Posted on 09/17/2013 9:03:11 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden recently reiterated his support for same-sex marriage at an annual fundraising event for Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), calling same-sex marriage the "issue of our day."
While speaking at Harkin's annual steak–fry fundraiser in Indianola, Iowa on Sunday, Biden told the crowd of Harkin supporters: "A lot of people criticized me for speaking out, not long ago, about gay marriage. I could not remain silent any more."
Biden was referencing a 2012 "Meet the Press" interview with host David Gregory, when the vice president said he is "absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women" are entitled to the same legal status and benefits as heterosexual couples.
"It's time we stopped talking. It's the civil rights of our day. It's the issue of our day," Biden said Sunday to a response of applause and cheers from the crowd.
"That's why the president eliminated DOMA, Don't Ask, Dont' Tell. That's why he came out against this notion that somehow marriage cannot be recognized in one state and denied in another. And when it comes to the rights of - you know the president's phrase, and I'll paraphrase this slightly - that everybody in America should have the dignity to choose who they love and marry who they choose. He believes that but not just because it's a human right because it's all about treating everyone with dignity," Biden added.
Biden was one of the first officials of the Obama administration to come out in support of same-sex marriage when he announced his support in the May 2012 "Meet the Press" interview. Shortly after, President Barack Obama told ABC News that he too supported same-sex marriage: "At a certain point I've just concluded that for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."
Critics argued that Biden announced his support for same-sex marriage before Obama to test the public's reaction.
This issue of same-sex marriage is currently being debated in several states in the U.S. In June, the country's Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, awarding same-sex couples the same tax, health and retirement benefits that are available to married heterosexual couples. The court did not address same-sex marriage on a state-by-state level, and therefore individual lawsuits have been filed in several states by pro-gay marriage groups.
New Mexico's Supreme Court will determine once and for all if same-sex marriage is legal in the state after several counties began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in recent weeks, arguing that because the state does not explicitly forbid same-sex marriage, their actions are legal. Similarly, a Pennsylvania judge recently ordered the county clerk of Montgomery County to stop issuing same-sex marriage licenses, arguing that he did not have the authority to subvert the state law banning same-sex marriage.
In a separate lawsuit, the American Civil Liberties Union recently filed a lawsuit against Pennsylvania's 1996 statute banning same-sex marriage, arguing it is unconstitutional. Attorney General Kathleen Kane then announced that she would not be defending the statute in courts because she is pro-gay marriage, passing the responsibility on to the office of Gov. Tom Corbett, who has voiced his opposition for same-sex marriage.
The American Civil Liberties Union has also filed lawsuits in Virginia and North Carolina contesting the state's bans on same-sex marriage. The ACLU said in a July press release that the legal organization's post-DOMA strategy is to have same-sex marriage legalized in as many states as possible through lawsuits contesting gay marriage bans
I thought shotguns were the “issue of the day.”
If that is THE issue, then abolish government. There is no more work to be done.
Treason in arming muzzie jihadis is the issue of the day.
Yes, after fifteen thousand years of human history, suddenly its the issue of our time.
Is it our national defense?
Is it our interstate commerce?
Is it related to our treasury?
If not Uncle Joe, it ain't yo bidness!
This is Joe trying to head Hillary off at the pass vis a vis gay fundraising for 2016.
I wonder if Barney Fwank visits Smokin Joe in his million dollar (taxpayer paid) hotel rooms.
If so I bet Fwank plays the woman.
Exactly...butt darts...it all boils down to butt darts...God save us.
Yes, of all the issues out there, unemployment, the economy, wars, terrorism, this is the most important issue of our time.
Idiot
The issue of the day - I think I found the answer to the question asked by the media after 9/11/2001 ("Why Do They Hate Us?")
Gay Marriage Is ‘The Issue of Our Day,’ Says VP Joe Biden
No...how to eliminate LIBs/DIMs/RINOs is the “issue of the day”.
More galactic stupidity from the Kenyan’s wind-up toy.
this homosexual crap has got out of hand.
Of all the problems we face, the problems the country faces and this turd talks about turd pushing as if it is the most important issue to us all.
People are not stopping their feces sex, however people are saying no to sham marriage because of the ramifications which come with it like suing people , teaching it in schools, forcing their agenda onto us.
Sadly liberals who have no problem with this sham marriage are dumb and cannot see how changing the family will bring more problems to kids, parents, schools and the courts.
One of N reasons to define Sloe Joe as possibly the dumbest human on the planet - where N is an exponentially increasing number.
Get it through your Obamaholes, gays....most of us don’t give a smelly Obama what you put up your smelly Obamas.
We just don’t want to hear about it.
Get a room.
A soundproofed one.
The nation and the world are on the brink of another dark age and this is the sound our vice president makes.
Nothing better sums up this administration and progressive statists, in general.
I believe it will be the issue that escalates the persecution of Christians. I believe it will shut preachers’ mouths and could cost Christians dearly.
Slow Joe the Homo: the Democrats’ McCain.
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