moment. it comes after a constitutional ban on same sex marriage by a huge 22 point margin. with the president facing calls to move his nominating convention out of charlotte, creating a high wire act in a state that he is desperate in a desperate fight to defend. the president has already expressed his disappointment with the north carolina amendment but parts of his base are clamoring for much more and as the obama campaign spent months depicting plom as an etch-a-sketch flip-flopper, it is increasingly difficult for the president to explain his own waivering on this issue particularly when romney is expressing his own views in relatively few words as he did earlier this afternoon. >> i am in favor of traditional marriage between a man and a woman and i don't favor civil union or gay marriage. >> we understand that the president has just said that

same sex marriage should be legal and that people who are gay should be able to marry. i am joined by chris matthews in the studio of course. chris is a political historian and the author of a book about jack kennedy and also the anchor of hardball. your immediate reaction to this? >> well, we got to get the words, but if he is -- >> we're waiting for them. >> martin, if he has come out endorsing same sex marriage, it is earth shattering, earth shaking, i should say, the president of the united states. >> it is exactly i understand that is exactly what he has done, endorsed same sex marriage. >> the world will hear this within minutes and the president of the most important country in the world has endorsed men of the same people of the same sex marrying each other, it is the first time we have seen anything like this. no electorate has ever endorsed it and even if california that seemed to be the most aavant

guard haven't endorsed it. for the president to do this is earth shaking, earth shaking, and the positive aspect is that everyone in this country born gay and will be born gay will always know the president understands who they are and who they love and who they have a right to love and this is a dramatic statement. that's all positive, but at the same second we're saying this, the layers, the wolf layers are opening up and the dens are opening and the gates are opening of wolves coming out for this. the karl roves, the people who will use this against the president in states like north carolina and in pennsylvania and they will use it, they will use it at the pulpit and make it a religious issue and use it to go to communities black and white and working class whites and evangelical black americans and they will go to them at the pull approximate it and use everything they can to exploit this. this is a very, well, a shattering fact now in american life. >> you're you go suggesting that

it is going to redowned negatively for the president. >> it will be a major effort for that to happen. i don't know how the american people will react, whether this will be a voting issue or not. this is an earth shaking president and positively for everyone that is guy they have the president on their side for something that really matters which is love. it is a pretty profound statement. we don't want to get past that too quickly. that's the good news for everybody in the kun tr try in terms of and what has always moved forward for rights. it has always been forward leaning as we say on this network actually and it is always moved in that direction, but there has always been another army out there that feeds on those that resent it. the army is out there during jim crow. it was out there during abolition and suffrage and always an army that feeds on change and feeds against it. the wolves, and they're being released right now and they're probably giggling with delight how they're going to use this.

>> the president said his position is evolving. >> it is. the country's position issy e e evolvi evolving. i have been to so many human rights campaigns over the years and the positive notes from the political part of this world of the gay community, don't lose hope, things are changing. today a big notch. a big notch of change. >> the president apparently said to robin roberts when he reflected on his own staff and particularly people and members of the military who can serve the country and put their own lives at risk but are not able to marry. >> i always thought once people were allowed to serve their country in battle and go out there and shed blood and lose lives for their country, everything changes. the big fight before i grew up, blacks weren't allowed to fight in integrated units in world war ii. had they been able to fight in integrated units everything would have changed faster. >> chris, can i ask you to pause for a moment?

we have the sound. here he is now. >> when i think about those soldiers or airmen or marines, sailors, who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that don't ask don't tell is gone because they're not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point i just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that i think same sex couples should be able to get married. >> that's a very personal disclosure. he is not talking about the politics, there, is he? >> let me go back to the way i started and i know we'll deal with the politics. if you're a parent of a gay person, especially if you're an older person and had to deal with this realization that the child you love loves differently than you did or do, and different ways, and to come to

grips and now realize the president is embracing your child in the way that god did when he created your children, i always say we're all god's children. that is my basic political belief. not everybody shares that belief. >> based on genesis and based on scripture. >> the wolves will be out and try to drive people against each other and will use the pulpit to do it. >> let's join mike live fat white house. what are you hearing. >> only what we saw in the broadcast interview and the words the president just spoke i think same sex couples should be able to get, martin, should be able to get married. martin, apparently the evolution he said was under way in his own thinking has come full circle. that evolution is now complete. he now favors gay marriage where as before he didn't. this issue was thrust upon the presidency, on the president, on the campaign, on the white house over the course of the last four

days and you know it very well. at this point it started on meet the press on sunday when joe biden said that he was personally comfortable with gay marriage and i talked to aids that day that tried to walk it back and there was a lot of head shaking going on and arne duncan the next day on msnbc said he also favored gay marriage and a very contentious briefing from the podium behind me with jay carney answering some 50 question from reporters on this issue and after that pretty much a cone of silence descended over the white house and no briefing on tuesday. the president traveling and now today no briefing but the president making his views known in that broadcast interview and the politics are very tricky. there will be a lot of reaction. you heard chris just talk about the morality of it as well as the politics and so we are just beginning to sort through this statement now, martin. >> are you suggesting that the president's evolution was somehow accelerated from last sunday and would it be right for me to assume that mr. biden and

mr. duncan may have encouraged the president to hurry up? >> there was no master plan here. of this we're relatively certain. this was not something they had planned or even welcomed initially. i think people can draw their own conclusions, martin, on the evolution of this, on the timetable of this. they can look at the timetable since the vice president made that statement. i think if you look at it, there is a certain degree of thinking that says we'll have to make the best of the situation within political minds and leave aside the moral and ethical and all of the other issues, the social issues, people will be arguing about over the course of the next few days. if you look at it as a political element of this, it was simply time to make a stand and there was a feeling that the president, you know, one of the quotes was he was too cute and trying to have it both ways and come down firmly on one side and they'll let people fight it out and i think in the end they think there could be a political winner for them from a political aspect. >> stay with us. back to you, chris.

>> can i say something about journalism here? on sunday our colleague david gregory asked the question. >> he did. >> it was his question. this was the power of that show, meet the press, and boy did he ever fill tim's shoes and fill that chair better than he did now. nobody else thought to ask that question. he did. he asked the question and got a novel, historic answer out of jo eb who thought of it at that moment. there is no doubt in my mind the white house didn't want to bring this up. the people around the vice president were probably nervous. here he was answering a question from his heart and talking about love and talking about how people love and david gregory deserves the credit for breaking the store because he asks the most bril nant question and got a brilliant answer that will change this campaign perhaps for the better, the worse, for either party and definitely broken in a whole new era of cultural politics. >> mitt romney has described himself as being opposed to same sex marriage. >> i am not sure where he stands

on evolution period. stop for a second. there is a grand canyon between these two politicians now. >> right. >> one said he is evolved to accepting and supporting gay marriage and the other guy says he will never evolve and let one of his top staff people run off the other day and wouldn't stand up and put his hand up and said stay. all he had to do was say stay with me and he wouldn't do it. he is traditional. he is for traditional marriage. nice way to put it. he was for traditional prejudice against gays. that's where he stands, traditionally. traditionally this country has fired people for being gays. traditionally they have kicked people out of the military for being gay. that's tradition. tradition is wrong on this. the american people are turning gradually against tradition. for romney to hide behind the platitude of tradition, tradition has been prejudice. >> you say that, but the -- >> no, no, no, what happened to richard this week is what normally used to happen. you get caught being gay, you're fired.

>> on that point, the gallup poll has 50% saying they support it and say it should be legal which is down from 53% last year and 48% are still -- >> it is moving. it is moving. >> 48% still opposed. here is the question on romney. >> what's your point, martin, the divisive issue? why do you think we're talking about it? >> isn't this a great gift to romney who struggles with the whole idea of being a conservative -- >> it is up to how the voters vote. just a minute. we know the number one issue was the economy and every pollster will tell you that. certainly all of these concerns are relevant to this. can this president perform well on the economy? we have other issues like the security of this country. we have other issues like the cultural questions that are always going to come up. this is one of the culture questions. when people watched the debate this fall, this will come up. with he will see where they stand. here is my question.

who is closer to the american middle? a president who want ises as of a few moments ago same sex marriage or someone who opposes civil unions, who allows his top staff people to be run off the -- >> that's not what romney says. he says that's not the reason why he was let go. >> no, no, the simple journal is particular question. governor, do you want him to stay? why haven't you told him to stay? >> indeed. going back to what the president has said, he said i have to tell you that ever on the course of several years as i have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when i think about members of my own staff who are incredibly committed, same sex relationships, raising kids together, when i think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained even now that don't ask don't tell is gone.

>> to everybody watching, everyone working for a republican member of congress right now, why don't you walk in and tell the boss you're for same sex marriage right now and tell him right now or her where you stand personally and you want him to stand up or her to stand up. that's the big secret. there are so many republican gay people who won't stand up and say this is the right thing to do, equal marriage, marriage equality. why don't they say it? that's the great journal question. why aren't republican staff people, key people in the party from the robo room to chief of staff to top people in the party, gay people, how come they're not saying anything? there is a great question. stand up. go to the window and yell you're not going to take it anymore. >> they won't do that. >> why not? they're constrained by the nonsense by the position they're forced into by the people they support. >> we were talking just now

about the fact that this may appeal very much to the president's base but what about so many -- >> it is going to appeal -- >> what about african-americans in california who opposed? >> let's take a look at the history. back in 2004 karl rove with the help of don king went into cleveland and got a lot of african ministers on stand up on the pulpit and oppose gay marriage and they were able to get 17% of the black vote which is a critical ves over the usual 10 or 12%. they got the votes in ohio and john kerry was defeated for the presidency you could argue. clearly they'll do it again. they have done it before. they'll do it again. karl rove will gnaw on this bone until election night. >> okay. we got another bite from the interview, the president speaking to robin roberts minutes ago. here he is. >> in addition to everything we have done in this administration rolling back don't ask don't tell, so that outstanding

americans can serve our country, whether it is no longer defending the defense against marriage act which tried to federalize what has historically been state law, i stood on the side of broader equality for the lgbt community, and i had hesitated on gay marriage in part because i thought civil unions would be sufficient, that was something that would give people hospital visitation rights and other element that is we take for granted. >> the president speaking just now to robin roberts of abc news in an interview making the historic statement that he now endorses same sex marriage and i am joined by chuck todd who is live with us from washington. he said i stood on the side of broader equality but i assumed that civil unions may have been enough. >> it is interesting watching his position over time. i have been going through this and just was watching a debate

he had in 2004 as a senate candidate, and he was outlining basically that position that he believed in making sure there was visitation rights and making sure that people weren't being denied things and he had said at the time it was a religious decision why he wasn't comfortable with same sex marriage, and in 2006 in his book audacity of hope he moves it a little bit and asks himself this question about the idea much whether he is worried is he on the wrong side of history on this question, and doesn't say that his position has changed and of course we got the evolving answer in 2010 and now this. i think you do see sort of this evolution and it is over an eight year period politically. the question and i heard you and chris talking with this, what kind of real world effect will this have? eight years ago i think we saw that there was gay marriage was being used as a wedge issue between the two either pass. fast forward to today. i do not see the republican party trying to use this as a

wedge today. they have largely been silent on this. >> chris matthews is blushing. >> i know. >> in reaction to what you just said. >> i understand. we're in a different period. mitt romney today, the republican nominee, said i know there are people that disagree on this. i am not for t but i believe in -- he basically has obama's 2004 position today. what i am saying is this is not in an elections about the economy and 2004 was not and i just don't think this is going to be the decisive issue in this election. i will be shy -- i think we're thinking too much about eight years ago and not sort of looking at where this thing has moved generationally just in the last eight years. >> eight years from now chuck would be right. >> eight years from now. >> i think by the time hillary clinton is president but i think when ed come out for it, i think it is great because they probably root for hillary to run which is good and fair game. the fact is this will be used by

the christian conservative movement and the evangelicals and will you see this with tony what's his name and they'll all be out there using this. >> do they need more motivation? >> will you see tony perkins, rick war men, the catholic church, my church, the politicians on the right will use this to stir older, white, working class people in southwestern pennsylvania and work this issue like mad and, chuck, you know they'll use this issue. >> chuck, i don't think it has the same policy, though. >> they will try like hell to prove it. >> it doesn't have the same poeten sigh. it is there. it is clear. i think that you hear the president and the way -- don't forget what he endorsed. he endorsed the idea personally of being in favor of same sex marriage and also said it is up to the states and almost trying to have the mirror almost having the same tone that romney has on gay marriage and saying, look, i am for it but it is okay if you disagree with me type of thing and we'll leave it up to the

states. >> good news and bad news for george and virginia. good news or bad news? good news for bad news from clara in missouri and -- >> i don't -- the fact that they have to answer this question today is probably not a question they want to deal with today, but at the same time that happens in this stuff. is it good? again, i don't think it is as much of a negative as it may have been eight years ago. i think we're in a different spot. we'll see. claire mccaskill is not going to win or lose re-election based on gay marriage and neither will jon tester. health care is more cultural. health care is a more cultural -- has been used more in these culture wars frankly than gay marriage will be. >> indeed. >> the way they have taken health care. this is something you are on top of, chris. >> i agree. they all matter and we'll see what really matters in the end. this will be used by the president's opponents, i can get

on it, and, chuck, you agree with that they will try like hell to use it and it is up to the voter whether it works. >> i think you will see a party split on this. i don't think it will be unanimous inside the republican party to go for the wedge and the jugular the way they did eight years ago. >> great pleasure to have you. coming up, we're back with much more on the president's historic announcement. stay with us. ok! who gets occasional constipation,

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good afternoon, sir. >> good afternoon. >> do you agree with the president? sgr i think it is great. to cross that divide, it really requires you to engage your heart. it is not a legislative matter. it is a heart issue. one of the greatest and most liberating human emotions is acceptance and what the president is saying, i think, is that it is the quality of the love the two people have and it is not the gender, and two people who decide they want to be with each other and treat each other with respect, they want to be constant to one another and help each other get through this confusing situation we call life and accept it, that is a very good and liberating thing. >> you say it is a personal issue. as you know, for many people it is a deeply held they logical issue and the churchs itself in many denominations does not support this. >> that's right. that's what makes it very difficult and there was nothing in the president's personal background that made it comfortable for him to automatically get there, but accepting that this is a

decision that two people can make, gay or lesbian couples, is not to impose a point of view on a church as to what their they logical vision is of marriage. acceptance is acknowledging that you can have one point of view and accept that two other people that love one another can have their point of view. that's a good thing. >> what will the political implications be because as you know, i mean, for example, the president's inauguration, the minister rick warren led the inauguration prayer and he does not believe in same sex marriage. what will this do for christians that support the president and african-americans who let's be honest opposed same sex marriage? >> i think it is going to be positive for two reasons. first of all, young people really get it. they're going to be energized. i think politically it will be good. secondly, i think on a personal level for the president where he is honestly come to this conclusion, he is not going to be pushing this politically in

the house of representatives. there won't be some legislative ram down. he just made a statement of his own personal evolution. i think having made that decision you're going to see a man who is extremely comfortable talking about this and before the american people when it comes up and he is going to be liberated from this pliting the difference kind of situation that he found himself in for the past several months. >> congressman peter welsh, thank you, sir, for joining us. ♪ you are my sunshine, my only sunshine ♪ ♪ you make me happy [ female announcer ] choose the same brand your mom trusted for you. children's tylenol, the #1 brand of pain and fever relief recommended by pediatricians and used by moms decade after decade.

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offered his. let's bring in our panel with us from washington, karen finney and democratic strategist julian epstein and michelle cottle of "newsweek." karen, you said to me earlier this week that you equated this to being a civil rights issue and nancy pelosi just tweeted this is a great day in our fight for civil rights, a beautiful day. >> absolutely. look, in listening to your conversation also with chuck and chris, i think there are a couple of things. number one, as we talked about, this president, part of what has always made him potentially a transformational figure is he like many others in the country have a deep personal understanding what it is to be considered an "other" and to understand in that personal way when you talk about equal rights for every american and when you talk about the golden rule of treat others as you would want to be treated which the president talked about a bit in

this interview, it was very clear that this was the place that he would have to get to and he could help be a leader on an issue like this. yes, it is a wonderful thing to see this president be comfortable coming forward and saying this is what i believe and as i wrote about earlier, he did that from the perspective of his values and his personal experience with people and that's how a lot of racial barriers have broken down in this country. it is not by the laws written but by working side by side with people of other races and getting to know people who are different than ourselves and that we realize that some of these old ideas are just that, old ideas. >> julian, karen explains perfectly the personal momentum and impetus for this but what about the political implications for the president? >> it is an excellent question. to the conversation that chris and chuck were having, i think i am a little more on chris's side. what makes this such an important statement and such a moving statement of equal rights is that it is not without

political risk. it is obviously a statement we all applaud. there is clearly political risk. while the l positives show nearly every tempt of the american population is moving in the direction of supporting gay marriage, there is still major demographic groups that this can be used as a wedge. republicans will certainly try to use this as a wedge in the african-american community and use it as a wedge with non-college educated white voters. there are risks there because obama clearly needs votes in both of those communities. secondly, there is a risk to the extent this becomes a big part of the conversation and the same way that health care kind of preemped the discussion on the economy, there is a risk it becomes a big part of the discussion. there are political risks and that's what makes it so noble that the president would make such an important statement on human rights knowing there are clear political risks there. >> the evolution that be televise and had the president

speaking on abc news with robin roberts. the evolution seems to have accelerated at an incredible pace since joe biden went on meet the press. do you think the president informs a way painted into a corner by biden and then his education secretary arne duncan basically affirming they would endorse such a thing? >> absolutely. look, whatever the president's personal journey on this has been, there is no way he wanted to be having a culture discussion at this point in the campaign. you know, you can call it biden being biden, once he opened his mouth, this question was going to be out there and the president cannot afford to look wishy washy on something like this, so he was going to have to address it, and to his credit he did not -- you did not go halfway. he went whole hog. >> he absolutely did. karen, what about the potential fight back now? i am assuming that a number of conservatives are going to use this issue to harang and attack

the president and in certain swing states where there are large populations of working class white voters and evangelicals and after men americans, do you think it can be damaging. >> i think there is no question others will use this against the president in the same way we know they will use race and attacking women and no question. again, i think the way to frame this argument and talk about this argument and i hope this is the way the campaign does it is this is based on values as the president talked about as a christian he believed, this is the right thing to do and again there are again i think for some people you know, they're going to disagree with him and on this issue but they will still vote for him. there are some people who will disagree with him and not vote for him but they probably ent where going to vote for him anyway, and certainly in a black community this is a very important point, martin, yes, it is absolutely being used as a wedge issue which is disgusting

and disspigable and part of the reason the president's leadership is so important. i think at the end of the day african-americans that may disagree with them, those that disagree with him on this will still vote for the president. you're running against a man that people, a majority of americans think will tell them what they want to hear which means he has no credible position on just about any issue. >> indeed. julian, do you not think this issue could also go to the benefit of mitt romney who you and i know have struggled to convince anyone that he is severely conservative and on this issue he is severely conservative. >> yes. there are certain constituency groups theres no question this could potentially help him with. you talked about white working class. no question there. as karen said it could be a wedge in the african-american community. he thattes to make end roads given that obama has about 44% of the white vote right now. this is one place that he could potentially do it and mobilizes

the base. there is no question about any of those things. on the other hand, martin, the numbers you just put up on the screen, independents are supporting gay marriage by nearly 60%. >> in fact, it is 57%. >> 57% is the exact number. anyone born if you look at the population born after 1986 you're getting close to 70, 80%. this is an issue that will eventually within years have a couple of years have a clear majority support, so the president is out in front and final point is let's talk about the president's character and courage. when he went to support the tarp program, there was not a lot of support in this country. when he supported the auto bailout, there wasn't a lot of support and even economic stimulus there was not a lot of support. this is a guy who consistently has done the right thing even when the poll numbers were not in his favor and he was vindicated by history. i think he will be vindicated on this issue. >> thanks so much for joining us this afternoon. we'll get more reaction when we come back. stay with us. [ male announcer ] with six indulgently layered desserts,

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he would never give up on any of us. we have been following breaking news this afternoon, the president announcing his support of same sex marriage and an announcement that will have an impact on what will likely be a close presidential race and more bitter fight for congress. joining me is steve s ti vers. the president says he endorses and supports gay marriage. do you? >> you know, i believe marriage is between one man and one woman, but that's the president's choice to do what he thinks is right. i think there will be a lot of issues this year but, martin, i think this election will be about jobs and be about making sure that we can get americans back to work and that will be the issue that will decide the issue. i think chuck todd said that earlier on your show and i agree with that. >> we'll talk about that in a

moment. you're saying that you don't agree with same sex marriage, is that right? >> yes, sir. >> so you are happy for people as the president said to serve this nation, to potentially be sacrifice their lives on behalf of the country and serve in all kinds of public service roles and not be allowed to get married? >> well, you know, there are lots of things that can happen and lots of states will choose the direction they want to go and a lot of states have already done that, martin, and just yesterday the state of north carolina did, but i came on the show to talk about jobs. >> we'll do that. okay. as you know, dick lugar lost his seat last night and he released a letter about the state of the institution that you're a freshman member of and he said the bipartisan mindset was understood by president reagan that worked with democrats frequently and showed flexibility that would be ridiculed today.

we also hear about the tea party's reverence for ronald reagan, but maybe they're mistaken and should be ridiculing him instead. >> if that's the case, they may ridicule me too, martin because i have 12 bills and 11 have bipartisan co-sponsors and the 12th that passed the house this bipartisan votes with republicans and democrats and i believe we have to work together to solve the problems and i have a great bill that will help veterans get back to work and i believe we have to work together. in fact, i think that the reason that dick lugar lost in indiana had a lot more to do with the fact that he didn't go home and didn't have residency in indiana and in fact exit polls showed that 75% of the people that voted against him voted against him for those reasons and only about a fifth of the people this supported murdoch supported him for tea-party based reasons >> right. with regard to ohio itself, given what the president has said today, what do you think the implications of that endorsement will mean for that

state come the presidential election? >> i think the election in ohio like on many states is going to be decided based on what people think about jobs. i think people of ohio will evaluate the president based on whether they think he helped grow the economy or hurt jobs and unfortunately the administration has had policy that will help hurt jobs and i think he will pay for that at the ballot box and i don't think it will be decided on any other issues other than energy, health care, and jobs. >> even though in ohio unemployment is below the national average and there has been an increase in employment? >> ever since john kasich was elected governor unemployment has gone down. >> that has nothing to do with the president? >> it has everything to do with everybody but you can't compare one state to the other and say that ohio has gone down since john kasich was elected governor. that is a fact.

>> it is also a fact is it not that the president's decision to help the motor industry has produced great benefits in the state of ohio, is that not true? >> well, i believe that the auto industry would have done fine either way. frankly, the bankruptcy system works. many industries including the airline industry have been through the bankruptcy and they have still had jobs on the outside, and frankly ford didn't benefit from the bailout and they're doing just fine as well. honda that was in my district didn't benefit from the bailout and they're doing just fine. different people look at that differently. i don't think it is the government's role to bail out private industry, martin. >> and also just on this issue of going back to dick lugar, you're in the congress, and actually your voting record is actually less conservative on average than many of your fellow house republicans. >> i vote the way my district

would expect, martin, yes, sir. >> indeed. do you ever worry yourself that you could get a primary challenger like the one that richard lugar got because unless you're super extreme as it were you can be subjected to millions of dollars poured on the head of an opponent of your that is takes the opportunity to fight for your seat and take it away from you. >> i do what i think is right and what is in the best interest of our country and district and i don't worry every day about whether i am going to get to keep my job. i do what i think is right to move this country forward and that's what i will always do. i hope that's what every member of congress does and in fact that's what i believe every member of congress does. >> congressman steve stivs that acknowledges the president's work with the auto industry and is a republican, sir. thank you so much. >> thanks, martin. >> stay with us. more cobb. more to come [ mrs. hutchison ] friday night has always been all fun and games

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at a certain point i just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that i think same sex couples should be able to get married. >> the president there with the top line of the day but it wasn't the only one. from pure theater to santorum's sudden conversion, here are today's other top lines. >> they hand me a to-do list about the size of a post-it note and every member of congress should have tame everyone in co should have time to read it. >> president obama brought it back with a vengeance. >> you don't care about the poor, children sick, elderly. republicans want it throw grandma in the wheelchair over a cliff. >> sometimes i say all that i mean. >> we to t.o. get through the bottom of this. >> there is theater that gez on. >> v>> various candidates that

worked together. >> tremendous round of applause for senator murdoch. >> these have stalemated progress. >> some under the umbrella of the tea party. >> spending millions. >> scott walker's ideological civil war. >> very have heads of state at our home. >> the president's foreign policy is generally characterized by an effort to try and make friends. >> you get to know jimmy carter? >> i saw him in a speedo, wow. >> simple proposition. >> who do you love? >> the old mom routine. if it were up to me, honey, i'd let you go to that party. heck, i would lie bet buy you a back. but you know how your father is. >> they both like pleaded dockers. >> he said he would be the worse republican we could ever put against him. >> they are looking for a vice

president. looking for a personality for mitt. >> this year, the raz el dazzle man is barack obama. he is with george clooney tomorrow night. that is really cool. maybe just this time it is not about the cool factor. >> let's get right now to our own star-studded political panel. a political reporter for the washington most and crystal ball here in new york. crystal, i've today hold back your smile and joy and excitement at the news of the president's announcement. why are you so excited about this? >> i think it is a historic moment. there is a tendency from people like me and you, to want to go straight to the political ramifications in the swing states but i think we should take a moment to say, it's incredibly important. it's historic that president of the out has said, unequivocally, that he supports marriage equality. and to that political calculus,

none of that is set in stone. if you believe in it, go out and work and prove this is a political winner. go out there and do the work and make it happen. because it is a long time between now and november. so if you care about this issue and re's lekting the president, that's what you need to do. >> call it arms there from kristal ball. >> do you september that this is profoundly accelerated by the words of joe biden and arnie duncan? >> absolutely. biden and both duncan were freelancing. this wasn't something they anticipated. something they weren't prepared for. so i think you had something after perfect storm for this president. and also, here was a candidate, who announced on saturday this slogan of forward. and i think they were looking at polls too that suggest that americans too have had something

of an evolution on this issue. and they, in some ways, like 51 percent are where the president is. certainly in a lot of these states, i think about 30 states that put the measure on the ballot. most recently north carolina, and thanks turned out differently there. but this president looked at the poll numbers and this notion that in some ways his waffleling on this issue was damaging his brand. here they want it frame mitt romney as someone who waffles on issues and is a flip-flopper and fuzzy on issues. so they looked at that and said, here is a president who needs to be clear on this. that's what they did today. >> kristal, on this issue, mitt romney doesn't appear to be much after flip-flopper, does he? he is pretty conservative. >> reisn'tly he is consistent. but back when he was running against ted kennedy, he was trying to move left of ted

kennedy. he has evolved in decidely the wrong direction from my point. and i think malia is right. who is he, does he say what he means in especially when it is so blatantly obvious that mitt romney does not say what he means, that contrast is incredibly important. do i think that november is going to be about marriage equality? i don't. is it going to be about character and leadership? yes, that important. >> kneea malika, honoring two of my absolute all time fair ritz, with several other stars in attendance then tomorrow heading to hollywood for what could be a $12 million fund-raiser of the home of the great george clooney. many in hollywood will be pleased with told's marriage equality announcement. but we know his celebrity hob-nobing will draw a certain level of criticism won't it, from some? >> yeah and it always had. you could see in 2008, trying to frame the president as someone

who was the biggest celebrity in the world. and spending too much time hob-nobing celebrities. but i think people know the president needs to raise money. that's what this campaign, both of them will be about, raising over a billion dollars. so about a $12 million haul tomorrow. the thing is, it is hard to see this as necessarily bad for the president. i think on one hand the danger is that if hollywood is seen as deck tating policy for this white house, that is a danger. but i don't see any real danger though, of the president hanging out with george clooney. >> what about the critique of republicans who have tried to say that he is a celebrity? of course producing that slow-jam video. >> i think they are just jealous. the best celebrity they can get in ted nugent. which romney spent quite a bit of time cultivating that endorse many. so they are not -- >> yes, ted bleep new jersey et. thank you so much. we'll be right back. uncer) most life insurance companies

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and that... had made you smile. [ announcer ] beneful. play. it's good for you. thanks so much for watching this busy afternoon. dylan ratigan is here. a value to you all. dylan, all yours. >> a high bar, but martin, we will clear it, i'm sure. >> you do everyday. >> breaking news from the white house. the president this afternoon in an interview with good morni"go americ america"'s robin roberts, telling millions of americans what they have been waiting to hear. >> it is important for me to affirm that i think same-sex couples should be able to get married. >> let's get straight to mike outside the white house. immediate ripples here, michael? >> dylan, officials are saying essentially that the president intended to this all along but will not pretend thatment comment of