The Obama Special Report Open Thread

Filed in National by on May 9, 2012

ABC News is breaking into live programing at 3 pm. It is expected that he will announced the end of his evolution and that he supports same sex marriage.

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  1. Delaware Dem says:

    BREAKING: ABC NEWS: Obama: ‘Same-Sex Marriage Should be Legal’

  2. Delaware Dem says:

    Oliver Willis ‏ @owillis
    obama set to announce we killed bin laden again, but harder.

  3. nemski says:

    I expect Valentine, occum, puck, socialistic Ben and geezer to make donations to Obama’s campaign today in support of this. πŸ˜‰

  4. Delaware Dem says:

    BREAKING: Obama: “I think same sex couples should be able to get married.” http://tpm.ly/Jz0G5I

  5. Delaware Dem says:

    BREAKING: Obama endorses gay marriage http://huff.to/JeYwcz

  6. Delaware Dem says:

    Think Progress first out of the game with the news and quotes: http://bit.ly/Jted11 #marriage #equality #obama

  7. Delaware Dem says:

    “it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.” –Obama.

  8. Delaware Dem says:

    Obama: β€œI have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors…”

  9. Valentine says:

    Great news! Better late than never.

  10. Delaware Dem says:

    “I’ve been going through an evolution on this issue…” of gay marriage @BarackObama tells ABC News.

  11. Delaware Dem says:

    Senator Chris Coons ‏ @ChrisCoons
    Way to go, Mr. President. http://yhoo.it/IUvHV6

  12. Delaware Dem says:

    Ezra Klein ‏ @ezraklein
    The White House probably feels like Joe Biden has said enough already, but I’d still like him to pop up and call this “a big f***ing deal.”

  13. liberalgeek says:

    Wait, who are his neighbors at the White House?

  14. pandora says:

    Everybody better be ready to defend this… because it’s going to be a big deal.

  15. Delaware Dem says:

    important point – Obama says gay marriage should still be state, not federal issue, his position aside: http://bit.ly/IYy8aj

  16. socialistic ben says:

    *embarrassing amounts of praise .
    I dont have the money to give….. I do however have enough “bread crumbs” to make a tasty sandwich to eat while i volunteer hours this year πŸ™‚

  17. Valentine says:

    You know what, nemski, I will think about donating.

  18. liberalgeek says:

    Also, I think this means that there will be lines around the corner in all of the Confederate states lined up to vote against the guy that wants to make their sons have sex with men.

    I just hope he gets a big boost of small donations out of this.

  19. Delaware Dem says:

    I expect everyone who has criticized him on this issue to be LOUDLY defending him now and through to November.

  20. X Stryker says:

    This is awesome!

  21. Delaware Dem says:

    Mayor Bloomberg, who funded gay marriage fight in NY: β€œThis is a major turning point in the history of American civil rights. “

  22. V says:

    well i’ll be damned. Guess who’s going to be on TV tomorrow shouting gay marriage from the rooftops like i asked? Shows what I know.

  23. Delaware Dem says:

    But, I will say this to those critics. This is your victory. You pushed Obama to do this. You made him evolve.

    I do not care if you criticize the President. I care if you don’t vote for him over one issue. But now that he has answered your criticism and done what you wanted, it is literally the duty of those critics to support him.

  24. liberalgeek says:

    And anyone that doesn’t support him will be rounded up… πŸ™‚

  25. Delaware Dem says:

    Because if you don’t, you will never be listened to again. He will say “I did what you wanted and you were not there for me.”

  26. Valentine says:

    DD: I doubt anyone would not vote for him because of that one issue. But I am sure those of us who wanted him to come out in favor of gay marriage will praise him on that issue now. I know I will. But there are other issues too.

  27. Delaware Dem says:

    Geek, don’t cause trouble…. πŸ˜‰

  28. Valentine says:

    I prefer the word “purged” … :p

  29. nemski says:

    I expect my pony to be delivered post haste.

  30. liberalgeek says:

    The campaign is now on. I suspect that the RMoney enthusiasm gap has just closed and we will now have to push our side to GOTV more than ever.

  31. nemski says:

    Of special note, I did not see any of the far left purists crowing loudly in any of my Richard Grenell posts.

  32. Jason330 says:

    The gays got a pony!!!
    Wheres my pony?

  33. Valentine says:

    Crowing loudly about what?

  34. Jason330 says:

    Great. We now get to fight this elcion out on Republican turf. Awesome 11th demensional chess.

  35. Valentine says:

    I don’t think it will be any bigger of an issue for the GOP than it was before.

  36. pandora says:

    It was a risky move. All hands on deck.

  37. liberalgeek says:

    I think you are right, Jason. I’m gonna have to sign up to knock on doors in PA and/or VA.

  38. Jason330 says:

    So as that Biden statement a trial balloon?

  39. nemski says:

    Valentine, the Romney campaign allowed the Right to hound out a gay staffer. But not a peep from the Far Left here at DL.

  40. liberalgeek says:

    Valentine – what you don’t seem to understand is that it isn’t the number of people that have swapped from Obama to Romney (I doubt that number has changed significantly) but the number of Republicans that have gone from “not likely to vote” to “likely to vote” or “very likely to vote”.

    This is not a judgment on whether or not this is morally right (I think that same-sex marriage IS a right), but rather whether it changes the battleground.

    I hope I’m wrong on this.

  41. V says:

    then you’re an idiot Valentine. I’m sorry, but everyone who thought about staying home after Santorum lost is now signing up to volunteer for Mittens.

  42. nemski says:

    Probably Jasin330.

  43. nemski says:

    V they are now.

  44. pandora says:

    Here’s my rule of thumb… when I am extremely happy with what a politician does I brace myself for a backlash. Know why? Because I flippin’ know that my positions are shared with only 20% of the population. That means 80% sorta agree with me or don’t agree with me at all.

    Republicans now have a flag to rally around. Hope our side is ready to counter their efforts.

    I’ll knock on those doors with you, LG.

  45. Delaware Dem says:

    Shep Smith on Fox just now asked if GOP will campaign on issue ‘while sitting very firmly, without much question, on the wrong side of history on it.’ #wow

  46. Valentine says:

    Right, V, I’m a total idiot.

    liberalgeek, that is a good point. However, I see Christian right websites all the time that were already lambasting Obama for being pro-gay. So I am just not sure that this is going to make that much of a difference. And it is not like he can really do anything. It’s up to the Court at this point. But I guess only time will tell.

    And nemski, Isn’t persecuting a gay staffer just par for the course for the right? And the guy was a sexist pig anyway. I am never sympathetic when a gay Republican gets run out of the party or a job. What did he expect.

  47. V says:

    haha Shep Smith has been all sorts of crazy hilarious lately. I’m almost surpised he wasn’t the “Fox Mole”

  48. socialistic ben says:

    they were going to vote against Obama anyway.
    there is a disgusting display of indifference for your fellow humans’ rights going on today. All this changes is the official position. NO ONE’s vote will be changed by this. The people who don’t like Obama were going to vote against him even if he said he would deport all the gays. they hate him. they hate him with a passion and STILL aren’t going to vote for Romney, but vote against Obama like they always were. Only the support from those who want civil rights for all people, and that will be increased. I really cant believe what im reading form some of you who would leave your brothers and sisters’ rights till after the election…. but wait, we CANT do it before the 2014 mid-terms…. no no no the 2016 election is TOO IMPORTANT to take that kind of a risk! Go back and read your comments. Go see how you thought other people’s rights shouldn’t be talked about because it might be a bad political move. disgusting.

  49. V says:

    ben shut the fuck up. you know we’re talking about turnout. i’m happy he made the decision he did. i’m just worried. and i better see your ass knocking on doors on your magic pony. we’re going to have to work harder now, that’s all. it’s for a good cause, it’s ok. we’re just going to have to work harder.

  50. V says:

    the first step is knowing you have a problem, Valentine!

  51. JJ says:

    I hate to say it, but Obama looks like a real jerk on this issue.
    Worse than some of Romeny’s flips.

  52. Valentine says:

    What a charmer you are V — and such a way with words.

  53. Valentine says:

    There are a lot of factors that play into turn-out. At some point you just have to stand on principle and let the chips fall where they may. At least you can look yourself in the mirror in the morning when you do that.

  54. V says:

    Thanks. I just feel like you’re being delusional if you think this isn’t a big deal and isn’t going to help the right rally and mobilize. They were talking about outlawing birth control just a few weeks ago.

    There won’t be any federal legislation putting forward marriage equality, in the courts we’re all holding our breath to see how prop-8 turns out, states are still torn (as shown this week). Gay people WEREN’T going to vote for Romney. I think it’s awesome. I agree with him. I agree with YOU. I just don’t see a gain at all. If anything it just gives the crazies something to rally around.

    and people like you won’t give him any credit anyway. just say “about time’ and then bitch about something else.

  55. Delaware Dem says:

    @CNN: “Monster sunspot” spitting out large solar flares – radio signals, satellite cld b disrupted: // IT BEGINS.

  56. pandora says:

    There’s also Politics 101. Looking yourself in the mirror will be small consolation if Republicans win and bring back DADT, etc.

    I fully support gay marriage, but I won’t kid myself that this is simply some moral conscience thing. It. Is. Political. We’ve got a fight on our hands.

  57. Valentine says:

    V, even if you are correct, he really didn’t have a choice. With what Biden and Duncan said, it forced his hand. Plus the issue is going to keep coming up with various court rulings.

  58. Valentine says:

    It will be interesting to see how big of a deal it turns out to be.

  59. V says:

    so now he HAD to? yep, no credit whatsoever.

  60. Valentine says:

    Well he had to or look like an idiot. Don’t you agree?

    And since I am an idiot, I should know one when I see one…

  61. V says:

    You’re still not giving him any credit. I don’t know how he’s supposed to satisfy our side sometimes. Did you at least give credit to Joe?

    all those “voter fraud” bills that suppress democratic votes are going to be even MORE fun to deal with now that the right is going to be all jazzed up on bigotry more than usual.

  62. Valentine says:

    The thing is, I have been wanting the Party to come out for gay marriage for years, a decade probably, since it is a civil right issue and a matter of principle. So really, it is about time. Waiting for public opinion to change before standing on principle is hardly worthy of high praise. But yes, I am very happy he finally came around.

    When DOMA is repealed and I get my federal benefits, I will be even happier.

  63. V says:

    ahhh THERE IT IS, the something else.

    (that being said, i hope you get them too)

  64. socialistic ben says:

    Turnout? you’re scared republicans are going to vote against Obama? that THIS is gonna make them not want to re-elect him? you havent been paying attention the past 4 years.

  65. liberalgeek says:

    There are plenty of reasons why Republicans would stay away from the polls in November (Mormon, Massachusetts healthcare act, flip-floppiness, pro-choice history, 2nd amendment issues, etc). Now there is a big one for them to hang their hat on.

    I don’t see this giving anyone on our side the push they needed to go out to vote in November, but it should.

  66. walt says:

    Wow, first Joe daMouth the other day, and now Obama. And they came out of nowhere with this sudden gay allegiance; not that it’s bad. It’s just that I think they are desperate in this election year. In a few months you might see why.
    How about that chump Chaffinch getting hired as manager of Camden. How could any municipality hire this guy? Not only does he have NO EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE JOB, but he’s also got a history failed administration experience in the Del State Police where his misconduct costed us millions of dollars. He’s such a wag that he lost a run against DAVE WILSON by a slaughter (65% – 35%).

  67. liberalgeek says:

    So, given that this is a craven political move, which states is Obama going to pick up as a result? North Carolina? Arizona? Florida? Ohio?

    What’s the political upside?

  68. Rustydils says:

    From a staunch Romney Supporter, President Obama, “The gift that just keeps on giving”.

  69. V says:

    no LG, this is about PRINCIPLE remember? we need to look ourselves in the mirror no matter who’s president. That’s totally more important than avoiding a conservative supreme court for the next generation.

    What do you think this is, LG? a GAME?

    /

  70. Joanne Christian says:

    The political upside is “I did it first”. Nothing like announcing an eventuality to power up the people.

  71. thenewphil says:

    He didn’t say the federal government was going to recognize gay marriage. He said it should be left up to the states.
    Now how has THAT worked out so far?

  72. Joanne Christian says:

    Exactly…but it won’t be long…because of taxes. I have gay friends who have to establish entirely different relationships tax wise because as a state filer they are married, as federal they are not…and in essence are probably committing fraud in how they file….only takes one test case to run it up the review and decision…won’t be long, I’m sure. An accountant’s nightmare–and an awkward position to put a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen in.

  73. puck says:

    Just for a dose of reality, remember that Obama also endorsed public option health care and letting the Bush tax cuts expire.

  74. MJ says:

    So on this day that the President comes out for equal marriage, Queen Latifah (finally) comes out and the architect of Amendment 1 in NC dies the day before the vote (http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/10/nc-lawmaker-james-forrester-dies/)

  75. liberalgeek says:

    V – No this isn’t a game. In a game you can try stuff out because it doesn’t mean anything when you start another game. In the real world, there are consequences. I am not saying that the consequences are set in stone, and I’m not saying that they aren’t acceptable. I’m acknowledging their existence.

    If this does cost Obama 2 states, it could mean that Ruth Bader Ginsburg is replaced by a conservative judge. It could mean that while Obama said that he supports same sex marriage, no meaningful changes will happen under President Romney. It could mean that in a few states that experience a bump in evangelical voters that come out (to vote) Dems could lose control of the Senate.

    If you are happy to make a political statement that gets you exactly zero actual accomplishments but consolidates your opposition, rock on! I guess it’s just a game for you.

    And if you think that isn’t possible, I present to you President Richard Nixon and his Southern Strategy.

    And way to keep it real, puck.

  76. cassandra m says:

    You know, LG, one of the things that I’ve noticed this evening (where I get to see TV via my hotel room)and this is for the talking heads — it is the conservative ones playing defense. Especially since Rmoney came out today and staked out a position less generous that BushCo and Cheney. And I think that the wingnuts who hate this will be all over TV and the radio *not* drumming up support from independents.

    The key to the BushCo use of the culture war was to make sure that anti-gay measures were on the ballot in swing states. And if I recall, the anti-gay measures passed. It will be hard to go back to that well. Plus, I’m cynically thinking that the Obama people know full well what the numbers on this look like and they don’t look anything like those in 2004 when Kerry took his defensive crouch and matched GWB’s position. If they thought this would have hurt them, I really doubt that they would have done it.

  77. V says:

    my /sarcasm/ didn’t show up LG. I don’t think it’s a game, but unfortuantely the other parties, the media, etc. treat it like one so i guess we’ve got to play

    Agreed 100% about the strategy with Ginsberg. I love her to death, but there’s no way she’s gonna hang in until 2016. I’m starting to wonder if we could possibly lose Kennedy too. They’re going to have to drag Scalia out.

    I’ve said here many times that we need an obama presidency just to maintain the court status quo.

  78. MJ says:

    Colorado Governor Hickenlooper is calling a special session of the legislature to deal with civil unions after rethugs talked it to death last night – http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20582571/fallout-legislative-implosion-over-colorado-civil-union-bill

  79. Geezer says:

    Hey, good on Obama. I’m not going to say “it’s about time.” It took some political courage to do this, as it might cost him with the black Christian vote. It might not make any practical difference — as he pointed out, it’s not in his hands — but this is the sort of statement of principle that people on the left are yearning for.

    Again, good on him. And don’t worry, nemski, the missus takes care of the donations.

  80. heragain says:

    When Clinton was elected I was at the gay rights march and I just CRINGED. That’s when we wound up with DADT. Stupid thing to blow his political capital on (that and Hilary trying to reform healthcare)… just brought the whole presidency to a damn halt.

    But no amount of Obama’s appeasement of the lunatic right has gotten us near where I thought we’d be now. The D coalition is shaky… and NC’s vote showed that. I don’t think he can get this spavined horse across the finish line unless he just becomes the BOSS of this circus. Not Egghead in Chief, not the Great Concilliator, just the BOSS. The Commander in Chief. If Obama is willing to risk that, the Dems (including myself) will march into the fire with him, not because he’s the alternative to Muddy Middle Romney, but because that’s what gets us. We love a good fight on the edge every bit as much as those Onward Christian Soldier types.

    We’ll see.

  81. puck says:

    I know Obama is smarter than me so I am racking my brains trying to figure out how this will help him. But all I can come up with is that it is the right thing to do. That can’t possibly be the right answer.

    On the one hand, it will paint Romney into a social conservative corner. On the other hand, voters kind of like that particular corner when it comes to gay marriage, especially in certain important states.

    Or maybe Obama found it was more harmful to keep on waffling on the issue.

    Yes, it literally can cost the election. I suspect when the story comes out one day, it will turn out to be based on bad political advice from inside the bubble.

  82. socialistic ben says:

    Where are these masses of homophobic blacks you all keep talking about? Im quite sure that many Christians who are also black have bigoted tendencies, that’s what a lot of religious people do, but do you think it is a single issue for them? IS Obama’s position on the matter more important than income inequality? I think he’ll lose as many black voter with this as he will gain gay republicans.

  83. Idealist says:

    I think this move is aimed at the youth vote, which overwhelmingly supports sanity and equality. Remember, 2008 saw the second highest turnout of 18-29 year olds, and 66% of them voted for Obama. Team Obana realizes they need to excite the “kids” again, or else they could be in trouble. President Obama siding with “us” on what is a very generational issue is one way to remind us why we voted for him in the first place.

  84. Rustydils says:

    Puck, obama is just trying to change the subject. In real estate sales, everone knows it is all about the 3 ls, location, location, location. This election is going to be about the economy, the economy, the economy. Obama is desperately trying to change the subject and leed everyone on a wild goose chase. But his tactic is not going to work, because this time, his record is out there for all to see.

  85. puck says:

    Rusty might have a point about the economy. When Obama makes the Bush tax cuts permanent we can say “But… but… Lily Ledbetter, AND endorses gay marriage!”

  86. kavips says:

    The only reason people are not bowing down and worshiping the ground Obama walks on, is because they don’t know the facts.

    As the election cycle uncovers the real facts, the Republicans will look worse and worse and worse…

    Example: Obama grew more jobs than Bush did his entire term, after only one month in office. Fact.

    TARP did work at growing jobs. As soon as it was implemented the downward trend turned around.

    The Bush Tax Cuts, when re-enacted in 2010, are the job killer that caused the slow growth. The Tea Party policies that began in 2011, Every chart show it. Growth, growth, growth… tax cut… drop, drop, drop, TARP… growth, growth, growth..

    The debt ceiling crises cause solely by the Tea Party Republicans caused a drop in confidence. It slowed growth by two years. As it became obvious that the House of Representatives was unstable and for lack of a better word, run by crazy fools, it became obvious that now was not a good time to invest ones money.

    Corporate profits ARE HIGHER TODAY THAN THEY WERE IN 2006!!!!!!!!! There is therefore tons of money to invest and grow the economy. There is more money available now than during the Clinton Boom. There is more money available now than during the Reagan Boom. There never, never, never, never in our lifetimes, has been this amount of corporate money available to invest in our economy. Obama did his part. He oversaw the most rapid corporate turnaround in our history, and probably the history of the world. The main problem with today’s levels of employment, is that corporation’s tax rates are sooooooooo low, and they are making soooooooooo much, so why would they want to invest in an expansion whose rates will be so low it is actually going to COST them money, when you can just sit back and report record record profits? Obviously the answer is to tax them highly, but not tax the part that is put towards expansion. How easy is that?

    As the private sector has grown jobs.. the Tea Party has cut government jobs. Check the charts; all the job losses lately has come from government. The economy is being damaged by these Republicans.. Every chart shows it..

    Republicans can say Obama is bad for the economy. They can also say that polar bear shit is white. But in both cases they can never offer evidence that their words ring true… BECAUSE THERE ISN’T ANY!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ALL EVIDENCE POINTS TO DEMOCRATS AS BEING THE ONES DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT FOR THE ECONOMY AND REPUBLICANS BEING THE ONLY REASON IT IS NOT WORKING.

    If and when you find a Republican willing to put his finger up the ass of a polar bear, dug out some shit and bring it back in a Janvier ring box to show off, then, and only then will I believe polar bear shit is white…(or taxes are too high they cost jobs.)

    Until they show proof, they are talking out their ass… That is why as the information comes out through this election, and it will, Americans will not only see that Democrat policies really do make the economy work better, but they will also see just how harmful Republican policies have damaged our recovery (every chart show it) and they will also learn, since these charts are available in real time, that throughout the entire time Republicans were arguing polar bear shit was white, they already knew it was brown… They lied.

    Rusty just doesn’t know. He’s repeating what he gets told so, be nice, don’t blame him. But those telling Rusty about the polar bears, know exactly what they are doing. I just hope for his sake, when Rusty goes to find out for himself, his polar bear is sleeping soundly.

  87. Valentine says:

    It would be great if people actually voted based on the facts, but most don’t.

  88. puck says:

    “The Bush Tax Cuts, when re-enacted in 2010, are the job killer that caused the slow growth. ”

    Thank you, kavips for noting this. Those tax cuts were also job-killers in 2001 but the effects were masked by the stimulatory real estate bubble. The rich can have their damn Bush 36% personal tax rate; it’s the radical changes to investment taxes that super-charted the vulture capitalists and fundamentally changed business behavior away from hiring and investment, and now they need to go back to 1997 rates.

  89. kavips says:

    Valentine, it is so hard to get facts; it takes so long a time. Which is why most of us pay for information: here is my $3.00 give me a News Journal. here is my online fee, get me past the paywall.

    But once there, we are not getting facts for our money. We are getting “someone’s” opinion.

    Try this exercise: as you read through a paper, (and it has to be print because the mind can’t go back and analyze if it is electronic), count the number of “opinions” in the news story. Usually they are prefaced by the word “thinks”. Such as Romney thinks low taxes spur the economy. Obama thinks green energy will create jobs for the future.

    Fact is: taxes that are not high enough to bring money from the top to the bottom, dry up the economy from the bottom up. When the bottom runs out of money, their recession trickles up… Fact is, if you build solar and wind farms, it will require people to assemble and put the pieces together.

    If we got all the facts, we could make informed decisions. When we get skewed data, we somehow find ourselves making skewed choices.

  90. kavips says:

    Recessions always follow tax cuts. The Great Depression was caused by the no tax era in the Twenties. The Reagan recession, the one that we got out of by deficit spending in the finest Keynesian fashion, was caused by tax cuts. Tax cuts caused the recession of 91. The Bush tax cuts as Puck notes above, damage the economy and were responsible for both the Republican Recession and negative job growth over Bush’s 8 years.

    The converse, that of raising taxes, led to the booms of WWII when taxes were almost 100%.. Putting a lance into the pus Republicans tout when they say high taxes cost jobs. Because when taxes were 100% we had full employment, actually negative employment because many had to work two jobs. Bill Clinton raised taxes and the economy took off; the stock market ran from $3000 to $12000. People love it when taxes are high. They may grumble but their actions show differently. That makes no sense.

    but it does. If you are getting taxed on profits you make, which makes more sense to you? To report super high profits and give them all to the government? Or… expand your business, pay for that expansion, and say, see, we didn’t make money this year. Most likely you opt to invest in your own business because at least that way, the money you made stays in your hands, and not the Federal government.

    It is like if you got to deduct from your tax bill, any amount you spent on your roof that year.. which would you choose?

    Higher taxes make jobs jump out of nowhere. Low taxes create high profits, which mean there is an incentive not to expand, not invest in one’s people or ones physical capital…

    So, yes Valentine, there is a Santa Claus and it is higher tax rates for corporations.

  91. puck says:

    “The Reagan recession, the one that we got out of by deficit spending in the finest Keynesian fashion, was caused by tax cuts. ”

    My understanding was that the Reagan recession was caused by punishing interest rates designed to wring inflation out of the system at a horrible human cost – marriages broken, homes lost, careers ended, college plans cancelled, entire industries destroyed, etc.

    The Reagan tax cuts were steep, but started from taxes that were too high. The Bush tax cuts however started from taxes that were just right if not a little low, so therefore they were more damaging than the Reagan cuts. Plus the Bush cuts featured a jaw-dropping cut on dividend taxes from 39% to 15%.

  92. Valentine says:

    Where did I say anything about there not being a Santa Claus??? All I said is most people don’t vote based on facts. If they did, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

  93. anon says:

    Coons stands up for marriage equality, Carney opposes it. Disappointing John.