The media has been rather abuzz lately
with comment after comment on our President’s statement on same-sex
marriage. It was a risky move and certainly a move that carried a lot
of weight. Up until this past week, President Obama had remained
silent about his opinions on gay marriage. By voicing his support, he
made friends as well as enemies.
In a recent poll done by the Washington
Post-ABC News, participants seem to be almost exactly evenly divided
on the matter with “46 percent in favor of the move, and 47 percent
opposed to it.” (Cohen)
It is clear that keeping quiet was a
move strategically designed to prevent voters from taking this
specific opinion as reason to vote against Obama in the upcoming
election. By staying neutral Obama ensured the support of both those
in favor and those against same-sex marriage.
Vice President Joe Biden made a similar
statement a few days prior. In an interview concerning his statement,
the interviewer hounded Biden for news on the President’s opinion.
It almost appeared that Biden’s opinion was nowhere near as
compelling compared to the then-undisclosed opinion of the President.
It becomes obvious that the media was
putting enormous pressure on Obama to make some statement either in
favor of or against same-sex marriage. When he finally did so, the
event was blown to epic proportions.
Yes, it is important for voters to know
the opinions of those they vote for. After all, why would a voter
choose to vote for someone who believes differently from himself?
Obama is not the one passing laws on whether or not marriage is
between only straight couples. Ultimately, that power resides with
the people and those they elect to represent them.
While such a statement may win or
forfeit Obama another term as President, in the long run, his opinion
is proportionately meaningless in comparison to those of the Senators
and Representatives. He is a person of authority and his opinion is
held up for scrutiny like any other celebrity; but ultimately, it
does not matter what he thinks about the issue when it comes down to
voting on it.
When it comes down to it, people will
not and should not change their opinions about something so sensitive
based on the opinion of one man. Yes, he is the President. However,
he is still just a man. The sad, simple reason the media put so much
pressure on him is because people like gossip.
What a world we would live in if
importance was the basis for a good news story and not just what
seems the juiciest.
Resource:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html