Obama supports marriage equality:
OBAMA: I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.
I just can’t find it in me to give him any credit for this. He “evolves” for three and a half goddamn years, until gay donors get fed up and start withholding big contributions and even Joe “dump on Anita Hill” Biden can’t hold back a plain statement. Plus it looks set to lose him more votes than he gains if he keeps voting “present.”
I can’t say I’d have more respect for him if he kept waffling because I have zero anyway.
I work for DoD. As DADT Repeal was being finalized, we had an “All Hands” meeting, outlining the new policies, and looking into the future. This is what SecNav had to say (paraphrased):
Repeal Of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Will Ultimately Legalize Gay Marriage Nationally…
Amongst the issues being discussed in finalizing the repeal policy, is what happens when a legally married gay/lesbian joins the Military, and is stationed in a state that bans gay marriage, or doesn’t recognize it. DoD will must needs recognize the marriage, and provide housing/BHA, TriCare, and Base privileges, etc., and this will, in the end, force the states to recognize gay military marriages (and divorces) if they want the contracts. The states won’t be able to recognize ONLY Military marriages—equal protection—and one by one, the bans will crumble in short order.
That’s how it is going to end. North Carolina voted for the 19th Century… OK. The 21st Century is going to steamroll them, and the rest, in fairly short order.
–mf