USA: People in Times Square react to U.S. President Obama's support for same-sex marriage

Record ID: 277662

  • Title: USA: People in Times Square react to U.S. President Obama's support for same-sex marriage
  • Date: 10th May 2012
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (MAY 9, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS SHOTS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN TIMES SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORKER DILEEPKUMAR THANKAPPAN, SAYING: "Obama is a smart guy. This won't hurt his election campaign because he did a lot for the public." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANGIE MACDONALD, FROM FLORIDA, SAYING: "Personally, I don't think he shoul
  • Embargoed: 25th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA625JUBEL5CNP3N20SIVX3HZPW
  • Story Text: People in New York's Times Square had mixed feelings about U.S. President Barack Obama's endorsement of gay marriage, but none seemed to think it would hurt his re-election campaign.
    "Obama is a smart guy. This won't hurt his election campaign because he did a lot for the public." said Dileepkumar Thankappan.
    Angie MacDonald, who was visiting New York said she doesn't think it will hurt the president, but she wished he had kept his personal feelings about the topic out of politics.
    "I don't think he should give his honest opinion," MacDonald said. "Every president really should understand that everyone is going to have different views about it. So I really think he should be more, kinda general based on it, because people are going to like him either way whether he supports or doesn't support it."
    The President said on Wednesday (May 9) he believes same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, taking a stand on a divisive issue that is likely to please his political base and upset conservative voters.
    Upon hearing about Obama's comments, Angelika Kushi said, "I think that, I mean that's a great thing," Kushi said. "I think that people should have the freedom to love whoever they want to love and express that through marriage."
    Voter Mark Gilkes pointed out that Obama's endorsement will be helpful within liberal circles come election time.
    "I don't see it hurting him that much. Like I said, the gay community is so vast. And they vote, you know? So therefore, you have a win-win situation for him."
    While Australian tourist John Ryan won't be voting in November, he welcomed the President's comments.
    "Well the rest of the world is going that way. Intelligent people, people who believe in human rights. There's no argument," Ryan said.
    He added that whether or not it would cost him votes shouldn't matter if the president was speaking his conscience.
    Pressure had built on the Democrat president to clarify his views after Biden and other Cabinet members spoke out in favor of allowing gays and lesbians to wed - a touchy topic in a year in which Obama's race against Republican Mitt Romney in the November 6 election is expected to be close.
    ABC said Obama described his views as personal and still believed that U.S. states should be able to decide on the issue. Romney opposes same-sex marriage but supports hospital visitation rights and other domestic partnership benefits for gay and lesbian couples.
    A Gallup poll released earlier this week indicated that half of Americans believe same-sex couples should have the same right to wed as heterosexuals while 48 percent do not. Gallup said the results "underscore just how divided the nation is on this issue."
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