Joe Biden Gay Marriage Remarks Present Election Year Dilemma

When Joe Biden said Sunday that he is "comfortable" with same-sex marriage, the White House was quick to tamp down on his comments, insisting that the Obama administration is "still evolving" on marriage equality.

But Biden's remarks indicate a personal conviction that may be out of step with the Obama campaign's official position.

"I am vice president of the United States of America," he said. "The president sets the policy. I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly, I don't see much of a distinction -- beyond that."

Gay rights activists were frustrated at Team Obama's reaction to Biden's comments, and called on Obama to join the vice president in his support for marriage equality.

Comments

[mountcarmine]

12:06 AM on 05/11/2012

Joe Biden is comfortable allowin mariage betwen dogs, cats and anything else that can pay for a licence.

[abjordan]

08:00 AM on 05/09/2012

Obama obviously told Biden to say this to test out the waters and see how people react. If there is a bad reaction he will distance himself and say his administration has nothing to do with this statement. If people support this then he will stand behind it and take the credit. Biden is not going rogue he is following orders. I have to say if Obama comes out in open support of same sex marraige i will be first in line to vote for him despite some of my issues with him.

[GranCanyon]

06:44 PM on 05/10/2012

I hope this is really NOT the only reason you'll vote for President Obama. What about the economy. Gay's need jobs too.

[abjordan]

07:54 AM on 05/11/2012

Well obviously not. I have been on the fence for awhile for who I am voting for. Where Mitt Romney stands on some issues dont sit right for me. So this is just something that is pushing me in the direction of voting for Obama.

[kentusm]

12:09 AM on 05/09/2012

It's not going to work.. We all know that Biden is history and will be replace with Hillary. This deal was cut three (3) years ago.

[KirkCLinn]

06:06 PM on 05/08/2012

Let Biden Be Biden.

[Hazel128]

05:16 PM on 05/08/2012

Bravo Biden. It's about time someone pushes for the change we all voted for.

[ahl76]

05:09 PM on 05/08/2012

If I were Obama in 2013 I would push for marriage equality...if for no other reason than it would drive the Right crazy!!!

[ahl76]

05:07 PM on 05/08/2012

Why is this news? I also don't think he is going rogue...I am sure 70% or so in the current Administration want marriage equality, which is what it should be called!!! I think President Obama even wants it but he cannot say so because he would lose in Nov...That's ok...I have faith in the fact that he will do something on this issue before his 8 years are up. And yes I said EIGHT!!!

[eden4barack08]

04:54 PM on 05/08/2012

When will people learn that only the individual states can allow or not allow gay marriage?
It is nether up to the President nor his VP. They can come out screaming pro-marriage all they want, but it ain't going to change a darn thing! All that is in the hands of the President is to be pro-repeal of DOMA, which will then allow individual state marriages to get federal recognition and ALL the same rights as hetero couples. Why so much ignorance on this subject? Is it willful? Just another excuse to attack the President?
He can scream he's pro-gay marriage 'till the cows come home, IT'S. NOT. GOING. TO. MAKE. GAY. MARRIAGE. LEGAL. NATIONWIDE!!! Do you understand this?

Fight at the states' levels to pass it, then elect a Democratic Congress that will repeal the unconstitutional DOMA! THAT'S THE FIGHT!
Not some useless symbolic words from the President!

[eden4barack08]

04:54 PM on 05/08/2012

"I don't much care of Obama or Biden or any presidential candidate feels about this subject. What I care about is what they can do. And all they can do is stop defending DOMA in federal courts, and, er, that's it. The rest is for the Congress, to repeal DOMA, and let the federal government return to its long pre-1996 position of recognizing all marriages that are legal in any state, and applying full federal benefits to them.

Can we please stop this absurd game of wanting presidential candidates or presidents to solve this problem? They cannot. It is not within their constitutional powers. And we do not need their approval. History will provide the judgment." --- Andrew Sullivan

[jeromerudolf]

04:48 PM on 05/08/2012

Truth is: truth does not change; truth is either accepted or rejected; truth is the same for all; truth is the same for all times; truth never "evolves."

[JerryTheAngel]

04:25 PM on 05/08/2012

What country do we live in, China? Every single member of the administration must march in lockstep on every single issue? I see nothing wrong with Biden or any other member of the administration having a different opinion on gay marriage.

We can go with a President who pushed Don't Ask , Don't Tell policy to be dropped. A man who believes gays should have equal rights even if it's achieved through civil unions.

On the other side, 90 percent of the party don't support equal rights for Gays. They don't want them to serve in the military, they don't want them teaching in the schools, they don't want them adopting children, ect...

Not a difficult choice here.

[eden4barack08]

04:21 PM on 05/08/2012

He did NOT go rogue! He said nothing different from what the President already supports.

[RStephens1955]

03:54 PM on 05/08/2012

As much as I disagree with the President, I do heartily respect his intelligence, except on his choice of VP. Does anyone but me remember "Xerox" Biden? It astonishes me that this guy is next in line to the presidency should a catastrophe occur.

[Boo Effinhoo]

04:13 PM on 05/08/2012

1988 presidential primaries... he bowed out in disgrace.

[proceedpermit]

03:43 PM on 05/08/2012

Biden's proclaimation is a statement of his stand on the issue. But as Vice President, he does put the uncommitted Obama in a bind. He doesn't have the political saavy to realize that his statement upstages the President during an election year?

I realize that all politicians have big heads and huge egos but this guy seems to have a pea- sized brain. He's an ambarassment every time he opens his trap. People will look at this in an election year knowing that iIncompetent Vice Presidents can be a big problem.

Joe Biden---Sarah Palin.......................same problem presented. Romney can help himself immensely with a strong VP pick. Obama is hand-cuffed with this stooge.

[dasunx]

03:39 PM on 05/08/2012

Obama is just being coy.......... Just like his last whisper to the Rusky what he probably said is after my next election it is open marriage for all............