In a release Wednesday, the White House said, U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker’s ruling Wednesday–which struck down California’s marriage amendment – is still being discussed and analyzed.

Of all the reactions, the White House response appears to be drawing fire from supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage.

“The president has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8, because it is divisive and discriminatory.  He will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans.”

Obama, who campaigned as a supporter for marriage, has tried to walk a fine line with a key segment of his donor base, which is actively trying to redefine marriage – all while trying not to draw the ire of most Americans.

MSNBC’s Savannah Guthrie and Chuck Todd, co-hosts of “The Daily Rundown,” took White House senior adviser David Axelrod to task Wednesday concerning President Obama’s duplicitous stand on same-sex marriage:

SG:  “I think the American public could be forgiven if they are a little confused about where the president stands on all of this. He has said he opposes same-sex marriage. He has said during the campaign that he didn’t mind what California voters were trying to ban (same-sex marriage).

SG:   “Yesterday, though, the White House comes out and says, “Well, the president has spoken out on Prop 8 in the past. He said he would work to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, but the Justice Department, since he’s been president, has actually litigated on behalf of that law…so, let’s just forget all of that in the past and ask you, where does the president stand today? Does he still oppose same-sex marriage?”

DA:  “Well, let me correct something…the president opposed Proposition 8 at the time.  He felt that it was divisive. He felt that it was mean-spirited….We reiterated that position yesterday.  The president does oppose same-sex marriage, but he supports equality for gay and lesbian couples… and benefits… and other issues and that has been effectuated in federal agencies under his control. He supports civil unions and that has been his position throughout… and, nothing has changed.”
SG:   “I am looking at an interview here that Jake Tapper (ABC) did in June 2008, where Tapper asks him, ‘Does it bother you what California is doing?’ and the president responds, ‘No.’”

DA:    “Well, Savannah, I am at a loss here, because I am sitting on the set here; but, I am happy to ship you all the statements that the president made on Proposition 8. You are working off of incomplete information there.”

CT:   “Well, David, let’s clear this up this way.  Does the president support states trying to go their own way on same-sex marriage? Do you think it is appropriate for a state to ban it? And, appropriate for other states to say it’s okay?”

DA:  “He does believe that marriage is an issue for the states…and he did oppose Proposition 8, so that’s been his position.”

Gay activists are equally perturbed with the president’s unclear stance.

Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry told Politico, the president’s “position on Prop 8 has always been clear. What has not been clear is how he squares his position for equality with his refusal to embrace actual equality in marriage. That is unclear, increasingly unclear, and there’s no good reason to explain it. That’s an unsatisfying position that does nothing but frustrate those of us who look to him as the champion he promised to be.”

Despite Obama’s vacillation on the issue, Bruce Hausknecht, CitizenLink judicial analyst, said that most Americans realize this case is not just about California –it’s about all 50 states, because the Constitution is the “supreme law of the land” and trumps conflicting state law.

If affirmed by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, Hausknecht said that Walker’s decision would be the Roe v. Wade of marriage –forever enshrining a new right to same-sex marriage into the Constitution, and completely taking the issue out of the democratic process.

“What Roe did for the culture wars,” he said, “Perry will do even more so, since marriage touches everyone at some point.”

If the “confirmation wars” over judges are an outgrowth of Roe, which legislated social policy from the bench, this decision will only reinforce the notion that judges are all-important, and must be supported/opposed at all costs. Things will only deteriorate further in the Senate as nominees are considered.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Listen to White House senior advisor David Axelrod on the ruling

Print