Barack obama supports california gay/same sex marriage

Barack Obama Pro- Gay political brochure
In a policy reversal Barack Obama has come out against The Limit on Marriage Constitutional Amendment, Proposition 8 which will be on California’s November Presidential ballot.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who previously said the issue of gay marriage should be left up to each state, has announced his opposition to a California ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriages.
In a letter to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club read Sunday at the group’s annual Pride Breakfast in San Francisco, the Illinois senator said he supports extending “fully equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples under both state and federal law.”
“And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states,” Obama wrote.
Obama had previously said he opposes same-sex marriage but that each state should make its own decision.
John McCain last week endorsed Proposition 8.
So, what does this mean in California?
Probably not much in the Presidential contest since California is a blue state where Obama should win handily. But, this may affect down Presidential ticket races like the Tony Strickland vs. Hannah-Beth Jackson California State Senate race. Strickland supports the constitutional ban on gay marriage and Jackson opposes it and favors gay marriage.
A direct contrast between Obama and McCain on the gay marriage issue will drive more evangelical and other Christian groups to the polls. Also, it will aid the GOP and the Strickland campaign in fundraising.
Flap is positive that the California Democrat Party would have desired Obama to stay out of this gay marriage fray. But, now that he has weighed in AND flip-flopped his position they will have to defend it.
Advantage GOP.
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Technorati Tags: gay marriage, John McCain, Barack Obama, Tony Strickland, Hannah-Beth Jackson (Source: FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog)