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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009

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NEXT STOP, REALITY TV (MAYBE)

Va. Socialites Crashed
Obama's State Dinner

And, yes, Tareq and Michaele Salahi want reality-TV turn

Nov 25, 09 9:29 PM CST
Racist Image of Michelle Obama Taken Down

Blog site removes it, not Google, then issues apology

Nov 25, 09 2:07 PM CST
PROFILE

Biden the
Second Most
Powerful
Vice Prez

He's scaling back from Cheney, but a major player in his own right

Nov 26, 09 12:47 PM CST
Blair Knew Iraq Had No WMD
10 Days Before War Began

Intelligence ignored, British panel told

Nov 25, 09 8:16 PM CST
Worst Modern VP Picks

Don't be so quick to judge Palin

Nov 26, 09 11:52 AM CST
FACEBOOK DOESN'T LIE, RIGHT?

Party-Crashers Got Close
to Obamas Before

Photos show them in inaugural box; Secret Service admits mistake

Nov 26, 09 7:28 PM CST
Google Issues Disclaimer
Over Racist Michelle Image

But company won't
pull doctored photo

Nov 24, 09 12:28 PM CST
analysis

Kid Lit Goes Political

Children's books get hyper-partisan

Nov 26, 09 4:33 AM CST
White House Backs Senate On 'Cadillac' Health Tax

Advisers outline cost control measures for health plan

Nov 26, 09 8:48 AM CST
Clintons Strive to Avoid Conflict of Interest Claims

Pair lead separate lives focusing on same issues

Nov 26, 09 9:20 AM CST
MALKIN GETS FESTIVE

This Year's Top Liberal Turkeys

Stimulus, President O-bow-ma get top billing

Nov 25, 09 8:01 PM CST
Bachmann, Palin
to Address
Tea Party
Convention

Nashville to host ultra-conservative gathering February

Nov 25, 09 4:34 PM CST
Michelle wore...

The Skinny on the State Dinner

Michelle Obama wore Naeem Khan, and other tidbits

Nov 25, 09 7:49 AM CST

|NEXT STORY »

OPINION

Obama Needs to Take Gay Marriage Stance

By Kevin Spak| Posted May 8, 09 7:50 AM CDT|

(Newser) – Barack Obama has called himself a “fierce advocate of equality for gay and lesbian Americans,” but with legalized same-sex marriage spreading to state after state and “don’t ask don’t tell” ripe for repeal, he’s been silent, complains Eugene Robinson in the Washington Post. Washington politicians can let the states and the courts sort out gay marriage, “but that’s a dodge, not a stance. It certainly can’t be confused with leadership.”

Obama favored “civil unions” in the campaign as a pure semantic “political calculation,” writes Robinson, who "never understood the logic. If semantics are the only difference between a civil union and a marriage, why go to the trouble of drawing a distinction? It seems to me that equality means equality, and either you’re for it, or you’re not.” Which will it be, Barack?

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Gay pride participants hold signs in support of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama at the 38th annual LA Pride Parade June 8, 2008 in West Hollywood, California. (Getty Images)

President Barack Obama speaks about the fiscal 2010 federal budget, Thursday, May 7, 2009, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building across from the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Participants pro Obama at the Gay Pride Parade on Santa Monica Boulvard on June 8, 2008 in West Hollywood, California. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

On some issues I really don't see anything but black and white. Among them is the "question" of granting full equal rights to gay and lesbian Americans, which really isn't a question at all. - Eugene Robinson

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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Books Are Bad for You

26 comments

VIEWING:

ClingingToHope
May 8, 09 8:31 AM CDT

Let's see...islamofascists who want to "marry" nine-year-old girls will be the next to want their "marriage" legalized. Where does it end? The farmer wants to "marry" his cow? The lonely girl wants to "marry" her cat? The pimp wants to "marry" his ten hookers? Reply

-4

IN RESPONSE:

Robert_Dada
May 8, 09 8:43 AM CDT

How about just 2 consenting adults, regardless of gender, and leave it at that? Your argument is childish and insipid. It never ceases to amaze me how conservatives bring up marrying livestock. Given the huge track record of social/sexual hypocrisy within the conservative ranks, just what is going on inside these conservative bedrooms? ;)

IN RESPONSE:

Rob
May 8, 09 9:01 AM CDT

While I am an advocate of gay marriage, the issue is not as simple as so many would have us think. Marriage is defined as a man and a woman after not centuries of tradition and law, but millennia. So please stop acting like this is a simple thing to "just do" because that’s an ignorant, uninformed and vapid (not to mention childish and insipid) position to take.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Corona_Kinq
May 8, 09 11:31 AM CDT

We've redefined marriage multiple times. We had laws in some states that forbid blacks to marry whites up until 1967. Just because it's a "tradition" for "millennia" doesn't make it right. They's been doing baby-jumping in parts of the world for years too, that doesn't mean it's not batshit insane.

| 0 minutes ago

Fondue
May 8, 09 8:45 AM CDT

I thought the "lonely girl" would want to marry her vibrator. Why do you care where it stops? Mind your own business. No one's protesting your marital situation. And to compare the loving relationship of gays and lesbians to islamo-fascists reeks of ignorance. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Robert_Dada
May 8, 09 9:07 AM CDT

Millennia of law and tradition typically under the leadership of bigoted heterosexual male dominated societies. And I never said it's a simple thing to do. I merely pointed out that the argument of trying to tie this to a willingness to marry livestock, pets, etc. is childish and insipid, which, it is. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Rob
May 8, 09 9:13 AM CDT

You obviously have nothing to offer if you think that its reasonable to lump all of the worlds governments that have ever been under the umbrella of "Millennia of law and tradition typically under the leadership of bigoted heterosexual male dominated societies" then really, why should anyone listen further? And regardless of "what you meant" the argument remains that this is not a simple issue and the air presented that somehow this is "fixable" right now is a raw display of a simple lack of education in history, government and biology.

-2

| 0 minutes ago

Reader65069154
May 8, 09 9:26 AM CDT

This is an issue which the country is roughly split on (even in leftist California). Affected advocates are a tiny percentage of the population. Why is this important to the country right now, given all the other things which are actually broken? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Rob
May 8, 09 9:29 AM CDT

Because it’s a convenient soapbox from which extremists from both ends can frantically gesticulate with all the self-righteous energy they can muster.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Robert_Dada
May 8, 09 9:37 AM CDT

Objectively speaking, in the grand scheme of things, this may not be the right time. However, the tides of social forces typically dictate timing more so than 'other' things on the agenda. It probably 'wasn't the right time' for the civil rights movement in the 60's due to all the other 'broken' things needing to be addressed. That didn't stop it though many who preferred the status quo did what they could to suppress the movement.

IN RESPONSE:

Rob
May 8, 09 9:41 AM CDT

This isn’t about "right time." It is always the "right time" to be concerned with people's rights and happiness. But it isn't the "right method" to barnstorm the rest of the country and force them to "accept" something that at least half of the population of the US is not ready to accept. There is negotiation that needs to take place, with discussion, understanding and working through issues that may or may not be resolved to the liking of one side or the other. But the histrionics and hyperbole must stop. It is damaging to this country. And the assumption that anyone is “right” is laughable.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

PosterNutbag
May 8, 09 12:48 PM CDT

Because its a civil rights issue. When civil rights are denied to one minority group, the foundation which holds up civil rights for the rest of us begins to crumble.

| 0 minutes ago

alienvv
May 8, 09 9:46 AM CDT

NO to gay marriage! Gays are becoming so aggressive it is crazy. Let them have their unions, civil agreements whatever, but leave marriage to straight people who are the base of human race. It is Not OK to have two mothers or two fathers. It Is just NOT POSSIBLE...and our kids have to know that as a matter of fact. Anything else is a total BS. Reply

-5

| 0 minutes ago

Robert_Dada
May 8, 09 9:51 AM CDT

Every country going through significant change has had a large portion of its people saying this isn't the right time and this damaging to the nation. We'll just have to see how this one plays out. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

newsrmandan
May 8, 09 12:22 PM CDT

I like the way they LGTB form the argument around the buzz word Equality- as if you don't support equality for all then you must be bigoted and uncivil towards people who chose the gay life. Please LGTB, you who seem to be so proud of being out and about. live with the decision you made in a way that isn't offputting. Also if the term marriage is allowed to be applied to the homosexual they still have not gained anything because what they are looking for is more than that. A man and a woman in marriage will always have something different than homosexuals have in "marriage" that is the natural facts. Reply

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Robert_Dada
May 8, 09 1:17 PM CDT

Oh so they 'decide' to be gay, is that how it works? And just what does a man/woman marriage have that a same sex marriage wouldn't, provided all legal issues are equal?

IN RESPONSE:

Rob
May 8, 09 5:05 PM CDT

Some may have chosen, but it is unlikely that most did. There are biological roots to homosexuality and therefore NOT a choice.

IN RESPONSE:

Rob
May 8, 09 5:12 PM CDT

Actually "marriage" IS about reproduction in both religious and fiscal contexts because it is recognized for exactly that. It’s the origin on married tax breaks. Dismiss all you want to, marriage really is for a man and a woman, doesn’t mean it can't change. But let it change without revolution.

IN RESPONSE:

Robert_Dada
May 8, 09 5:27 PM CDT

I'm an atheist so the religious context means nothing to me and should mean nothing to the United States if we truly believe in a separation of church and state. I have no problem if any or all religions don't recognize gay marriage. All religions are equally worthless anyway. As for the fiscal context, the US tax code was written during times of extreme homophobia much of which still exists today. I wouldn't expect our tax code to recognize homosexuality for either the leadership in this country has historically been bigoted against homosexuals or too timid to speak out in favor of their rights. A change like this won't go over easy and won't occur without enraged emotions on either side. Revolution is probably the only way. Revolution by definition does not have to necessarily entail violence, but there will be social upheaval that will be hard for many to take - just like when we freed the slaves, gave women the right to vote and gave civil rights to African Americans.

| 0 minutes ago

PosterNutbag
May 8, 09 1:09 PM CDT

Conservative politicians have nothing positive to offer the general population, their fiscal policies only serve the rich, therefore they depend on emotionally charged issues with religious overtones--gays, abortion, etc--in order to get enough votes and just as in Bush's hunt for Osama, they never seem to make any progress toward their goal, which means they can use the same 2 or 3 issues to get elected year after year. Advocates for gay marriage or reproductive rights are simply saying to the rest of the population 'go ahead and have your religious convictions, just don't think that you can embed your church's belief system into the laws of the United States of America, it doesn't work that way...' Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Rob
May 8, 09 5:15 PM CDT

Narrow minded, actually. The argument is over a word. i think that many "conservative" people have said that civil unions with all the same rights and privileges could be a stop gap. That is called compromise and dismissing them is called stubbornness and unnecessary argumentativeness.

| 0 minutes ago

alienvv
May 8, 09 2:50 PM CDT

It is simple- a man and a woman can conceive a child! And this is the ultimate beauty of their relationship - it is a fruitful relationship- the love between a man and a woman. It is a hope for the future of mankind. That is just one of many more..very big differences. Homosexuality as NOT A RACE. Equal rights should come with equal responsibilities- but how when homosexuals can not have their own children, when they can not be a The Mother and The Father of a child? Reply

-4

IN RESPONSE:

Robert_Dada
May 8, 09 3:59 PM CDT

You've never heard of adoption or in vitro fertilization? Gender is not a race either but for many years we discriminated against women and continue to do so today though some positive changes have occurred. And who says a child needs both a female (mother) and male (father) to raise a child? What about all the single parents out there brought on by divorce, abandonment or death. By your logic, if any of these conditions are met, the surviving parent is not fit because the opposite sex parent is not present.

IN RESPONSE:

Corona_Kinq
May 8, 09 5:36 PM CDT

HAHA, oh wait, you're serious aren't you?

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
May 10, 09 11:52 AM CDT

alienw, you have got to be the dumbest piece of crap on this site -- other than ClearSight.

| 0 minutes ago

ClearSight
May 9, 09 9:31 AM CDT

Just more cultural decline from the immoral rabble who "infest" our society and government. Think what you will but your "sickness" hasn't a thing to do with love but with deviancy. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 26 comments »

Barack Obama • gay rights • gay marriage • Don't Ask, Don't Tell • Gene Robinson • Obama administration

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