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Chris Stirewalt, Sally Kohn and Charlie Hurt discuss President Obama's evolving stance on gay marriage
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Sun president.
Has in his comments if you want to ask him that he certainly welcome to I didn't and have an update for for you.
On the president's -- yeah.
Back miserably unhappy looking -- was white house Press Secretary Jay Carney.
Getting a thorough grilling from the white house press corps yesterday on what is now a very confusing status the administration's.
Position as it relates to gay marriage.
This power play welcome back a -- -- of course Charlie hurt.
Who is resident of the District of Columbia where they do -- gay marriage where it's look at where it's totally legal.
Gun rights but not -- well it's complicated.
But Sally come joins us from New York.
Sally how we do what.
Well you don't wanna have gay marriage and gun rights because then it does gay marriages go south and these -- have guns.
It's just bad it's just.
You've been to Charlie's neighborhood.
They could be questioned Sally is president himself is going to be in New York today.
He's going up to Albany.
Two pitch his jobs plan and rail against a do nothing.
Congress is he calls it but the issue of gay marriage as -- that was launched it would Vice President Biden.
Sort of staked out a new position on the subject on Meet the Press on Sunday this has been rolling forward for a couple of days it's follow the president out on the trail.
What is the perspective a lot of the angst here is on the left and from the president's base as Democrats say well if this is how you feel old why -- you take action on that.
-- it well and I'm gonna go I'm -- take a bold step here Chris let's say that I think that angst is even broader than that the yanks comes from American the American public in general.
-- -- -- -- They wanna see politicians who just.
Actually stand up.
And say what they believe it and I mean.
You know you know I'm a Democrat but.
I think Republicans and Democrats would like to see that for Romney to you know stop making and the same thing for about a stop making careful calculated decisions.
That are based on polls -- -- sort of Reading the tea leaves of where you think elect and do what you actually think is the right.
Think and then let the chips fall where they may now the problem here is we don't actually know what's in the president's.
Heart on this issue and I wanna take -- some issue with something you said earlier you know much of the products he said that there aren't you centrist Democrats last.
I mean come on we've got one in the White House we have a classic.
Centrist Democrat in the White House.
And going back to -- previous centrist democratic president.
Bill Clinton who you know not only was against gay marriage that he was the one who signed the defense of marriage act the so called defense of marriage act.
-- you know arguably violate the constitution and -- marriages from being recognized in other states so.
You know it's not clear where the president is on this first of all.
But if -- you.
I'm good I'm glad I'm I'm going to give Charlie hurt -- this question do you think that Barack Obama is a centrist Democrat.
OK so he's laughing about this he was smirking Sally so I thought he might laugh I Charlie Charlie say say your piece and -- -- you know.
This is -- a perfect example of what happens when you have somebody you politician.
Who.
May be in one position I'm sure he is with the members of his administration on the issue of gay marriage.
But he he's doing everything -- to confiscate that and to sort of cover over because the only way that he manages to two -- win -- national action.
Is to sort of that suggested he might be something else and end this thing -- these things always open and people's faces.
And and were reminded on Sunday why Osama bin Laden.
Say issued a fatwa did take out all these American leaders believe Joseph Biden yeah.
I was so all this.
All the after I'll I'll bet that that he causes so quickly causes an American crisis but he's opening his mouth.
And as he did I'm the administrator and here -- let let time settle a patent for a second asks the question just for our.
Or I should say more cynical.
And here's the question.
It is what we heard from Vice President Biden I think it's -- -- I think that this is an effort where you tried to say to.
A very influential by the way well -- an important donor an activist group inside.
The gay lesbian community.
To say we're with you don't forget -- -- contrast there Chris I -- and I will include whomever wants to come to that party I admit they can be on the guest list.
But the point being.
This is this effort is this -- -- where they're trying to send a message to base supporters -- to let them know that it's cool.
Or was this just a garden variety gap where Biden said something that just causes headaches.
You know I'd love to give credit.
To Joseph Biden's mouth and brain that fit between the -- There is that a strategic very going on there what I actually think this reflects more because -- you also didn't -- their two cabinet.
Members president Obama's cabinet.
According to come out support Arnie -- right.
Ed Ed but they've come out in the -- not sort of on their own just like hey you know -- chat in here and oh by the way I'm supportive of gay marriage.
But this is actually reflected some pressure on the part of that gay rights community.
To try and nail down the administration's position on this issue and it seems that they're trying to -- cabinet member by cabinet member asked him to get on the record.
So I think Joseph Biden servers responding to a question.
-- responded to annually and authentically.
I don't think it's this sort of play on the part of the White House in -- because you just look at the way the White House sort of as far as I'm concerned.
Embarrassingly rolled it back I mean to be honest under the Bush Administration.
You know George Bush and Dick Cheney were very divided on this issue and he managed to maintain that difference.
And I think a much more respectful way -- in the White House has maintained if there is in -- difference between the president and Joseph Biden.
I think that the White House has made it look pretty nasty in the last few days.
Charlie -- gambit or gas I love your cynicism I largest in the yeah.
But but here's the problem with that is if President Obama ever holds another press conference and he very well may not.
If he does I guarantee this would be the question that will dominate the entire press conference which which not only because -- very awkward situation where -- did you.
Muck around about how he does but doesn't but sort of does is -- -- all this crazy stuff that he that he's been trying in the past.
But it'll be more pointed the questions will come out of and and not not not only does that does that make him look more foolish.
But it also raises it just sort of -- this whole issue.
That I really don't think he kind of needs right now and doesn't really want in the general election.
Maybe I can make it's it's maybe it's a bad gambit it's not maybe not an -- gambit but isn't there are selling something to be said here for what Obama tried to do which is.
Preserve his status.
As a moderate or in the middle or persuade able revolving or whatever he -- it when it comes to states like North Carolina.
And at the same time try -- lure Mitt Romney into the issue of saying something.
That they can then paint him as an extremist with in places like the suburbs of Philadelphia.
I mean again there's there's one of two things happening here I think one is you know the president truly is evolving.
You know he really isn't -- fourth you know forthcoming only supported on the issue and this is how it's playing out plays out -- -- because opinion as -- For her and this is -- I think will be more disturbing.
Or he really does genuinely support marriage equality.
But is making a you know cynical political calculating choice to you know kind of try and play it both ways you know the look.
This isn't always the best example to go to an election season.
But I always think about Lyndon Johnson this moment who.
When he signed the Civil Rights Act he knew he said it was it was sunny is the -- will look there goes the south he lost the south for his party.
But he did.
The right thing and I think America wants leaders who do the right thing I think the president should think.
Not about how you know the polls and until a better -- -- voters and deal that but how history is gonna do with whether he was the president who stood in the way.
But what Franklin we all know is right and just an inevitable.
I -- other kind of leadership and he hasn't shown on -- number of issues in office frank.
So I think you're going to say the thing about picking up the -- by its ears in the driveway I would I -- discourage the president from doing that Sally -- a thank you so much for being what it would have JD golf expects OK I was probably gave it -- it now we're going to take a quick break what but when we come back we're gonna talk to congressman.
From down in Georgia and he's gonna tell us -- Why the president -- so mad at him and why does why does he keep going out there across the country and saying that these the members of congress are doing any work.
We'll talk to him about that but I want to close because he agreed with me as -- -- -- to read his chat.
-- from Vincent de Campo who says gay marriage is the latest -- hearing by Obama.
He is bringing this up to create another wedge issue a wise man obviously -- had to --
