he's been evolving for some time. i think you will look at, and certainly republicans and critics will look at this and say he's doing this for election purposes. i mean, i think that his aides are saying this is risky and there's some risk to it, i imagine, but listen, i remember talking to many, many months ago early last year, someone to be on president obama's re-election team. they mentioned four groups to me of administrator importance. african-americans and keeping up their participation in the voting process. for a re-elect. latinos and getting more registered and having more of them vote democratic. along with young people. bringing along those people who kwr too young to vote for president obama last year. and guess what, the lgbt community. they put a lot of money in it or put a lot of effort into it. i don't think it's at all surprising that an evolving position has now become an actual position. i would tell you that i think one of the political ramifications of this might be felt by other democrats. >> h

>> his personal views on this were evolving. the president does have significant support in the community and that's because of his unparalleled record in support of lgbt rights. that includes a fight to repeal successfully don't ask don't tell, signing hate crimes legislature. it includes ending the defense of marriage act and ensuring hospital visitation rights for patients and their loved ones and i could go on. his record on lgbt rights is simply unparalleled and he will continue to fight for those rights going forward. >> everybody deserves to be able to live and love as they see fit. i don't have to tell the people in this room we've got a ways to go in this struggle. what is he referring to if not gay marriage? >> you have heard him say and those in the administration like myself who speak for him that he strongly opposes effort to restrict rights for same-sex couples. he has made his opposition to those efforts in various states known. and will continue to do so. i think it's a statement of obvious fact that full has not

he says personally and he has evolved. people should talk about evolving. here the thing, people push back because they say, wait a minute. my parents were involved in a bigoted union? my grandparents were involved in a bigoted union. if you are saying these people who want to keep marriage between a man and woman are bigots you say where were you 15 years ago? >> they were scared perhaps. >> you are telling people that their ancestors were -- this is the way marriage was for so long. when they call it bigotry, instead of saying we should evolve -- >> wait a second. 40 years ago black and white people couldn't get married. >> do you want to fight on that issue? >> it is not equal to the civil rights struggle. >> i didn't say that it was equal -- >> you just did. >> you guys keep going. >> i was talking about a marriage evolving, not the civil right acts. 40 years ago black men could not marry white women in many states. in 40 years all men and women will be able to marry. >> if my parents had a store and wouldn't allow black people to sit at the counter the

who will evolve and who has the resolve. we'll find out tonight in the washington. biden sounds off of gay marriage. >> this is sample proposition. who do you love? >> is it part of the plan or did he put his foot in it. >> my feelings about this are constantly evolving. >> remember the firewall the president had with independent women? well, not so much anymore. maybe there is some truth to etch-a-sketch moment after all. visions, polls, and politics. you say you want an evolution? well, you got one. ♪ >>> with respect to the issue of whether gays and lee beeians should be able to get married, my feelings with this are con stanltly evolving. i struggle with this. >> that was president obama discussing gay marriage in 2010. while he may still be evolving, some of his members appear to be further along on the chain. joe biden on meet the press on sunday. >> i am absolutely comfortable that men marrying men, women, marrying women are entitled to all of the same rights and civil liberties. >> do you believe that same-sex marriage men and women should be able to get leg

he's taken more time evolving on this issue evolving from h. the problem is, you can make an argument. a little bit of hyperbole there but i thought i would add some color. we all agree he's making a political calculation, and we can argue whether that political calculation is correct or incorrect, but it's an obvious political calculation. he's taken a civil rights issue and he's trying to kind of, you know, straddle the fence on it and it's unseemly. he's beginning to look ridiculous on this issue. he needs to just get off the fence and go where he knows he really is in the first place. >> okay. >> you read his mind, you read his heart, you find him wanting in sincerity. let's go to mayor brown. mayor brown, what do you think i should do politically? he has an election to win. he's got six months to win it. your thoughts? >> above all else, barack obama is running for president. he is running to be reelected. he is going to do whatever it takes to get to the point where voters will accept him over his opponent. his conduct on the question of

al-qaeda is evolving and we're also evolving and i think it's important, a lot of that that says a greatthe leaks, and where they came from, how much damage they've created and we want to get to that. >> and, but the important point here is just last thursday, seven more terrorists were killed in a drone strike in yemen and the number of drone strikes has increased dramatically. we're clearly hitting these guys very hard, there's evidence in part thanks to the leaks that there's tremendous internal division, confusion, within al-qaeda and the fact that they've lost one sanctuary and means this is a group on the run and we should take into account there's real progress being made. >> and i think the important question, and the last few months according to the administration, al-qaeda is really struggling and we've gotten a lot of leaders and osama bin laden and shows actually that in yemen, the last 14 months has been a country essentially in anarchy, an uprising and that the president is gone and controls territory in the south of yemen, there are towns, one town after another, we have t

right now, the president is in a position where it's not totally clear, evolving, the position of evolvingenough. the president has to make a choice. we know he is not going to back and work against history. they just went back in effect and said as if we had done 100 years ago to say women are about to get to vote let's deny women the right to vote. the president is, you know you have to understand. >> for him to setit on the fence, than to come down. >> he only has one side he can come down for and that's for gays and lesbian rights including the right to marry. >> this new gallup poll i think you were referencing, just so everybody has it in front of them, two-thirds of democrats support legalizing gay marriage. 57% of independent and 22% of republicans. honestly, does the president really have much to lose? given those numbers? >> the nation's divided. i mean we have talked about segments of voters but the nation is divided and independents are not overwhelmingly supportive of gay marriage. >> 57% is a good number. it's a generational issue. >> it is a little bit generational. >> if yo

his personal views on this were evolving. i would say that his views are evolving. his views have not changed. i don't have an update for you. i don't have an update to provide you. i have no update to give you. the vice president expressed his personal views. he also said he was evolving. >> he did not say that. >> he did. >> no. the spokesperson said that. >> i don't have an update to provide you on the president's position. it is what it was. >> and this morning on the daily rundown, democratic governor bev purdue appeared to have the same stance as president obama and would not commit to outright supporting same sex marriage. >> do you understand the awkwardness of basically saying you're against banning gay marriage but not for it. that's where the president is. it sounds like that's where you are. it is a head scratcher to a lot of people watching this debate over the last 24 hours. >> let me just be very direct. you all can continue to scratch your head for another 48 hours. it is very important to me that the folks in north carolina who have not cast their b

adaptive enemy and we have to evolve and adapt and be as agile as they are. first thing we have to do is articulate to our national labs, academia, all of our partners, what are our needs, what are the key capabilities that we see we need moving in the future. so we've done that. and we've made it unclassified so we could share this as broadly as we can. now, attached to that is a classified version which describes the tactical employment of these capabilities and a little better understanding. but it's important. whenever we receive a requirement from a commander in afghanistan, we immediately go out to all of our partners and say here's what we need, bring us your good ideas and we rapidly field them. we had a requirement this past summer, and in 3 1/2 months we fielded 210,000 pieces of equipment. that's what we're in the business to do and that's what we should do in the future. >> sir, thanks very much. best of luck. you're welcome back anytime. >> thank you very much. >>> coming up next, why defense secretary leon panetta sees good military discipline a

he uses the word his position is evolving. but has not been willing to say he supports gay marriage. i think the reason is, there's politics in everything. i think the reason is, it would help him with a portion of his base, absolutely, gaze and lesbians it would be a huge deal. but african-americans, another key pillar of president obama's base are among the least supportive groups of that legalization. i think his attitude is why do it now? it's not a slam-dunk issue. why not wait if i win a second term, then maybe tackle it then. i think they want to quickly move on from this. >> i have two states to mention wes we talk about why not. how about north warnl whicaroli is going to be voting on a more restrictive law. and west virginia. >> too culturally conservative states too, to your point. >> i wanted to quickly bring in president obama's new ad buy. $25 million in key states. it tells you what they're looking at. let's take a quick look what he is trying to say in this ad. >> he believed in us. fought for us. and today, ou

evolving is not evolved. and evolved is not evade. so at some point, there comes a time where even people who may not really care that much or may not be for the freedom to marry don't want to see inauthenticity. they don't want to see a president that seems to be on the advice of political operatives or otherwise holding back or dancing. they want to see a president lead. this president has taken so many important pro-gay, pro-equality, pro-marriage steps of really truly historic magnitude that he's very little to lose and a lot to gain by completing the journey and being authentic. >> evan wolfson, founder of freedom to marry. thanks so much for your time tonight. really appreciate it. >>> the republicans are dedicated to bringing europe's misery to our shores. europe's voters have a message for them. [ male announcer ] want your weeds to hit the road? hit 'em, with roundup extended control. one application kills weeds, and stops new ones for up to four months. roundup extended control. do you really think brushing is enough to keep

the president said he was evolving. >> did vice president biden's view just evolve farther and faster than the president's? biden was asked if he would short same-sex marriage in a second term he didn't know the answer to that question. recent polling shows about half american support legalizing same-sex marriage. and there's a push from some like nancy pelosi to make a platform for it. white house press secretary jay carney says he doesn't have any update on the president's personal views on same-sex marriage. pressed carney on why the president won't be more direct. >> the president was asked this and his personal views on this were evolving. >> everybody deserves to live and love the way they see fit. i don't have to tell people in this room we have a ways to go in this struggle. what is he referring to if not gay marriage? >> well, i think you have heard him say and those in the administration like myself who speak for him that he opposes efforts to restrict rights, to repeal rights for same-sex couples. >> so can you explain then clearly what -- how vice president biden who said

have your views evolved? >> i think the good news is that as more and more americans come to understand what this is all about is a simple proposition, who do you love? who do you love? will you be loyal to the person you love? that's what people are finding out that all marriages are at the root about. whether it's marriage of lesbians or gay men. >> is that what you believe? you're comfortable with same-sex marriage? >> i'm vice president of the united states of america. the president sets the policy. i am absolutely comfortable with the fact that many marrying men, women marrying women and hetrosexual are entitled to the same right, all civil rights and liberties and i don't see much of a distinction beyond that. >> in a second term will this administration come out behind same-sex marriage? >> i can't speak to that. i don't know the answer to that. >> you can see in his response there at the end to the question of second term policy making that he thinks he might have gone too far. perhaps minutes after t

this is evolving. >> evolving is the word president obama used to describe his own feelings at a news conference on the day he signed the repeal of don't ask don't tell. >> my feelings about this are constantly evolving. i struggle with this. i have friends, i have people who work for me who are in powerful, strong, long lasting gay or lesbian union. my baseline is a strong civil union that provides protections and legal rights that married couples have and i think that's the right thing to do. but i recognize that from their perspective this is not enough. this is something that we will continue to debate and i personally will struggle with going forward. >> president says that, quote, i personally am going to continue to wrestle with this going forward. he means wrestle with it politically, right? >> is there anyone who actually believes that the president does not personally support marriage equality, which he supported back when he was a state senator and it has been a political calculus. gays and lesbians across the board. on the one hand we are like could you go ahead and evolve

thank you, sir. >> serbia has an evolving relationship with nato. it's a relationship where we now have an individual partnership plan, signed and negotiated with serbia. serbia has not indicated once they became a member of nato. as i said, this is a decision individual countries will have to reach themselves. for now, serbia has focused primarily on moving towards the eu, and it gained candidacy status a few months ago, which was important. there was an important election. there were many important elections on sunday. there was another one in serbia, which -- and we will see the second round next week. but the forces that want to continue the process of euro/atlantic integration in serbia remain strong, which is good for serbia and it's good for europe. how and when and whether that integration will have a nato angle, there's something for serbia to decide. we are open to it. the serbs, in fact, have a mission to nato. they have an ambassador at nato whose sole job is to have an interaction with nato, and we will find whatever partnership activit

my feelings about this are constantly evolving. i struggle with this. >> you said your position is evolving. you said you're struggling with it. what more do you need to know? >> well, you know, i probably won't make news right now, george. but i think that there's no doubt that as i see friends, families, children of gay couples who are thriving, that has an impact on how i think about these issues. >> again, what i know is what his position was during the campaign and what it is now. you know, he's been very clear about it. he was very clear in the campaign. he's very clear about the fact that his position, that it's evolving. the president said he was evolving. >> so did mr. biden's view of same sex marriage evolve further and faster than the president's? biden was asked if he would short same-sex marriage in a second term he didn't know the answer to that question. half americans favor legalized same-sex marriage. and there's a push from some like nancy pelosi to make support for it part of a platform in the upcoming election.

and many wore a button that said evolve already. because the president is overlawyering.say gay marriage. because jay carney is right. but on this one, he's -- he looks wishy washy. >> the gay community should back off of the president on this. they shouldn't make it a campaign issue. it hurts us when he does that. >> i have talked to pollsters and they said if the president comes at this -- using his christian values from an honest place, which he is likely to he could win this. he could say as a christian, i have considered this. and totally take the teeth out of this issue. >> it's a fascinating issue in this election. this president has been moan to make risky speeches on risky topics as well. but they also came without a campaign ad focused on the economy. take a listen. >> if we're not there yet. it's still too hard for too many but we're coming back because america's greatness comes from a strong middle class, because you don't quit deieierer doess ?? >>>>ooou tnk t tt's the right message? >> absolutely. the republicans have no comeback to that message. >> well exc

the president said that he was evolving. >> in explaining that process of evolving today, the president said he has always been adamant that gays and lesbians should be treated fairly and equally, but he hesitated on gay marriage partly he said because he thought civil unions would be enough. they would let people visit their partners in the hospital, for instance. in the abc interview, he acknowledged that same-sex marriage is an issue that elifts strong feelings both for and against. >> i was sensitive to the fact that for a lot of people, the word "marriage" was something that evokes very powerful traditions, religious beliefs and so forth. but i have to tell you that over the course of several years, as i talk to friends and family and neighbors, when i think about members of my own staff who are incredibly committed in monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships who are raising kids together, when i think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or 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 th

and they are evolving at break-neck pace and making this leap of faith.r cnn analysts was on suggesting this is a dramatic leap of faith. do you think that this will alienate black voters in america to the point where they will think, i just don't want to vote for him so i'm just not going to go to the polls? >> i think that's the overarching concern and there's so much at stake. we began a campaign, the empowerment movement did, to register 1 million voters, new voters for the november election. easter sunday, we registered 110,000. and we're moving to fill in that gap to register another 900,000 before labor day. and i believe we're going to do it. what is very critical is after voter registration is voter education. and what are the issues that are germane to suseconomy, economy, economy. i think this will be an issue that's going to be discussed going into the general election. it cannot be ignored. that is now an americana issue. it's going to have to be faced not just by the larger american populous but the african-american community will not be abl

obama's evolved position on gay marriage was big news, but why now? was it big news? and deserving the coverage that it got? >> the coverage on "the washington post" and the step on gay marriage and friday, obama's evolution, next to mitt romney's piece, evolution is a great word, given the fact that barack obama first had the pro marriage, gay marriage, 1996 and obama moves from supporting gay marriage to opposing it back to supporting it again, that's evolution. when mitt romney does it, it's a flip plot. >> jon: why isn't it a flip-flop? of course it is, and when mitt romney changed his opinion on abortion, for example, he would say is evolving they call it a flip-flop and see it as a craven move and when obama switches his position twice, hardly anybody, if anyone referred to the fact that he used to support it in 1996 and pretty, in a very craven way switched his position and you know, somebody said this is less evolution and more intelligent design. and he really-- >> very good. >> not just some accidental thing that happened. >> and joe scarboro called it the b

he is continuing to evolve. willing to give him that time as long as he comes down on the side of human rights. >> i get that. but continues to evolve seems like a position that is not a position. >> it's a cop out. >> and people hit mitt romney on that. -- >> let me finish. >> i have said to you i have said to you. >> and is the same about the president. >> i was a member of this military and in the marine corps at that time i had a drill instructor who was not allowed to serve because it was found she was gay. at the time as a young person i agreed with it. over time i.e., involved and when this president worked to strike down don't ask don't tell that -- >> and you are not the president of the united states. >> i think that president is human and that president gets the time to evolve over time. >> crystal, sorry what -- what's wrong the president taking a stand either way? and i'm sure you want to respond. >> i think what goldie said she is blasting the president. he is saying that the president needs to hav

he says his position has evolved.onally supports it. >> it has been called a landmark moment for equality and also a political risk. president obama revealed on wednesday that he now supports same-sex marriage. >> it was a dramatic moment felt around the country and sure to effect his campaign for reelection. >> brent, he is evolving and the rest of us are not evolving with him those of us that have disagreements on the issue that agree with his old position which was previous to the other position. >> i mean look, it is like there is a mathematical formula here. liberals evolve and conservatives devolve. when in indiana dick luger loses it is an outrage according to the press. what was it so startling that nbc and abc broke into live coverage. this wasn't pearl husher that took place the other day. secondly, changed his position. i don't know who thinks he changed his position on this. did anybody think he was anything other than progay rights all the time? not i. i'm not the least bit surprised by this. this was a f

he's like a lot of us who are continuing to evolve. i'm willing to give him that time as long as -- >> okay. >> as long as he comes down on the side of human rights. >> i get that, but continuing to evolve seems like a position that's not -- >> it's a cop-out. >> it's a position that you're either for or against and you're either for or against and people hit mitt romney. hang on. let me finish that. mitt romney has not have a backbone and doesn't take a stand on issues. >> i've run into it in my own life. i was also a member of the united states marine corps and in the marine corps at that time i had a favorite drill instructor not allowed to serve, kicked out in the middle of my boot camp because it was found out she was gay and as a young person i agreed with that. over time i evolved and when this president worked to strike down don't ask, don't tell, i was in full agreement with that. >> i appreciate your passion. >> i think we evolve with things over time. >> and i respect what you're saying, but you're not the president of the u

. >> sounds like joe biden is evolving a little faster. absol. men marrying men, women marrying women. they are entitled to the same exact rights. >> tell me what you really think. >> joe biden clearly was speaking from his heart. >> it certainly caught the white house by surprise. >> they came out so quickly. >> was to make the same point. >> it's a delicate dance he has to do. >> the vice president is not the only member of the obama administration. education secretary was asked if he supports gay marriage. >> he was asked this morning. >> to which he answered yes, i do. >> they knew it would come up. mitt romney had to let go of his spokesman who is gay. >> today on the campaign trail, something important happened. >> mitt romney was asked a question. >> that we need to talk about. someone said something about the president being responsible for treason. >> try the president for treason. >> wait a minute. >> yet again, a soldier moment. >> a failure to lead. >> more mitt romney vp auditions. >> the battle over who will be the next vice preside