Jeanne Shaheen, Obama Campaign Co-Chair: My Support For Same-Sex Marriage Isn't Awkward For Obama

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said Wednesday that she doesn't think it's awkward for President Barack Obama that his campaign co-chairs, like her, are publicly endorsing gay marriage when he is still "evolving" on the issue.

Shaheen made news on Tuesday by announcing her support for including marriage equality in the 2012 Democratic Party platform, which will be rolled out at the Democratic National Convention in September. She reached out to Obama's campaign headquarters in advance to let them know of her decision, she said.

"We called over and let them know this was my position and I said I would invite the opportunity to talk to the president at some point, but I haven't been able to talk to him yet," Shaheen told The Huffington Post. An Obama campaign spokesman didn't return a request for comment on Tuesday.

Shaheen, one of Obama's 35 national campaign co-chairs, tamped down on the idea that her move created an uncomfortable dynamic for the president, whose position has been "evolving" on the issue since he came into the White House. Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), another Obama campaign chair, also endorsed the issue on Tuesday.

"I don't think so," Shaheen said when asked if her position created awkwardness for Obama. "If we look historically at the Democratic platform, it has really been a vision document for where we'd like to go in the Democratic Party. Certainly I think this is a place where most of us believe we need to encourage the Democratic Party to go."

While Obama has supported measures to dismantle the Defense of Marriage Act, he has not endorsed a federal extension of marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples. Instead, he maintains the issue should be decided by states. Shaheen wouldn't weigh in on the president's stance, nor would she say if she expected him to evolve in support of gay marriage after the November elections. But she predicted that "the openness of the issue" is swaying people in her and Obama's generation to support marriage quality.

"Shedding light on the issue and how people have been treated has gone a long way to changing minds," Shaheen said. "If we can get this into the Democratic platform, it's good for us."

Comments

[Jms0537]

10:50 PM on 03/01/2012

I have a hard time believing that Obama actually has a problem with gay marriage. The repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell was one of the big campaign promises in his platform, and he came through with a big smile on his face.

I think its probably more the fact that he's already continually questioned on his religious integrity (i.e. "false theology" claims), and wholly supporting gay marriage would likely anger conservatives even more (if possible) and potentially isolate some more moderate voters.

But political strategy aside, I would love to see Obama support gay marriage. It would fit perfectly within history books along with DADT, healthcare reform, and the other long overdue progressive movements his presidency will be remembered for.

[Bob Kellerman]

05:40 PM on 03/01/2012

The President would gain favor with many of us, if he came out for Marriage Equality

But he is also a Constitutional Lawyer, and he knows that marriage laws are STATE laws, leaving aside DOMA, which places restrictions on marriages already performed.
He would be vilified for messing with laws of the States, and give the bad guys more power to hurt the cause of love.

THE STATE LEVEL IS WHERE THE ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FOUGHT
-- until there are enough court cases that end the discrimination

[l78lancer]

03:42 PM on 03/01/2012

Her view is her view. Big deal. Most of the governors who have signed laws in their states are Obama supporters, too. That won't paint the president into any corners on the issue. Unlike in the other party, people are allowed to have differing points of view.

[Lifer2006]

09:46 AM on 03/01/2012

That's because he'll go with whatever the flavour of the day is.

[Bill J4321]

05:28 PM on 03/01/2012

Well, you've certainly introduced the flavor of 'stupid' to this debate...

[Lifer2006]

10:33 AM on 03/02/2012

Inappropriate comment. I guess you don't understand the nature of politicians. B-llsh-ting the electorate is the way they get elected. I thought you said I was stupid????? We'll leave it at that.

[ennis438]

07:02 AM on 03/01/2012

Nothing wrong with Obama not being for gay marriage. His choice. I would have no trouble with Santorum having the opinions he has either except for one major difference. Santorum and his goon squad is trying to enter peoples bedrooms and force his insanity on all of us. Obama is not doing this at all. Everyone has the right to their opinion, but these right wing psychos are not satisfied unless they tell everyone else how to live and we need to do whatever needed to stop these terrorists from ordering their views on everyone.

[Lifer2006]

09:50 AM on 03/01/2012

Note: He is listening in on your phone calls though. Obama is not off the hook either.

[Bill J4321]

05:29 PM on 03/01/2012

Civil Rights aren't 'opinions,' nor are they subject to them.

Really stupid comment, dude.

[paul87920]

02:10 AM on 03/01/2012

I know it's an odd concept to Republicans, but we don't run members out of our party for not following our views lockstep.

[Wingsweaver]

12:56 AM on 03/01/2012

Just expose him to a moon stone and be done with it.

[paul87920]

02:07 AM on 03/01/2012

^^ fanned and favorited for the PokeMon reference!!!

[NWBrunette]

12:22 AM on 03/01/2012

Senator Jeanne Shaheen is exactly right. If Obama wants to wait until the parade gets even bigger before jumping out in front of it, that's his call. But in every respect the parade is getting bigger, relentlessly.

[Huff reader2011]

09:25 PM on 02/29/2012

Wish she was my senator!

[Dani09]

06:27 PM on 02/29/2012

I Love My Senator Jeanne Shaheen!!!!

[CornetMustich]

06:18 PM on 02/29/2012

Blah, blah, blah Obama, you with the inter-racial parents; have you forgotten the days when mixed couples weren't allowed to marry?
Cheers, Joe Mustich, CT USA. Justice of the Peace.
Just repeal DOMA, before you leave office in 2012, and dont attack Iran.

[cegrubbs]

09:37 PM on 02/29/2012

Jerk! You are so brave.

You understand that this President has advanced equality more than any other President in History. And you understand that he will be in the white house until January 2017.

[Lifer2006]

09:56 AM on 03/01/2012

"...this President has advanced equality"...while listening in on your phone calls, while allowing torture (Bradley Manning) to take place, while deporting more hard working immigrants, while conducting 3 wars at a time, while going after whistleblowers (wikileaks), on and on and on......yee what a swell guy¡
And notice, we can have a civil dialogue.You don't need to insult people.

[Inis Magrath]

05:56 PM on 03/01/2012

Joe Mustich: I always admire your advocacy on LGBT equality, but please don't wish President Obama out of office in 2012 just because he isn't exactly where you are on the issue. Just try saying these words out loud: "President Romney. President Santorum. President Gingrich."

Those are the choices Joe, not some mythical perfect progressive. If not Obama, then one of the Republicans. That's all there is.

As for repealing DOMA, it is congress that must do it, not the President. That said, it is President Obama who directed the Justice Department to cease defending DOMA because he has said it is unconstitutional. That good, isn't it?

Stop complaining and make a cash contribution to the Obama campaign. The Republican opposition would move us backwards.

[Al91206]

06:18 PM on 02/29/2012

Unlike some administrations Obama does surrounds himself with people that have minds of their own and fight for their point of view. It's good news for the country that the sycophant yes-man aura has been removed from the Oval Office.

[Zippy1169]

09:31 PM on 02/29/2012

You are absolutely on target with this statement.

[NWBrunette]

12:28 AM on 03/01/2012

Precisely.

[cenourinha]

06:09 PM on 02/29/2012

"Jeanne Shaheen: My Support For Same-Sex Marriage Isn't Awkward For Obama"

so what if it were? Even if that were the case, it's still the right thing [for her] to do and so I say let it be awkward if it must. you can look at it either as political cover (for the president) or pressure (on him) or support (either of his finally coming around or of the gay community or both) - and in any of those scenarios I say it's a good thing.

[bascombe]

05:51 PM on 02/29/2012

the media is trying to make Obama throw her under the bus as he has done with so many others who were ostensibly on his 'team'. this one will be interesting for his actions and for the timing thereof.

[Al91206]

06:19 PM on 02/29/2012

Obama could be using her as a catalyst for his "evolving" position .. setting it up for a Dem Convention blowout by saying that Jeanne Shaheen has won him over to the right side.

My fingers are crossed.

[bascombe]

09:28 PM on 02/29/2012

I like your thinking.

fanned.

[candcje]

10:02 PM on 02/29/2012

He'll acknowledge that he's still evolving and that the democratic party's platform is open to have evolving ideas on this subject. Once he wins reelection - probably in his victory speech - he'll declare he's evolved completely and that marriage equality will be pushed during his second term.

He would do well, though (unfortunately), to wait to be that evolved until after the election. There are some who will be on the fence between him and whichever GOP shows up for that party and this could be the deciding factor. Independents who are for marriage equality will feel Obama leans closer than the GOP. Those who are opposed or uncertain of marriage equality will be able to say that Obama hasn't endorsed it and it's up to the individual states. That may be enough for many voters our there...

[DeanWormer]

05:47 PM on 02/29/2012

Obama has zero political courage with his "evolving" two-step on this topic.

[Al91206]

06:20 PM on 02/29/2012

On that note I agree, but he is still 1 million times better than the hate-based puritans running on the other side.

[SteveMD2]

06:37 PM on 02/29/2012

hate vbased people who kow tow to the german pope - who in 2009 UNexcommunciated Bishop Williamson, a holocaust denier.

http://articles.cnn.com/2009-01-26/world/pope.holocaust.denial_1_bishop-richard-williamson-bishop-bernard-fellay-holocaust-denier?_s=PM:WORLD

[cegrubbs]

09:39 PM on 02/29/2012

Courage comes with a sense of timing and one step at a time.