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kpete

(72,902 posts) Tue Feb 10, 2015, 11:04 AM Feb 2015

David Axelrod: Obama Was 'Bullshitting' Opposition To Gay Marriage In 2008 [View all]

David Axelrod: Obama Was 'Bullshitting' Opposition To Gay Marriage In 2008

Time magazine reported Tuesday that the longtime Obama confidant said in his new book, "Believer: My Forty Years in Politics," that he counseled then-senator Obama to soften his position on gay marriage for political reasons.

.................

Obama had stated his support for legalizing gay marriage on a 1996 questionnaire while running for the Illinois state Senate. But he said repeatedly on the campaign trail in 2008 that he believed marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Publicly stating opposition to gay marriage took its toll on Obama, who Axelrod wrote "routinely stumbled over the question when it came up in debates or interviews."

"I’m just not very good at bullshitting," Obama told Axelrod after one of those events, as quoted by Time.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/david-axelrod-obama-bullshitting-gay-marriage

67 replies

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David Axelrod: Obama Was 'Bullshitting' Opposition To Gay Marriage In 2008 [View all] kpete Feb 2015 OP

Well that explains Obama inviting Rick Warren to speak at his inauguration. GeorgeGist Feb 2015 #1

Hillary outside Feb 2015 #38

I don't think they lied. They both see that they have to go with the times. cui bono Feb 2015 #51

David Axelrod outside Feb 2015 #58

If he really was lying then he purposely aided in the oppression. cui bono Feb 2015 #62

This is going to cause some cognitive dissonance. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2015 #2

For the record, I've never said that a bout Warren. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #4

I'm convinced she isn't currently running. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2015 #5

Since you are not a Democrat, whether or not she runs is meaningless to you. eom MohRokTah Feb 2015 #6

Hardly. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2015 #8

Well, Elizabeth Warren has emphatically removed herelf from the running. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #9

Oh, and thanks for making this thread about Warren. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #10

Me? I made a single comment, you replied, etc. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2015 #12

Your single comment made the thread about Warren. eom MohRokTah Feb 2015 #13

If it bothers you that much, we can both self-delete the entire set of comments. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2015 #14

Nah, I'll just keep responding to you. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #15

The problem for warren is she actually was a republican JI7 Feb 2015 #17

Was she a Goldwater Girl like Hillary? n/t nichomachus Feb 2015 #61

no. she was about 30 years older JI7 Feb 2015 #66

Jesus. Who's floating that argument about Warren? DirkGently Feb 2015 #37

I thought it was going to cause a problem for people who "believed him" snooper2 Feb 2015 #46

To choose some incredibly arbitrary number Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2015 #49

Missed it by a few minutes MohRokTah Feb 2015 #3

So, basically, nothing that he says is to be taken seriously. djean111 Feb 2015 #7

. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #11

Because that should be the takeaway from an article about gay rights? msanthrope Feb 2015 #16

Bullshitting about his stance on marriage equality is why we are where we are now on the issue. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #18

And he deftly removed a wedge issue for the MCCain/Palin camp to use. nt msanthrope Feb 2015 #19

And he quietly worked behind the scenes to get us where we are today. eom MohRokTah Feb 2015 #20

Quietly? He stirred dustclouds of swirling shit at the Pentagon...nt. msanthrope Feb 2015 #22

Well, that was after he announced how he had "evolved" on the issue. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #23

Well we can agree on that. randys1 Feb 2015 #57

yes. anyone who saw what he said before running for president JI7 Feb 2015 #21

More like: "Nothing he says should be taken at face value" Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #27

This is why I never watch his speeches. Deeds not words. Every time. djean111 Feb 2015 #39

I would hope our president's motivations are more practical than my admiration. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #59

Exactly.... ann--- Feb 2015 #32

Sure you did. eom BlueCaliDem Feb 2015 #35

oh you poor thing wendylaroux Feb 2015 #45

Cool story, bro. eom MohRokTah Feb 2015 #55

Yeah, I knew this. I had some exposure to Obama's ways prior to his candidacy so I knew to listen to Bluenorthwest Feb 2015 #24

Subtelty, negotiation skills, quietly manipulating the political system.... Sheepshank Feb 2015 #36

Yep, those folks are busy congratulating themselves on trite and pedestrian attempts at humor like stevenleser Feb 2015 #65

And halfway through his second term, marriage equality is MineralMan Feb 2015 #25

I think this is an example of how Barack Obama is probably the most skilled politician since FDR. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #28

That could be. It could also be that the time when this country MineralMan Feb 2015 #30

I lost a dear friend, Greg, recently. AfAm man my age who LOVED that we finally had a Black Prez randys1 Feb 2015 #64

No surprise. I've thought that all along. marmar Feb 2015 #26

so, it was like we said bigtree Feb 2015 #29

He did what needed to be done to persuade Democrats who were opposed to equality to favor it. Bluenorthwest Feb 2015 #41

well, there is that bigtree Feb 2015 #50

Better that he was a liar than a bigot. Nye Bevan Feb 2015 #31

No, it isn't ann--- Feb 2015 #33

" Wait till the other shoes drop about this guy." PragmaticLiberal Feb 2015 #42

Either the "Mooslim" thing or the "birth certificate" thing. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #56

I don't think thats what ann meant. PragmaticLiberal Feb 2015 #63

What???!! wendylaroux Feb 2015 #47

I have never had any doubt that President Obama was pro-equal rights in all ways, even gay marriage. BlueCaliDem Feb 2015 #34

Opposing gay marriage was ALWAYS the wrong thing to do, no matter the reason. alarimer Feb 2015 #40

Politicians lie!!???!! Next we'll be told that ducks quack. Tierra_y_Libertad Feb 2015 #43

yeah, right. KG Feb 2015 #44

Like that wasn't already obvious. Vattel Feb 2015 #48

In other words, he purposely aided in the oppression of gays for personal political gain. cui bono Feb 2015 #52

No, he's actually pretty good at bullshitting. TwilightGardener Feb 2015 #53

Not buying it. NCTraveler Feb 2015 #54

I think he's selling himself short nichomachus Feb 2015 #60

Not surprising at all, Obama is the consummate politician. tritsofme Feb 2015 #67