President Barack Obama, who said in the past that his views on gay marriage were 'evolving,' said today he thinks same-sex couples should be able to get married. But he also said that gay marriage is an issue for states to decide. Currently, there isn't any federal action in the works to make gay marriage legal. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
President Barack Obama makes history by standing up for same-sex marriage, but Mitt Romney is sticking with inequality.
Ed is putting together extended coverage of today's historic statement by the president for tonight's show. First, he'll welcome marriage equality activists singer/songwriter/actress Cyndi Lauper, co-founder of the True Colors Fund, and John Lewis, Legal Director for Marriage Equality USA.
Then, David Corn, DC Bureau Chief for Mother Jones magazine and columnist for PoliticsDaily.com, and Democratic Strategist Bob Shrum, will look at how the decision went down behind the scenes and what it all means politically for the president and Mitt Romney.
The countdown to the Wisconsin recall election begins and Tom Barrett is wasting no time taking on Scott Walker. Ed will ask state Sen. Lena Taylor (D-WI) if Democrats are truly unified after yesterday’s primary.
Republican budget cuts in Pennsylvania are decimating public schools. Tonight, Pennsylvania teacher Charles Hample takes and a stand and joins Ed.
Michelle Bachmann obtains dual citizenship with a European socialist country. You won’t want to miss Ed’s “expose” on that.
And in the Big Finish, Mitt Romney says the Republican Party is pro-woman, but we're not letting him get away with it. Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood refutes Romney's claim.
It's going to be yet another packed @EdShow at 8pET on @msnbctv.
Join the conversation now or during the show by commenting on Facebook and/or tweeting (with the #edshow hashtag) so we can share your thoughts on the show.
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Michelle Bachmann shows her socialist beliefs clearly by having less degrees of separation from a socialist republic than Obama. Naturally no one the right would dare accuse her of such, if it were a democrat absolutely. Good to see they have some logic and sense sometimes sad they choose not to use it.
Republicans want to destroy public education because their corporate donors tell them to do so. The school choice lobby gives them money so that the politicians can help them. Quid pro quo.
Also they know that the more people are educated the less likely they are to be republican voters. It's the same with the "you must now show documents you never before have had to show to vote" laws, they know the more people who vote the less their chances of winning are. They know the demographic and cultural changes in the country are going against them especially as they adopt we can not have any forward social progress stances and are willing to push away to minorities, gays, young people, etc. for some short term wins. They know that they have to rig the system since they refuse to do any outreach to other voting blocks.
Mitt Romney and the GOP takes a stand on women with his claim that they are pro-woman....true only if those women aren't sexual beings in any fashion. So ladies you start becoming an adult woman and have to make reproductive choices you're on your own. So there you go have sex once and lose all rights to decide what you want to do with your body.
Romney lied again saying he never supported gay marriage. When Kennedy kicked his butt while running for congress Mitt chose to go farther left than Kennedy on gay marriage. We have the tape Mitt.
President Barack Obama has my vote "again" regardless of his views on this subject.
Obama/Biden again in November...2012
Yes OBAMA !! ONLY the DEMOCRATS have ALL AMERICANS BACKS !!! If a SOLDIER can DIE or SHED BLOOD fighting for AMERICA , Then they DESERVE the RIGHT to MARRY WHOMEVER THEY WANT !!!! This PROVES that WE ARE THE 99% of AMERICA !!! ELECTIONS MATTER !! ALWAYS VOTE DEM !!!
Nothing on Elizabeth Warren, the Ward Churchill of Harvard?
Don't like gay marriages? Don't get one. Don't like cigarettes? Don't smoke. Don't like abortions? Don't get one, Don't like sex? Don't do it. Don't like drugs? Don't do them. Don't like porn? Don't watch it. Don't like alcohol? Don't drink it. Don't like guns? Don't buy one. Don't like your rights taken away? Then don't take away someone else's. A-MEN
Amen....
Sueling Did you just think of that? If so it's great/brilliant, and well worth quoting.
As a famous Texas philosopher once put it, let the gays get married so they can be as miserable as the rest of us.
EXCACTLY !!! .................Remember this " My LEG hurts when I touch it here..".......WELL THEN DONT TOUCH IT !!!! If YOU DONT CARE what happens around you ...... THEN DONT VOTE !!!
I agree with all you have said. Plain and simple, if you don't like it don't do it. But don't mess with those who do if they are not messing with you.
You silly liberals with your logic and common sense when will you stop trying to destort the truth with more truth? Where does end, Mitt Romney admitting all his past political positions?
If you weren't so brainwashed by liberal media you'd know that if your neighbor has a gay marriage it lowers the resale value of your own marriage. Everyone knows that everytime there's a gay marriage an adorable puppy or kitten out in the world dies. Gay marriage opens up a subspace disturbance in the time-martrimony continuum forcing all straight men like Larry Craig or Marcus Bachmann to marry men.
We've got to spot that now and protect ourselves....don't we have the right to defend ourselves from harmless social actions that are none of our own business
we've got to have smaller government so it can fit in the bathtub where we can....keep it clean...underwater....it should be the size of a small child who we must beat the gay out of if necessary
Maybe Michelle will take the money from medicare and farm subsidies to the Swiss Alps.
Didn't she once say that Congress should be investigate as anti-Americans?
Hopefully, she will take her rhetoric and move there.
I believe that Switzerland has national health care. Is she going to promote her beliefs that this is socialism?
I hope this is the death knell for Mitt Romney.....
Wonderful to have Cyndi Lauper :-)
Bravo, Mr. President! Equal rights for all American citizens! Separation of church and state.
and during an election year also..wow..who woulda thought of this?
Thats what I like about this president, he stands behind what he believes...And delivers on it. Obama/Biden 2012
The Man has guts, how many times does he have to prove it! Go Obama!!
Mitt has no guts at all, can you imagine how the tea-party will pull his strings and make him do exactly what people like the Koch brothers want ---God Help us if the Republicans win the House, Senate and the Presidential Election.They have admitted that this is exactly what they are planning!!!!!!!!!!
What is truly funny about Obama's flip flop on the issue is that if it had been Romney doing the same thing, every liberal on this blog would be jumping down his throat for being a flopper and playing to the crowd just to get elected.
You guys crack me up...
Stormguy Thanks for the laugh. LOL
storm,
President Obama said from the beginning he was "evolving" on gay marriage, he said it was a struggle for him. i don't see a flip-flop here, he has always been for equal rights, and thought that civil unions for gays was an acceptable alternative to marriage. he found out he was wrong.
mitt has mitt-flopped on virtually EVERYTHING because he is brown-nosing the evangelical right, the "severely conservative" repub party. he is mitt-flopping all over the place, as he will do anything to become the repub nominee.
and Obuma will do anything to be President for another four years....so what is your point? Obuma is brown nosing every union and special interest group he can in order to gain favor with them. He has shown for the last 3.5 years that he is available for the right price.
Interesting...
Ed announces a poll on his show, but there is no poll on his blog...
Wake up, there, Staffers...
Gee can't seem to be able to vote on this issue, what's up with that?
Hey for whats it's worth if gays and lesbians want to get married let them, WTF is the big deal. I do not think even with this liberal crowd we are going to get 98%.
I am thrilled with the President's speech, even more thrilling, I got to watch it with my young daughter..Same sex marriage should not be a social issue, it's about freedom for all, equal rights..
Really pisses me off that the president supports garbage like this. I am not against same-sex marriage I as a proud American against all marriage. It says specifically separation of Church and State, and Government controlling marriage is government interfering with the "Church" so to speak. A legal marriage was nothing more than a scam used in the 1800's to protect land from other when the husband passed away. Things don't work like they did in the past, lets get rid of the old system and go back to separating church and state!
Thirty four year ago I married the person with whom I was in love. I did not have to ask permission from anyone since I was female and he was male. If you are lucky enough to find love, you should have the right to marry without fear of reprisal. Go President Obama! You have my vote AGAIN!
I am so proud of our President. He did the right thing.
I am glad the President has stood up for "Civil Rights." If you are wrestling with this issue from a religious prospective, it is understood and I will ask my fellow citizens to pray for the nation, our citizens and the President for taking this bold action. That is leadership Willard Romney can learn from.... Take him to school Mr. President! Join the Americans United Campaign Obama / Biden 2012.
I will vote for President Obama. I don't think it was necessary to do this. He has done alot for the gay community already and he alone cannot make gay marriage happen. I think he is risking alot by endorsing it and I wish he would not have. Civil Unions are not a sacrament, and marriage is. I believe civil unions are okay, I just don't know about the marriage thing.
I don't disagree, however, in many states a "civil union" has very little legal weight. And that becomes the problem... no inheritance rights, no spousal rights re.: Social Security, legal limbo for children, often no ability to be accounted-for as a spouse for insurance. The list goes on and on....
If anything, the "sacrament of marriage" has been ripped-off by lawyers and our legal system.
In my opinion...the compromise solution here is to allow civil unions to have the same legal protections and tax consequences as a marriage. If a same sex couple wants to enter into a legal civil union, let them. It does not affect me.
Its the Koch Bros. and their dirty tricks. I have my ID ready! Everybody has the right to happy and gay! And if they want to get married so be it. But who gets to be the best man/woman?Let them eat Wedding cake!
President Obama showed not only strength but also leadership in his decision today...Republicans licking their chops...Obama will win in the end!
I'm thrilled I got to watch the President's speech with my young daughter.Same sex marriage should'nt be a social issue, nor should it be put on state ballots for votes..This is about freedom and equality for all. What an awesome day in history!
Thirty four years ago I married the person with whom I was in love. We didn't have to ask permission. That was because I was female and he was male. If you are fortunate to find love, you should have the right to marry, if you want. Go President Obama! You have my vote AGAIN!
The President did the right thing. We must move forward to make sure all Americans e have their civil rights no matter their religion, sexual orientation or political views. The GOP is attempting to move us back in time. They learned nothing from World War II. They are in attack mode to take away rights and we will not let this happen. Democracy can only survive if all of our people are treated equally. The extreme right is all about taking rights and monies from people that are not religious zealots or wealthy. We have a responsibility to vote out those who do not represent the majority of Americans.
Dear Ed
Back in the Fall of 2006 I was sitting in a bar that I regularly went to since I was young. My parents took me there. It was a little corner bar in Linglestown PA. I grew up in this town. For the better part of 34 years. I sat there one night and listened to 2 men that worked for the Commenwealth of Pennsylvania. When I could not take anymore of there buchering of History any more than I spoke up. They procedded to tell me why I was wrong about "Gay Marriage" . They told me that it wasnt about the"SEX" ... It was about the Money... The TRANSFER OF WEALTH" Between two people. The whole thing is about the Privilages that a Wife gets from being Married to her Husband.. They dont want to give that to the " Gays" ... You need to get this accross to your Viewers. Because this is the Very Point that needs to be Drilled into people. Only a Small Minority finds the " Sex" A problem. It is all about the MONEY!!!! That is why the Republicans are fighting this so Hared.. They need to be called out on the carpet about it. And the Lies need to stopped...
Why can't I vote on tonights question on gay marriage?
Im sorry but, Obama is on the wrong side of the gay marriage issue. Not because Im against his views, but because the right wing religious zealots far outnumber the progressives and they are more likly to get out and vote! They are more passionate than the independents, progressives and the left wingers! Many voters sitting on the fence will probably now have reason to vote for Romney!
Just witness what transpired in North Carolina where the vote against gay marriage was overwhemingly approved by the religious conservatives! This is but another reason to hate Obama!
Obama's announcement was premature in my view! What a shame!
and Roman your announcement is premature as well................what a shame.
I bet that isn't the only thing in his life premature.
Roman, young voters have wanted a president to support same sex marrige for a long time. If anything he just picked up more support form the 35 and younger bunch.
John, If people are so supportive why does state after state pass legislation identifying marriage as between a man and a women? Even California, which is as liberal as it gets passed such a law. Personally I don't believe the government at any level should be involved in marriage. If the government backed out of it there would be no issue at all.
2ez thats because you have a majority voting on a minority's rights. And I agree, if the government stayed out of it there wouldn't be a problem.
Just for the record...the vote in NC was not "against gay marriage", that is already illegal in our state. The vote was "for" identifying that a marriage is between one man and one woman. Up above, in 18.2, I outlined what I felt a compromise should be.
John, Did you really say we actually agree on some thing? Maybe I need to evolve, let me check with my team. Perhaps we may have to have another position on the matter. I will get back to you.
I thought you guys didn't believe in evolution?
Now California is interesting because keep in mind prop8 was after they they made marriage allowable between same sex couples....also FYI a fact I found interesting a great deal of the money for the prop was put in by the mormon church....which is based of course in utah......how they got away with that not sure.....I think churches aren't supposed to get in on political type stuff but I'm not sure about all that............
Now on the term civil union I find it interesting that many seem to be so against using the term marriage but not to granting the rights. Now I understand why what I find is odd is that at least amongst some they refuse to be willing to admit that if it has the same consequences it can be called either term legally. People seem to have an aversion to that idea even though they believe it has the same legal value. I don't get that. If they are equal you can use either term. What seems to be the reason is that they don't want to use the term marriage but I have to understand how that makes much of a difference no one says you have to just that under the law if their the same benefits they might as well be called one thing. Some want to enlighten me on the root of that outrage.........
sorry no clue on the outrage- just to be clear "they" in CA was the CA supreme court-President Obama indicated that the issue should be decided by each state- didn't specify judicial, legislative or popular vote- in any even should be a state issue- if state X says ok to SSM ok- if state y says no- then ok as well- in my view time to move on to more important issues-