Ace of Spades HQ

July 01, 2008

Obama Was For Gay Marriage Before He Was Against It Before He Was For It Again
— Gabriel Malor

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who previously said the issue of gay marriage should be left up to each state, has announced his opposition to a California ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriages.
In a letter to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club read Sunday at the group's annual Pride Breakfast in San Francisco, the Illinois senator said he supports extending "fully equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples under both state and federal law."
"And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states," Obama wrote.
[...]
"Senator Obama opposes all divisive and discriminatory constitutional amendments such as the one in California," [Obama Campaign Spokesman] LaBolt said.

At first I thought he was just saying that it should be up to the states, but that he personally would vote against a marriage ban in his state. But LaBolt's statement forecloses that possibility and turns this into a genuine flip-flop. What's surprising is that this is a flop to the left.

Ed Morrissey has thoughts on what Obama's constant flip-floppery means:

There are only three possibilities for why Barack Obama has had to change his mind on almost every policy he has mentioned in this campaign:
1. Hes a liar who says what each audience wants to hear.
2. The election debate has changed his perspective on every issue.
3. He has no clue on any of the issues.

Another possibility is that he isn't in control of his own message. For example, how do we know that Obama actually wrote the letter to the LGBT Democratic Club or even read it? How do we know he approved LaBolt's statement or that it accurately reflects Obama's genuine beliefs? The answer to both questions is: we don't.

We generally expect that statements issued in a candidate's name come from the candidate, and whether they do or not, we impute the substance of the statement to the candidate. In Obama's case we've seen a pattern of conflicting statements in his name. I suspect that happens when different parts of his staff want different things. The left hand doesn't know what the far left hand is doing and Obama is too green to exercise meaningful control over his own office. The result is all these "distracting" and "inartful" statements.

In today's example, I'd bet my diploma that Obama hasn't given the issue of gay marriage much thought. But his staffers probably obsess over it, with some of them wailing about moderates in the general election and others, especially gay staffers, screeching about taking an even more radical position. Which side is more likely to be given the task of drafting a letter to a San Fran gay group?

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 06:18 AM | Comments (65)
Post contains 497 words, total size 3 kb.

1 I can't imagine a White House with amateurs from Obama's team running it, especially given that the Bush/Cheney/Rove gang had problems harnessing their own people. It'd be hell for the MSM to try to cover for all of the crap coming out of there.

Posted by: roy at July 01, 2008 06:31 AM (cB77O)

i'll say it again: barry obama is an empty shirt.

somebody should try to pull out whomever's arms are up his ass and pulling his mouth strings...i bet that is a pretty crowded area....

Posted by: dr. akim ullshitbay at July 01, 2008 06:36 AM (lnYH9)

3 The Left screamed about Bush somehow being 'arrogant.'

What kind of arrogance does it take for the undeniably least-qualified candidate to consider himself the only man for the job, above all others? A special brand of self-loving arrogance, that's what.

Posted by: Unknown Moron at July 01, 2008 06:36 AM (+qV4i)

4 Obama's real problem in my opinion is not so much the flip-flops themselves (although they don't help) its the fact that the Obamessiah can NEVER be seen to have changed his mind on anything... Whatever his stated position is has always been his stated position... until its not, and then that new position has always been his opinion. Very 1984ish.

Posted by: Ryan Frank at July 01, 2008 06:46 AM (HIpQ6)

5 He flip flops because the only thing that Obama believes in is his own entitlement to power and privilege.

Posted by: Warden at July 01, 2008 07:37 AM (KXbGD)

6 I wonder if the letterhead of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club features a photo of their namesake. That wouid certainly scare off a few potential LGBT marriage supporters. To paraphrase the scathing wit John Simon, Alice B. had "a face that launched a thousand cigar shops."

Posted by: ajmalkov at July 01, 2008 07:40 AM (8r/RM)

7 Yeah, I think Noob is the best way to describe Senator Obama. That's a charge that will stick and will resonate with young people to boot. Obama the Noob. I'll have to whip up a Motivation poster for that tomorrow

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 01, 2008 08:08 AM (0+Ggj)

8 Hey Obama Dude, there's a reason your handlers gave you a dumb-ass simple script with just three words: Change, Hope, Future. When you start talking issues, you get it all mixed up. Issues is for people with smarts, partner, and while some say you've got the looks, that's not the same thing as turning on that noodle.

Stick to the script buddy.

Posted by: redherkey at July 01, 2008 08:22 AM (kjqFg)

9 When you have a staff twice the size of Bush-Cheney 04 (700 members and growing) you can bet your ass its hard to try to figure out, let alone control, what your staff is doing in your name.

Obama is even sending 15 staffers to TEXAS. He really thinks he's going to win.

Posted by: Arbitor at July 01, 2008 08:35 AM (tAGNb)

10 You said gay staff.

Posted by: tachyonshuggy at July 01, 2008 10:41 AM (TXp3z)

11 I'll take option #1 and option #3 with a side of fries please.

Posted by: Eleven at July 01, 2008 10:42 AM (7DB+a)

12 "Which side is more likely to be given the task of drafting a letter to a San Fran gay group?"

This is no different than John McCain telling one thing to CPAC voters and another to the Open Borders crowd. Luckily for Obama, his supporters appreciate the nuance that comes with hypocrisy. McCain has enough trouble ginning up support among conservatives that he cannot afford to be doing such things.

Obama has a damn shrewd campaign team. He's going to win this election, I'm quite certain of it.

Posted by: h2u at July 01, 2008 10:44 AM (TZKUw)

Options 1 and 3.

Option 1 because he is a Chicago poltician and apostle of Jerimiah Wright.

Option 3 because of the off-hand way he has of recalling history in his ramblings on the stump.

Posted by: George at July 01, 2008 10:45 AM (ywpsP)

14 Arnold also said he was against the proposition, when asked about it by that dusty fossil turd, Tom Brokaw. Arnold said, "The Supreme Court got it right."

Isn't that nice? The court got it right. The court. Not the elected legislators, the court. Fuck the people, right Arnold?

Fuck you, Arnold. Fuck you.

Posted by: Bart at July 01, 2008 10:48 AM (NrvSe)

This is a general election killer. Look for more 'nuance' soon. Gay marriage does not play in the midwest or south. I don't see how this position helps him, as it is pandering to people who were going to vote with him anyway.

However, I will say this. If the republicans don't get out the base, in huge numbers like 2004, they will lose. The youngins' and blacks are more fired up than ever. Normally, we can count on the young people to be hung over on election day and forget to vote. Not gonna happen this time. Obama is dangerous. He has to be be the odds - on favorite.

Posted by: fugazi at July 01, 2008 10:54 AM (+xwT3)

Despite the fact, maybe because of the fact, I don't like either of the candidates, I am enjoying the shit out of this election. These could be the two most clueless guys ever to run for the office and we get them both in one election.

The DUmmies are going into meltdown with Obama's plan to supercharge Bush's faith based crapola and excitable Andy is reaching new levels of stupid trying to make that case that while Bush is an evil Christianist, Obama is an enlightened lightworker. Good times.

Oh, and Option 1 with a dash of Option 3 hold the Option 2.

Posted by: JackStraw at July 01, 2008 10:57 AM (VBon8)

17 Great election tactic -- everyone will think his position on issues is whatever they support.

Posted by: GRC at July 01, 2008 11:02 AM (HbbDz)

18 Great election tactic

I think you're giving them too much credit.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at July 01, 2008 11:07 AM (WIxQ1)

19 He also wants to do away with Don't Ask, Don't Tell

At least today. Tomorrow is another day.

Posted by: DrewM at July 01, 2008 11:14 AM (hlYel)

Which side is more likely to be given the task of drafting a letter to a San Fran gay group?

My default assumption on who's drafting positions on gay issues is always you. you knows more about gay stuff than anybody else out there.

Posted by: Rocketeer at July 01, 2008 11:15 AM (GFaLW)

21 Obastard's answer to every prevarication is always "I have always been clear on this..." and the major media-cum-cheerleading squad will report "Obama has always been consistent." The past does not exist. Look for Obastard to say, soon, that we may have to be in Iraq for his entire presidency, and that he has always been consistent in his position. The MSM will swoon, cheer, and praise his courageous break from the failed policies of Bush. He can say anything, literally. War is Peace. Ignorance is Truth. Freedom is Slavery.

Posted by: George Orwell at July 01, 2008 11:18 AM (rf5CF)

22 "My default assumption on who's drafting positions on gay issues is always h2u. h2u knows more about gay stuff than anybody else out there."

ROFL -- I do hold a degree from UC Santa Cruz... That grants me instant liberal street-cred.

Posted by: h2u at July 01, 2008 11:20 AM (TZKUw)

23 Great election tactic

I think you're giving them too much credit.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at July 01, 2008 11:07 AM (WIxQ1)

It worked for Slick Willie din't it?

Posted by: Jahiliyya at July 01, 2008 11:21 AM (cGm0o)

h2u doesn't know the code trick. Heh.

Welcome, newbie.

To recap: This is the official Obama campaign vehicle. It has sufficient room underneath (for now) for all the inartful, heated, clearish and unicorny things and people. Plus, plenty of room inside for people with big red honk noses like Wes Clark.

C'mon, Les, tell us about that one time you almost started World War III over a useless airport in Pristina.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at July 01, 2008 11:31 AM (B+qrE)

9. bart: Fuck you, Arnold. Fuck you.

You must be a Californian** or Californio**? Too.

...nobody despises the 'Nator - and with as much good cause - as much as California conservatives.

**Californian = immigrant, Californio = native (yeah, there's still a few ...of us)

Posted by: davis,br at July 01, 2008 11:33 AM (7QgFP)

26 "h2u doesn't know the code trick. Heh."

I know the trick, I just know not a way to determine whether or not it's being used. Viewing the Page Source doesn't seem to work.

Posted by: h2u at July 01, 2008 11:36 AM (TZKUw)

The MSM will never cover this shit.

But misspell Teen asian anal cum sluts or Thai tranny hookers and whatch what happens

Posted by: Iblis at July 01, 2008 11:38 AM (9221z)

Well, I was using it that time, h2U. But with your credentials, I can totally understand why you assumed I was speaking directly to you.

Just kidding.

Mostly.

Posted by: Rocketeer at July 01, 2008 11:38 AM (GFaLW)

You can change your comment name and add a post, I think that works.

testing

Posted by: Dude in Texas at July 01, 2008 11:39 AM (eiOZw)

30 uh, guess not. Use the Force

Posted by: Dave in Texas at July 01, 2008 11:39 AM (eiOZw)

31 Dude in Texas has a little pee-pee

Posted by: Eleven at July 01, 2008 11:40 AM (7DB+a)

32 "You can change your comment name and add a post, I think that works."

Maybe, maybe not. In any case, I've gotta say I'm not a huge fan of the site re-design. It's a little too shiny and new. It needs more hobo charm.

Posted by: h2u at July 01, 2008 11:47 AM (TZKUw)

33 Whatever you wants me to believe on an issue, I'll believe. And I mean that.

Posted by: Barack Obama at July 01, 2008 11:48 AM (+qV4i)

34 Californio = native (yeah, there's still a few ...of us)

Precious few.

Posted by: runninrebel at July 01, 2008 11:50 AM (0n9wc)

35 I think Obama-llama-ding-dong intentionally has his mid-level surrogates put out conflicting messages. Pro-gay to gay groups, anti-gay to church groups, etc. depending on the issue. I think they've concluded that;

First, there isn't too much overlap to most groups that oppose each other on controversial issues so the likeihood of the church lady reading the Obama position in the Village Voice is pretty low.

Second, the MSM is carrying Obamas' water and isn't going to report the conflicting statements on page one anyway.

Third, most people aren't really paying attention right now.

Fourth, if a conflicting statement does make the national media, Obama will decide which position will garner the most votes and will throw the other spokesman under the bus.

Also, Obama told me that you is a douchebag.

Posted by: Weisenheimer Brainstorm at July 01, 2008 11:51 AM (w0yN2)

36 I'm guessing options 1 and 3, but 1 is caused by 3. Plus, I also think that he's not really calling the shots. His puppet masters are and he's just dangling from the strings saying whatever he's being told to say.

Posted by: The Other Shoe at July 01, 2008 11:52 AM (Pus2I)

You must be a Californian** or Californio**? Too.

No, sir, davis,br, man.

I'm an east-coaster -- where Kennedy and Kerry keep getting re-elected.

But I'm hugely disappointed in Arnold. Ever since he back-peddled from the "girly men" comment he's been a political selfish coward. Then he went all Green and gay and liberal. He really sucks. Plus it makes me sick that he's involved with those vampires, the Kennedys. They are truly awful people.

Thanks, Darrell Issa, you asshole, for giving us this creep. I wish Gary Coleman won the election instead of Arnold.

Posted by: Bart at July 01, 2008 11:52 AM (NrvSe)

38 Really, Bart? I would have gone with Mary Carey. At least she's got hooters. And does hardcore lesbian pr0n.

Posted by: XBradHusseinTC at July 01, 2008 11:56 AM (pSXbN)

39 "Thanks, Darrell Issa, you asshole, for giving us this creep. I wish Gary Coleman won the election instead of Arnold. "

Arnold really isn't so bad. He has to pander to the most vocal of Californians to be effective, but at his core is a true-blue conservative. You just can't be an outspoken conservative in CA anymore. You'll be branded as a bigot faster than an illegal immigrant fleeing ICE.

Posted by: h2u at July 01, 2008 11:58 AM (TZKUw)

Hopefully at the right time we will see a monster Republican ad that consists entirely of a dozen or so repetitions of something like:

a. Obama at Pro-Choice convention: "I favor a 100% income tax exemption for abortion clinics."

b. Obama at Pro-Life convention: "I favor a 100% income tax surcharge for abortion clinics."

c. Obama on MSNBCBSABCNN after getting caught: "These are not the abortion clinic income tax policies I knew, and they are distracting us from the real issues while doing nothing for my children."

Posted by: sherlock at July 01, 2008 11:59 AM (FsbnY)

Arnie is the biggest girly man in California now.

like typical politicians, Arnie and Obama don't really want the people to make a decision when a right-thinking court is available.

Posted by: Eddie Baby at July 01, 2008 12:03 PM (a1oRP)

42 I think you're giving them too much credit.

Doesn't matter whether it is intentional or not. The result is still the same: the false belief that the O supports your stance no matter what it is.

Posted by: GRC at July 01, 2008 12:04 PM (HbbDz)

43 Mary Carey? Come on, man, she wasn't a serious candidate.

Gary Coleman was a serious candidate. He had a six-point plan, or some shit. A six fucking point plan! That's serious.

LOL

(el oh el)

Posted by: Bart at July 01, 2008 12:06 PM (NrvSe)

44 Why do I remember that?

Posted by: Bart at July 01, 2008 12:06 PM (NrvSe)

"Also Obama told me that sherlock is a douchebag."

He's just looking for the coveted sherlock endorsement! Not gonna happen, no matter favorable he compare me to himself.

Posted by: sherlock at July 01, 2008 12:07 PM (FsbnY)

46 Mary had a "two point plan", ( ^. ) (^. )

Posted by: XBradHusseinTC at July 01, 2008 12:11 PM (pSXbN)

47 Obama's platform is just parroting whatever you's position is at the time.

Posted by: Original Roy at July 01, 2008 12:11 PM (uQS5m)

Someone sat down with a while back with Obama and told him to say what he had to say to any particular audience. Keep justifying what you are saying/changing and each group will only hear what they want to hear.

It seems to be working.

Posted by: Rightwingsparkle at July 01, 2008 12:11 PM (cHLra)

Arbitor,

He is convinced that this is his time, his place. No doubt he believes he is going to win.

Posted by: Rightwingsparkle at July 01, 2008 12:12 PM (cHLra)

50 lol @ mary cary's gubernatorial campaign.

Her boobs are kinda National Geographic-y, but, hey, they're real.

(was that a fart noise I heard?)

Posted by: Bart at July 01, 2008 12:19 PM (NrvSe)

51 nikkolai told me that nikkolai was very kind , wise and strong. And very wealthy.

Posted by: nikkolai at July 01, 2008 12:19 PM (QtITZ)

52 oh shit that vid is funny. I watched 10 times already.

I love how she says "jury duty."

What a tard.

Posted by: Bart at July 01, 2008 12:21 PM (NrvSe)

53 I kinda like the jury duty idea.

And yeah, I'll take door #3, with a peek behind door#1.

I also think the has lost control of his message and that the staffers, who don't know what his stance is (because he doesn't know) end up winging it and putting out whatever sounds good.

Posted by: XBradHusseinTC at July 01, 2008 12:26 PM (pSXbN)

54 Obama is a bi-issual: he can go either and both ways on an issue, switch hit, ac/dc...

Posted by: ParisParamus at July 01, 2008 12:38 PM (w1rHy)

Gabe, I just wanted to point out that it is noob, or n00b, and not newb. You lose geek cred when you talk like that.

R-Tard N00b

Posted by: unclerudy at July 01, 2008 12:45 PM (BzTiY)

56 What would you have me say?

Posted by: Obama at July 01, 2008 12:50 PM (/aSPO)

57 Why does my name keep coming up?

Posted by: bleh at July 01, 2008 01:49 PM (GNCy6)

58 lol. I thought I was going to have to build a mighty army of trolls to bother everyone and possibly travel the country attacking strangers for internet comments.

Posted by: bleh at July 01, 2008 02:10 PM (GNCy6)

59 Another possibility is that he isn't in control of his own message.

OMG -- he's a freaking remote control robot with a room full of drunken and doped up schizo hippies working the joysticks. Whoever can stop hitting the bong for a few minutes gets to play with the Obama™ until they pass out.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at July 01, 2008 02:18 PM (dcqty)

60 # 57 - thanks for the clarification.

Posted by: The Other Shoe at July 01, 2008 02:33 PM (Pus2I)

Posted by: Sara at July 01, 2008 05:09 PM (Wi/N0)

62 Wow, couldn't get this to show up, sorry for the blanks.

I live in So. Calif. and around my neck of the woods it is all McCain all the time. I have a good friend in No. Calif, up in the Redding area, who owns a car dealership and has contact with the public alot. He says that no one likes Obama up there either.

For the last few years, the San Fran/Marin county block and the inner city LA and Hollywood block have been able to out carry the state for dems, but not by much and certainly never with a majority of the counties. It is just that those limited population centers are so large in numbers it wipes out the vote of the smaller rural counties.

I think that the pols are putting too much stake in thinking Obama and the dems have Calif. locked up. It isn't by any means from what I've been able to tell. The proposition on banning gay marriage passed before and I think it will again.

If McCain choses Romney as a running mate, it could put him over the top here, but I'm not so sure that is what Mitt wants. His recent purchase of a home in LaJolla and the rumors circulating that he is looking at the Calif. governorship makes me wonder too. I have just come around to Sarah Palin, who she is, etc. and I've been impressed so far, but I don't know how she plays with Californians. This is really McCain country or McCain/Romney country.

Bush would have won here in 2004, if he had been able to carry Imperial county, which is a majority of Hispanics. Where they go this time could be the difference.

Posted by: Sara at July 01, 2008 05:23 PM (Wi/N0)

63 I live in the Bay Area, and we've got a bad case of the Obama fever. (Well, some of my more eccentric friends rebel against the status quo by preferring Hillary.)

Posted by: sandy burger at July 01, 2008 06:07 PM (VC56G)

64 Bay area - not a surprise that it would be Obama country. My Grandparents lived in Piedmont for 60 years, my Mom grew up right on the edge of the Berkeley campus. She was always saying how embarrassed she was to say she was a Berkeley grad, after the '60s and that she was glad my Granddad didn't live to see what happened to his beloved area. He died in '65. He was a man, who when I was 16, made me raise my right hand and swear to always vote Republican. Of course, like the "good" girl I was, I did it.

Posted by: Sara at July 01, 2008 06:19 PM (Wi/N0)

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