Obama to MTV: I won't be pushing gay marriage in second term

[evewithanapple]

One day after endorsing gay marriage proposals in Washington and Maine, President Obama told MTV viewers Friday that he would not be pushing gay marriage in his second term, ABC News reported.

According to Obama, "it would be up to future generations of Americans to implement meaningful reform," ABC added.

"First of all, I've been very clear about my

Comments

[psychicherz]

Well, right up until he came out in favor of personally supporting marriage equality, he was still "evolving" (i.e. stalling till it was politically feasible to support it). I'm sure he's aware that right now with half the country upset about him winning is not the ideal time to suggest he'd want to do more.

I do think ordering DOMA not to be defended, asking immigration to consider longterm same-sex couples as though they were married, etc show a desire to change how same-sex couples are treated by the FEDERAL govt, not just state-by-state. But I think he plays the long game, and knows that pushing right now is more likely to cause a backlash than actually change anything.

If the Dems take back the house in 2014, I think we'll be hearing a very different tune from him. He knows how history will judge this issue.

[tabaqui]

I think you're right. Right now, if he suggested giving everyone a house and a new car, and here's a billion tons of gold to pay for it, the GOP would have a fit, so....

Yeah.

[vvalkyri]

Well stated.

[bushy_brow]

Yeah, exactly. I never expected him to "push" gay marriage, and lbr, there's nothing he could do about it anyway, other than submit a legislative proposal. Which, of course, would only make Tea Partiers dig in their heels even WORSE, and then he could forget about getting ANYTHING ELSE done. So, meh. Not surprised or even disappointed, really.

[moonshaz]

Yes, this.

[shhh_its_s3cr3t]

This is me too. He's being realistic. Its an incredibly important social right - it really is for everyone. However to make it so that NOTHING else has a chance of getting done is a recipe for disaster. I don't like it but gotta keep it real.