Rendell tells Obama to 'man up' on gay marriage stand
Former PA Gov. Ed Rendell (D) tells Obama to "man up" and take a stand for gay marriage.
Rendell tells Obama to 'man up' on gay marriage stand
Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer
Pennsylvanians know that former Governor Ed Rendell (D) is not one to mince words.
On Tuesday, he bluntly told President Obama to "man up" and take a position on gay marriage.
"I think he should do exactly what Michael Steele said he should do, he should man up and say ‘this is what I believe,'" Rendell said, in response to a question from host Thomas Roberts on MSNBC.
President Obama has said he opposes legalized same sex marriage, but also has said his stand on the issue is "evolving," and that he supports equal civil rights for gay couples. Most analysts to believe that the president cannot openly support the change for fear of offending conservative Democrats and independents in swing states such as North Carolina.
In addition, polls have shown many African American voters oppose same-sex marriage. Obama needs a huge turnout of black voters if he is to reassemble his winning coalition from 2008.
An amendment banning gay marriage is expected to pass easily Tuesday in North Carolina. Earlier, Obama had canceled a planned primary day speech in Asheville, N.C. The president did travel Tuesday to Albany, N.Y., where lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo legalized same-sex marriage last year.
Obama would not be harmed politically if he came out in support of marriage equality, Rendell maintained. "I don't think he's going to lose any African American voters," the former governor said. "And the people who vote solely on this issue, a single issue voter, gay marriage, none of them are voting for Barack Obama now, and they're not going to vote for him whether he says he's against it."
Roberts said to Rendell: "Take a look at this though, because President Obama is attending a $2500 a plate LGBT fundraiser Monday in New York City. It’s hosted by Ricky Martin. There’s the invitation there, I’ve got one in my hands right here. The Washington Post is reporting today that certain LGBT donors are withholding money from the president’s campaign. Governor, I’m going to ask this of you, with some pushing to have this put on the DNC platform at the convention, how does the President walk this political tightrope?”
Obama: "Mister Wishy-Washy" Sits right on top of the fence so he can easily change sides depending on how the wind blows. Some role model we have for our fearless leader eh? What a fraud!!— oneway
Comment removed.- The official "Black Community" acts like ZERO blacks are gay. I guess luminaries such as Bayard Rustin,James Baldwin,+ countless others never got the word. And Ricky Martin, I guess he's the ONLY gay Hispanic in the entire world. What do these stupid black ministers think of SLAVERY being OK in the Bible? The craziest thing is the "concern" for traditional marraige in the black community. Divorce and adultry are rampant among blacks, with most never bothering to get married in the first place.Intact families, 2 parents living in the same home with their own children, runs about 15% in the black community. And they worry about the THREAT of gay marriage? Hypoctites. — Boca1
- This is a conversation that must be talked through. I worked shoulder to shoulder with a lot of black people for a few years and I was continually amazed at how bigoted they ALL were toward gay people and gay issues. I have spent most of my life feeling white guilt fighting ignorance and doing what I can to bend over backwards to fight discrimination against black people. I was utterly astounded that there was so much narrow minded prejudice and discrimination against gay people by my friends in the African American community. I personally feel befuddled,betrayed and angry that a people who have struggled so mush to fight and overcome discrimination and bigotry were now behaving as narrow-mindedly as Archie Bunker did toward black people; except Archie Bunker was a fictional character and these folks are real haters. Golly Gee, I am depressed.
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- Bush-Chenny won election based on Tea Party hatred of gays while Chen y's own daughter is gay and she was standing 10' from her father to see him spew hate towards gay.
Gay marriage is a state issue. Hetero marriage is not certified by the Fed. So, Obama does not need to take any stand regarding gay marriage.— Seed - 'KKK' used to be the former name of Tea Party. Don't pretend like it is a new party. — Seed
- Oh yeah and Romney has never changed a position.— rickm
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- Darnel, you are the man. You are so intuitive and insightful. I would vote for you for president.
- Gays are rich; Republicans are wh$re of money. Gays should infiltrate the Republicans, force them to change from within. At least there will be some reduction is hate level of the republican party. — Seed
- Golly Gee, It's already being done. The LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS are a national gay and lesbian Republican grassroots organization.
I have a good friend who is a career Lesbian and she is a card carrying republican. I don't understand it, but it's true. - Jeez, just like your stupid tea party comment, you also have never heard of Log Cabin Republicans. This nitwit is worst thank Tanksleyd. — towelie
- @ay Logger just got kicked out of Romney campaign. They are not influential enough. First her infiltration is needed; @au Loggers and catholic priests are not enough to soften republican view about marriage. — Seed
- rendell needs to shut his fat mouth. tired of hearing about his opinions on everything.— Zero
- I'm not. I love Rendell. Better than Corbett the crook. — tynol10
- Corbett the Simpleton makes Rendell look like a genius. I sometimes wonder if Corbett is asleep most of the time. — Jen D
- Ed Rendell always supported "behind the scenes" adult male pedophiles! back in 1977 thru 1980 Ed Rendell while Philadelphia district attorney covered up a network of tri-state (PA-NJ-NY) wealthly politically connected pedophiles headed by Philadelphia philanthropist Ed "fast Eddie" Savitz who was a BIG Ed Rendell political supporter $$$$ during the 1970's & 1980's. Police reports disappeared, no action at all was taken by the DA's office under Rendell. It wasnt until 1992 when Lynne Abraham became DA that Ed Savitz was criminally charged! Between 1976 thru 1992 Ed Savitz molested & sexually exploited thousands of adolescent boys far bigger than the Philadelphia Catholic church sex scandal. Why no special investigation into Ed Rendell's association and sex scandal cover up involving Ed Savitz???— Cocot50
- Obama standing up and saying what he believes in? I won't hold my breath. He stands for whatever will make his poll #'s go up.— towelie
- Oh by the way for the record I had first hand knowledge of this criminal pedophile related partnership being that I was one of those adolescent boy victims that witnessed this partnership between Ed Rendell, Vince Fumo, Bob Brady, George X Shwartz and Bill Green 1977-1980. I filed police reports that never were followed up and mysteriously disappeared? Recently I filed follow up police complaints with PPD Internal Affairs & SVU in finding out what happened with my 1980 police reports being an adolescent boy victim. Posted by Greg Bucceroni— Cocot50
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- Exactly— Cocot50
- Everyone, just settle down. Barry's opinion is 'evolving' which is short for I don't know yet, but I will let you know as soon as David Axelrod figures out which position helps me the most.
As dumb as Jay Carney appears at those news conferences, his boss does him no favors by only having a true open press conference every two years or so. Barry is terrified by the thought of being put on the spot about anything that can't be loaded into a teleprompter or carefully orchestrated in a one on one interview. At least Bush had the stones to face a hostile press and Barry won't even meet the press that fawns all over him.— Wiseman6 
I'll bet the press loves to hear from blabber mouths like Fast Eddie.- I assume by "man up" Ed means Obama should come out of the closet. Ed used to be the chairman of the DNC, so he must know more than we do.— 1republican
- Guess Fast Eddie is the last person on Earth to realize Obama is a "historic" caliber phony scumbag politician who speaks out of both sides of his mouth on every subject, everyday. Nobody is a bigger BS'er than B Hussein O. Nobody.— kelprod2
- Anyone else think Tom's picture looks like he is Sylvester the Cat right after swallowing Tweety Bird?— Wiseman6
- Fast Eddie shield follow his own advice and man up about ins years of infidelity and sweetheart insider deals for his political cronies and contributors. Come clean Ed.— non excidet
- Well, how long can the LGBT hold out? What's the alternative for them in holding out against Obama? Where do they think they are going to get support? The Republicans?, the Tea Party? Libertarians? the religious groups? Who-- Pray, tell? Our loud-mouthed former governor is still at it and will not shut up.— Anne Arkey
- Already did. Funny how their is such a concern in certain minority communities for the institution of marraige. Any stats within the last 40 yrs. show divorce, and adultry to be rampant there so why the worry about gay marraige? Big Ed Randell knows best, I only wish Obama would listen.— Boca1
- Great points by Darnell. What I dont like about Obama is that he is negative and is a contributor in dividing the country when we need someone to unite the country. Tough times which he did not create call for better leadership. Wrong man at the wrong time. He would have been good after Clinton or Reagan when the economy was good and his moves on heatlthcare and raising min wages, and solyndra, and general lack of leadership would not have mattered or even some could have been a positive in that environment. .— JL68
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- How's it feel to be irrelevant Eddie? You still outta work?— defiore14
- Ed................please go away!— Tom Kearney
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
