Biden apologizes to Obama for marriage controversy - Polidicks

[QUOTE]Washington (CNN) -- Vice President Joe Biden has apologized to President Barack Obama for putting him in a tough position that led to Obama's announcement that he now supports same-sex marriage, senior administration officials said Thursday. Obama said in an interview that aired Thursday on ABC that he made his decision public earlier than he had planned after Biden's weekend remark that he was "absolutely comfortable" with letting gays and lesbians marry. Two senior administration officials said Biden and Obama met Wednesday morning, and Biden apologized for putting Obama in a tough spot. Obama responded by saying that he knew Biden was speaking from the heart, said the officials, who didn't want to be named discussing private conversations between the president and vice president. Biden's remarks on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday launched a controversy that led to Obama announcing that his position on same-sex marriage, which he had previously called "evolving," had shifted to support. When Obama's full interview aired Thursday, he said his disclosure came sooner than planned as a result of Biden's comments. "I had already made a decision that we were going to probably take this position before the election and before the convention," Obama said on ABC's "Good Morning America." Biden "probably got out a little bit over his skis, but out of generosity of spirit," he said. He added that he would have "preferred to have done this in my own way, on my own terms," but "all's well that ends well." Separately, Biden spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff said Obama "has been the leader on this issue from day one, and the vice president never intended to distract from that." Once Biden's comments drew attention to the issue, Obama made plans to announce his support next week on a previously scheduled appearance on the ABC talk show "The View," a senior administration official said Thursday. The president and his advisers knew Obama would be asked about the issue in the wake of Biden's NBC interview, said the official, who didn't want to speak publicly about internal administration discussions. Ultimately, they decided to move up the timeline and have him announce his support during the ABC interview at the White House, the official said. And a top Democrat told CNN that Obama knew the issue would come up at the convention, partly because of a push for support for same-sex marriage to be included in the Democratic Party platform, and in debates. Multiple top Democrats told CNN the president's senior aides are annoyed with Biden for forcing the conversation on same-sex marriage now. One source said Biden has, in the past, counseled the president against coming out for same-sex marriage, making this move that much more frustrating. But the sources said they don't believe it will create a lasting rift between the two leaders. Biden is known to go off-script, something Obama knew when he selected his vice president. In explaining to ABC how his position has evolved, Obama noted that his daughters Malia and Sasha have "friends whose parents are same-sex couples. It wouldn't dawn on them that somehow their friends' parents would be treated differently. And frankly that's the kind of thing that prompts a change of perspective, not wanting to somehow explain to your child why somebody should be treated differently when it comes to the eyes of the law." Asked about whether his new position is a calculated move in an election year, Obama said it would "be hard to argue that somehow this is something that I'd be doing for political advantage. Because frankly, you know, the politics -- it's not clear how they cut." The interview aired the same day Obama attended a fundraiser in Los Angeles, where support for same-sex marriage is strong. Movie star George Clooney hosted the event, which is raking in $15 million, according to a top Democratic source. And on Monday, openly gay singer Ricky Martin is hosting a fundraising event for Obama in New York. But some in the African-American community have expressed strong disapproval of Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage. A Democratic official said the White House has been actively reaching out to African-American community leaders and pastors and will continue to do so in the wake of the president's decision, but the official noted that even the president's base won't always agree with him on everything. "There are going to be issues you don't agree on," the official said. And Obama told ABC he won't spend much time talking about the issue, because he's focused on the economy. The announcement puts Obama squarely at odds with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who has since reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage. "And I do not favor civil unions if they are identical to marriage other than by name," Romney said during a Wednesday visit to Fort Lupton, Colorado. "My view is the domestic partnership benefits, hospital visitation rights and the like are appropriate, but that the others are not." The issue is a divisive one in American politics, but it's uncertain how the development might play out at the voting booth. A Gallup Poll released Tuesday indicated 50% of Americans believe same-sex marriages should be recognized by law as valid, with 48% saying such marriages should not be legal -- a dramatic shift from a few years ago. A Gallup poll in 2009 found 40% supported same-sex marriage and 57% were opposed. But a CNN/ORC International poll, taken in late March, indicated policies toward gays and lesbians were tied for last in people's opinions of the most-important issues facing the country. Obama said he supports states deciding the issue on their own, but added that he was "disappointed" by Tuesday's vote on the issue in North Carolina, where a ban on same-sex marriage was added to the constitution. Obama called the amendment discriminatory against gays and lesbians, a spokesman said earlier Wednesday. Six states -- Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York -- and the District of Columbia issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, while 31 states have voted in favor of constitutional amendments that seek to defend traditional definitions of marriage as a heterosexual union. In February, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage beginning in June, but opponents there have pledged to block the bill and called for voters to decide the issue. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed into law a bill that permits the state's same-sex couples to wed as of January 1, and state residents may vote to affirm such a law. Minnesota will vote on a state constitutional amendment similar to the one in North Carolina, while Maine will have a referendum on allowing same-sex marriage. Meanwhile, two cases seeking to overturn laws forbidding the practice, one from California and another from Massachusetts, could be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court in coming months.[/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/10/politics/obama-same-sex-marriage/index.html?hpt=hp_c1[/url]

Well I suppose somebody had to take a stand.

I don't feel like Obama's claims are very genuine considering his opinion seems to always "evolve" conveniently close to election time.

[QUOTE=Ryder1337;35909198]I don't feel like Obama's claims are very genuine considering his opinion seems to always "evolve" conveniently close to election time.[/QUOTE] Eh, if he can change his views to match those of his supporters then that's good enough isn't it?

[QUOTE=Ryder1337;35909198]I don't feel like Obama's claims are very genuine considering his opinion seems to always "evolve" conveniently close to election time.[/QUOTE] welcome to politics: [img]http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlqvXz4lhnpLPHzvlOR_ql2zC9Y1FKAeQrfEjMBQpdPpiR_qw-7BJxrZvh7A[/img] the game show where the opinions are made up and the promises don't matter!

[QUOTE=MuTAnT;35909292]Eh, if he can change his views to match those of his supporters then that's good enough isn't it?[/QUOTE] I didn't say it's bad or anything that he did so, I just doubt that it was a genuine, heartfelt statement. Who knows though, he very well could feel that way.

[QUOTE=Ryder1337;35909354]I didn't say it's bad or anything that he did so, I just doubt that it was a genuine, heartfelt statement. Who knows though, he very well could feel that way.[/QUOTE] I kinda felt the same way. Didn't he also say a few weeks ago he was against it? Now it seems he is for it after Biden shared his opinion on the issue.

Biden 2012

Biden kind of reminds me of an over enthusiastic little kid. That's why I love him.

[QUOTE=Snake7;35909617]Biden kind of reminds me of an over enthusiastic little kid. That's why I love him.[/QUOTE] We don't hear much from him (media wise) but what we do hear is earnest, from the heart and true. The man is salt of the Earth and I freaking love him. He's my Harrison Ford of politics.

[QUOTE=Ryder1337;35909198]I don't feel like Obama's claims are very genuine considering his opinion seems to always "evolve" conveniently close to election time.[/QUOTE] When being elected to the Illinois Senate, he made a statement saying that he fully supported gay marriage. When he ran for president, he said his positions is "evolving". And now he supports it. It's clear that he originally supported gay marriage, then refused to take a stand for political reasons, but now he either has nothing to lose or something to gain by reaffirming his pro gay marriage position.

I would rather him say it before an election than wait until after, as if he was afraid of losing votes by supporting a good cause.

[IMG]http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/epic-fail-photos-dating-fails-let-the-great-gay-marriage-debate-begin.jpg[/IMG] Homophobic people disgust me. How does their gay butt sex interfere with your life?

[QUOTE=Combin0wnage;35909441]I kinda felt the same way. Didn't he also say a few weeks ago he was against it? Now it seems he is for it after Biden shared his opinion on the issue.[/QUOTE] Nope. He was all for civil unions that were equal in every way to marriage except they weren't called marriage. He also opposed(and probably still opposes) all attempts to ban gay marriage/civil unions at the state level. I honestly think he was okay with it all along but this was just a calculated political move to test the waters. Or maybe he realized attempting to court republicans over to his side was pointless and tried to appeal to his base. Overly cautious considering recent polls but eh, baby steps are better than no steps at all.

He has nothing to apologize for,it was about time for a democrat to take an actual stance on something.

[QUOTE=Ryder1337;35909354]I didn't say it's bad or anything that he did so, I just doubt that it was a genuine, heartfelt statement. Who knows though, he very well could feel that way.[/QUOTE] While he might not always stay a true course on his promises, this does seem to be a genuine sentiment. Especially since it's actually a progressive stance that not everyone agrees with.

[QUOTE=Ryder1337;35909354]I didn't say it's bad or anything that he did so, I just doubt that it was a genuine, heartfelt statement. Who knows though, he very well could feel that way.[/QUOTE] I don't think how heartfelt his statement was comes into it when there is only one logical answer

[QUOTE=Ryder1337;35909198]I don't feel like Obama's claims are very genuine considering his opinion seems to always "evolve" conveniently close to election time.[/QUOTE] you have no idea about the level of scrutiny his writers put on whatever tiny little syllable slips his mouth because no matter what it is, republicans will try to bend the truth or straight up lie about it to make him look bad so of course they hate to actually make him talk about what he wants to sail safe before a made up republican shitstorm mesmerizes all the US idiot voters

[QUOTE=Delta616;35910337][IMG]http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/epic-fail-photos-dating-fails-let-the-great-gay-marriage-debate-begin.jpg[/IMG] Homophobic people disgust me. How does their gay butt sex interfere with your life?[/QUOTE] Because it's gross and I don't like it :(

[QUOTE=Ryder1337;35909198]I don't feel like Obama's claims are very genuine considering his opinion seems to always "evolve" conveniently close to election time.[/QUOTE] Pretty much seems like what almost every politician does these days.

[QUOTE=Ryder1337;35909198]I don't feel like Obama's claims are very genuine considering his opinion seems to always "evolve" conveniently close to election time.[/QUOTE]He said in 2010 that he was reexamining his views on the issue, that was half way through his term with no big elections to deal with.

[QUOTE=milkandcooki;35915210]Because it's gross and I don't like it :([/QUOTE] Then don't do it. End of story!

[QUOTE=Bomimo;35915851]Then don't do it. End of story![/QUOTE] But... I might catch " THE GAY."

[QUOTE=Wormy;35915924]It's probably because it makes them feel unsafe.[/QUOTE] Well, their blind bigotry in the name of their god makes me feel pretty damn unsafe, and I have no right to stop them from doing so. Why should they have the right to stop me from pursuing what I want in life, especially given that what I want isn't doing harm to anyone?

[QUOTE=znk666;35910586]He has nothing to apologize for,it was about time for a democrat to take an actual stance on something.[/QUOTE] He doesn't have to apologize for being tolerant no, but him saying he supports gay marriage puts pressure on the president to give his stance on the issue. It's nice of him to apologize for putting Obama in a somewhat awkward spotlight, even if it'll probably work out better for both of them in the long run.

[QUOTE=King Tiger;35909907]When being elected to the Illinois Senate, he made a statement saying that he fully supported gay marriage. When he ran for president, he said his positions is "evolving". And now he supports it. It's clear that he originally supported gay marriage, then refused to take a stand for political reasons, but now he either has nothing to lose or something to gain by reaffirming his pro gay marriage position.[/QUOTE] That's the point...he runs for senator...supporting gay marriage. Not long after he was elected he states that he believes marriage is between a man and a woman, and that gay marriage is not a civil right. His opinion shifts a few times since then, culminating in him coming back to supporting it in time for the 2012 election.

[QUOTE=Ryder1337;35918619]That's the point...he runs for senator...supporting gay marriage. Not long after he was elected [b]he states that he believes marriage is between a man and a woman[/b], and that gay marriage is not a civil right. His opinion shifts a few times since then, culminating in him coming back to supporting it in time for the 2012 election.[/QUOTE] Source on this?

[QUOTE=DesumThePanda;35919741]Source on this?[/QUOTE] Considered pulling a LMGTFY, but I guess I'm not feeling like a dick today. [url]http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/President/US/Barack_Obama/Views/Gay_Marriage/[/url]

Obama doesn't have to [B]A[/B]Biden by his law.

[QUOTE=Delta616;35910337][IMG]http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/epic-fail-photos-dating-fails-let-the-great-gay-marriage-debate-begin.jpg[/IMG] Homophobic people disgust me. How does their gay butt sex interfere with your life?[/QUOTE] This is stupid. Why are we calling it gay marriage at all? Why don't we just support marriage for all? Why do we have to call it "gay" marriage? It's not promoting their rights in any way, this is furthering stereotypical persecution. Because we know how well water fountains and "black" water fountains worked.