And something I forgot to addrress is how much the issue matters.

Take abortion. People are more likely to vote Pro-Life as a single issue than they are likely to vote Pro-Choice as a single issue.

There are not a lot of people that are willing to vote Republican who would change based on Marraige.

There are a lot of people who would vote for Obama who might chang eon the one issue of Marriage.

I don't think anyone that had planned on voting for Obama is now going to vote for Romney because of this. I think it's the same in opposite too. No one was going to vote for Romney but changed their mind because of obamas support for same sex marriage.

I think people who weren't going to vote at all just might.    And I'm quite sure Obama's handlers knew that his revelation would have a postive effect before it was announced.

Maybe, in that case it was a smart move and Obama lined himself up with public opinion. Or as fox news put it, "the right side of history."

www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/shep-smith-obama-21st-century-gay-marriage_n_1503849.html

Posted by jrd_x on 5/19/2012 12:58:00 PM (view original):
Maybe, in that case it was a smart move and Obama lined himself up with public opinion. Or as fox news put it, "the right side of history."

www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/shep-smith-obama-21st-century-gay-marriage_n_1503849.html

"Lined himself up with public opinion" . . . a.k.a "pandering".

Which is where we started 45 pages ago.

Is it pandering If he's expressing a belief he actually holds?

1)  Obama previously was on record as saying "marriage = one man, one woman"

2)  North Carolina voters pass their amendment to the state constitution stating "marriage = one man, one woman"

3)  The media and special-interest groups make a lot of noise about this

4)  The very next day, Obama states that he has "evolved" into accepting same-sex marriage

Interesting timing, don't you think?

Why do you believe that he actually holds this belief?

It's consistent with other policies of his admin- repealing DADT & refusing to defend DOMA.

Posted by jrd_x on 5/19/2012 10:52:00 AM (view original):
I don't think anyone that had planned on voting for Obama is now going to vote for Romney because of this. I think it's the same in opposite too. No one was going to vote for Romney but changed their mind because of obamas support for same sex marriage.

I will mobolize the Religious right. It will get out the vote.

There are also a large number of Dems who are social Cons. Catholics upset about the birth control issue might be turned over this.

I'd guess there are far more fiscal conservatives who are socially liberal than democrats who are socially conservative. Either way, I strongly doubt anyone is switching their vote based on this.

Do you feel the same way about the abortion issue?

Would a candidate switching from pro-life to pro-choice not take a hit?

I think abortion is a different and far more divisive issue without a clear right answer. Changing course on that issue wouldn't be seen as someone revealing publicly what everyone already suspected.

Posted by jrd_x on 5/19/2012 3:44:00 PM (view original):
It's consistent with other policies of his admin- repealing DADT & refusing to defend DOMA.

I suppose you can believe whatever you want to believe in your idealistic little jrd_x world.

Posted by jrd_x on 5/19/2012 4:43:00 PM (view original):
I think abortion is a different and far more divisive issue without a clear right answer. Changing course on that issue wouldn't be seen as someone revealing publicly what everyone already suspected.

I don't know where you are from, but where I live, SSM is a MILLION times more divisive than abortion.

Posted by jrd_x on 5/19/2012 4:43:00 PM (view original):
I think abortion is a different and far more divisive issue without a clear right answer. Changing course on that issue wouldn't be seen as someone revealing publicly what everyone already suspected.

So you feel that Obama lied in the debate when he said he opposed SSM?