Gay Marriage Week?

I think Hallmark needs to start drafting cards for “Gay Marriage Week” in honor of the fact that the single subject dominated the news cycles last week.  It all started when…

SUNDAY: Biden comment

On Sunday, Vice President Joe Biden stated during an interview on “Meet the Press” that he is “absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women and heterosexual men and women marrying one another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties.”  This statement of clear support for same-sex marriage kicked off what can be called “Gay Marriage Week.”

MONDAY: White House response

On Monday, Press Secretary Jay Carney was flooded with questions over Biden’s comments as well as if the position held by President Barack Obama has changed.  Obama has maintained that his position is “evolving,” making it sound as if he was trying to have it both ways on the issue.  Comments made by the reporters included “What does the word ‘evolving’ mean” and “I want you to dissect the evolution.”  Carney summarized the Presidents position by stating “I will leave it to individuals to describe their own personal views,” leaving the reporters with more questions than answers.

TUESDAY: North Carolina

Voters in North Carolina went to the polls on Tuesday to vote on a Constitutional Amendment (Amendment 1) to define marriage as being only between a man and a woman.  This Amendment is on top of the existing law within the state that outlaws gay marriage.  The ballot measure passed by a margin of 61% to 39%, with opponents of the already seeking alternatives to overturn the Amendment.

WEDNESDAY: Colorado bill

Meanwhile, out in Colorado, the State’s House of Representatives had a bill in hand that would grant civil unions to gay couples.  The bill made it through committee with a narrow vote of 7-6.  The bill would then be eligible for a preliminary vote by the House, with the formal vote occurring the following day.  Unfortunately, the last day of session for the legislature was Wednesday, so even if the preliminary vote was held on Wednesday, a formal vote would not be held.

WEDNESDAY: Obama comment

Fearing that he was losing control of the issue, Obama quickly scheduled an interview with Good Morning America.  During the interview, he explained his progression to endorsing gay marriage, citing conversations he’s had with college students, members of the military, as well as members of his staff.  However, in his interview, he said that gay marriage shouldn’t be nationalized (quickly), but rather handled by the states.  Currently, 30 states have laws on the book banning same-sex marriage, while only 6 states have legalized it.

THURSDAY:  Biden apologizes

As the week started to come to a close, the discussion ended where it started.  Media reports cited administration officials that stated Biden apologized to Obama for pushing the issue on gay marriage before Obama was ready to formally announce his support.  It was noted that the President was not upset.

FRIDAY: Opinion

The segment of voters where gay marriage is the major issue (either for or against) is small, with those that support gay marriage were already likely to vote for Obama, while those who oppose were going to vote for Mitt Romney.  So I don’t believe the events of this week will have a major impact come Election Day.  What do our blogging friends think on this topic?

Chasing the Asson: I’m not even sure how the law just passed in North Carolina even holds muster.  Not when Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington DC have passed laws saying that gay people can marry.  One version LIMITS rights (i.e. abridges the privileges); the other does not.

Generation Gossip:  That being said, marriage is not a religious issue, it is a government issue. There is supposed to be a separation of church and state so separate it damnit. The Church has no right to decide who gets rights and who doesn’t, if they had their way we would all still be living in the 1800′s and progress would never have been made. If the Catholic church does not want to welcome gay marriage or perform them fine, they are a business  and that is their choice but they have no right to influence the law.

Capitol Commentary:  He was for it before he was against it before he was for it.  That pretty much sums up President Obama’s brave stance on gay marriage.  With 61% of votes cast in North Carolina going against allowing gay marriage (or civil unions for straight people) it might be a tad awkward with the Democratic convention happening in that state later this year.

Stop the ACLU:  In other words, the GOP just doesn’t care about the issue. Like Obama, they probably feel like it is a State’s rights issue. And they plan on focusing on the economy. Gay marriage will not take this country off a cliff ala Greece. But, the economic policies of the Obama admin. will.

The Marc Chamot Report:  On his same sex marriage approvals, what was Barack Obama thinking? Most of the states that Obama needs to win electoral votes are from battleground states, which staunchly don’t support nor approve of same sex marriages in high margins.

The Conservative Cloakroom:  Lauer goes on to state, “But the president talked about it (gay marriage) in 2004 and never talked about it again..now, obviously we are in a election cycle…isn’t this just an overt way to say to the social conservative base..look I will talk about it again, come out and vote for me.”  Matt Lauer and the liberal media at large are total hypocrites and they’re disgusting to watch.  When a Republican brings up gay marriage it’s only to get votes and when a Republican changes sides on an issue it’s flip-flopping.  When a liberal brings up gay marriage it’s wonderful and when they change their minds it’s called evolving.

Sic Semper Tyrannis:

I am libertarian by instinct if not by party.  I don’t care who you have sex with and then call it “marriage.”  I am about as neutral on this “issue” as one can be.  Nevertheless, I find the homogeneous unity of the coastal elites and the media on this to be ludicrous.  The assumption appears to be that only their attitudes matter and that if they keep rejoicing and condescending eventually the unwashed masses in “fly-over” America will follow their “lead.”