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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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 OPINION 
35

Obama's Not Going to Push for Gay Marriage

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(Newser) – Barack Obama has done next to nothing for gay and lesbian Americans since coming to power, but liberals keep insisting that he's a closet supporter of same-sex marriage and open military service. That's ridiculous, writes James Kirchick in the Washington Post, who sees no reason to assume Obama will act. "Whatever he 'really' thinks," he writes, "Obama's stance on gay marriage is virtually indistinguishable from that of John McCain."

Kirchick is dismayed by liberals' "article of faith" that Obama secretly supports equal marriage rights—though they never think of conservatives' opposition as anything but genuine. Obama made vague promises to gay activists at the White House recently, but his "wink-and-nod approach" offers little comfort. And besides, "if Obama actually does believe in same-sex marriage, that makes his public opposition to it worse than it would be if he were genuinely opposed."

President Barack Obama greets guests at a reception for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Month in the East Room of the White House, Monday, June 29, 2009, in Washington.
President Barack Obama greets guests at a reception for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Month in the East Room of the White House, Monday, June 29, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Gay and lesbian families take part in the White House Easter Egg Roll hosted by Barack and Michelle Obama, Monday, April 13, 2009, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.
Gay and lesbian families take part in the White House Easter Egg Roll hosted by Barack and Michelle Obama, Monday, April 13, 2009, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Barack and Michelle Obama host a reception for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Month in the East Room of the White House, Monday, June 29, 2009, in Washington.
Barack and Michelle Obama host a reception for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Month in the East Room of the White House, Monday, June 29, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
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I've lost track of the number of liberal friends, gay and straight alike, who assure me that Obama "really" supports same-sex marriage and, furthermore, that this point is obvious. How can they be so sure? - James Kirchick

That liberal politicians are indifferent—if not outright opposed—to same-sex marriage stands at utter odds with liberals' notion of an enlightened community of like-minded progressives. - James Kirchick

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35 comments
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Liberal_Fascist
Aug 2, 09 10:54 AM CDT
"liberals keep insisting that he's a closet supporter of same-sex marriage and open military service" Being a closet supporter is no support at all. Not speaking out is the worst hypocrisy of all. This is one issue where I disagree with what Obama's doing. Reply
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+13
IN RESPONSE:
WelcomeTo313
Aug 2, 09 10:55 AM CDT
Agreed
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+5
IN RESPONSE:
Ladydi
Aug 2, 09 1:32 PM CDT
Obama is voting "present" on this issue
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
QueenAlli
Aug 2, 09 2:13 PM CDT
he told you he was against gay marriage. told you that before the election.
Vote up! Vote down!
+5
IN RESPONSE:
prowlerzee
Aug 2, 09 5:33 PM CDT
He told us more than that, QueenAllli. He did more than dog-whistle to all the homophobes out there, he INCLUDED them in his campaign. All the gays who supported him had to be projecting because they sure as hell weren't paying attention to Zerobama's actions: Obama had Doug Kmiec (former legal counsel to Reagan and Bush) stump for him---Kmiec was a big proponent of Prop 8. Obama also had Donnie McClurkin, "ex-gay" homophobe, on the campaign trail...as well as other antigay gospel groups. But his Inaugural Invocation was best of all, wasn't it? Wasn't it perfect for Obama to be ushered in by homophobe Rick Warren, who likened gay marriage to incest?
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-1

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