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Loading ...Obama opposes Prop 8, McCain in favor
11.03.2008 11:52am EST
(San Francisco, California) They both oppose same-sex marriage, but Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain differ over Proposition 8, the ballot measure that would ban gay marriage in California.
“I’ve stated my opposition to this. I think it’s unnecessary,” Obama told MTV in an interview set to air today (video of Prop 8 question below).“I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that’s not what America’s about,” he said. He added, “Usually, our constitutions expand liberties, they don’t contract them.”
Obama has previously stated he would oppose a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and supports repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal benefits to same-sex couples.
He also has suggested civil unions as a means of granting rights to gay pairs.
McCain also opposes amending the U.S.Constitution, but for different reasons. McCain says it is a state issue. He is on record supporting constitutional bans on gay marriage in both California and his home state of Arizona where a similar measure is on Tuesday’s ballot.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden has spoken out against constitutional bans, both federally and state, but Republican Sarah Palin takes a stand stronger than that of McCain. Palin has called for an amendment to the US Constitution.
Public opinion polls show that proposed constitutional bans on same-sex marriage are too close in call in California, Arizona and Florida – the third state with a proposed ban on the ballot.
“Ask Obama” airs today (November 3) on MTV at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET, and on MTV Tr3s at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. ET.
He also answers questions about university tuition, the economy and a range of other topics.
365Gay is owned by Logo television, a division of MTV Networks.
Hey you RadicalRealist, how dare you call people who live in mobile homes{Ihappen to} trailer trash. Do you live in the TajMahal? I bet I can out think you, out talk you, and add innumerable solutions to anything you care to discuss. Wanna try smart person? Peace to all, vote for Mr. Obama!!!!!
I just wanted to say, who cares what gay or lesbian couples want to do? And further more why should it bother anyone other than the couple in question? How is it hurting anyone. They are in love, they want to spend the rest of their lives together and have the same BASIC RIGHTS that everyone else has. I voted for Obama cause I believe he is the better of two evils in this particular argument of which, as a transgendered person, a personal interest in. Unless it hurts you personally, then let it be.
Jayla
Way to go Obama. Civil Unions would be fine with me. I, for one, oppose the use of the word “marriage” as it is a religious term and I want nothing to do with their type of hateful religion.
Dog and pony show time.
Equal marriage is not a state issue due to the 1100 some odd federal rights conferred upon legal marriage.
Now, if the feds would not offer these rights to married citizens, THEN it would be a states’ rights issue.
So, that old line just gets more and more tired.
And yet…we continue to accept it and continue to fight this battle on a state by state basis allowing the Supreme Court to claim that equal protection under the law as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment is somehow not a constitutional issue.
I’d think I were in the Twilight Zone if not thoroughly used to the incessant non-think of those that run this theocratically insane oligarchy.
“Disgusted American asked 11-03-2008:
I need to know the answer: ”
“Attorney General Brown stated his belief that ‘marriages that have been entered into subsequent to the [May 15] Supreme Court opinion will be recognized by the California Supreme Court …’ ”
For more info, check out Wikipedia article at:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_California
Where’s Wayne when you need him? He’d set the record straight on this story.
I highly doubt that Obama really believes that marriage is a term that should only be for straights. It’s all just politics. He can’t afford to support full equality for gays because he needs the trailer-trash vote in states like Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Are those folks using this as an excuse to vote McPailin happy now?
I’m curious to see their rational now.
Disgusted American….no, even if proposition 8 passes, I doubt if legal same-marriages already performed will be annulled because those marriages were legal when the law permitted them. Any politician who tries to overturn them if the proposition passes is playing with fire….the backlash will be unprecedented.
I need to know the answer: What is going to happen to the Marriages already taken place of LGBT people in Ca. if Prop 8 passes? Null & Void? As an American – Im pissed that any discrimination should exist in our country against anyone! TAX the churches NOW! NO ON 8!
The courts of the US and various states were designed to stop a “tyranny of the majority” as we see happening against our community.
Unless the US electorate has a gross change of mind and idealogies, we will have to go to the courts to win defend our rights as purported by the constitutions of the US and the various states. It is and will be a grass roots movement and won one state at a time until the USSC sees that most of the states will not fight it once it becomes a federal issues once again.
Please vote for the candidate who will appoint US Supreme Court justices who will vote in our favor. The same goes for state elections as well.
God (or your favorite “supreme being”) forbid more of the Bush, Republican and Religious “compassionate bigotry” being forced down the throats of the people of the US. Never again!
Did you all see the NYT Vows piece on the Hollywood wedding of Mutchnik-Hyman ? wonderful..Held same day was naming day for their baby daughters! SEE the pic! Try and tell me that that isn’t a family!
I doubt Obama really has an issue with gay marriage. It may help for a clear condemnation of Prop8 but at what cost? As Debra said, a candidate who supports gay marriage cannot win a general election….at this time. The choice is still clear between these two candidates and Obama’s court appointments may do more to help our cause than legislation anyway.
The words “Gay Marriage”, if spoken in support of by a presidential candidate in our country would be the death nell of that candidate. Our country, or the majority, are still on the wrong side of history. We have a candidate here willing to oppose any amendments to constitutions, is in support of our legal rights as couples…SCORE!! The country will have to modify a bit before we get the M word bestowed on us, and when that day comes the groundwork will be in place with the rights Obama is in favor of now. Irritating to say, but baby steps, slow and steady wins the race.
Well there you go then. Obama advocates full legal equality for gay couples. He may be backing a tactic that won’t work in the long run (and acknowledged so by saying he’s “probably on the wrong side of history”) but his intent is in the right place, aka full legal equality for gay couples.