Cory Booker Lauds Obama's Backing Of Gay Marriage

Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D), who has long favored same-sex marriage, praised President Barack Obama's announcement on the "Rachel Maddow Show" on Wednesday.

"He's done a lot for equality behind the scenes without having a personal view, but to have Barack Obama, the president of the United States, to stand on the public stage and say, once and for all, I believe in equality of all citizens, I think, it has a very powerful symbolic effect," he said. "I think it puts the light on many people, Democrats and Republicans, who have the same personal sentiments, but haven't had the courage to come forward and say it."

He dismissed the notion that the president had finally "evolved" on the subject for political reasons. "I respect the fact that he struggled with his conscience. And I actually don't see -- for those of us who have surrendered to cynicism about politics in general -- I don't see a political advantage to this," he said. "I see a guy who was wrestling with this in his heart and the totality of his personal experiences finally brought him over a line."

He continued, "I wish he was there a long time ago, but i still give him a tremendous amount of credit for crossing that line and finally calling it like it is, in the midst of a very difficult election."

Booker has refused to perform marriages at Newark City Hall because same-sex marriage is not legal in New Jersey. While the state allows civil unions, a bill to legalize gay marriage passed the legislature, but Gov. Chris Christie (R) vetoed it, saying he wanted to put the matter to a referendum.

Watch the full interview here:

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Here are some other reactions to the announcement:

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• Mitt Romney

  "I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman," Mitt Romney said.

• Kyrsten Sinema

• Daniel O'Donnell

• Kirsten Gillibrand

• Jeff Merkley

• Elizabeth Warren

• Michael Bloomberg

  "This is a major turning point in the history of American civil rights," said New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. "No American president has ever supported a major expansion of civil rights that has not ultimately been adopted by the American people - and I have no doubt that this will be no exception. The march of freedom that has sustained our country since the Revolution of 1776 continues, and no matter what setbacks may occur in a given state, freedom will triumph over fear and equality will prevail over exclusion. Today's announcement is a testament to the President's convictions, and it builds on the courageous stands that so many Americans have taken over the years on behalf of equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans, stretching back to the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village."

• Jerrold Nadler

  "I applaud President Obama for announcing his support for marriage equality today," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) "For the first time in this nation's history, a sitting president has shown the courage and leadership to stand up for all American families by pledging to support the fundamental right of every person to marry the person they love, and to have that marriage fully respected. I commend President Obama for this brave and honest step. Those who seek to politicize civil rights for personal or political gain will certainly attack him, but the course toward marriage equality and justice is the correct and inevitable path."

• Brad Lander

• Fred Karger

  "I'm thrilled!" longshot GOP presidential candidate Fred Karger told HuffPost, referring to Obama's embrace of marriage equality. Karger is the first openly gay Republican or Democrat to run for president. "The Karger pressure has worked," he joked. "Particularly after the defeat in North Carolina, we welcome him to the full equality position."

• Vince Gray

• Martin O'Malley

• Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

• Barack Obama

• Mark Udall

• Senator Chris Coons

• Rep.George Miller

• Jim Himes

• Nancy Pelosi

• Nita Lowey

  "I have been blessed to have a long and happy marriage. I strongly believe all Americans deserve that same opportunity," said Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.)

• Antonio Villaraigosa

• Jackie Speier

• Michael Steele

• Dennis Kucinich

• John Brunner

• Cory Booker

• Chris Gregoire

• Fred Karger

• Ted Strickland

• Jared Polis

• Reince Priebus

  "While President Obama has played politics on this issue, the Republican Party and our presumptive nominee Mitt Romney have been clear. We support maintaining marriage between one man and one woman and would oppose any attempts to change that," said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.

• Debbie Wasserman Schultz

• Chellie Pingree

• Christine C. Quinn

• Mike Huckabee

  "Barack Obama just announced he supports same-sex marriage," Mike Huckabee wrote in a fundraising appeal to supporters. "Nancy Pelosi immediately jumped on the announcement and emailed Democrat activists nationwide promising to continue their fight. This is going to be a defining issue this election. Obama, Pelosi and the Democrats have been a complete failure on economic issues so now they are going to focus on issues that will rile up their base. Well, Mr. President it's going to rile up our folks also. Men and women who support traditional marriage."

• Rep. Bill Taylor

• Deval Patrick

• Frank Lautenberg

  "President Obama's support for marriage equality marks an important moment for civil rights in America," said Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), who co-sponsored legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). "We simply can not treat same sex couples as second-class citizens in our country. Marriage equality is one of the most significant civil rights battles of our time and is critical to guaranteeing the equal protection under the law promised to every American in the Constitution. The President's support for marriage equality should inspire Congress, Governors and state legislatures to advance civil rights for all Americans."

• Allen West

• Ann McLane Kuster

• Sen. Patrick Leahy

• Peter Welch

  "This is an historic moment and I applaud the President for his decision and courage," Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said. "One of the greatest and most liberating human emotions is acceptance. And what the President did today was accept that the quality of love two people share is more important than their gender. The President's decision required him look within and engage his heart. It is truly wonderful and welcome news."

• Senator Patty Murray

• Steve Rothman

  "As an early and strong proponent of Marriage Equality, I am very happy that President Obama has made this announcement," said Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) "Marriage Equality is a matter of basic human rights and all of America's same-sex families are now closer to having their unions recognized by our government. This is an important step in our country's march toward achieving true justice and equality for all."

• Chuck Schumer

• JackieForNH

• Howard Dean

  "President Obama's public support for marriage equality is an historic affirmation of the fundamental American value of equal rights for all," said Howard Dean. "Having signed the nation's first law allowing Civil Unions as Governor of Vermont, I'm also proud to see our president affirm the belief that I and so many other Americans hold: loving and committed couples should have the same benefits that are extended through marriage. Marriage equality is a right and a benefit to all families."

• Mike Quigley

• Senator Ben Cardin

• Sen. Barbara Boxer

• Senator Dick Durbin

Comments

[cdawson94]

01:40 PM on 10/08/2012

In response to Mulebone, what environmental effects make a person homosexual? Is it the water, the trees, pollution? Personally, homosexuals are the same amount of rights you and me have, and yet we are exposed to many of the same environments. I strongly agree with Booker that everyone has equal rights and applaud him for stepping forward and taking a stance. Same-sex marriage is legal in eight states, obviously legal enforcers have the same opinions. Mulebone’s argument is invalid, if same-sex marriage can be legal in eight states, what makes those states different from our own? People probably wouldn’t have a problem if other didn’t make such a big deal on involving the Bible in politics and voicing personally what they thought without any outside influence in the matter. Booker overall has gained mine and many others support in the rights of same-sex marriage just because he still follows the laws but takes initiative in changing them as well.

[jwald1]

04:18 AM on 05/11/2012

I love this man. I hope he goes far in his political career. A real life hero.

[Chety168]

02:56 PM on 05/10/2012

So why is your heading stating it is "interesting"? Have a problem with anyone supporting the Prez?

[Carol Gilliland]

02:24 PM on 05/10/2012

Booker is a very perceptive and honest guy.He speaks his conscience and I hope he is our next gov.

[Mulebone]

02:01 PM on 05/10/2012

First of all the notion that a white gay doesn't have equality is a notion from an early John Waters movie -- fantasy, no basis in fact. Gays can get married under the same rules heteros can get married. But gays want something different -- they want a special dispensation: the right to marry same sex.

Granted, this makes all the sense in the world if you buy into the notion of "born this way" a notion that isn't what science says. Science says homosexuality is a combination of biology and environment. This means some homosexuals are born, some are made.

But this is irrelevant in any event. Homosexuality is not normal -- that's the salient idea and this means when a sitting president delivers a proclamation saying homosexuality should be treated as normal, we're taking the idea of normality and standing it on its head.

Obama put the cart before the horse. Rather than wait for agreement from science on whether homosexulity is normal, he treated it as normal -- he said to to black youth, "Homosexuality is safe, normal, and wholesome as mom's apple pie," and this is the last thing black youth needed to hear.

[Mediorite]

02:53 PM on 05/10/2012

Nonsense. Politicians are decades behind science. ReligiousFanatics are centuries behind.

[ta2t2o]

03:26 PM on 05/10/2012

Actually we don't want a special dispensation - we want an equal dispensation which is not to marry someone of the same sex or opposite sex but to marry the person we love regardless of sex. You are the one who is creating the special condition.

As for homosexuality not being normal - the word normal becomes hard to define. Is it a different character trait in some people versus others - yes. But then so is red hair, curly hair, baldness, muscular dystrophy, gigantism, dwarfism, albinoism. There are more asians than any other race - so do we assert that yellow skinned individuals are normal and everything else is less normal.

The one clear thing you state is that "we're taking the idea of normality and standing it on its head." I believe that's a good thing. The people who usually have a problem with that are the bigots and racists. Slavery was the norm for thousands of years - we've evolved to understand that isn't right. Women still aren't able to work in many countries - we don't view that as normal any longer either - but that was the norm for many years in ALL countries.

As a black man - I hardly think you should be defining normal in the US. Up until about 150 years ago, our Constitution said you weren't normal. It said all men are endowed with inalienable rights...then went on to say...except black people who really were only considered you as 3/5ths

[DLB70]

09:44 PM on 05/11/2012

So if you are in love with a 10yr, 11yr, 12yr, 13yr, 14yr, 15yr, 16 yr, or 17yr old boy that means you should have an equal dispensation to marry or be in an intimate relationship with the boy.

[valley boy]

01:33 PM on 05/10/2012

Cory Booker stands on priciple and bravely speaks for the rights of all citizens. He is eloquent and inspiring. This is about American ideals for everyone amd personal liberties that build the foundation of our republic.

[lioness39]

02:56 PM on 05/10/2012

I would like to see him as our second African American president.

[hopingheart]

01:27 PM on 05/10/2012

Booker is quite the man! I admire him like few other politicians. Indeed, I flinched when I wrote that word "politician." It's not been a very positive word for some time now.

Booker is a statesman.

[ta2t2o]

03:28 PM on 05/10/2012

I agree - when he speaks - you actually understand that he's sincere and speaking to people and means what he says. You don't get a lot of him having to go back and "explain what I meant"...or worry about what he said being taken out of context.

[mario andretti]

01:07 PM on 05/10/2012

Cory is checking all the right boxes. Hello big time soon.

[oldgraymare]

01:05 PM on 05/10/2012

I watched this interview last night, and by the end of it, I was on my feet cheering!!!! AWESOME!!!! I only wish I could articulate this issue with the intelligence and choice of words that Mayor Booker did. Private morality has no place in the public square. This is an issue of civil rights.....ALL Americans should enjoy these rights to their fullest.

[OzGirl]

12:46 PM on 05/10/2012

Cory Booker is The Man! Obama should have picked him for VP and watched all those racist heads explode!!!

[Chicago0048]

12:42 PM on 05/10/2012

Is Booker gay? There's a blind item online about him.

[montgomeryjhn]

12:48 PM on 05/10/2012

Is Racheal. Talks and looks like a man

[factsmatter2012]

12:54 PM on 05/10/2012

Yep...google it!

[ta2t2o]

03:31 PM on 05/10/2012

Talking and looking like a man doesn't make you gay. Are you really that simple? Rachel is an out Lesbian. I'm also not sure what you mean when you say she talks like a man. When you say she looks like a man - is this because she has short hair? Portia de Rossi is a gay - she neither looks or talks like a man. In this day an age, I'm shocked to know that there are people who still think like that.

[oldgraymare]

01:02 PM on 05/10/2012

Does it matter?

[Jerry Pritikin]

12:40 PM on 05/10/2012

My choice for 2016...Hillary and Booker..Cory Booker is the Voice of Reason and always on target. The people of Newark is lucky to have him for NOW, and the rest of us in 2016!

[montgomeryjhn]

12:49 PM on 05/10/2012

Newark, one of the most corupt city in America

[ta2t2o]

03:32 PM on 05/10/2012

Newark - FORMERLY one of the most corrupt cities in America. Get to know Cory Booker and quit being so ignorant on current events.

[SantaMonican]

12:34 PM on 05/10/2012

This is what leadership looks like.

[montgomeryjhn]

12:51 PM on 05/10/2012

What ramming gay marriage down our throats? No pun intended

[SantaMonican]

12:54 PM on 05/10/2012

Standing up for minority righs, something republicans would't know anything about.

[bushgadeal]

12:54 PM on 05/10/2012

I do believe it is called "personal opinion"...not a law. Why can't folks use common sence?

[TexianLife]

12:19 PM on 05/10/2012

Cory Booker is an awesome Mayor of Newark and should be the Gov of NJ. At least the people of Neward were smart enough to vote this guy into office.

[zdeedle]

12:16 PM on 05/10/2012

bet he's gonna be the next gov of NJ.

[indylindy]

12:55 PM on 05/10/2012

I hope he is...I like him and would like to see him in a bigger role