Groan.
(Politico) — President Barack Obama called for a “big America” in a speech to a major gay rights group Saturday but barely mentioned the biggest issue of all — the legalization of same-sex marriage.
“We believe in a big America, a tolerant America, a just America, an equal America,” Obama told the Human Rights Campaign’s annual dinner in Washington, where he advocated a society where people are respected, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
“We don’t believe in a small America. We don’t believe in the kind of smallness that believes that a stage full of political leaders — one of whom could end up being president of the United States — being silent when an American is booed,” Obama said, referring to the jeers that came from the crowd at Republican presidential debate last month after a gay soldier asked a question from Iraq. A standing ovation continued even as he kept speaking.
“If you want to be commander-in-chief, you have to start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform even when it’s not politically convenient,” Obama said, echoing similar remarks he made earlier this week at a West Coast fundraiser.