Who cares how Obama got there.....politics scmolitics....who give s rat's a--. He got to the right point....heading towrds reall freedom for everyone without political or RELIGIOUS persecution. marriage is a word and and institution, created and defined by humans. And with many things we did a long time ago, we made it and defined it when we had the knowledge and common sense of an amoeba. I get a kick out of all the religious nuts quoting this guy in the Bible (Grimms Fairy tales)named Liviticus. Who was this punk named Liviticus, and from what college of ignorance, shrouded in mystery, celerated with ceremony and insence did he gradutae from!! It's like someone asking me for proof that the beans I have will grow a bean stalk to the sky and I pull out the book of fairy tales and present it as objective proof and documentation. I was listening to Mother Angelica yesterday and I was just befuddled about this entitiy God. Apparently, the model for existence he designed is such that we "offend" him when we "sin". And to make it extremely hard to avoid ofeneding him, he designed us in a way that makes us want to do these things called sin. And then to put the icing on the cake, if we succumb to the failings he has instilled in us, he will punish us, not for a day or 2, but he will burn us for ETERNITY!! And then, in the next breath, she is telling us how sweet, and kind, and merciful, and fogiving, and comforting he is. Bullcrap!! Just FYI Big Fella, down here on Earth, we would call that cruel and unusual punishment, and way out of line with the severity of the offense. Are you really still burning people from the 200s, and 500, and 1400s for one lousy sin because they weren'y able to get to Confession before they died?? We have many names down here for someone who fits your description, but God and loving and forgiving aren't among them. Sadidtic butcher is what comes to my mind, but that's just me.

I'm an "anti-stupidity" bigot myself. I'm very biggoted against all forms of stupidity and ignorance that leads to giving pain to any human being. I know I sometimes come across as an "anti-Catholic" bigot, but that's jus beacuse the Catholic Church example of instituionnalized stupidity and ignorance causing pain to human beings. Praise and love and compassion and warmth in Sweet Jesus name to you brother. And if you don't believe in him....He will BURN you for Eternity in the hot fires of hell, you no good m.f.!!!

"Cynical?" The GOP's exploitative use of 'values issues' not only accepts denying rights to people who are 'different' but actively promotes it. For a party that loves to proclaim allegiance to the priciple of personal freedom at any opportunity, they are, quite simply, on the wrong side of history.

Demonizing one's opposition is always a good way to solidify one's base. The truth is that there are passionate proponents and passionate opponents. The passionate opponents include both bigots and homophobes and sincere believers in the principle that marriage really is a sacrament and the institution sanctioned by society for the protection of the family. Then of course there is a large number of people, and I'm one of them, who don't really give a hoot one way or the other and see the issue as irrelevant and a distraction from more important matters. If gay marriage would help me find a job I'd probably be for it. Otherwise I don't care.

If there is a flip flop here by Obama and not a sincere evolving of thought, then it pales in comparrison to the number of issues on which Romney has changed course. Let's give the President a mulligan on this one, shall we.

I'm surprised that a Romney supporter would raise the topic of flip-flopping for political reasons. The Governor is presently against virtually every position he held while running for both the Senate and for governor. But then, Mr Jacoby is not the most astute of commentators, and his readers don't expect balance.

Here was another opportunity to express even one of those "legitimate concerns" and yet we have nothing.

Jeff, no one is running roughshod over anyone. Don't have a lot of time this morning but, towards the end of this article (you know, the one where you mention "let's just imagine that Barack Obama is telling the truth" about fifteen times) you say people have legitimate concerns about gay marriage. Could you please mention what those are next time? Yeah, I'd be interested, because therein lies the crux of the problem for those on your side.

Kitch, I often agree with you but this post is a cheap shot.

Anyone who possesses the mental capacity to give consent. That would include all adults and people of sound mind. And we are talking about two people. Allowing groups of people to marry sounds like the formation of a corporation. The only real slippery-slope argument I would accept would be the prohibition on incest because there would be no rational reason to prohibit it.

The President did not evolve. As his former spiritual mentor sadly noted in 2008, he is a "politician". That's what politicians do. His 'evolution' was a politician's version of the hidden ball trick. Given the 0-31 electoral track record, he wanted to pack the Supreme Court with liberals in the second term. Can't get reelected, if you start embracing unpopular causes, particularly, hamstrung with a crappy recovery. He has studiously avoided controversial issues like Gay Marriage, in order to get reelected, then Joe Biden and the sob sisters of the media, got their briefs in a twist, whining that he was still 'evolving' on the issue. Politics all. So his 'brave' decision has reaped millions from the Hollywood Booboise, but the voters, who are responsible for the 0-31 record, are unenthusiastic. So much for the second term now. Sucks being a politician, don't it?

Yes, Jeff, people evolve, as Obama has done. It's just like people evolved over allowing black slaves their freedom, women the right to vote and allowing gays to come out of the closet. One can claim that their religious beliefs prevent them from accepting marriage between same sex couples. And yet, Jesus never said anything about homosexuality or marriage. Jesus' message was about love, loving your fellow human beings. And since God created homosexuality in just about every strata of the animal kingdom, a kingdom He created, one can assume God is OK with homosexuals. And I'm sure that people didn't think it was bigoted to refuse equality to blacks or women, it was their religion that made them unequal, so it is with you and others who oppose gays. Perhaps it makes you comfortable not having to think on your own. Me? I've evolved on many issues as well. Evolution is something that only has helped all creatures on the earth. You should try it sometime.

Jeff should be praised for giving Obama the benefit of the doubt, for being sincere about his evolving beliefs, but the bigots on the left still want to trash poor Mr. Jacoby, nevertheless. As for me, I think Obama was a cynical, calculating and manipulative politician, who was fleshed out by Biden and media before he wanted to. He wanted Romney, not himself, on the defensive in the culture wars. Now he's sliding into to Carter country. He knew what he was doing by "evolving". Now he's stuck with the electoral result of that evolution. So 'evolution', the inert economy, and sky high energy costs plus $3.00, will get Obama a latte at Starbucks. Well played, Mr. O. Well played.

As a gay man I feel that I have been run "roughshod" over my entire life by people with a "different view" regarding my right to be who and what I am. Mr. Jacoby, it takes pure gall for anyone to complain that proponents of same sex marriage are riding rough shod over anyone. The truth is it is people like you who have been guilty of trampling over our lives. You've been free to bully, condemn and ostracize us for too long. I know first hand what it's like to have my home and my relationship threatened because we had no legal protections or recognition. For too long gay people have shrugged and resigned ourselves to the situation, but no longer. So stand in our way Mr. Jacoby and yes, we will run right over you and with no regrets or apologies.

I often disagree with you but your observation is well taken.

There's a certain irony in Jeff Jacoby, author of dozens of articles on the evils of gay marriage, deigning to give anyone the benefit of the doubt on this topic. He's even collected his writings on his web page: http://www.jeffjacoby.com/topics/133/same-sex-marriage Columns have topics like "The threat from same-sex 'marriage'" and "Demagogues and the marriage debate." A quick read of anyone of them gives the lie to every word in Mr. Jacoby's recent column. Arguments include ""Marriage -- male-female marriage -- is indispensable to human welfare. That is why it has existed in virtually every known human society.", "Marriage is for joining what is different, not for adding like to like.", and "there is no moral authority for the claim that restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples is unjust." Jeff Jacoby is not an aggrieved man with a "legitimate concern." He's a man obsessed with denying other people rights. If he doesn't like the common term for people like him, maybe he should change his tune.

Intesesting quote on the blog 'Boston 1775' today, from a prominent founding father conservatives are so fond of claiming a connection to: // "The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights.For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support." // from the August 17, 1790 letter by George Washington to the Touro Synagogue in Newport. // While full realization of these lofty ideals continues still, it's nice to have POTUS who at least shares them.

"Evolution", is borne out of political winds. At the time Obama needed to be pro family, he was against gay marriage. His evolution was a function of the politics. Pure and simple. This is very common, as many similar evolutions have come about, particularly when is comes to social issues. Both Bill Clinton and Al Gore were pro life, until it suited them better to be pro abortion. But the one common thread is that liberal have always, and will always, demonize people who disagree with them on social issues. This has been the left wing playbook for decades. The media, the Hollywood elites, and all of academia play a crucial role in demonizing the opposition. But mainstream America, thankfully, is very good at thinking for itself. It will not be bullied into going against its own values.