President Obama, Gay Marriage and Seven Essential States

According to Politico, there are seven states where President Obama's gay marriage support could hinder his campaign. They are, in no particular order, North Carolina, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Iowa, where gay marriage is legal, and Missouri.

Here is what reporter Charles Mahtesian has to say about the Florida scene:

One day, gay marriage might be enshrined in law across the map. But it won’t be until after the current generation of senior citizens passes away. Not only do they oppose it by lopsided margins, they also vote in disproportionately high percentages.

Consider this fact about Florida, a state with an unusually large population of seniors. Four years ago, Obama and an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment shared the Florida ballot. Obama won the state narrowly, the amendment won by a landslide.

And the amendment won 600,000 more votes than Obama.

The president can still win reelection without Florida’s treasure trove of electoral votes. But he’d prefer not to risk it, which could be the side effect of a public affirmation of support for gay marriage in a state as competitive as Florida.

I tend to think that despite the much-deserved fanfare over Obama's marriage announcement, most voters this November will be more concerned about the economy than Adam and Steve. And I think the Obama administration knows that, too. It's not as if he will -- or could -- rest his entire reelection campaign on this decision, right?

Federal Lawsuit Filed Seeking Marriage Equality in Nevada

Lambda Legal has filed a federal suit on behalf of eight gay couples in the state of Nevada, seeking marriage rights in the state, according to a scoop from Chris Geidner at MetroWeekly:

The lawsuit, Sevcik v. Sandoval, marks the first time that Lambda Legal has sought equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples in federal court, although a staff attorney with the group, Tara Borelli, notes that another case filed by Lambda Legal in state court in New Jersey includes federal claims as well.

According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, the lead plaintiffs in the new lawsuit -- Beverly Sevcik, 73, and Mary Baranovich, 76, of Carson City, Nevada -- have been together for more than 40 years. As the complaint notes, "When Beverly and Mary committed their lives to each other on October 2, 1971 and bought rings to signify their relationship, they were careful not to purchase matching rings for fear of having their relationship discovered."

The couple, nonetheless, went on to raise three children and have four grandchildren, despite the constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2000 and 2002 limiting marriage in the state's constitution to "a male and a female person." Same-sex couples have been able to receive many of the same benefits and privileges of marriage but not the status itself, however, since the legislature passed comprehensive domestic partnership benefits over the veto of then-Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) in 2009.

The legal group sees this lawsuit as a strategic step, in a state that permits domestic partnership:

Explaining the claim, Borelli says, "One of the reasons that we're suing in the state of Nevada is that this is a particular equal protection problem that this case examines. It's the kind of problem created where a state excludes same-sex couples from marriage deems them fit for all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage through a lesser, second-class status -- in this case, domestic partnership. That shows just how irrational that state's decision is to shut same-sex couples out of marriage."

In fact, Lambda Legal -- with assistance from pro bono co-counsel from O'Melveny & Myers LLP and Snell & Wilmer LLP -- has decided only to pursue an equal protection claim relating to the different treatment same-sex couples receive in Nevada and not a due process claim relating to the "fundamental right" to marriage. Both claims were raised in the Perry lawsuit.

Lambda Legal also acknowledged the precedent of AFER's lawsuit challenging Proposition 8 as a vital precedent for their work here.

Lambda Legal Files Federal Lawsuit Seeking Marriage Equality in Nevada [metro weekly]

Jon Stewart Crestfallen Over Donald Trump's Romney Endorsement: VIDEO

Bucking assurances by media outlets earlier in the day that Trump was going to endorse Newt Gingrich, the Donald endorsed Mitt Romney.

Trump tells Romney to "go out and get him."

Jon Stewart is very disappointed.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

'Oh The Places You'll Go' at Burning Man: VIDEO

Here's the second knock-out video I've seen this year that provides an appropriately fantastical look at the temporary denizens of Black Rock City, Nevada, set to the words of Dr. Seuss.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

And if you missed, the first video, it's a must-watch, and it's HERE.

(via reddit)

Democrats Lose Specials for Weiner's Seat in NY, Ensign's Seat in NV

NOM will be gloating today (UPDATE: and they are) over the loss of Democrat David Weprin to anti-gay Republican Bob Turner for Anthony Weiner's House Seat.

The NYT reports:

With 84 percent of the precincts counted early Wednesday, Mr. Turner was leading Mr. Weprin by 54 percent to 46 percent, according to The Associated Press.

National Republican leaders immediately trumpeted the victory as a sign of trouble for Mr. Obama’s re-election effort. “An unpopular President Obama is now a liability for Democrats nationwide,” Representative Pete Sessions of Texas, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement.

But Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said the district’s large concentration of Orthodox Jews made it unusual and meant the race had few national ramifications.

The National Organization for Marriage. which poured $75K into the race to defeat Assemblyman Weprin, will say it was because of his vote on marriage equality.

Meanwhile, the GOP ran away with a special election in Nevada for the seat of disgraced GOP Senator John Ensign:

With 70 percent of precincts reporting, Amodei had captured 57 percent of the vote to Marshall’s 37 percent in the race to replace former Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.), who was appointed to the Senate in April when former Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) resigned amid a scandal. Marshall conceded the race two hours after polls closed in Nevada.

'Doctor Who' Meets 'Star Wars' at Burning Man: VIDEO

More cool video from the surface of Tattooine Burning Man over the weekend as a Doctor Who Dalek vehicle, a Stormtrooper, and bicyclist demonstrate the Black Rock City tenet of radical inclusion.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Previously...
Steampunk Octopus is Burning Man's Eight-Armed Flamer: VIDEO [tr]