La Figa » Wayback Machine: Obama Supported Gay Marriage in 1996

Wayback Machine: Obama Supported Gay Marriage in 1996

Lisa Derrick Tuesday January 13, 2009 6:31 pm

In 1996, while the tormented post-teens of Beverly Hills 90210 were dealing with secondary characters like Joni and her stripper daughter Lily and Tara-the-psycho-Kelli-wanna-be, Barack Obama was running for Illinois state senator.

As part of his campaign, he answered a questionnaire for a Chicago gay and lesbian newspaper Outlines (now merged with the Windy City Times) and another for IMPACT which was then "Chicago's main GLBT political action committee."

His responses, part of 1996 article were never challenged or corrected by Obama. The original questionaires were recently uncovered by editor-in-chief Tracy Baim while she was going through some old boxes of papers. Eureka!

In his typed answers to the Outlines questionnaire, Obama clearly stated he was in favor of same-sex marriage, which he has since opposed on the public record during both his U.S. senate run and his campaign for president:

I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.

At the same time, Obama completed another questionnaire for IMPACT which discussed a pending same-sex marriage resolution. Obama, in his own handwriting, wrote:

I would support such a resolution.

In 2004 during his bid for the U.S. Senate, Obama sat down with Tracy Baim at Windy City Times for an interview. Here are some excerpts:

WCT: But you think, strategically, gay marriage isn’t going to happen so you won’t support it at this time?

Obama: What I’m saying is that strategically, I think we can get civil unions passed. I think we can get SB 101 passed. I think that to the extent that we can get the rights, I’m less concerned about the name. And I think that is my No. 1 priority, is an environment in which the Republicans are going to use a particular language that has all sorts of connotations in the broader culture as a wedge issue, to prevent us moving forward, in securing those rights, then I don’t want to play their game.

But as Baim points out in this weeks' cover story about the questionnaires and interviews:

civil unions are not “marriage” unless 100 percent of the benefits are the same across all states and the federal government.

In the 2004 interview, Obama also comes out against a Constitutional amendment against gay marriage, saying:

I would oppose that.

Which gives hope that DOMA will be repealed--if it can get through the House and Senate.

[H/T Ben Smith at Politico]

ratfood | Tuesday January 13, 2009 08:20 pm 1

Obama had dinner with Will, Kristol, Brooks, etc. tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, we have our Manchurian president.

LS | Tuesday January 13, 2009 08:21 pm 2

It is amazing what politicians will say to get into power. I still reserve judgment though. You never know what they really believe. We will judge them by their fruits. I’m wary, still hopeful, but, I’m realistic and am willing to hold the feet to the fire.

EvilDrPuma | Tuesday January 13, 2009 08:26 pm 3

Yeah, but Obama is going to be President, and it isn’t the President’s job to support stuff. It’s the President’s job to make sure that the political discourse is “fair and balanced.”

LS | Tuesday January 13, 2009 08:29 pm 4

In response to ratfood @ 1

You said it…I thought it…but I also thought that it could be a brilliant move to blur the lines and charm the cobras, so to speak….

He’s not even in yet…Let’s wait and see.

BooRadley | Tuesday January 13, 2009 08:32 pm 5

Thanks Lisa.

digg

ratfood | Tuesday January 13, 2009 08:34 pm 6

In response to LS @ 4

The trouble with cobras is no matter how much you charm them at the first good opportunity they bite you on the ass.

LS | Tuesday January 13, 2009 08:42 pm 7

In response to ratfood @ 6

You betcha. Unless, you are a snake charmer.

GregB | Tuesday January 13, 2009 08:42 pm 8

Wait’ll Inauguration Day when Obama rips off the mask and Jeb Bush steps onto the dais.

-G

Japandrew | Tuesday January 13, 2009 09:00 pm 9

I’m gay/queer, but I would honestly rather not see Obama spend political capital on gay marriage at this point. I’d rather see him spend it on the economy and foreign policy. I am still learning to breathe with full lungs at the fact that we have a person of humanity and intelligence coming into the WH after eight excruciating years of GWB. And unless I pour a bucket of water over my own head and melt screaming “Oh, what a world! What a world!” I expect I’ll still be alive after Rick Warren has spoken.

LS | Tuesday January 13, 2009 09:07 pm 10

In response to Japandrew @ 9

Rick Warren will historically be a blip in history…a blip undetected by technology ultimately….

Let’s give BO a chance and enjoy the hope…for now.

Japandrew | Tuesday January 13, 2009 09:14 pm 11

In response to LS @ 10

Among right wing religious circles, there were/are serious assertions that BO is the antichrist. The criticism Rick Warren has met from that side has been severe and his appearance at the inauguration has divided them. May the right wing’s wedg(ie) issues always be snug and high!

coloradoblue | Tuesday January 13, 2009 09:25 pm 12

I’ve often wondered how a constitutional lawyer could believe that the US constitution would deny equal rights to ALL Americans to marry. Each time this issue has come before a state court, the court has ruled that denying all Americans the right to marry is blatantly unconsitutional.

Now we know. Obama does believe in full marriage equality, but was afraid he couldn’t win with that position, so he back-tracked. Typical politician.

The question is, will he every come out for full marriage equality during either a first or second term, or will he just forget about the constituion.

gbsavatar | Wednesday January 14, 2009 04:53 am 13

Imagine that, the McCain campaign missed a *real* issue with which they could have hammered Obama reasonably.

constantweader | Wednesday January 14, 2009 05:42 am 14

I actually find this news incredibly encouraging. It has never made sense to me that someone of Obama’s age, education, intelligence & sophistication would oppose gay marriage or even give it much thought. At least until he invited Rick Warren to kick off his presidency, I figured Obama was just pandering. Since the majority of voters oppose gay marriage, I thought he had to do that, so that’s a pander I could live with, hoping it would be temporary in nature. I expect that by 2012, a slight majority will favor gay marriage, & it will be legal in quite a few more states, so Obama can come out of the closet.

The Constant Weader at www.RealityChex.com