1) Gay marriages
2) Evolution
3) Abortion
4) Affirmative action

Obama‘s position on gay marriage
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90 ‘s – Obama supports gay marriages in
1996 (IL Senate) X undecided in 1998
2004 – Obama supports only civil unions
(U.S. Senate campaign)
2008 – Obama supports only civil unions, but also supports extension of gays in Cus
 Obama administration:
 2011 – repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell
 No repeal of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act)
 2012 – Obama openly supported gay marriages
Source: Washington Post, NYTimes

Gay Marriage in the U.S.
Source: freedomtomarry.org

Public opinion in the U.S.
Source: Nate Silver, Fivethirtyeight.com

 Intelligent design – science ???
 Current situation in states
 Epperson v. Arkansas
 Decision belongs to school boards

Evolution vs. Intelligent design state by state

 Supports teaching evolution
 Against teaching intelligent design
 No concrete steps
 Decided by school boards.
 Debate still in progress


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Roe v. Wade 1973
 Right to privacy extended to women‘s decision to have an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy
Pro-Choice × Pro-Life
 >2% => approx. 1 million/year
 In 32 states Medicare coverage in cases f rape, incest or life endangerment
 In 36 states parental approval for minor needed

„We must remember that this Supreme
Court decision not only protects a women‘s health and reproductive freedom, but also affirms a broad principle: that governmet should not intrude on privat family matters. I remain commited to protecting a women‘s right to choose and this fundamental constitutional right .“

 Contraceptives and morning-after pill without prescription
 Contraception coveren by health plan
 Obamacare (PPACA) -> DISPUTES
 Unspecified extra payment for elective abortions in the program
 Salary lower than 4 × poverty level -> contribution from federal government
=> all taxpayers pay for elective abortions

 Precedent = Grutter v. Bollinger , 2003

 Future of affirmative action programs at public universities depends on the outcome of Fisher vs. University of Texas case
Opinions
 University : need to ensure diversity
 Opponents : violation of 14 th amendment
 Obama : supports University of Texas in the case X generally rather cautious approach
 Supreme Court ‘s swing vote = Anthony
Kennedy

 Opinion poll on use of affirmative action programms in college admissions:

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 http://www.freedomtomarry.org/ http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/09
/support-for-gay-marriage-outweighs-oppositionin-polls/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_go vernment/where-obama-and-romney-stand-onthe-issues-from-abortion-and-economy-to-taxesand-war/2012/11/02/56de6122-2507-11e2-92f8-
7f9c4daf276a_story.html

 http://www.peoplepress.org/2003/05/14/conflicted-viewsof-affirmative-action/
 http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.cz/2011/
02/we-cam-assume-affirmative-actionis.html
 http://chronicle.com/article/What-You-
Need-to-Know-About/134912/