North Carolina amendment one: Obama is ‘disappointed’ with vote
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during the Easter Prayer Breakfast at the White House April 4, 2012 in Washington, DC. The annual Easter Prayer Breakfast brings together Christian leaders from across the United States to celebrate the arrival of Easter. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama's campaign says he's "disappointed" with the voters in North Carolina for deciding to add an anti-gay marriage clause to their state's constitution.
The passage of amendment one now effectively bans gay marriage and civil unions in the state of North Carolina.
According to The Huffington Post, Obama campaign spokesman Cameron French called the ban on same-sex unions, "divisive and discriminatory," in a statement. Same-sex couples deserve the same rights and legal protections as straight couples, French said.
More from GlobalPost: Amendment One: North Carolina votes on gay marriage ban
According to French, Obama "believes the North Carolina measure singles out and discriminates against committed gay and lesbian couples, which is why he did not support it. President Obama has long believed that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and legal protections as straight couples and is disappointed in the passage of this amendment."
The Christian Science Monitor noted Obama has been resistant to fully endorse same-sex marriage, however he is facing increased pressure to commit one way or the other after both Vice President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan both offered their support to same-sex couples. In the past Obama has shown support for civil unions but has not publicly endorsed gay marriage. He has described his own views on the gay marriage as "evolving."
The Monitor spoke with Steven Schier, a political scientist at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. who said, “The gay marriage issue is an awkward one for Obama at present, given his differing views on the issue with his own vice president and other administration officials. It's an issue that Obama wishes would go away until after the November elections. The North Carolina vote makes it less likely Obama will get his wish.”
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