The Washington Times is reporting that the president made his announcement yesterday during an interview with ABC's Robin Roberts.
“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,” the president said, claiming that his opinion has "evolved" over the years.
Mr. Obama also said that he still supports the concept of states deciding the issue, a stance that would leave intact the 32 state-approved constitutional amendments defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, but only if this position doesn't also "evolve" into opposition sometime in the future.
Mr. Obama is now the first U.S. president in history to back same-sex marriage.
Surprisingly, not all homosexual groups were impressed, such as the homosexual Republican group known as Log Cabin Republicans.
“Log Cabin Republicans appreciate that President Obama has finally come in line with leaders like Vice President Dick Cheney on this issue,” the group’s executive director, R. Clarke Cooper, said in a statement. “This administration has manipulated [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered] families for political gain as much as anybody, and after his campaign’s ridiculous contortions to deny support for marriage equality this week he does not deserve praise for an announcement that comes a day late and a dollar short.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops, also expressed his disappointment, calling the president's reversal "deeply saddening."
"As I stated in my public letter to the President on September 20, 2011, the Catholic Bishops stand ready to affirm every positive measure taken by the President and the Administration to strengthen marriage and the family," he said in a statement.
"However, we cannot be silent in the face of words or actions that would undermine the institution of marriage, the very cornerstone of our society. The people of this country, especially our children, deserve better. Unfortunately, President Obama’s words today are not surprising since they follow upon various actions already taken by his Administration that erode or ignore the unique meaning of marriage. I pray for the President every day, and will continue to pray that he and his Administration act justly to uphold and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman. May we all work to promote and protect marriage and by so doing serve the true good of all persons."
Family Research Council president Tony Perkins was equally disturbed by the president's flip-flop.
"The President's announcement today that he supports legalizing same-sex marriage finally brings his words in sync with his actions. From opposing state marriage amendments to refusing to defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DoMA) to giving taxpayer funded marriage benefits to same-sex couples, the President has undermined the spirit if not the letter of the law.
"Considering that ten of the sixteen battleground states have marriage amendments that could be overturned by the President's new policy position on marriage, today's announcement almost ensures that marriage will again be a major issue in the presidential election."
Just hours after president's announcement, the U.S. House voted 245-171 on a measure to stop the Justice Department from using taxpayer funds to actively oppose the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a federal law which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. President Obama instructed his justice department to stop defending the law because he considered it to be unjust.
"It is not President Obama’s prerogative to decide which laws matter and which do not, nor his right to challenge constitutional amendments duly passed by the various states,” said the measure’s sponsor, Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), according to Politico. “The Justice Department is duty-bound to enforce DOMA and to not do so is a flagrant disregard for the Constitution and for the rule of law.”
Political pundits are still debating the political fallout from the move, with many noting a few polls that show support for same-sex marriage is increasing. However, thus far, every state where the matter has been take up by voters has resulted in a ban on same-sex marriages.
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