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| Obama to give TV interview on gay marriage as speculation grows | Obama to give TV interview on gay marriage as speculation grows |
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| The sudden announcement that President Barack Obama is to sit down on Wednesday afternoon for a network television interview on same-sex marriage has set off a wave of speculation that he may be about to announce a change of heart on the issue. | The sudden announcement that President Barack Obama is to sit down on Wednesday afternoon for a network television interview on same-sex marriage has set off a wave of speculation that he may be about to announce a change of heart on the issue. |
| With the pressures of an election year crackling in the air, the topic of whether same-sex couples should be able to marry exploded on Sunday, when Joe Biden, the vice-president, stated his unequivocal support for same-sex marriages. A day later, education secretary Arne Duncan said that he, too, supported gay marriage. | |
| The White House did not take the opportunity to tamp down the speculation; instead, it cancelled the regular briefing by press spokesman Jay Carney. | The White House did not take the opportunity to tamp down the speculation; instead, it cancelled the regular briefing by press spokesman Jay Carney. |
| Portions of Obama's interview, with Robin Roberts of ABC's Good Morning America, will be released later in the afternoon, the network announced. The interview was hastily arranged on Tuesday evening, the New York Times reported. | Portions of Obama's interview, with Robin Roberts of ABC's Good Morning America, will be released later in the afternoon, the network announced. The interview was hastily arranged on Tuesday evening, the New York Times reported. |
| Obama has repeatedly described a process of internal soul-searching on the question of same-sex marriage, saying his views were "evolving." | Obama has repeatedly described a process of internal soul-searching on the question of same-sex marriage, saying his views were "evolving." |
| The endpoint of such an evolution has been widely expected to be presidential support for gay marriage, the timing of which has been tied to the political calendar. | The endpoint of such an evolution has been widely expected to be presidential support for gay marriage, the timing of which has been tied to the political calendar. |
| Now it appears that the timing of the president's announcement may have been decided by forces beyond Oval Office control. | Now it appears that the timing of the president's announcement may have been decided by forces beyond Oval Office control. |
| Prevailing theory is what Biden did shoved things forward unstoppably, Obama will have to publicly back gay marriage, better now than later | Prevailing theory is what Biden did shoved things forward unstoppably, Obama will have to publicly back gay marriage, better now than later |
| — maggie haberman (@maggiepolitico) May 9, 2012 | — maggie haberman (@maggiepolitico) May 9, 2012 |
| There are political risks attached to a change in position on such a potent social issue in an election year. While a majority of Americans support the rights of same-sex couples to marry, the independent voters who will decide the 2012 election are less likely to support it. For some voters, the issue could become the key to drawing a contrast between Obama and his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, who is starkly opposed to same-sex marriage. | There are political risks attached to a change in position on such a potent social issue in an election year. While a majority of Americans support the rights of same-sex couples to marry, the independent voters who will decide the 2012 election are less likely to support it. For some voters, the issue could become the key to drawing a contrast between Obama and his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, who is starkly opposed to same-sex marriage. |
| If BO does come out for SSM in middle of v close reelection, will be one of most enormous acts of bravery by a president in modern history. | If BO does come out for SSM in middle of v close reelection, will be one of most enormous acts of bravery by a president in modern history. |
| — Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) May 9, 2012 | — Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) May 9, 2012 |
| There are potential political advantages that could accrue to the president if he does finally comes out in favor of same-sex marriage, however. The move would likely electrify support among the Democratic base during a spring push to mobilize a national campaign apparatus. | There are potential political advantages that could accrue to the president if he does finally comes out in favor of same-sex marriage, however. The move would likely electrify support among the Democratic base during a spring push to mobilize a national campaign apparatus. |
| For Democratic voters, support for same-sex marriage would cement Obama's status as a civil rights champion. The president already has ended the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy of secrecy around sexual orientation, and he ordered the federal government to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 federal law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. | For Democratic voters, support for same-sex marriage would cement Obama's status as a civil rights champion. The president already has ended the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy of secrecy around sexual orientation, and he ordered the federal government to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 federal law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. |
| There is another potential benefit for the president if he decides to publicly support same-sex marriage: he will get to say what he really thinks. | There is another potential benefit for the president if he decides to publicly support same-sex marriage: he will get to say what he really thinks. |