http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/06/joe-biden_n_1489670.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
WASHINGTON — Excitement quickly turned to frustration amongst gay rights activists on Sunday after the Obama team walked back Vice President Biden’s remarks on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that seemed to signal his endorsement of marriage equality.
When asked by host David Gregory on Sunday whether he is “comfortable with same-sex marriage now,” Biden replied, “I am vice president of the United States of America. The president sets the policy. I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly, I don’t see much of a distinction — beyond that.”
Biden’s comments, which were stronger in support of marriage equality than any made by President Obama, were quickly hailed by LGBT groups.
“We are encouraged by Vice President Biden’s comments, who rightly articulated that loving and committed gay and lesbian couples should be treated equally,” responded Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “Now is the time for President Obama to speak out for full marriage equality for same-sex couples.”
“I’ve known Vice President Biden since interning for him in the Senate in 1976,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry. “The personal and thoughtful way he has spoken about his coming to support the freedom to marry reflects the same journey that a majority of Americans have now made as they’ve gotten to know gay families, opened their hearts and changed their minds. President Obama should join the Vice President, former Presidents Clinton and Carter, former Vice Presidents Gore and Cheney, Laura Bush, and so many others in forthright support for the freedom to marry.”