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?
