Proposition 8 and Obama

From the Los Angeles Times:

A federal judge declared California's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional Wednesday, saying that no legitimate state interest justified treating gay and lesbian couples differently from others and that "moral disapproval" was not enough to save the voter-passed Proposition 8.

California "has no interest in differentiating between same-sex and opposite-sex unions," U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker said in his 136-page ruling.

The ruling was the first in the country to strike down a marriage ban on federal constitutional grounds. Previous cases have cited state constitutions.

This is a major decision.

It calls for reaction from Obama.

What do we get? A lame statement from the White House, no words from Obama himself.

A White House spokesperson sent the following statement to The Advocate regarding Wednesday's ruling declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional:

“The President has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because it is divisive and discriminatory. He will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans.”

I want to hear from Obama, not a spokesperson. I know Wednesday was the guy's birthday but couldn't he have at least made a statement?

OK. Obama's against Prop 8. But where does Obama stand on gay marriage? What does it mean that "[h]e will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans"?

When Obama was running for president, he was very clear on where he stood when it comes to marriage.

From ABC News:

The following is a transcript of an interview conducted by ABC News' Jake Tapper with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for "World News with Charles Gibson" on June 16, 2008, in Flint, Michigan.

JAKE TAPPER: OK, last one, and that is same-sex marriage is now going on in California.

OBAMA: Right.

TAPPER: You oppose same-sex marriage.

OBAMA: Yes.

TAPPER: Do you think that the fact that this is now going on in California, does that cause you to re-think your pledge to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act?

OBAMA: No. I still think that these are decisions that need to be made at a state and local level. I'm a strong supporter of civil unions. And I think that, you know, we're involved in a national conversation about this issue.

You know, I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, but I also think that same-sex partners should be able to visit each other in hospitals, they should be able to transfer property, they should be able to get the same federal rights and benefits that are conferred onto married couples.

And so, you know, as president, my job is to make sure that the federal government is not discriminating and that we maintain the federal government's historic role in not meddling with what states are doing when it comes to marriage law. That's what I'll do as president.

TAPPER: Does it bother you, what California's doing?

OBAMA: No.

Presidential candidate Obama defines marriage:

OBAMA: I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman.

I don't get it. According to the statement released by the White House yesterday, Obama opposed Proposition 8 because it's divisive and discriminatory yet Obama has repeatedly stated his position that marriage is between a man and a woman. I guess that means in Obama's mind that equal rights for LGBT Americans doesn't mean they have the right to marry. Or is Christian Obama saying that he holds a divisive and discriminatory belief, since he defines marriage as between a man and a woman, not same-sex couples? The fact is Obama continues to dodge the issue. Obama does not have the courage of his convictions, whatever they are.