White House Reportedly Reached Out To LGBT And Religious Leaders Around Obama's ABC Interview

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's decision to announce his support for marriage equality on Wednesday was a tightly kept secret, even within the White House. He consulted with a very small group of advisers -- just six or seven people -- about how he would break the news, and aides were told not to tell a single outside figure in the gay right debate about the forthcoming announcement.

Yet as soon as the interview aired, the embargo was lifted and the Obama administration began contacting leaders in the LGBT community.

LGBT activists were unwilling to talk about their discussions with the White House that day. The Huffington Post learned from an informed source, however, that White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett immediately called Joe Solmonese and Chad Griffin of the Human Rights Campaign and spoke to them as the interview with Obama aired on ABC News. Solmonese is the outgoing president of HRC; Griffin will take his place on June 11.

According to the source, Jarrett was so excited on the call that at first, it was hard to understand what she was saying, underscoring the strong support for marriage equality among many White House aides and their excitement that the president was ready to publicly join them.

The Rev. Joel Hunter, whom the Washington Post describes as a "spiritual adviser" to Obama, reportedly received a call from the president himself.

Hunter, who leads a 15,000-member congregation in Florida, told an Orlando Fox affiliate that Obama called him before the ABC News interview aired and told him that he did not make the decision to endorse marriage equality lightly.

"He told me how much he prayed and how difficult a decision this was for him," said Hunter, who conveyed his disagreement with the president.

"He knew where I stood, because I'm an evangelical and I believe in what the scripture says. One of the reasons he was calling was to protect our relationship and give me a 'heads up' on an interview he had just done," Hunter added. "It wasn't something we were able to talk through, or I would have talked him out of it."

A spokesman for Obama declined to comment on the White House's outreach around the announcement. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney was similarly mum during a briefing with reporters on Wednesday.

"I don't have any conversations of the president to read out to you," said Carney, when asked by a reporter whether he would name the people with whom Obama spoke after the interview. "The president had quite a busy day yesterday, and it continued to be busy after his interview."

Another person Obama talked to before his interview was, not surprisingly, Vice President Joseph Biden, who set the ball in motion by unexpectedly backing marriage equality in a Sunday "Meet the Press" interview. A few hours before the president went public with his support, Biden apologized to Obama in the Oval Office. According to The New York Times, the president "bore Mr. Biden no lingering ill will."

Below, a slideshow of politicians' reactions to Obama's announcement:

Loading Slideshow

• 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

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[bobhay]

11:32 AM on 05/11/2012

What does Bi or transsexual mean for the future of this topic?

[Don1Carter]

09:16 AM on 05/11/2012

The Rev. Joel Hunter: ""It wasn't something we were able to talk through, or I would have talked him out of it."

The problem with religious conviction is that is IS a conviction. You have to "know" that you are right, or you would not hold that conviction. Still, by definition, belief is a matter of faith, not knowledge. But for the religiously convicted, the idea that THEY might be wrong, and that someone (in this case the President) might cause them to change their minds, is almost unthinkable. This is so despite the fact that most religiously convicted people today acknowlege that their spiritual forebears, who were just as certain in their convictions, were in fact WRONG on matters like racial equality, interracial marriage, the role of women, the eating of certain foods, the stoning of certain sinners, and on and on. Our president is not just leader of certain religious Americans. He is president of all of us, and he is right to protect the civil rights of us all, regardless of the certitude of "spiritual advisers."

[intolleft]

08:09 AM on 05/11/2012

Pander du-jour.

[bobhay]

11:30 AM on 05/11/2012

Sooooo true!

[The last sane American]

07:49 AM on 05/11/2012

"White House Reportedly Reached Out To.......... Religious Leaders Around Obama's ABC" Interview"

Wonderful HP! Yet another astoundingly ridiculous headline.

One, count, one pastor in Florida IS not "religious leaders"

[dallasnew]

07:32 AM on 05/11/2012

No offense, but this issue doesn't really mean a lot to me. I'm not part of the LGBT community, and I'm worried about the country and my own economic circumstances. I'm glad that Obama supports gay marriage, but he did say that it's up to each individuaL state to determine if gay marriage is allowed. That means continued conflict on the issue and a majority of states still outlawing gay marriage.

[The last sane American]

07:52 AM on 05/11/2012

You noticed. Others will notice.

I wonder if this man has lead anything? He is the consummate politician - prevaricate everything.

[FiredUpRTG]

02:27 PM on 05/11/2012

he was lying when he said he advocated it?

[Don1Carter]

09:23 AM on 05/11/2012

But don't forget the courts. The SCOTUS may very well conclude eventually that gays have the right to full citizenship, including the right to marry the adult of their choosing. The President's statement is likely to quicken the shift in public opinion towards acceptance, and, whether they admit it or not, the opinions of some of the Justices as well. In any event, the direction of history, that "arc of the moral universe" that MLK talked about, is clear. It's just a matter of time.

[dallasnew]

09:48 AM on 05/11/2012

I believe that the progressive trends in the country will eventually prevail on this issue. But, it may take a long, long time. Note, Obama didn't say he'd be leading the court charge against laws that ban gay marriage nor did he say that he say he would not support state bans against ss marriage. Apparently, he favors the overturn of DOMA, but has no opinion about state ss marriage prohibitions.

[cfrankwolfe]

05:15 AM on 05/11/2012

All this trash talk and I still have not heard one reasonable reason why gays should not marry. Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, and Sweden all allow it and it has not threatened traditional marriage. AMA, and other professional groups long ago concludes homosexuality is just a normal variation. So what is the problem? Your bible? It does not apply. You don't need a church to get married. If you don't like it, tell your christian followers not to get gay married. Or better yet, do something about the projected 50% diverse rate of your sacred unions.

[The last sane American]

07:54 AM on 05/11/2012

You just point out some of the difficulties of losing your 'moral way'.

[twospiritme]

09:16 AM on 05/11/2012

No cfrank pointed out countries that have rejected LDS dogma and bigotry. Let's not forget Australia and United Kingdom are next. These countries are drawing a circle of shame around Salt Lake. Get used to it.

[AriD2385]

03:42 PM on 05/11/2012

Contrary to the arguments of many, it does appear that the legalization of gay marriage will affect religious institutions. There have been cases already where religious organizations have been sued or punished because of situations regarding same sex couplse. If everyone's right to believe differently were being respected, why would LGBT groups go hard after religious groups that will not affirm or recognize them? Cases are described here:
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource.php?n=514

But here's an excerpt:

"Just last year, two women filed a complaint in New Jersey because they were denied use of a pavilion for their civil union ceremony. The pavilion was owned by a Methodist ministry. Due to the ministry's refusal to rent it for the lesbian ceremony, New Jersey revoked its tax-free status.

The Des Moines Human Rights Commission found the local Young Men's Christian Association in violation of public accommodation laws because it refused to extend "family membership" privileges to a lesbian couple that had entered a civil union in Vermont. Accordingly, the city forced the YMCA to recognize gay and lesbian unions as "families" for membership purposes, or lose over $100,000 in government support."

When LGBT supporters and advocates come out to affirm that religious institutions and organizations should be exempted from recognition or support or cooperation with what violates their beliefs--without legal consequences--then and only then might it be reasonable to believe that this issue doesn't affect religious groups.

[cfrankwolfe]

11:54 PM on 05/24/2012

Hmm those are interesting cases but I think a little off the point.
Gay marriage does not affect any church in that we are not demanding that a church marry us or recognize us. I don't really care if your church recognized my marriage or not.
The story about the pavilion is interesting.  Is the pavilion a church?  No, but it's owned by the church.  Is it open to the public?  Apparently only open to the heterosexual public.  I think it was correct to take their tax exemption away.  I don't buy the argument that any business owned by a christian is therefor exempt from the law on religious freedom grounds. A public square should be a public square for all no matter who owns it.   
As for the YMCA issue.  If the two guys are married, they are married, and the YMCA should respect the law. The other option is that churches not respect ANY civil marriage, straight or gay.  Then they might have a leg to stand on.
I really don't think that many gays are aggressively going after the church as you suggest.  I don't know anyone in my tribe that cares if a church recognize our unions or not.  What is import is that the state recognize my marriage since there are benefits from the federal and state governments for being married.
Christians often think we are trying to tell them that they have to marry gay folks.  They do not, nor should they be

[Kyle Noe]

04:39 AM on 05/11/2012

lol, his reverend is delusional. He thinks he can talk the most powerful man in the world (who's likely an atheist behind closed doors) out of his support for gay marriage. Hunter, you couldn't talk Obama out of anything, even if you offered him an indulgence. ;)

[Non-Indoctrinated]

02:54 AM on 05/11/2012

The 'Flip Flopper' of the century. There ya go LGBT. He finally gave ya just what you want. LOL Can you say, open wallet take out money? Amazing just five months before his loss, he tries to gain every vote he can. Next thing he'll promise the Latino's immigration reform and jobs for the record unemployment levels in the Black communities. Oh wait, he already done that AGAIN!

[Ziggy2345]

01:32 PM on 05/11/2012

I don't think you understand the term "flip flop", son. It is when you hold a particular stance on an issue and act accordingly in all circumstances, then when the political winds change and your position is no longer popular, you reverse your stance and actions. It's like if a guy was for deregulation of the banks his whole career, he writes legislation to achieve that, debates his opponents and argues why thats beneficial, etc. Then 2008 happens and deregulation is suddenly so unpopular that his reelection is now in doubt because he loves deregulation. So, he comes out and says "hey, you know, we need tighter regulation."

That's a freakin flip-flop. Obama did not do this, I think you know that, so why not be a man/woman about it and either give him a little credit or shrug and shut up about it.

[StopTeaGOP]

02:50 AM on 05/11/2012

President Obama is truly a transformational figure. He is the link between today and tomorrow. He is a bold and confident lead who is willing to take a political risk in order to do the right thing.

[The last sane American]

07:55 AM on 05/11/2012

After his vice-President blurts

[Blufftonian]

08:17 AM on 05/11/2012

...for campaign contributions.

[RepubsAreAJoke]

02:20 AM on 05/11/2012

Dont understand why this is an issue, do they believe if they dont make it okay then gay people will quit being gay? what happened to the pursuit of happiness?.... I am not gay,and I dont care who is let them do their own thing.

[goteamobama2012]

03:22 AM on 05/11/2012

again..for some reason.. yet understood ,,,..right wing republicans seem to miss that this is an equal rights issue. purely. not a religious issue. always has been, always will be. Some reason repubs only want people to have rights that they think they should have not what the constitution provides... again just the party of hypocrits.

[The last sane American]

07:58 AM on 05/11/2012

It started when we relinquished "I am my brother's keeper". And a look at the way our society have evolved a "solved" all of its social problems is pause to wonder.

[wsdave]

02:17 AM on 05/11/2012

"White House Reached Out To LGBT, Religious Leaders After Endorsement"

Still trying to play both sides...

[layman]

06:38 AM on 05/11/2012

It's just politics. Do they really care who you sleep with ???

[OrganJazz626]

02:12 AM on 05/11/2012

Whoops. The black community is NOT down with the gay marriage thing. Obama might lose their votes.

http://tinyurl.com/7p9cdv5

[Don1Carter]

09:27 AM on 05/11/2012

Not so. They won't vote for Romney or stay at home. Not even the preachers, except for the ones who think they'll get some $$$ from a GOP administration. But the pressure against gays in the Black community is real. Still, that too will change as more and more of them find the courage to come out and confront their parents, peers and pastors. You'll see.

[OrganJazz626]

10:53 AM on 05/11/2012

They wont vote for Romney. They will not vote. They are against gay marriage, although you would never know it, since the media ignores this simmering issue.

[bonkin]

02:01 AM on 05/11/2012

Hey boyz, could we return to the real issues of the economy and environment? If you don't like gay marriage, don't have one!

[cfrankwolfe]

05:06 AM on 05/11/2012

True that. Maybe they would rather I marry their sisters.

[josie klapper]

03:28 PM on 05/11/2012

No, your cousin...

[Mistinguette Grandison]

01:43 AM on 05/11/2012

Fox News trolls are out in full force today.

[OrganJazz626]

02:13 AM on 05/11/2012

Somebody has to bring you people back to reality.

[Non-Indoctrinated]

02:55 AM on 05/11/2012

Libbies wouldn't know reality if it was a ten ton rock that fell on their foot.

[Mistinguette Grandison]

09:54 AM on 05/11/2012

YOU PEOPLE?! I AM in reality, unlike some people who are still living in 1962.

[John R Lawless]

03:04 AM on 05/11/2012

You aren't worthy to lick the mud off the bottom of a Fox News analyst's shoe!

[layman]

06:42 AM on 05/11/2012

The reality is the Foxican analysts are all prostituting for the Murdogg/ Foxican dollars.

[Mistinguette Grandison]

09:27 AM on 05/11/2012

Why would I ever want to suck up to that machine of misinformation.

[biscuitdave]

01:20 AM on 05/11/2012

"He knew where I stood, because I'm an evangelical and I believe in what the scripture says."
Scripture says women have to have long hair. Do you want your own short-haired wife arrested?
It forbids you to eat shrimp. Do you advocate putting Florida's shrimping fleet out of business?
It says insects have four legs. Do you reject all evidence to the contrary? Have you ever been outside?
Be careful about claiming scripture as your guide, Reverend Hunter. As a fellow believer, I'm telling you it's not always a good idea.