This NYT article doesn’t really break any new ground; it doesn’t even appear to have requested new quotes from the candidates on the topic. It says (again) that both McCain and Obama oppose same-sex marriage. It also says that both oppose a federal constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage, and that Obama has consistently opposed state-level measures like CA’s Prop 8 that would bar same-sex marriage.
But this bit struck me:
As a Christian – he is a member of the United Church of Christ – Mr. Obama believes that marriage is a sacred union, a blessing from God, and one that is intended for a man and a woman exclusively, according to these supporters and Obama campaign advisers.
Yet, unless I’ve got things hopelessly confused, the United Church of Christ has taken a different view. From 2005:
General Synod overwhelmingly calls for “full marriage equality”
July 4, 2005
General Synod 25 overwhelmingly passed a resolution in support of equal marriage rights for all people, regardless of gender. It marks the first time that one of the nation’s mainline churches has expressed support of marriages for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons.
Delegates wrestled with the resolution for about an hour before casting a decisive vote in favor of the resolution that was refined and recommended late Sunday by a 54-member Synod committee. The document was altered by only one amendment, which delegates readily accepted, that expressed a spirit of concern for those who must deal with the resolution’s impact in the months ahead….
The marriage equality resolution (1) affirms equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender and declares that the government should not interfere with couples regardless of gender who choose to marry and share fully in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of legally recognized marriage; (2)affirms equal access to the basic rights, institutional protections and quality of life conferred by the recognition of marriage, (3) calls for an end to rhetoric that fuels hostility, misunderstanding, fear and hatred expressed toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, (4) asks officers of the church to communicate the resolution to local, state and national legislators, urging them to support equal marriage rights, (5) calls upon all settings of the church to engage in serious, respectful and prayerful discussion of the covenantal relationship of marriage and equal marriage rights, (6) calls upon congregations, after prayerful, biblical, theological, and historical study, to consider adopting Wedding Policies that do not discriminate against couples based on gender, and (7) urges congregations and individuals of the UCC to prayerfully consider and support local, state and national legislation to grant equal marriage rights to couples regardless of gender, and to work against legislation, including constitutional amendments, which denies rights to couples based on gender.
The actual resolution is here (pdf).
So it’s not the UCC — Obama’s denomination — that is setting up opposition to marriage equality. Quite the contrary: Obama’s denomination appears to advocate strongly for marriage equality. Maybe Rev. Wright didn’t … but Rev. Wright’s not in Obama’s life any more.
Seriously, what’s the holdup? If he wins, let’s ask him again on Nov. 5.
the marriage equality movement may well be over for another generation. if we lose in california, we lose nationally. 30 states will have passed anti-gay amendments. thanks brother barack, our first black pro-jim crow president.
From the beginning Obama conflicted with his own church’s view on SSM. Obama said something that I remember from a very early interview about this and I am paraphrasing, so if anyone can find the quote, please post it. Obama said to the like of, I am a Christian and that allows me to be able to say that I am probably wrong on this issue but I feel marriage is a sacred union.
<
p>Again, not unlike Hillary who backpaddled on SSM (Hillary believes in “full equality of benefits”), Obama uses his religion (not his church which is more progressive than he) to cop out politically.
<
p>This election is bitter sweet for the LGBT community. I the GOP fails, that’s good, but we still are not respected as equal Americans nor equal human beings in any case.
Keep in mind that the United Church of Christ always affirms and respects liberty of conscience. Obama is hardly alone in not having caught up with the UCC on this issue. The local UCC churches that actually perform same-sex weddings are in the minority. My own church does not perform such weddings as it is the will of my congregation, at least for now, to not do so.
<
p>I believe Obama opposes DOMA and a constitutional amendment to ban SSM at the federal level. I agree he should denounce the use of his image and words in this campaign and maybe after the election we can get him to move on this issue.
Obama is walking the tightrope — I can’t honestly say I blame him, although I am frustrated by his weak explanation for it. Anybody want to guess exactly how many Californians would be swayed by his coming down forcefully on one side or the other? I’ll guess not many, although I’d be happy to hear anyone else’s views.
<
p>We’re still seeing a lot of racism in this election — for a lot of Americans it will be many years before they recognize that homophobia is the same thing.
<
p> – Dan
this is a moment in history when playing anti-gay politics will have a negative outcome on a whole generation of people. this is not an exaggeration. obama is no fool – he knows this. but he seems to be the kerry sort – professionally goodness and light, personally a bigot. i have said all along that if the dem candidates staked out a clear position of uncompromising fairness, like deval did, it wouldn’t hurt them because voters respect principled resolve even if they disagree with the details, and especially when the subject doesn’t personally affect them.
<
p>yes, i think that obama could make a huge difference with his ardent supporters in AZ, FL and CA (states with pending anti-gay amendments). there is so much deliberate misinformation being spread by the haters, that people are truly confused and don’t know who to believe. i know this because i speak with CA voters daily on the phone bank about this issue. obama supporters would believe him. they often don’t believe me because i’m calling for the “no” side, so obviously have a stake in the outcome. obama has no stake in the outcome, so a brief, strong statement from him would really change votes.
The Yes on Hate people just mailed this out. Obama, by taking his Jim Crow, fudged Christian stance on equality under the law, has perfectly set this up for the haters. Geoff Kors asks below, “We cannot let this go unanswered.” I hope Obama feels the same way. Will he be a mensch and speak up for once? His supporters need to demand it of him.