In 5 minutes: A seismic shift of values

With Obama in power, WhiteHouse.gov now backs abortion rights, 'gay rights'

Excerpt:

White House policies changed dramatically Tuesday, not the least of which was the WhiteHouse.gov website, which in less than five minutes went from one promoting pro-life policies and traditional marriage to one opposing such policies.

President Obama campaigned as a social liberal, and -- if his website is any indication -- he intends to deliver on several controversial issues, from supporting same-sex civil unions and the repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act to overturning the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy to being a staunch supporter of abortion rights.

Five minutes before noon -- before Obama had taken the oath of office -- the website still had a link to then-President Bush's statement backing a ban on partial-birth abortion and supporting a "culture of life" and his proclamations underscoring the need for "speaking up for the weak and voiceless among us." As late as last weekend, Bush -- who some have called the most pro-life president since abortion was legalized nationwide -- had issued a proclamation naming Jan. 18 "National Sanctity of Human Life Day," which was the Sunday before the anniversary of Roe v. Wade (Jan. 22).

But several minutes after noon, the switch was flipped, and Bush's policies were gone, replaced by those of Obama's. The new website has a statement affirming that Obama supports Roe.

"President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Administration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case," the statement, found under the category "Women" on the "Agenda" pulldown menu, states.

The new website also has a lengthy section dedicated to "Support for the LGBT Community" (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender), although it's somewhat hidden, listed under the "civil rights" section of the "Agenda" pulldown menu. Bush's WhiteHouse.gov website had no section for homosexual issues.

Among the changes for the homosexual community, Obama's White House website pledges that the new president will support repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, a law signed by President Clinton in 1996 that gives states the option of not recognizing another state's "gay marriages." It also prevents the federal government from recognizing "gay marriage." Supporters of DOMA say its repeal would be the first step toward legalizing "gay marriage" nationwide. Bush supported DOMA and a federal marriage amendment, which Obama opposes.

The new website also includes a quote from Obama addressed to the homosexual community: "While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."

Comment: The first of many changes. Update: The New York Times sees it as Reclaiming Values