Editorial Of The Day

From the New York Times editorial board:

On Sunday, Vice President Joseph Biden Jr. said he was “absolutely comfortable” with same-sex marriage and portrayed the freedom to marry as a fundamental civil right. It was an important statement of support for marriage equality, and it was a big step forward from the endlessly frustrating hedging of President Obama. It should make it harder for Mr. Obama to cling to the tired evasion that his views on marriage are “evolving.” [snip]

In stark contrast to Mitt Romney, who has aligned himself with the most fervent opponents of same-sex marriage, Mr. Obama has come out against the proposed state constitutional amendment to bar same-sex marriages and civil unions that is going before voters in Tuesday’s primary election in North Carolina. But, by failing to go the next step and actually say that he supports the freedom to marry as Mr. Biden does and as polls show nearly a majority of Americans do, Mr. Obama risks dampening the enthusiasm of allies without gaining the support of equality’s opponents.

It’s not an unfamiliar place for this president to be, unfortunately. It would be good for a broad range of Americans to see him articulate a clear position of principle and then defend it before the voting public.