cartoon along with the following Obama quotes, referencing the gay marriage issue:
I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages. (1996)
What I believe is that marriage is between a man and a woman. (2004)
I believe marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian, it’s also a sacred union. (2008)
My feelings about this are constantly evolving. I struggle with this. (2010)
I think same sex couples should be able to get married. (2012)
Ironically, Republican Dick Cheney came out in favor of gay marriage in 2009, 4 years prior to Obama's so-called change of heart.
One has to question why, at this juncture, did he decide to speak out? Yes, Joe Biden beat him to the punch, so he couldn't very well not pipe in on the issue, but more importantly he's not quite as popular as he was during the 2008 campaign, and he's losing some of his core base. It must have been hard for him back then and now to decide which demographic to best pander to: the Black and Hispanic vote that has a tendency to be conservative on issues like abortion and gay marriage, or the liberal Hollywood elite (who have buckets of money) and gays who obviously have a vested interest in gay marriage. Obama is more concerned with image, getting votes and raking in campaign funds than sticking to principles, if he even has any. But endorsing gay marriage has given his sagging campaign a lift, of sorts. My FaceBook feed is chock full of praise for Obama, even from a few who were a tad disillusioned with him, and the calls for donations have been rolling in.
But it will be interesting to see whether this decision in the long run was a good one or not. Even though there was a small spike in popularity, there are some who voted for Obama in 2008 who might not vote for him this time around, as a result of his gay marriage endorsement.
A Black Philadelphia pastor, Bishop Leonard C. Goins, said,
"He's wrong, he's in error, it's a mistake and it will hurt him."And many see this ploy as what they term a "gimmick", and that includes some gay Democrats.
Delsa Bernardo, who co-owns Yiya's Gourmet Cuban Bakery and Cafe in Miami with her girlfriend, backed Obama in 2008 but has since become disillusioned over economic issues. She said she's happy he's spoken out in support of gay marriage but wants to see what actions he takes to back up his words.
Bernardo said she is frustrated with the Obama administration over the difficulty in getting loans despite the federal bailouts he supported. She's had to pay out of pocket $1,600 this month for an industrial juicer and a glass case to display her popular red velvet cupcakes, as well as $4,000 for roof repairs because she can't get a loan. She hasn't paid herself in two weeks.
"I'm happy and I think it's about time our country does it," she said. "But I don't think it's all `Whoo-hoo!' I mean, who cares who you're sleeping with?"
Most gay conservatives (including the ones that I know) could care less about gay marriage, and see right through Obama's artifice.
Personally, gay marriage is a non-issue for me, there are far more pressing problems in this country and the world to worry about who marries whom. I do believe that long-term, committed partners should have some legal rights, though; it only seems fair.
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