Joe Biden on Sunday in no unspecific terms voiced his clear support for gay marriage, noting that he is “very comfortable” with it and now less than 24 hours later the White House is trying to “clarify” his statement.
Speaking to Politico Biden’s office proclaimed:
“The vice president was saying what the president has said previously—that committed and loving same-sex couples deserve the same rights and protections enjoyed by all Americans and that we oppose any effort to roll back those rights.”
The gay community has often rallied around and then fought against the Obama administration with many members of the LGBT community believing that President Obama supports their cause but has failed to endorse it fully when his endorsement would have helped the most.
With this newest attempt to pull back an obvious comment one activist tells Politico:
“You can see it like teasing. There is sometimes a disconnect between the administration and the community, because I think they think they’re doing brave important things, and a lot of people on the ground think, ‘Oh, come on already.’”
In the meantime a former gay rights adviser for Bill Clinton tells the New York Times of the White Houses attempt at pulling back the comments made by Biden:
“Trying now to walk this back will only hurt them. You can’t clarify an answer as direct and candid and expansive as the one he gave.”
In the meantime the direct support statement by Joe Biden could pave the way for President Obama to endorse the gay marriage initiative. By using Biden’s comments as a type of barometer President Obama can see how Biden’s view is shifting support and then act based on those findings.
