Here is today's big announcement in the President's own words.

Courtesy of ABC News:

The president stressed that this is a personal position, and that he still supports the concept of states' deciding the issue on their own. But he said he's confident that more Americans will grow comfortable with gays and lesbians getting married, citing his own daughters' comfort with the concept. 

"It's interesting, some of this is also generational," the president continued. "You know when I go to college campuses, sometimes I talk to college Republicans who think that I have terrible policies on the economy, on foreign policy, but are very clear that when it comes to same-sex equality or, you know, sexual orientation, that they believe in equality. They are much more comfortable with it. You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we're talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn't dawn on them that somehow their friends' parents would be treated differently. It doesn't make sense to them and, frankly, that's the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective." 

Roberts asked the president whether first lady Michelle Obama was involved in his decision. Obama said she was, and he talked specifically about his own faith. 

"This is something that, you know, we've talked about over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way, she feels the same way that I do. And that is that, in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people and, you know, I, you know, we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it's also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated. And I think that's what we try to impart to our kids and that's what motivates me as president and I figure the most consistent I can be in being true to those precepts, the better I'll be as a as a dad and a husband and, hopefully, the better I'll be as president."

I think that the President has really thrown down the gauntlet here and is essentially daring the Right Wing to come after him on this issue.  As we know the country is more than willing to accept gay marriage, and by attacking Obama the Republicans will demonstrate how out of step they are with the will of the American people.

And let's face it, for those people to whom "protecting the sanctity or marriage" is their overriding issue, Obama was NEVER going to be their choice of candidate anyhow.

It is a GREAT day in America today and I have every hope that now with this issue front and center we will start to see the acceptance of gay marriage sweep the country. As our Vice President would say, "This is a big fucking deal!"

Hey, people were wondering where the hope and change were, well now you know!