With all this debate about whether Obama is pandering and/or capitulating to the religious right, it's useful to note that Obama this week announced his opposition to Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that would overturn the recent court ruling there legalizing gay marriage. In a letter to California LGBT activists, Obama wrote:
As the Democratic nominee for President, I am proud to join with and support the LGBT community in an effort to set our nation on a course that recognizes LGBT Americans with full equality under the law. That is why I support extending fully equal rights and benefits to same sex couples under both state and federal law. That is why I support repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, and the passage of laws to protect LGBT Americans from hate crimes and employment discrimination. And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states.
Granted, Obama is still on the record as anti-gay marriage, but pro-civil unions with equal rights. We know that's sorta bunk, because civil unions don't grant the same rights as marriage. But publicly opposing Proposition 8 is the right move.
Hat tip: Andrew.
--Dana Goldstein
