A Brief Comment by Doug Draper
Well let’s give it up with two hearty high fives for U.S. President Barack Obama!
U.S. President Barack Obama takes the principled, all inclusive high road on equality for all.
This Wednesday, May 19 – a date that might go down in American history as surely as July 2, 1964, the date the Civil Rights Act outlawing major forms of discrimination against African Americans was passed – Barack Obama became the first president in U.S history to say he supports same-sex marriage. And as much as the president’s saying that does not automatically change the marriage laws across American, it is a bold overture for equal rights for all people in a country where you have got more than a few right-wing, homophobic, religious rednecks who will play this out, as a reason Obama is not fit to be in the White House, to its last string.
But let’s face it, most of those from the Rush Limbaugh/Sarah Palin crowd who are already busy tarring and feathering Obama over his statement that says; “At a certain point, I just concluded that for me personally, it is important … to affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married,” they are never going to vote for him, in the first place. And why, because most of them, almost 48 years after the Civil Rights Act was passed, don’t want an African American in the White House. For them he isn’t really an American, which is why they will never accept that he was born in the U.S. state of Hawaii, he is a ‘Muslim’, and he has a funny name that isn’t Madison or Jefferson or Smith.
So two high fives for Barack Obama for finally saying he is going to say forget about those hateful, divisive people, who falsely use God to spew intolerance, and move forward with this declaration of support for all of the people.
On Wednesday, May 19, Barack Obama proved himself to be a profile in courage and in these difficult times in his country and in Canada, we could all use more leaders like that. Where in hell are they?
(Niagara At Large invites you to share your views on this post in the comment area we like to think of as an online town hall below, just so long as you also remember that we only post comments by those who also share their real first and last names.)
Niagara At Large 
It took him long enough! But I’m glad he finally came around and entered the 21st century.
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It is never too late to stand up for equality and social justice.
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I think the American people are about to vote Obama out of office. The United States presidential election is less than 6 months away and Obama’s trailing Mitt Romney in the polls. It doesn’t look good for Obama.
If that’s the case Obama’s last hour decision to support gay marriage will end up being about as significant as the virgin Mary appearing on a piece of toast. To some it will be miraculous while to others it might just warrant an awkward pause.
In case you haven’t noticed, Obama has been unveiling a whole series strategically planned statements lately. Last month he toured American Universities telling students their student loan interest rates were about to double. Before this he was for employers paying for women’s birth control and against the Keystone pipeline being built for environmental reasons.
Making any bold declarations this late in a presidential term has to be seen for what it is; an attempt to get reelected.
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I am always suspicious in an election year re an election ploy but don’t believe this is because those who already would vote for him are probably also for GLBT rights and those who wouldn’t vote for him aren’t.
Agreed there are a whole host of good ol’ boys who wouldn’t vote for a black man to save their soul anyway. It does take courage to back GLBT rights in a nation like the US where those Bible thumpers down south will not tolerate anyone of a different religion, lifestyle, nationality or race. Maybe now the US can get beyond all the stupid distractions in their election and actually concentrate on those silly things like the environment, jobs, health care, infrastructure, education, ending wars, decreasing military spending………….blah, blah, blah, etc. As much as I’m disappointed with some things he’s failed to achieve, I hope he gets re-elected when I check out the alternatives! As Paul McCartney said when he received an award from the Library of Congress presented by Obama…”At least I’m receiving it from a President who knows what a library is”.
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I think it took a lot more guts than we can imagine for Obama to make his feelings known! The typical American is far less tolerant than the typical Canadian! The southern bible belt is a force to be reckoned with in American politics. And Obama has now publicly taken a stand that might cost him votes across the south! And I agree with what Doug says above about many Americans feeling Obama is not an American. The right-wing Republicans are particularly vehement in their dislike. I receive emails from a right-wing Canadian friend that often slam Obama (they are “forwards” from the states). At least those of us slightly to the left of Attilla The Hun had reason to be critical of George W. Bush … he was not exactly a Mensa candidate. The American right-wing hate Obama on principle!
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Yes I also hear from those “Right Wing Canadians” and basically consider their ranting to be a trait of selfishness that has been inbred into them at birth and no matter it “IS” self interest, a me, me, me syndrome that seems to follow them through out their lives like a mantle of self righteousness. Almost laughable if it were not scarer then hell
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Joseph, I think you just don’t understand them. Life can be tough at times and many “Right Wing Canadians” simply feel that believing that there is a set order to things and a correct way to live brings peace to their lives. I think this is generally criticized as an “emotional crutch”., but if you find something that works most people don’t give it up quickly.
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Finally the empty suit spouting Marxist rhetoric puppet-in-chief says something I can agree with.
Now if he’ll stop his hypocrisy and stop destroying lives of those who smoke a harmless weed like he did in his teens, then he’ll have performed a redeeming action; one that might make up for all those broken promises.
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