Several months ago Barack Obama came out against Proposition 8 but hasn’t said much in the way since. Until tonight.
On the 10/30/08 edition of NBC’s Nightly News, Brian Williams asked Obama about his approach to picking Supreme Court justices in lieu of a litmus test. Half way through the answer, and unprompted, Obama brings up marriage and the right to privacy.
“The right to marry who you please, isn’t in the constitution. But I think all of us assume, a state decided to pass a law saying Brian, you can’t marry the woman you love, that you would think that was unconstitutional. Well, where does the come from? I think it comes from a right to privacy.”
See the clip below.
Maybe I’m reaching here but I think this a not-so-subtle nod to Prop 8 in California, and the proposed bans in Florida and Arizona.
While I would prefer something more forthright, I’ll take what I can get. What do you think? Am I totally off base here?
November 1st, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I don’t know… I wish it were so, but fear that it isn’t. I wish someone, anyone in our Federal government would come out publicly and state that they are in favor of marriage equality, but we never hear that because apparently it would be a career-breaker. Maybe Gavin Newsom was right - get elected on one agenda and then surprise everyone with a different one. I wasn’t happy about it at the time, but it looks like it worked. We shall see and I’ll be hopeful along with you but don’t think it’s wise to hold our breath…
November 1st, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Clearly, Barack Obama’s point of view is more compatible with marriage equality. But it does not follow that everyone who is committed to privacy is also a supporter of marriage equality.
I suspect that Senator Obama will play it safe. I am also missing Arnold Schwarzenegger in action. He said that he would campaign against Proposition 8.