OK, so here’s my take on President Obama’s statement yesterday on his new-found support for same-sex marriage, and some other ancillary thoughts on the topic.
First off, if you listened to the show Wednesday, you’ll know that I said something to the effect of “I don’t think the president has anything to gain by supporting same-sex marriage.” I clearly swung the bat so hard, and missed so badly, that I nearly spun myself around at the plate. Who’s the genius? Me, duh.
So…was the president’s statement a reflection of his self-described “evolution” on the issue, or a political move designed to bring in young voters who may be a little “wobbly” on “Hope and Change 2.0”? Yes.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you told me that President Obama privately supported same-sex marriage all along, but was worried about the political cost by being up-front about it. Think back to 2008--if you are an unknown commodity running for the biggest job on the planet against competitors who are perceived have the ability to run circles around you in experience, you aren’t going to do ANYTHING to plant more seeds of uncertainty in the electorate.
After he takes office, Obama repeals “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and tells anyone who will listen. Then, just this week, Vice President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan make statements within 24 hours of each other supporting same-sex marriage. Anyone who thinks that happened without the blessing of the West Wing and Oval Office…I have a bridge I’d like to sell you. It’s called a “trial balloon,” and it was floated perfectly.
As for the political angle, I tipped it earlier. Poll after poll shows young people; call them 18-to 34-year-olds, overwhelmingly support same-sex marriage and don’t get why their parents and grandparents make such a big deal about it. You know who those people supported for president four years ago? Yep. You know who those people may be a little uncertain about, as they graduate from college under the crushing weight of student loan debt into an economy that won’t give them a job? Double yep. President Obama, in the last month, has spoken to issues smack dab in the wheelhouse of those kids whose votes he’ll need.
As for the afore-mentioned ancillary thoughts…
I still don’t get why opponents of same-sex marriage care so darn much. I get that, for some of you, it’s a religious issue. On that, we’ll have to agree to disagree. When run through that prism, I have as much chance of changing your mind on the issue as you will in changing mine. As for the rest of you, I can’t get past the fact that you oppose it because you thinks it’s, well, icky. To that, I offer this: it’s time to start minding your own business. For those who oppose same-sex marriage with so much vigor, how do you square it with the notion that you also want less government in our lives? Oh, wait…the abortion issue is looking for the answer to the same question. If you don’t like same-sex marriage…don’t get one.
