Andrew Sullivan calls on Barack Obama to take an unequivocal stance against Proposition 8, the California initiative designed to overturn the California Supreme Court’s gay marriage decision:
As expected, one reason Proposition 8, stripping gay couples of marriage equality, is still viable in California is because of strong African-American support. Black Californians back the anti-gay measure by a margin of 20 points, 58 – 38, in the SUSA poll. No other ethnic group comes close to the level of opposition and black turnout is likely to be very high next month.
All this makes it vital, in my opinion, that Barack Obama strongly and unequivocally oppose Proposition 8 in California, rather than keeping mainly quiet as he has done so far. We need him to make an ad opposing it. This is a core test of whether gay Americans should back Obama as enthusiastically as they have in the last month. If he does not stand up for gay couples now, why should we believe he will when he is in office? And if black Americans are the critical bloc that helps kill civil rights for gays, that will not help deepen Obama’s governing coalition. It could tear it apart.
Sorry Sully, but I’m pretty certain that you’re going to be disappointed here, and it has nothing to do with that segment of the African-American population in California that is supporting Obama at the same time that they’re intending to vote against Proposition 8. It’s because Obama is too politically smart to take a position that is likely to cost him votes in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Barack Obama has said on more than one occasion that he is opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage, although he does support civil unions. That is as far as he’s ever gone, and as far as he’s likely to go any time soon.
Personally, I’m with Sully and the opponents of Prop. 8 on this one. I voted against Virginia’s Gay Marriage Amendment two years ago, and I’d vote against Prop. 8 if I lived in California today, and urge all Californians to do the same. The fact of the matter, though, is that there is no political consensus for gay marriage at this time. If Barack Obama were to come out emphatically against Prop. 8 and for gay marriage, not only would he be contradicting a position he’s taken since the start of the campaign, but he’s also likely to turn away a significant portion of the working class voters that appear likely to vote for him in crucial battleground states, a move that could cost him the election.
So, no, Barack Obama isn’t going to turn into a crusader for gay marriage in the next 14 days.
October 20th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
If words still mean anything today then Taylor Marshall has an excellent point here on Credo at Culture11.
http://culture11.com/blogs/credo/2008/10/20/gay-marriage-and-the-word-matrimony/
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Hey, here’s a point of clarification for Sully.
That same poll shows Latino support for Prop 8 at 47%-41%; and they make up 23% of California voters whereas Blacks are only 6%.
So Latinos represent 11% of the Prop 8 votes while the 58% of Blacks they bemoan represent only 3.5% of the “YES” votes Prop 8 is getting.
So maybe Solly should get a “We Are The World” chorus of Latino pols with the Congressional Sanchez Sisters, GOV Richardson and LA Mayor Villaraigosa sharing the lead roles to cut an ad against Prop 8. Why the focus on Black Americans or the National Ticket during such an important election when Latinos are where the real votes are and there are plenty local Latino leaders who could/would risk little-to-nothing to call out their base.
October 25th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
VOTE NO on PROP 8
November 11th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
[...] I noted at the time, though, it could have been political suicide in more than one state — North Carolina and [...]