Updated 5:20 p.m. EST with additional videos from the ABC News interview
As hoped, President Obama, during a last-minute interview with ABC News' Robin Roberts, has announced that he has evolved to support marriage equality. The historic details, after the jump.
In a move sure to galvanize young voters and stimulate his progressive base, President Obama has made history by coming out in support of same-sex marriage.
"I've been going through an evolution on this issue. I've always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equal. I've stood on the side of broader equality for the LGBT community. I hesitated on gay marriage in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient. I was sensitive to the fact that for a lot of people the word marriage was something that evokes very powerful traditions, religious beliefs. I have to tell you that over the course of several years, as I talk to friends, family, neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff ... I've concluded that for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."
ABC News takes it further:
The president stressed that this is a personal position, and that he still supports the concept of states deciding the issue on their own. But he said he’s confident that more Americans will grow comfortable with gays and lesbians getting married, citing his own daughters’ comfort with the concept.
“It’s interesting, some of this is also generational,” the president continued. “You know when I go to college campuses, sometimes I talk to college Republicans who think that I have terrible policies on the economy, on foreign policy, but are very clear that when it comes to same sex equality or, you know, sexual orientation that they believe in equality. They are much more comfortable with it. You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them and frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”
Roberts asked the president if First Lady Michelle Obama was involved in this decision. Obama said she was, and he talked specifically about his own faith in responding.
“This is something that, you know, we’ve talked about over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way, she feels the same way that I do. And that is that, in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people and, you know, I, you know, we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated. And I think that’s what we try to impart to our kids and that’s what motivates me as president and I figure the most consistent I can be in being true to those precepts, the better I’ll be as a as a dad and a husband and hopefully the better I’ll be as president.”
ABC News has released additional video from its landmark interview with President Obama:
Risky move and i hope it pays off for the greatest president yet
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... written by wally,
May 09, 2012
booya!!!!! way to go obama!!!!!!!!!!
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... written by DIck Z,
May 09, 2012
Now we must fight for him 100%!!
+1
... written by Aaron F,
May 09, 2012
It may have taken him longer than I wanted it to, but I understand it is politics. And they had to calculate the time to do it just right. And now, it's on! We got your back, Obama. Thanks for having ours!
+1
... written by Peter B,
May 09, 2012
He IS THE MAN!
+1
... written by Ly0ns,
May 09, 2012
He says personally he thinks it should be legal but that it should still be up to states decide nothing has changed. Until the federal Govt. makes same sex legal and the states that have banned it are told it's unconstitutional to ban same sex nothing will change. Gay people will still be unable to marry just have more people that think it's ok but should be voted on.
+1
... written by Uptonking,
May 09, 2012
Wow. Tearing up, here. Never thought I would see the day. And so well put. The reaction to this will be nothing short of apocolyptic. In a way, it's handing the Republican Party exactly what they wished for. But who cares what the old guard thinks? This is a huge, divisive issue - but now that it's out in the open, let the chips fall where they may. It wasn't like the people who were anti-Obama before were going to vote for him anyway. Just wait until the Pope hears about this!
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... written by Dean H,
May 09, 2012
I've got your back, Obama!
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... written by Joe in South,
May 09, 2012
I thank him and hats off. Great success to him in the election. He has my vote. I also hope enough close minded ppl will awake and vote for him....
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... written by Angelenchi,
May 09, 2012
He is brave man, he is fighting for basic civil rights
+1
... written by RWalcker,
May 09, 2012
As an "out and proud" gay Christian Architect (University of Oregon, class of 1974), I was THRILLED at the president's brave and intelligent decision to supprt SAME SEX MARRIAGE! I shed a few tears! Roger Walcker (and yes, my last name IS spelled queerly!)
