(Orlin Wagner/AP)The leaders of two organizations for gay Republicans responded to President Barack Obama's support for same-sex marriage Wednesday with backhanded compliments and criticism of the timing of the president's decision.
"It is good to see that after intense political pressure that President Obama has finally come around to the Dick Cheney position on marriage equality," said Christopher Barron, chairman of GOProud, in a statement. He went on to say, "This is hardly a profile in courage by President Obama. For years now, President Obama has tried his hardest to have it both ways on this issue."
The executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, R. Clarke Cooper, chastised Obama for not making his views clear before North Carolina voters approved an amendment to the state Constitution banning gay marriage on Tuesday.
"That the president has chosen today, when LGBT Americans are mourning the passage of Amendment One, to finally speak up for marriage equality is offensive and callous," Cooper said in a statement, adding, "This administration has manipulated LGBT families for political gain as much as anybody, and after his campaign's ridiculous contortions to deny support for marriage equality this week he does not deserve praise for an announcement that comes a day late and a dollar short."
Neither statement mentioned Mitt Romney's opposition to gay marriage.
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