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‘On My Behalf’ (Obama Says the Troops Are Fighting on His Behalf.)
Weekly Standard ^ | 05/ | Elliot Abrams

Posted on 05/09/2012 9:01:57 PM PDT by MissesBush

The debate over same sex “marriage” has engaged the heartfelt feelings and convictions of millions of Americans. Then there is Barack Obama.

In his ABC interview, the president pretended that his much touted “evolution” had now led him, ineluctably, to speak out now, today; he simply could longer stay silent. ABC let him off the hook, but this is not a credible account. In March, the Washington Post was reporting the debate among his advisers on whether the issue would help or hurt the reelection campaign and what, therefore, Obama should say: “Obama’s top political advisers have held serious discussions with leading Democrats about the upsides and downsides of coming out for gay marriage before the fall election.”

The same advisers told the Post that Obama would make the decision based on his gut, but that is an insulting way to refer to the vice president. There is no evidence that Obama planned to speak until Joe Biden said last weekend that he was for gay “marriage” and forced the issue.

In fact, Obama has not “evolved”—he has changed his position whenever his political fortunes required him to do so. Running for the Illinois state senate from a trendy area of Chicago in 1996, he was for gay marriage. “I favor legalizing same-sex marriages,” he wrote in answer to a questionnaire back then. In 2004, he was running for the U.S. Senate and needed to appeal to voters statewide. So he evolved, and favored civil unions but opposed homosexual “marriage.” In 2008, running for president, he said, “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage.” Now in 2012, facing a tough reelection campaign where he needs energized supporters of gay “marriage” and has disappointed them with his refusal to give them his support, he is for it. To paraphrase John Kerry, he was for it before he was against it before he was for it again.

Mr. Obama’s statement today is a marvel:

“I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together; when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that ‘don't ask, don't tell’ is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a 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.”

The president, when he says, “at a certain point I’ve just concluded,” appears to refer to the point where Joe Biden smoked him out, unintentionally no doubt (as are most of Biden’s actions). And it is important “for me personally” to speak, the president says; this isn’t politics, you see, but some kind of testimony, a baring of the soul.

But Mr. Obama actually did bare his soul unintentionally today (perhaps the Biden disease is catching) with his astonishing characterization of American fighting men and women, whom he referred to as “those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf.” Really?

Most Americans thought they were fighting for the country, not on Barack Obama’s behalf. Slip of the tongue, to be sure, but can one think of another president who’d have made it? They are fighting under his command, under his orders, to be sure, but this particular locution is offensive and solipsistic. Mr. Obama has switched his position on the sanctity of marriage back and forth and has a new one, again, today, revealed when politics made that advisable to him and to his campaign. Whether this is the end or he will “evolve” some more is anyone’s guess.

But let’s leave our soldiers out of this. They aren’t fighting for Mr. Obama and his campaign, and no one sent them out to risk their lives to win same sex “marriage.”


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: military; obamagaymarriage
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Could Obama be a bigger screw up?
1 posted on 05/09/2012 9:02:01 PM PDT by MissesBush
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To: MissesBush

Obama thought the book 1984 was a good guide.


2 posted on 05/09/2012 9:06:44 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: MissesBush
when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf

A real Louis XIV "L'État, c'est moi" moment.

3 posted on 05/09/2012 9:12:10 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (You only have three billion heartbeats in a lifetime.How many does the government claim as its own?)
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To: MissesBush

Could Obama be a bigger screw up?


If he is re-elected, we’ll find out. He’s got plenty of “screw up” still in him and he’s got plenty of it in mind for us.


4 posted on 05/09/2012 9:13:39 PM PDT by unkus (Silence Is Consent)
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To: KarlInOhio

Just another calculated disingenuous statement from Obama... He knows that as a group military personnel support him far less than the rest of the population. But he is trying to pretend like he is a strong war time leader while pandering to his gay base. It is a mind bending reach and shows the absolute contempt that he has for reality.


5 posted on 05/09/2012 9:18:01 PM PDT by fireman15 (Check your facts before making ignorant statements.)
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To: unkus

The hubris is beyond the pale!


6 posted on 05/09/2012 9:20:58 PM PDT by acapesket
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To: MissesBush

I don’t think so, Skippy. Try again you psycho narcissist.


7 posted on 05/09/2012 9:35:22 PM PDT by MasterGunner01 (11)
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To: MissesBush
Narcissism for $100 Alex.
8 posted on 05/09/2012 9:35:39 PM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Throw the bums out who vote yes on the bailout)
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To: MissesBush

Even *Crazy Joe* Biden knows that statement is a screw up!


9 posted on 05/09/2012 9:40:03 PM PDT by The Cajun (Palin, Free Republic, Mark Levin, Newt......Nuff said.)
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To: MissesBush

Could someone be so kind as to point me to the nearest Obama shrine? /s


10 posted on 05/09/2012 9:47:42 PM PDT by mort56
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To: VRWC For Truth

Narcissism for $100 Alex.”

Funny you should choose this response. Jeopardy today was the high school semi-finals and they had a category dealing with cars and green energy. The person giving the clues in this category was none other than our own Veep Joe. Not too long ago they had a category in which Hillary gave the clues. It’s getting ridiculous. Even watching something like Jeopardy I can’t get away from them.


11 posted on 05/09/2012 9:50:55 PM PDT by Grams A (The Sun will rise in the East in the morning and God is still on his throne.)
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To: MissesBush
"In fact, Obama has not “evolved”—he has changed his position whenever his political fortunes required him to do so. Running for the Illinois state senate from a trendy area of Chicago in 1996, he was for gay marriage. “I favor legalizing same-sex marriages,” he wrote in answer to a questionnaire back then. In 2004, he was running for the U.S. Senate and needed to appeal to voters statewide. So he evolved, and favored civil unions but opposed homosexual “marriage.” In 2008, running for president, he said, “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage.” Now in 2012, facing a tough reelection campaign where he needs energized supporters of gay “marriage” and has disappointed them with his refusal to give them his support, he is for it."

Wait till the useful idiots finally realize he's not going to do anything to try to stop states from banning gay marriages.

12 posted on 05/09/2012 9:55:33 PM PDT by Qbert ("The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry" - William F. Buckley, Jr.)
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To: MissesBush

I’ll speak, since my son can not.

This Marine mom takes offense.


13 posted on 05/09/2012 9:56:05 PM PDT by keats5 (Not all of us are hypnotized.)
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To: GeronL
Obama thought the book 1984 was a good guide.

I think that is how committed leftist read 1984, as a guide. Wasn't it H. Clinton who said that it is one of her favorite books?

14 posted on 05/09/2012 9:57:02 PM PDT by Bellflower (The LORD is Holy, separated from all sin, perfect, righteous, high and lifted up.)
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To: MissesBush

I’m reminded of President Bush on one of his trail rides with the Wounded Vets program in Texas. The ride includes guys and gals that have lost limbs - but they go on this 3-day off-road bicycle ride, and Bush goes with them. It is to raise money and awareness for the Wounded Warriors program.

An excerpt from an article on the 2011 ride:

Bush rode in the event for a chance to meet with veterans and thank them for their sacrifice. But for Butler, he holds no ill-will toward the man who sent thousands of Americans to war in 2003.

“I feel his compassion,” the retired parachute infantry squad leader said Wednesday, with a note of melancholy. “It feels like he really cares about us.”

Bush and 15 wounded veterans were joined Wednesday in the last leg of a 62.5-mile ride through the rugged desert trails of Big Bend National Park by Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France champion.

Although Bush acknowledges struggling to keep up during the trek, he said he relished the opportunity.

“As a commander in chief, it was my decision to put them in harm’s way in the first place,” he said. “I feel a special bond toward them and I want them to know I’ll never forget them.”

An excerpt from this year’s ride a few weeks ago:

President Bush said during this year’s ride, “It’s an opportunity for me to say to our vets I care for you, I thank you, I honor you.”


15 posted on 05/09/2012 10:03:57 PM PDT by 21twelve
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To: MissesBush

ROTFLOL


16 posted on 05/09/2012 10:09:40 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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To: MissesBush

What a narcissist.


17 posted on 05/09/2012 10:14:19 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: MissesBush

The troops love him. They sacrifice for him daily. We should each think daily of what we can do for him. Am I wrong?


18 posted on 05/09/2012 10:19:19 PM PDT by Jay Santos CP ("Idiocracy"... It's no longer just a movie.)
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To: KarlInOhio
when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf A real Louis XIV "L'État, c'est moi" moment

You got it right! When ever Obama speaks it is a "it is I moment."

However relative to gay marriage I think the conservatives and the liberals are both missing the point!

Marriage is something that is sanctioned by the church and becomes a legal binding contract in the civilian courts as it is also sanctioned and registered in the civilian courts and records.

If gays want to be married in the civilian courts I do not think the conservatives or those against gay marriage should oppose this nor fight it. If they want to say they are married that is fine by me. However, at the same time the church or churches do not have to recognize this union. There is that "little issue" of separation of Church and State.

The gays that marry would have all the rights in court and law as anyone else. However, I must at this time give them a bit of advice. Be careful of what you wish for. If you get what you wish, it may bite you in the ass.

If our government says you are married with all the rights (and alimony and child support etc.) that is not a problem. If the church says you are not married because you are a gay couple it will have no effect on you or the church.

It is time our nation take up issues that are important. The issue of gay marriage is not that damn important. If the right obsesses on this issue instead of the fact that our president is a hard left socialist quasi Marxist Statist we deserve to lose.

Personally what someone does in bed is their damn business as long as I am not in that bed.

19 posted on 05/09/2012 10:21:18 PM PDT by cpdiii (Deckhand, Roughneck, Mud Man, Geologist, Pilot, Pharmacist. THE CONSTITUTION IS WORTH DYING FOR!)
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To: MissesBush

I took the oath to support and defend the CONSTITUTION, not a pResident..or president..the CONSTITUTION!!!


20 posted on 05/09/2012 10:38:08 PM PDT by celtic gal
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