g********d
发帖数: 4174 | 1 http://www.theroot.com/views/should-president-obama-endorse-mar
With President Obama's sights set on his re-election, some decisions must be
made about how the campaign can re-energize his base.
One segment, the gay community and their allies, has been frustrated with
Obama and his "evolving" (at a snail's pace) stance on marriage equality.
While the administration made good on its campaign promise on important
issues such as the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell," failing to support
full marriage rights for gay couples is still a sticking point.
Since the economy is the most important issue of this election cycle, wedge
issues such as gay rights may take a backseat to jobs. But the public's view
of marriage equality may not actually have the negative impact that the
Obama administration fears. Public opinion on the issue is heavily in favor
of equal rights for gay citizens and could give Obama the political cover
necessary to come out publicly in support of marriage equality.
If President Obama expressed support for marriage equality before the 2012
elections, there would be both benefits and risks. He would surely excite
some of his supporters, especially those who feel that he too often shies
away from bold stances in favor of measured pragmatism and common ground. On
the other hand, some voters who support Obama but still oppose marriage
equality may abandon the president over this issue. That leaves the
president with two choices: Endorse marriage equality now or wait and play
it safe until he is re-elected.
There are recent signs that the administration's position is evolving. Just
last month, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan came
out in support of marriage equality. In an interview with Metro Weekly,
Donovan said that he "absolutely" endorsed same-sex marriage.
Then there was the monumental speech by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
in which she stated emphatically that "gay rights are human rights, and
human rights are gay rights" -- a line that surely got preapproval from the
White House, which knew that such a speech would make headlines worldwide.
It seems that President Obama's administration is signaling that his
personal evolution just might be complete, but the question is, will he
admit it before November?
There is a long-held belief that Obama is a closeted supporter of marriage
equality. Legend has it that when running for the Illinois Senate in 1996,
he filled out a survey for a local newspaper indicating his support for gay
rights and marriage. In the survey, Obama's typed responses said, "I favor
legalizing same-sex marriages and would fight efforts to prohibit such
marriages."
But by 1998, Obama had a somewhat different take on the issue. In another
questionnaire, he indicated "undecided" in response to a question about
whether Illinois should legalize same-sex marriage. A peculiar change in
position, but probably a politically calculated one.
By 2008, presidential candidate Obama had come out in support only of civil
unions (pdf) and not marriage. Perhaps the environment in 2008 didn't allow
Obama to announce his stance publicly, but maybe 2012 will be different. One
of the earliest signs that Obama was rethinking the issue came in 2009 when
the administration announced that it was no longer defending the Defense of
Marriage Act in court, saying that it considered the law unconstitutional.
But one group is certainly a factor in the administration's decision about
whether to support marriage equality: socially conservative African
Americans. They may not jump for joy if President Obama grants equal
marriage rights to gay couples. It is important to note, however, that
polling immediately after the administration's shift on DOMA revealed that
the decision didn't affect Obama's support from socially conservative blacks.
President Obama likes to quote Martin Luther King's famous observation "The
arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." It appears
that perhaps Obama, after a long evolutionary process, is finally ready to
bend in the direction of equality and full marriage rights for all people.
Zerlina Maxwell is a political analyst and staff writer for Loop21.com,
where she writes about national politics, candidates and specific policy and
culture issues. She writes frequently about domestic violence, sexual
assault, victim blaming and gender inequality. Follow her on Twitter. | D**S
发帖数: 24887 | 2 目前还是要Obama看能否顺利拿下第二任选举.如果如愿,应该是大利好,一般说来,连任
总统在施政上都比较自在了,自我束缚也少得多,同时也更有能力关注实现自己的legacy
. | o****g
发帖数: 657 | 3 If he's against Mitt, he needs a bit of economical miracle for that to
happen.
But I gotta say,he still got his mojo. :)
legacy
【在 D**S 的大作中提到】
: 目前还是要Obama看能否顺利拿下第二任选举.如果如愿,应该是大利好,一般说来,连任
: 总统在施政上都比较自在了,自我束缚也少得多,同时也更有能力关注实现自己的legacy
: .
| D**S
发帖数: 24887 | 4 还不至于需要奇迹吧
【在 o****g 的大作中提到】
: If he's against Mitt, he needs a bit of economical miracle for that to
: happen.
: But I gotta say,he still got his mojo. :)
:
: legacy
| o****g
发帖数: 657 | 5 Well US economy is actaully recovering. as long as EU is stabilized, the U.S
. economy should be climbing out of this rut soon,hopefully.
【在 D**S 的大作中提到】
: 还不至于需要奇迹吧
| D**S
发帖数: 24887 | 6 越来越多人应该可以看到这一点．
那些死硬保守派本来也是争取不来的．
.S. economy should be climbing out of this rut soon,hopefully.
【在 o****g 的大作中提到】
: Well US economy is actaully recovering. as long as EU is stabilized, the U.S
: . economy should be climbing out of this rut soon,hopefully.
| o****g
发帖数: 657 | 7 Well, a lot of independents just want lower taxes. I have several friends,
who are property owners, tell me they JUST lower taxes...
【在 D**S 的大作中提到】
: 越来越多人应该可以看到这一点．
: 那些死硬保守派本来也是争取不来的．
:
: .S. economy should be climbing out of this rut soon,hopefully.
| D**S
发帖数: 24887 | 8 There are always a significant portion of the population who want nothing
but reduced taxes.
who are property owners, tell me they JUST lower taxes...
【在 o****g 的大作中提到】
: Well, a lot of independents just want lower taxes. I have several friends,
: who are property owners, tell me they JUST lower taxes...
| o****g
发帖数: 657 | 9 And this point collides with mine how??
【在 D**S 的大作中提到】
: There are always a significant portion of the population who want nothing
: but reduced taxes.
:
: who are property owners, tell me they JUST lower taxes...
| D**S
发帖数: 24887 | 10 Was not meant to collide with yours.
【在 o****g 的大作中提到】
: And this point collides with mine how??
| m******8
发帖数: 2153 | 11 So many people are short-sighted. Election is not necessary the best option,
especially for president election. | m******1
发帖数: 19713 | 12 没有最好，只有更好
option,
【在 m******8 的大作中提到】
: So many people are short-sighted. Election is not necessary the best option,
: especially for president election.
| g********d
发帖数: 4174 | 13 unemployment rate dropped again. |
|
