Obama Takes A Stance, People In The Valley Do Too
Michael and Janna Bartosh came to Palm Springs to celebrate their marriage.
“Twenty-three years, this is our anniversary,” Janna Bartosh said.
Her husband defined the institution as a necessary one.
“The commitment, having someone there who understands,” Michael Bartosh said.
We caught up with them just hours after President Obama made a strong statement as well.
“At a certain point, it is important for me personally to affirm that I believe same-sex couples should be able to get married,” President Barack Obama said.
Other public figures reacted.
Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack wrote: “This is not – nor should it be – a federal matter. This is about states’ rights. My position has not changed: same sex marriage remains an issue for each state to determine.”
Governor Jerry Brown wrote: “Equality before the law is a pillar of American democracy. I applaud president Obama’s support for the right of same-sex couples to marry.”
“Finally someone in a position of power had the cajones to do the right thing,” Palm Springs resident Joe Murphy said. “I’m thrilled, couldn’t be happier. Almost moved me to tears.”
However, the happily married couple who speaks so highly of marriage doesn’t think “till death do us part” is for everyone.
“They have a right to fall in love with anybody. They have the same rights we do to marry, but not a person of the same sex,” Janna Bartosh said. “This is kind of blunt, but if I have a personal preference to have sex with minor children, I don’t have the right to do that.”
In the last week, the pressure was turned up on the president to clarify his position with an election just months away.
“Everybody’s going to be saying whatever they can to get more votes, whatever that may entail,” Michael Bartosh said.
“I think that’s a huge mistake, and I think our country is going to pay big time,” Janna Bartosh said. “The average normal Joe and Joanne in America are going to say ‘I don’t want to go there.”
The president went there, though, giving the average Joe and Joe something to think about.
