Would Obama have endorsed marriage equality if Biden hadn't made his gaffe?

[Meeker]

Are Joe Biden's Sunday morning gaffes now directing national policy?

[CathKhan]

Wait, he gaffed? All I remember hearing was that he was now "comfortable" or "accepting" of the idea. Was there some huge gaffe I didn't hear about?

[Grad Students are the Worst]

As the owner of a franchised Dunkin Donuts store, I sure hope not

[Nagas]

I don't think it was a gaffe. They probably decided that they were going to come out in support of gay marriage and told Biden that he no longer had to keep his mouth shut.

[Χahar]

If having an honest man on the ticket forces everyone else to be honest, I have no problem with it.

[Governor Scott]

That definitely wasn't a gaffe.

[ajb]

That definitely wasn't a gaffe.

I suspect it was more of a trial balloon.

[Lief]

Once again, Obama has out-smarted us all. It was all part of the plan.

[Politico]

It was not a gaffe, but it is the first flip-flop of the general election campaign. Maybe Obama and Biden sincerely changed their mind at almost the same time, or maybe they are playing politics (Washington Insiders playing politics? Say it ain't so, Joe!). In any case, they cannot accuse Romney of flip-flopping for political expediency unless they want the retort from Republicans to be, "hypocrisy much?"

Things are going downhill, and we're almost at the tipping point of no return for Team Obama.  If his approvals revert back to where they were last summer, he's toast. They needed some kind of distraction to try to stop the approvals from sliding back down. They got their distraction. Whether or not it will work is another question. Personally, I would bet against it. Even among young people, the vast majority care a lot more about quality jobs being available than they do about gay marriage being available.

[white trash heroes]

It was not a gaffe, but it is the first flip-flop of the general election campaign.

Things are going downhill, and we're almost at the tipping point of no return for Team Obama.  If his approvals revert back to where they were last summer, he's toast. They needed some kind of distraction to stop the sign that the approvals are sliding back down. They got their distraction. Whether or not it will work is another question. Personally, I would bet against it. Even among young people, the vast majority care a lot more about quality jobs being available than gay marriage.

do they? i don't exactly have a glowing opinion of my own age cohort by now for obvious reasons. even relative to the rest of the electorate.

[GM Griffin]

No gaffe. I always imagine Biden tied down in a room somewhere until he's allowed to be "set free".

[asexual trans victimologist]

The approvals aren't actually moving an immense amount. Averaged together, they've been within a point or two for months now. We are admittedly in a bit of a doldrums at the moment, economically, which if Romney was smarter or more likable he'd be capitalizing on more than he is (and he's already capitalizing on it a little).

Obama is allowed to spend moments of his life, even his public life, talking or thinking about things other than job reports, as is Romney, but independent of all else this probably isn't a winning issue for Romney if he decides to press it for whatever reason.

[marvelrobbins]

Your on drugs If you think Romney will create better jobs.

Biden didn't make a gafe.It was part of plan.

[Politico]

The approvals aren't actually moving an immense amount. Averaged together, they've been within a point or two for months now. We are admittedly in a bit of a doldrums at the moment, economically, which if Romney was smarter or more likable he'd be capitalizing on more than he is (and he's already capitalizing on it a little).

Obama is allowed to spend moments of his life, even his public life, talking or thinking about things other than job reports, as is Romney, but independent of all else this probably isn't a winning issue for Romney if he decides to press it for whatever reason.

So Obama is allowed to change his mind, but Romney is not? And it's just a coincidence that Obama changed his mind at the exact same time Biden changed his? Or is it a "great plan" when Obama does it, but "shameless flip-flopping" when Romney does it?

How about this: It's just politics, boys. Lose your illusions.

[opebo]

I wish Joe Biden's gaffes ruled us all - they're far better than either political party or any officeholder - but it was all part of a nicely executed plan.  Its an interesting plan, too - does looking brave and decent trump a slightly unpopular policy?

[Gravis Marketing]

Yes, he'd have faced pressure regardless. People were preparing for a plank fight at the convention and his donors weren't happy.

[Torie]

Probably (as in before the election as he got increasingly mocked for his two-step dance), but maybe not right now.

[pbrower2a]

It was not a gaffe, but it is the first flip-flop of the general election campaign. Maybe Obama and Biden sincerely changed their mind at almost the same time, or maybe they are playing politics (Washington Insiders playing politics? Say it ain't so, Joe!). In any case, they cannot accuse Romney of flip-flopping for political expediency unless they want the retort from Republicans to be, "hypocrisy much?"

53% of the US public accepts equality of marriage.  This is at a time in which Americans get increasingly intolerant of child sex abuse, marital rape, and child porno. It looks as if America has passed a tipping point on gay rights.

Things are going downhill, and we're almost at the tipping point of no return for Team Obama.  If his approvals revert back to where they were last summer, he's toast. They needed some kind of distraction to try to stop the approvals from sliding back down. They got their distraction. Whether or not it will work is another question. Personally, I would bet against it. Even among young people, the vast majority care a lot more about quality jobs being available than they do about gay marriage being available.

Since when are gay rights a threat to good jobs? Young voters may be more concerned about economic results for themselves, but there is no contradiction. This is a no-lose proposition.  

[Politico]

It was not a gaffe, but it is the first flip-flop of the general election campaign. Maybe Obama and Biden sincerely changed their mind at almost the same time, or maybe they are playing politics (Washington Insiders playing politics? Say it ain't so, Joe!). In any case, they cannot accuse Romney of flip-flopping for political expediency unless they want the retort from Republicans to be, "hypocrisy much?"

53% of the US public accepts equality of marriage.  This is at a time in which Americans get increasingly intolerant of child sex abuse, marital rape, and child porno. It looks as if America has passed a tipping point on gay rights.

Things are going downhill, and we're almost at the tipping point of no return for Team Obama.  If his approvals revert back to where they were last summer, he's toast. They needed some kind of distraction to try to stop the approvals from sliding back down. They got their distraction. Whether or not it will work is another question. Personally, I would bet against it. Even among young people, the vast majority care a lot more about quality jobs being available than they do about gay marriage being available.

Since when are gay rights a threat to good jobs? Young voters may be more concerned about economic results for themselves, but there is no contradiction. This is a no-lose proposition.  

I will try to further simplify:

Most people want good jobs being readily available. Good jobs are not readily available. First and foremost, if not exclusively in most every case, people want to hear about how this will change. They do not want to be distracted with other, less pertinent issues.

Many people support gay marriage, but it's not perceived by the vast majority of the population, regardless of their stance on the issue, as an important subject since the worldwide economy is in the doldrums.

[Secretary Polnut]

It was not a gaffe, but it is the first flip-flop of the general election campaign. Maybe Obama and Biden sincerely changed their mind at almost the same time, or maybe they are playing politics (Washington Insiders playing politics? Say it ain't so, Joe!). In any case, they cannot accuse Romney of flip-flopping for political expediency unless they want the retort from Republicans to be, "hypocrisy much?"

Things are going downhill, and we're almost at the tipping point of no return for Team Obama.  If his approvals revert back to where they were last summer, he's toast. They needed some kind of distraction to try to stop the approvals from sliding back down. They got their distraction. Whether or not it will work is another question. Personally, I would bet against it. Even among young people, the vast majority care a lot more about quality jobs being available than they do about gay marriage being available.

I think you're making a classic Politico mistake... you think that Obama cannot walk and chew gum at the same time.

Young people care about both and data proves that.

[Pacific Councillor LiberalJunkie]

Yes, not that anyone didn't know he supported it anyways.

[Mr. Morden]

Like I said in the other thread:

http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=153302.msg3291367#msg3291367

Obama's advisors are saying that he was planning on announcing his support gay marriage in the weeks leading up to the DNC, but that Biden's gaffe forced them to move up the timetable.

[© Tweed the Younger]

Like I said in the other thread:

http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=153302.msg3291367#msg3291367

Obama's advisors are saying that he was planning on announcing his support gay marriage in the weeks leading up to the DNC, but that Biden's gaffe forced them to move up the timetable.

which is probably good because it would have looked like pure pandering.  my not very lengthily thought out assumption during the past few years was that he would 'come out' in favor during his second term.  largely due to arguments made by others on this very website.

[Chaddyr23]

I heard the party planned to openly adopt the policy this year. Although I think Biden catalyzed the event to occur this week instead of at the convention

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

Biden did something Vice Presidents are doing for their bosses. He set a trial baloon.

If you really think Biden would adress the issue this way without Obama's knowledge, you're delusional.