James Clyburn Breaks With Obama, Says Gay Marriage Should Not Be Left To States

While President Obama gave his personal backing to same-sex marriage last Wednesday, he stopped short of advocating marriage equality for the entire country, saying that the matter should be decided on a state-by-state basis.

"I continue to believe that this is an issue that is going to be worked out at a local level," he told ABC's Robin Roberts.

On Monday, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), a long-serving congressman and civil rights icon, said that leaving the issue to states was a mistake. "If you consider this a civil right, and I do, I don't think civil rights ought to be left up to a state-by-state approach," he said during an appearance on MSNBC. "I think that we should have a national policy on this. State regulation is one thing, but the granting of the right to the states, I don't think that's a good policy and I have a problem with that."

Clyburn said that even though he disagrees with Obama on legislating gay marriage, he fully supported Obama's decision to come out in favor of equality. Echoing comments made to the Columbia Free-Times on Saturday, Clyburn told MSNBC host Chuck Todd that "I, like the President, have evolved to a point of marriage equality."

He spoke about the influence of his "fundamentalist" Christian upbringing, which he said had kept him from supporting gay marriage while younger.

"I grew up with that indoctrination, and I have grown to the point that I believe we have evolved to marriage equality," he said.

Despite his state-by-state stance, Obama has earned the praise of gay rights activists since the announcement, and was even declared the "first gay president" in a contentious Newsweek cover where he appeared underneath a rainbow-colored halo.

Comments

[unimatrix0]

11:35 AM on 05/20/2012

Clyburn is right, and I applaud him for not just standing with Obama, but also going the extra step and saying it is not enough.

[DevineLowler]

11:21 PM on 05/19/2012

if wants a Civil War II then lets do it his way

[unimatrix0]

11:33 AM on 05/20/2012

Are you saying the rights of Gay people are notworth fighting for, while opperation Iraqi Freedom is?

[jltjlt9]

11:48 PM on 05/16/2012

I fail to understand why religion is always being mentioned with regard to same sex unions. Everyone knows that God did not make the Homosexual man because if he had mad him this way, then there would not have been severe penalties in old Jewish law for homosexual behavior.

Aside from that, forget religion, the body itself is enough. Homosexuals, men and women are generally physically the same as straight people. It is simply an orientation problem. Orientation problems are always in the mind. If a man has a penis, he is clearly designed for a woman. If a woman has a vagina and what women usually have, she is designed for a man.

Homosexuality is a choice for many simply because it is sex without responsibility. No children come from such unions and most homosexuals could care less about having children.

But the price comes high with the knowledge that those who participate are deviating from how they are designed and thus they have become deviants.

Bottom line. Marriage is and should be, between one man and one woman. It is clean and natural. There is no hate here, just simple biology. Clear as a spring day.

[gingersaff]

12:26 PM on 05/17/2012

Women are physically weaker than men, and they were made that way by a god that is unseen and unheard. Therefore, women should be subservient to men, and those that aren't are defying that god. (Or goddess, I mean nobody's SEEN that god, so the possibility exists that it could be female. But I digress.) They were MADE to be weaker, and should therefore submit. Trying to by "uppity" is a choice. Using birth control is also a choice to avoid the responsibility of having children. Motherhood is so clearly what being a real woman is all about, that those who do not want it or want to limit procreation are simply being deviant. Bottom line: women who do not submit to the natural rule of men are unclean and unnatural. Clear as the innocence of all men incarcerated for domestic violence. Biology is destiny.

[jltjlt9]

09:50 PM on 05/20/2012

What the Hell are you talking about? God did not make woman to be subserviant to man and made her weaker for that reason.

Woman is made the way she is so that she may bare children and nurse them.

Ginger, you have got to be some kind of wierded out Muslim.

Everything you said in your post is completely off the wall. However man has dominated woman and that is only because of the fall of man. God warned Eve that man would dominate women. It was just what God saw as happening because their rebellion made it a differant situation and from that point onward, man was pretty much on his own.

I hope you were trying to make some point and do not believe most of what you wrote.

Before the fall of man, Adam and Eve were on a pretty equal consideration. It will be fixed one day.

[unimatrix0]

11:45 AM on 05/20/2012

"It is simply an orientation problem." Why is it a problem? What problem does it cause for you what people do in private with their genitals?
"Marriage is and should be, between one man and one woman." Why do believe this? The bible says that marriage is between a man and multiple women, who are we to redefine the sacred terms of marriage?
Do you underdstand what religious freedom means? Not forcing others to follow a relgion they do not believe in. When you deny gays the right to marry because it offends your religious beliefs you force them to abide by your religion, but when you are allowed to eat what ever you want, and not follow Kosher law it is religious freedom.

[jltjlt9]

09:45 PM on 05/20/2012

Hey, I am neither a Bible thumper, belong to any religion or follow Kosher eating.

I do however see clearly that men are designed for women and women are designed for men.

That is the bottom line.

[tfwm]

08:41 PM on 05/16/2012

Obama was out of order for making such a statement. He claimed to be making the statement based on his personal opinion, however, he is an active President so his comments are not personal on any issue, they are all considered official because of the weight of the office he sits in.

Further, his subsequent statement that views other than his own on this topic are "backward" is State interference with Church matters and a violation of the separation of church and state principle. Infringing on the rights of those you do not agree with is still a violation and more than that Obama incited anti-Christian sentiment. It is an error to think that Christians are the only people that do not agree with this and will not support his re-election.

[AdamWest1313]

08:45 PM on 05/16/2012

...What? Your second paragraph makes no sense, because marriage is no longer a religious topic in this country, it is a secular civil contract.

[tfwm]

08:51 PM on 05/16/2012

It is a religious topic, which is why Christians and the Bible are always the basis for this issue.

Further, your contention is not the law of this land, as the U.S. Supreme Court has not touched the issue. Stop pretending that you don't understand my very potent, direct, and accurate post.

[dougfunnie]

02:35 AM on 05/17/2012

This why there is a separation of church and state.

[whitechick1988]

08:02 PM on 05/16/2012

Have you all not figured it out. He will do anything to get elected. He will tell you and promise you the moon..whatever it takes to destroy our country and become a dictator. He couldnt care about anyone. He has HIS agenda and whatever will get him elected is what he is willing to do. He will sell your soul to the devil he doesnt care. Hence interesting he is even changing the bios of all the previous presidents...i hope their wives come a running and raising all kinds of he--. To put what HE wants you to know to get elected. He needs to go! He is altering the shape of AMERICA and his CHANGE AND FORWARD...and his DIRECTION ARE NOT WHAT WE WANT..NEED..HE HAS SERIOUSLY DERAILED US! LETS GET HIM OUT!..Interesting that this information that usually goes straight to the Huffington Post doesnt have a spot instead it goes to Fox News...guess he is controlling social media too...Watch out America....if he doesnt go it will be a scary place in 4 years...look at his administration and how many people have left...NO ONE and they know all the secrets want to be there. VOTE NO TO OBAMA!

[q22222]

07:37 AM on 05/16/2012

Obama is going against the Bible and G-d. It is an abominaton pure and simple. The states have nothing to do with homosexuals Will Obama go to heaven or hell?

[SeattleSlough]

04:23 PM on 05/16/2012

Neither.

Both are imaginary places.

[jltjlt9]

12:05 AM on 05/17/2012

Actually you are again as always and most of the time 1/2 right.

Heaven exists and is that realm outside of our planets environment. Oboma is unlikely to go to heaven because he is unable to create jobs, unify people or even do things God would want him to do. He is not suitable to rule in heaven with Gods son Jesus and those chosen to rule this planet when the Kingdom comes to rule Daniel chapter 2 verse 44.

Besides, I would not want to go to heaven, too much responsibility, raising the dead, settling disputes, deciding who lives and dies. Not for me or most men and women.

Hell, well that word is translated from Sheol which means the common grave of mankind. Many will wind up there as they will not find a place in Gods new world where he sets things straight and back to what he wanted. The thinking of some place of torment came centuries after Christianity became infiltrated with other false beliefs.

Sorry about the religious aspect, had to set this straight.

Believe or not it does not matter. What will happen will not depend on what you have to say or believe. We are like a mist which rises and then is gone. Being allowed to exist will depend on the choices you make and your ability or inability to change your behavior.

[AdamWest1313]

08:46 PM on 05/16/2012

Actually, God made homosexuality while man made the rules against it.

But I love how arrogant you are about this topic.

[jltjlt9]

11:53 PM on 05/16/2012

You have got to be kidding. God made the Homosexual? Why on earth would he make something like that. No my friend, if God made the Homosexual then he would not have given the death penalty in the old testament for men who lay with one another as a man lays with a woman. Those laws were around for centuries. You were just born yesterday and know nothing about God, his laws and what he likes and does not like.

Try again.

[l78lancer]

02:56 AM on 05/16/2012

Just like Brown v. Board of Education was state laws that were overturned at the Supreme Court, gay marriage will eventually be resolved the same way. Among other things, Brown determined that civil rights issues could not appropriately be resolved at the state level because civil rights are granted by legislation, not by popular vote or referendum. I suspect as a constitutional lawyer, Obama knows that.

[UKLLee]

03:26 AM on 05/16/2012

LOL! Just like he knows that it's constitutional to compel people to buy things from a private company or how he knows that it's unconstitutional for a state to enforce federal immigration law?

"constitutional lawyer" hahahahahahahahahha

[l78lancer]

04:04 AM on 05/16/2012

The republiclowns invented the health care plan in the 1990s. The invented the private option to not allow the public option of Hillarycare to gain traction. It was determined at that time that it would stand up under the commerce clause. So fast forward to 2009. When the republicans shot down the public option, the democrats put in the private option. So your laughter is that of a fool.

[gingersaff]

12:49 PM on 05/17/2012

I have to insure my vehicles, my property, and my business. I have to have my kids vaccinated. I have to fork over money to local, state and federal governments. I have to purchase a license to drive or to sell products; I have to buy permits to do anything to my personal residence or change something on my personal property. Although anarchy might sound like a good way to live for some, the rest of us feel that it's an acceptable tradeoff to compel people to fork over money in order to achieve a desired result. I hope you enjoy your life in Crazy Town, where everything is free. As far as immigration law, this president has taken enforcement to new levels, greatly increasing the power and presence of the border patrol and sending deportation levels soaring. Aside from just shooting hispanics on site, I don't know how he could satisfy your blood lust. Plus, I'm willing to bet that farm that he's a lot smarter than you. But laugh away...

[jltjlt9]

12:02 AM on 05/16/2012

Obama does not believe that a man is appropriate for marriage to another man. As a boy he was taught Muslim beliefs. In Muslim countries, same sex unions are dealt with harshly. The President is also a Happily married man to one woman and has the proof of his sexuality in the two daughters which were born to he and his wife.

However, he has done what all politicians do, made a public display with a statement for those whom he has held out this gay statement as a symbolic carrot which the gay and lesbian society have been demanding for years now.

It is of course nothing more than a statement which he feels will help him get re-elected and which also re-focuses his failure on creating jobs and the terrible condition of the economy to another issue which most people are sick of hearing about.

But ultimately, most believe, as do I, that marriage is and should be between one man and one woman. That is how we are obviously designed and that is how it should be and always has been.

[l78lancer]

03:07 AM on 05/16/2012

Many people are raised under one set of practices but set those practices aside when they are adults. You have no idea what Obama believes, and that is a ridiculous and arrogant statement. Just like he lived in Indonesia, he also lived in Hawaii. To assume that one set of beliefs is superior to another is silly unless you are inside his head. For all you know, Obama could be bisexual, because there are many men who have been married for decades with children who live an alternate lifestyle.

It really is better to take people at their word when they say things until they state otherwise. That way you don't end up disillusioned, disappointed and wrong because you've imputed your opinions to them.

[jltjlt9]

07:35 AM on 05/16/2012

I understand. What you are claiming is that the most powerful man in the world who is capable of changing the course of world history and with a simple executive order would be able to execute anyone at whim without any repercussions to be concerned over is really hiding his true sexual nature and deviant sexual desires from the entire country, his wife, two daughters as well as his extended family and the rest of the entire inhabited earth.

You also feel that his projection as a normally oriented, heterosexual man, who is married to one wife and has raised two lovely children and who has stated on numerous occasions, that this is what a man should be to the peoples of the United States of America and to the rest of the world, is in fact probably a liar and that we should not believe he is a straight and true man despite all the evidence to the contrary?

For the record,I shall advise him that you feel he is secretly a bisexual who is hiding his true nature.

Your opinion matters and for the record, I am appreciative of the information you have imparted this way about our President.

[Ethan Cole]

12:45 PM on 05/16/2012

Gay people always think straight people are gay. You know there are alot of people, who find the gay lifestyle repulsive, but still are acceptable of it. Don't desecrate his marriage, by insinuating, he may be gay, but because if you engage with the same sex, regardless if you are involved with the opposite sex, you are gay. As the ole saying goes, 1 punk lay down, 2 get up!

[AdamWest1313]

08:47 PM on 05/16/2012

You have presented no reason why marriage equality shouldn't happen. You need a compelling legal reason why giving civil equality to homosexuals would harm anyone or the state.

Nothing less.

[jltjlt9]

11:32 PM on 05/16/2012

Children often imitate what they see.

[gibby1855]

12:01 AM on 05/16/2012

Bigterra he did not fool me, the gay community is smarter then that, his words are a joke, up to each state, 30-or more states have said no already, dah. So each state as the right to vote on my civil rights, no thanks. We need to march in the streets and fight for are rights

[BIGTERRA]

09:25 PM on 05/15/2012

Once again Barack Obama has conned a group of American voters!

What was it he "promised" the gay and lesbian community? Did he promise to work for or toward gay "marriages"?

Or did he say he' thinks gay and lesbian marriages are all right?

Obama "appeared" to endorse gay and lesbian marriage, but he said the decision should be up to the state!

In other words, Obama said NOTHING that will advance the ideaof gay/lesbian marriage, but he said it in such a way that the gay community has heaped praise on him.

Has the gay and lesbian community not yet learned that Obam makes worthless and false promises, that he is a pathological liar, that he will and does pander to any and every group he thinks might vote for him - do they believe that he will do what he promises?

[Echoesofhope]

12:06 AM on 05/16/2012

Dribble. Don't ask don't tell is no longer law. DOMA is in the gathering dust...Among others...The people who care and matter in this case know where the president stands

[l78lancer]

03:11 AM on 05/16/2012

He stated that it was a personal statement, not a political statement. Therefore the only person looking forward to policy coming from him on this issue is you, and the only one who was conned is you.

[BIGTERRA]

08:54 PM on 05/15/2012

It's kinda interesting how politicians seem to "evolve"!

Didn't that once was called "flip-floppinmg"?

[KingJ]

05:03 PM on 05/15/2012

Reading some of the comments below and across other news outlets targeting various groups (women, Hispanics, etc.) I hear each group saying the SAME thing: What about ME? "The President needs to do more for Blacks!" "He's not doing anything about Immigration!" "More woman have lost jobs under his administration - what about us!?"

The President's role is to represent the American people, nationally and internationally. Right now the President is standing up for Gay Americans (who are male, female, white, brown, yellow and black), just like Wilson and Kennedy did for Women and Blacks, respectively.

Those crying for attention to their cause need to make sure their Mayors, Governors, Senators and House Reps take priority to their issues - if they aren't then vote for someone else! But don't say the President isn't listening to the causes of your community because he's standing up for the rights of another.

[BIGTERRA]

09:03 PM on 05/15/2012

KingJ

On the other hand, Obama has shown his bigotry and racism in many ways. For example, consider how he has ordered his joke of an AG, Eric "fast and furious" Holder to NOT prosecute black criminals such as the Black Panthers.

And now Obama has again shown his racism with an advertisement he is running on YouTube! It's tha most dispicable, disgusting and divisive advertisement I have ever seen!

Where is the media on this? Can you imaginee the cries we'd hear if a caucasian president ran an ad that says, "All you white people must support me because I am as white as you are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BdjoHA5ocwU

[AdamWest1313]

09:26 PM on 05/15/2012

Please, provide a link to this "disgusting and divisive" ad on YouTube.

[CrawfishFestival2]

12:05 AM on 05/16/2012

Thanks for the information, BIGTERRA.

[Black Rhino]

04:10 PM on 05/15/2012

A black leader should be spending all his time convincing his own people to be careful, and get married before procreating. Black people are sealing their own fate, lost in a state of poverty and ignorance...all because of reckless procreation. Bad black parents are raising the next generation of useless people because they don't invest any effort into parenting.

This is the main problem to solve...the main issue with marriage and child birth. "Baby daddy" should not be an easy term to swallow...

Sadly, this fake issue on gay marriage will occupy some more time.

[Sandbrn]

04:22 PM on 05/15/2012

Why is the problem you describe solely a "Black" issue. Statistics say this, statistics say that, statistics say whatever the news media needs them to say in order to paint a picture that ignorant people need to believe. Bad parents are everywhere, not just in the black community.

[Black Rhino]

04:29 PM on 05/15/2012

Take a look at illegitimacy rates among ethnic groups in the US, and then claim it's not a black issue.

Asians don't have this problem. Whites seem to handle it a bit better. With 70% illegitimacy rates, the culture of recklessness has grown rampant. These children are not being properly raised, causing all sorts of social problems. They were screwed when they were conceived.

This is the #1 issue facing black america.

[Feral79]

05:10 PM on 05/15/2012

Well, I'm not looking at any statistics at the moment... But living in the hood as I do I can throw a rock in any direction and hit a single black woman with nine children by four different men... Non of whom are around. You don't have to like the way things are but sticking your fingers in your ears and screaming LALALA doesn't change a thing.

[OKobserver]

04:48 PM on 05/15/2012

You calling civil rights a fake issue say how fake you are. Your enitire comment just screams racist. Whites are just as careless when it comes to procreation. As evidenced by the tons of "brady bunch" families. When you are marrying and divorcing as fast as you are having kids, it keeps the term "baby daddy" alive and well. If you want the issue of gay marriage to not occupy more time, then you need to be doing something to establish same and equal rights for all American citizens. Because, unitl it is done, it wont go away

[sharm97]

09:19 PM on 05/15/2012

OKobserver, It is equal now as far as marriage is concerned. Any one man and one woman who wants to get married can. You are the one who is suggesting that it be made unequal. If you allow two men or two women to marry, you are making it unequal. And you would be making it unfair also, unless you allow one man and two women to marry, or any other combination.

[rtaylor1974]

04:06 PM on 05/15/2012

While Im in agreement with Clyburn on this subject.

Why doesnt he push the President on the most serious issues in the black community...

In Priority Order.

1. Mass Incarceration (Jim Crowe 2.0)
2. Huge Unemployment Numbers (refer to number 1)
3. Poor Public Education Statistics (probably a preface of # 1)

Gay Marriage would be lower on that list.

[OKobserver]

04:50 PM on 05/15/2012

Who says he isnt and that its not? This was just an article where he is expressing his opinion of what is right, not what he has on the front burner

[sharm97]

05:08 PM on 05/15/2012

rtaylor1874, read Black Rhino's post. As long as black people in authority don't focus on strengthing the black family and lobbying against out of wedlock births black society will continue to suffer the issues you state. Our black politicians and leaders for far too long have been focusing on the wrong thing.

[OKobserver]

05:36 PM on 05/15/2012

You cannot legislate birth restrictions, this isnt China. If Black leaders do nothing but focus on the black commnuity then they become guilty of being single issue politicians which are alwayd decried as being worthless.

[joe13]

08:18 PM on 05/15/2012

You actually think that black people need the government to tell them about marriage and responsible parenting? But white people don't? Wow!

[Jose Hill]

02:56 PM on 05/15/2012

Mr. Clyburn understands all to well what happens when you leave a Minority's rights to the states. Thank you sir for standing for equality.

[Feral79]

05:15 PM on 05/15/2012

Yes... Can't have a set up where the will of the people are enforced... What kind of country would that be? Better to just disregard everything this nation was founded on and use heavy handed tactics to force your will upon an entire nation.

[AdamWest1313]

05:41 PM on 05/15/2012

The funny thing is that you have it backwards. You are talking about a direct democracy, which is something that the founders tried to avoid. They did this by creating the Electoral College (people don't directly vote for president) and set up the Senate to have it's members be appointed by the state senates (so the people didn't directly vote for senator either). You see, that is how Constitutional Republics are supposed to work. The people are not supposed to directly vote for things, they are supposed to have those things be voted on by their elected officials.

If you do not like that, then you should start trying to change our system of government.

[OKobserver]

05:44 PM on 05/15/2012

Is the ignorance of your comment as painful for you as it is for others? Civil rights are not an issue to be decided by "the will of the people". Our country was founded on the ideal that ALL citizens have the same and equal rights. It was also founded on a persons right to freedom of religion including freedom from religion if so chosen. Based on the logic of your comments Slavery should have never been ended. Blacks should never have been gievn equal rights in all areas. Women should have never been given the right to vote. Interracial marriages should have been allowed to be banned by the states that did so that caused the 14th Amendment to be penend and passed. The founding fathers of our country were deists, not chrstians, especially not by todays standards. They did not create a nation for the many to trample the few