How is supporting marriage equality seen as an election winning strategy?

[vaberella]

I seriously had to wonder.

I go on my FB and post how proud I am of my President. One of my friends says this,

Still, it was ever so nice of him to keep his support under wraps his entire presidency until this highly opportune moment before election time. I get it and it's good that the president supports gay marriage, but that's a bit of a let down from someone who promised change and turned out to be just like everyone else - promising wildly before elections and then flip-flopping or not following through on most of it.

And I was just blown away by the statement. I of course go into the many ways that Obama has supported marriage equality in the past through the decision not to fight section 3 in the courts. The changes in medicaid for gay couples and the changes for military gay families. But for someone to think this is a ploy to win votes boggles my mind. If the House of Representatives is an example...this nation is a bit close minded as a whole. If he said this, this is not due to any pressure but a personal decision he's made. I'm glad he's said I felt he always believed. Political risk or not. This is about the right's of all American people, this is about human rights.

[MarianJack]

1. Well Said!

K&R!

PEACE!

[Lionessa]

2. Not votes, campaign contributions.

Which by all accounts worked nicely for him.

[vaberella]

3. What does it matter if you lose the election? n/t

[Lionessa]

4. Aren't you paying attention, it doesn't matter what a pol says

or even does, all that matters is whose warchest is bigger, that will be the President.

Or at least that is the way everyone seems to behave, and Obama seems no different now that he has his superPAK and whatnot. I guess he figures that he still gets to point out to those bigots that might be too offended to vote for him, he can always remind them that even though he's seen the light, depending on the state, they are still free to monger hate.

[vaberella]

8. I've been paying attention and I don't agree with you. n/t

[ProSense]

5. He did it.

He did the right thing that so many challenged him to do, claimed he was too coward to do or insisted he was too politically opportunistic to do. He did it. Challenge met. Cowardly claims dashed. Opportunistic meme unraveled.

Transformational
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002666422

[jaysunb]

10. + 1 n/t

[JI7]

13. while Romney did nothing to defend a guy working for him who was gay, or how he stood by when that

woman accused Obama of treason .

[agentS]

6. It'll win some votes- not a big number but some.

Some independents who are gay or gay-friendly will remember this- assuming they forgot about the whole DADT repeal already.
Some gays who were angry at the admin for some reason or another will likely change their mind and might vote for him.

the Firebaggers will hate the president and love Grover Norquest so it won't matter. They probably think RMoney is better anyway.
Same goes for the libertarians- even those that think government shouldn't be in the bedroom- they won't change their vote because they'll hate him for some other reason.

Some Democratic party-leaning youth may be more motivated to vote now if they weren't before (re: student loan interest rates).
But he won't get any votes from social conservatives- unless they're motivated by hating Mormons more or have a gay kid, or pure economics.

I'm guessing a lean positive vote.

[Gore1FL]

7. It makes Rmoney take another step to the right to appease a base that doesn't support him

at the expense of moderates.

More people support rights than don't.

I don't know if this is an "opportune" moment, but I can see how this position can be a positive one politically.

[jberryhill]

11. I believe you are correct

And Romney delivered today.

IMHO, the vast independent voter position on same sex marriage is "who cares?" and Romney's reflexive need to rush to condemn Obama's statement hurts Romney with them more than it hurts Obama among people who largely weren't going to vote for Obama anyway.

[patrice]

9. I think many of us would benefit from a more detailed discussion of precisly HOW some things

are supposed to be accomplished, stepwise, including likely consequences and their likely effects upon possible subsequent steps.

Presidents are not kings.

It's more than just a little obvious that if he simply says something about anything it will be characterized unfairly and, thus, could very well damage an issue, with increasing obstructionism. This makes WHEN, and under what conditions, he says whatever he says extremely important.

[jaysunb]

15. Strategic politics...

practiced w/ patience and focus.

Many, have real lessons to learn about diverse democracy.

[patrice]

18. It's the only way through ir-rational bullshit programmed by media.

Honestly, I'm beginning to wonder if the grammatical logic of our language has been destroyed by media and poor education that doesn't deliver rational foundations. People don't seem to be able to recognize fallacies when they hear/see them, especially those associated with emotional messages. Emotions are good, but when they carry an illogical meme, people should be ABLE to identify that.

There's this sense that strategy is evil, because it appears more important than people, but in a world of chaos the discipline of "patience and focus", as you may know, make a vital difference.

[jaysunb]

20. +1

[vaberella]

26. I've been saying so for years. n/t

[JI7]

12. Obama appears Stronger in terms of Character, while Romney appears Weak, loser etc

it's not really about whether one supports/opposes same sex marriage as it is about how the 2 appear.

Obama did something where regardless of your position on this issue he still appears stronger.

while Romney not defending the guy who was working for him and allowing him to be pushed out appears weak. even the guy who was pushing for Romney to get rid of that guy just because he is gay had a negative view of Romney.

[Nye Bevan]

14. It's better to do the right thing

than to try to pander to homophobic bigots in the hope that they will vote for you.

[Zoeisright]

16. Because it's the right and moral thing to do??

You know, something that leaders are supposed to do?? If that were my friend, he'd be gone from my Facebook page.

[vaberella]

22. It's a she. She's about 5 years younger than me too.

And don't worry that's crossed my mind. I decided to have her school herself.

[Bonobo]

17. Shoring up support.

Those that will not vote for Obama due to his ahem, "evolved" position, would not have voted for him anyway.

However those who traditionally would support a Dem but who have weak support for Obama due to his weak support for them will be "shored up" by this move.

Am I really to believe that he has been "wrestling with the issue" up until now?

Come on.... puhleeze.

[vaberella]

27. I agree.

I personally think it was a political move. I didn't appreciate it. But I took it and accepted it. I mainly saw it as a political move because from what I could see the man has done much for the LGBT community. From hiring the most than any other president. He pushed to repeal DADT, medicaid to same sex couples, Matthew Sheperd and the list goes on. Not to mention the church he was part of in Chicago, while many people may have criticized the pastor--had single nights for same sex couples. That church and pastor went above and beyond normal pastor's I've ever known to create a safe haven for people of the LGBT community. With that in hand and his actions in office...the entire thing to me was toeing the line politically until he can build the leverage he needs. And with the tide turning against the Republicans this term and a good bloody chance of Dems taking back the House and keeping the Senate; I think he's doing what he can. But then again...you know his position of "growth" could have been sincere---I'm not to sure.

I think he's got the key word he's been looking for. He's getting rid of the word gay marriage as though it's distinct and foreign and saying marriage equality and that is a better direction. Because then he can say something along the lines of, "I love my wife Michelle. And because of that love I married her. I wouldn't want to deny anyone that expression of their love and devotion for one another." And of story.

[99Forever]

19. I couldn't care less if...

..."supporting marriage equality seen as an election winning strategy." It was the right thing to do. Some things are more important than political expediency, as hard as that may be for some to hear. Treating our fellow human beings like human beings with dignity, isn't a political strategy, it's the only decent way to live. Quite frankly, I think it also happens to be a very good idea for his campaign.

And btw, I'm hetero.

[vaberella]

23. I agree with you.

I am really surprised she tends to think this way in actuality. I've heard her say off things before. But to her...this is about political gain and nothing more. When I think this is far from being political gain. Looking at things simply says, it is just the right thing to do. But I've spoken to many Americans who don't think like that. They don't even care about their fellow American. When I said Obama should be praised for saving Ford. Another friend's grandmother said to me that he should let it go down. And I'm like aside from the historical importance of Ford for the American culture, what about the millions more of Americans out of work---her response, "That's their problem." <---She's from Georgia. I had to sit there and go WTF- what values do we really have an Americans. When seeing these people I wonder.

[99Forever]

34. The "conservative" mindset..

.. is wholly base on "I've got mine, screw everyone else." Selfish greed is their god. People such as that get exactly much compassion from me as they give to others. Their day is coming.

[fujiyama]

21. People are fucking clueless

and don't understand politics in the least.

This was a bold move on the President's part. Coming out and backing something that still isn't particularly popular (but morally right) is political courage. Your friend may want to know that gays don't exactly make up a big part of the national electorate - or that of historically right leaning swing states like NC, VA, FL, and OH...

[Bonobo]

24. You believe that there are people who were going to vote for Obama who now won't???

You believe there are homophobic people that were going to vote for Obama when he was only marginally pro-gay rights who now will NOT vote for Obama because he has grudgingly conceded that gays have the right to marry?

I would love to know who these people are if they exist.

On the contrary, there are scores and scores of people here on DU who are strong supporters of full equality for gays including the right to marry who were only willing to hold their noses and vote for Obama but now will give their full, enthusiastic support.

Indeed, people are clueless but maybe not the ones you think.

[treestar]

36. Well according to the FB poster, he only did it to get their vote

And for that reason, I guess, they shouldn't do it.

[vaberella]

25. I explained that to her. She has remained mum. n/t

[badtoworse]

28. Sorry for being cynical

I don't believe he would have said anything if Biden hadn't created such a controversy.

[cali]

29. I don't believe that was an accident.

[badtoworse]

31. Explain then.

[randome]

30. Biden and Obama work very closely together.

Biden's statement was not unplanned. Since NC was going to pass their stupid amendment by a large margin anyways, it did nothing to have the President 'come out' before the vote.

[lunatica]

33. Really?

I don't think Biden created any controversy. Whatever uproar happened would have been gone and forgotten within days. Biden is supposedly famous for so-called 'gaffes' and this would have been dismissed as just one more gaffe, if even that.

[justiceischeap]

32. Obama once asked that the LGBTQ community hold his feet to the fire

because, basically, he didn't want to take the mantle on this particular fight. That said, it's great that he voiced his support--which I believe he's supported all along and played the same game all Dem president's have up until now... going so far with statements/support to keep the favor of conservatives and the LGBTQ community. Well, the LGBTQ community (and our allies) decided to no longer allow this pandering. When big dollar gay donors started withholding donations, suddenly his opinion was "evolving." We held his feet to the fire until he had fully evolved and, frankly, IMO, he hasn't fully evolved on the issue. He's a step closer but until he says he believes in marriage equality without tacking on the "states rights" bit, then he'll have fully evolved.

So, to answer the original question, is it a winning strategy? Not in the purest sense but it does certainly help with feet on the ground and monetary support. Plus, 49% of Americans say they support equality. Finally, I'd just like to point out that a lot of the things Pres. Obama has done for the LGBTQ community is great but temporary. The first Repub president will strip away the majority of the progress Obama has made in this area.

[treestar]

35. The main reason it is illogical is that Obama then would have done it in 2008

And if it's an "election winner" then why isn't this person jumping for joy? If we are talking about the Presidency, the only actual national office, then that means the country has come that far, as a nation, as to accept it, so even if that is the purpose, the person should be very happy.

[Iggo]

37. If it helps him win, then that's two good things.