Pres.Obama on rights of gay couples: 'It is time for the justices to examine this issue.'
Urging the Supreme Court to act on the pair of gay marriage cases it has heard in the past two days, President Barack Obama on Wednesday said that it is “consistent with our Constitution to recognize same-sex couples.”
“I think it is time for the justices to examine this issue,” Obama said in an interview with Telemundo.
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“I certainly believe that those states that have made a decision to recognize these couples as being married, that the federal government has to respect that decision by the states,” he said. “That's traditionally been how it works. States have defined marriage and the federal government has followed the lead of the states.”
“I think not only is it right and fair but also consistent with our Constitution to recognize same-sex couples,” added Obama, a former professor of constitutional law. “It doesn't mean everybody has to agree from a religious standpoint about this issue. It does mean that it is very important for us to remember that we're a nation where everybody is supposed to be equal before the law.”
http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/27/17490783-obama-on-rights-of-gay-couples-it-is-time-for-the-justices-to-examine-this-issue?lite
Obama: Important For SCOTUS To ‘Weigh In’ On Gay Marriage
President Obama said Wednesday that he hopes the Supreme Court weighs the merits of the two gay rights cases argued this week, rather than opting to resolve them based on questions of standing, Politico reported.
"My hope is that the court reaches these issues," Obama said in an interview with Spanish-language network Telemundo. "And, you know, I've known a lot of same-sex couples who are committed, who are raising kids," he continued. "For them to be treated differently -- I think is not fair. And I think an increasing number of Americans agree with that. So I think it is time for the justices to examine this issue.
"I think it was an important issue, I think it was important for the court to weigh in on this issue," Obama said in a separate interview with Univision. "Obviously, public opinion has shifted dramatically just over the last several years. And my hope is we will come to a place where everybody is treated and treated the same."
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/obama-important-for-scotus-to-weigh-in-on
Obama hopes Supreme Court 'reaches' same-sex marriage issues
http://www.politico.com/politico44/2013/03/obama-hopes-supreme-court-reaches-samesex-marriage-160374.html
