The Obama Administration has quickly responded to suggestions that First Lady Michelle Obama has ever publicly supported same-sex marriage. This follows Monday's comments on CNN by former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, who said, "If only [Barack Obama] would listen to Michelle more often."
The White House has reminded reporters that the First Lady has never publicly contradicted her husband on this issue:
"Mrs. Obama has never made any public statements about same-sex marriage," her communications director, Kristina Schake, said in an email to POLITICO. Schake said the first lady has never “had any conversations with former Gov. McGreevey about the issue.” McGreevey and Michelle Obama have never met.
Obama has only gone so far as to share her husband’s views on gay-rights issues. "Barack believes that we must fight for the world as it should be, a world where together we work to reverse discriminatory laws like DOMA and ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’" she said at a 2008 fundraiser. "The world as it is should be one that rejects discrimination of all kinds."
Tuesday's statement came on the eve of the Obama Administration's third annual LGBT Pride Reception, which is scheduled for tonight. It also comes as the President and Administration are under renewed pressure to "evolve" on marriage equality.
Bizarre that anyone would actually believe that Michelle Obama regularly confides in Jim McGreevey. But the rapid White House response seems equally bizarre, no?
it doesn't seem so strange to me. They are about to go into a lgbt celebration, and though it might be good publicity on some levels, it actually is bad publicity on others. It makes the presidential couple look as if they are in conflict on issues. Some would pick at this and try to create other issues they may be in conflict on.
Also, the general population hates for the first lady to have any opinion on political issues (Hilary healthcare almost cost Clinton his presidency). President Obama is in the beginning stages of fundraising, and to have the first lady (even seemingly) talking on political points that are in conflict with even conservative Democrats (gay marriage) would cost him millions.
They know it is best to shut this down before it becomes even a minor distraction. The American public has short attention spans and usually grabs onto whatever salacious story pops up. Such as Weiner while the economy was going down the tubes and we were trying to discuss bringing troops home. Shut it down is the way the white house will be working until he is re-elected.
He is learning how to control the conversation. The American praise and discussion about killing bin Laden was shorter than the discussion about Weiner. The bin Laden situation was a major coup and should have pushed him into the presidency for a second term automatically. That's how Bush got his second term. But this black president gets very little love on any kind of consistant basis, regardless of what he does. So he knows he really has to control the conversation from now until he gets into that white house for a second term.
Especially since the repubs have been able to take the conversation from him on several major issues and control it in their favor. He is becoming tougher now and letting go of some of his ideas about always working together on all issues. Again, he has to if he wants to be re-elected.
Posted by: Diva1961 | 30 June 2011 at 09:18