North Carolina is poised to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage which seems to surprise AP reporter Emery P. Dalesio:
Experts expect the measure to pass, despite the state's long history of moderate politics.
The "moderate" position is to be opposed to gay marriage, not to endorse it. That's why President Obama officially opposes gay marriage, despite everyone in the world knowing that he personally supports it.
Whatever Obama's public position, there was little doubt in the briefing room Monday that the president supports gay marriage and that he would go public with this position after Election Day, when he no longer need fear losing independent voters. Carney, who had the unenviable position of trying to convince the press corps otherwise, arrived 35 minutes late for the job and found a feisty audience."I have no update on the president's personal views," he told the first questioner, Anne Gearan of the Associated Press. "He, as you know, said that his views on this were evolving."
Tapper asked whether Obama was "still evolving" or whether he's "just waiting for the proper time to drop it, likely after November."
"It is as it was," Carney said.
CBS's Nora O'Donnell tried another approach. "Why does the president oppose same-sex marriage?"
"I really don't have any update for you," Carney answered.
"The vice president appears to have evolved on the issue, but the president is still evolving?" O'Donnell inquired.
"I will leave it to individuals to describe their own personal views."
Reporters fired dozens of barbed questions and taunts. "Contorted position! . . . Why did you guys send out statements to clarify? . . . What does the word 'evolving' mean? . . . Is he not evolved?. . . I want you to dissect the evolution." A fly buzzed around the lectern. Carney let out a sigh.
NPR's Mara Liasson asked whether Obama was "too clever by half," essentially telling voters: "I'm getting ready to change my mind."
"His views," Carney maintained, "are crystal clear."
Words matter, otherwise we wouldn't argue over them.
