United Liberty

I’ll fully admit to being a devout cynic when it comes to politics.  On the issue of gay marriage, this is very easy to be.  Opponents prey on the inherent discomfort many have with homosexuality to drive people to oppose marriage equality, offering almost nothing in the way of reasoning or logic.  But proponents (or at least those who claim to be) are playing games too.

Look no further than President Obama’s announcement last week that suddenly, after years of standing against same-sex marriage rights, he had “evolved” to the point where he now personally supported the right of gays to marry.  But in saying so, Obama included a caveat that renders the entire position practically inert - that he still supported the ability of states to decide the matter.  While it is encouraging to see Obama supporting both marriage rights and the 10th Amendment, his statement does nothing.

Instead, Obama and his team are playing a pretty despicable game on gay rights supporters.  Support gay marriage in rhetoric, thus gaining the support of millions who long for the ability to marry their loved ones; but in reality, fail to demonstrate the slightest interest or desire to change it.  Compare this to Obama’s position on health care.  On that issue, a subject that he and I deeply disagree on, Obama spent nearly a year fighting for what eventually became known as ObamaCare.  He devoted huge amounts of political capital and time.  But on gay marriage, the best he can offer is a nice statement.

It’s clear then that Obama’s statement last week was pure politics, designed to give false hope to gay rights supporters.  Rest assured - in a second term, Obama will do nothing to advance their interests.  He will get their votes and money, and then forget them.  He has already started to use the issue to raise money and support, and to attack Mitt Romney.  For Romney’s part, his position has been nothing short of rank bigotry.  Obama may be playing one side, but Romney is playing the other.

If gay rights supporters wish to make any actual headway in the fight for equal rights, then, the choice is clear.  They must support Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate for President.  Neither Obama nor Romney will do a thing to help bring about equal marriage rights.  Romney, in fact, may do fantastic damage to the effort.  Gary Johnson is simply the only choice if this a subject you care about.