In an interview with ABC News today, President Barack Obama confirmed that he thinks same-sex couples “should be able to get married.”

UPDATE: Added more Iowa political reaction below.

Click here to watch the ABC News video. Obama explained that he has always supported equal rights for same-sex couples in the context of civil unions, but balked at backing full marriage rights because the word “marriage” evokes such strong feelings about cultural and religious traditions. He continued,

I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.

On one level, this interview reflected a cynical calculation: continuing to hedge on marriage equality had become more politically costly for Obama than supporting full marriage rights for lesbian and gay couples. The president was careful to say that despite his personal opinion, he supports states’ right to decide which marriages to recognize. In other words, he won’t be a crusader for the right to marry everywhere in the country.

But on another level, it is momentous for the first African-American president become the first president and first major-party presidential candidate to openly support marriage equality. Also, the timing of today’s interview was powerful. Yesterday North Carolina voters approved a constitutional amendment banning not just marriage but any legal recognition for same-sex couples. Obama carried North Carolina in 2008 and will make a serious play to hold that state, which is why the Democratic National Convention will be held there. He could have sat tight with his 2008 stand against discrimination but not completely for equality, but he didn’t. Sure, national polling indicates steadily growing support for marriage rights, but not necessarily in all the swing states Obama needs to win this November.

I’ll update this post as more political figures react to the president’s comments. I got a laugh out of Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky’s response. Never a fan of pressuring the president from the left, Dvorsky declined last week to join a group of state party chairs who want marriage equality in the national Democratic Party’s platform. But less than a half-hour after ABC aired Obama’s comments, Dvorsky was quick to pat the president on the back:

“Same-sex couples should be able to get married.”-President Obama // Right you are, sir!

Any relevant thoughts are welcome in this thread.

P.S.- Three years after same-sex couples gained the right to marry in Iowa, Public Policy Polling’s latest survey of Iowa voters found 76 of respondents said “legalized gay marriage has either had a positive impact or no impact on their lives.”

UPDATE: Statement released by Dvorsky:

Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky released the following statement following President Obama’s remarks today (5/9/12) in support of marriage equality.

“Today, President Obama echoed the sentiments of countless Iowans who believe all loving couples should be able to honor their commitments through marriage. In 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that prohibiting gay and lesbian couples from marrying is unconstitutional. It was a historic day for our state and a tremendous moment for committed couples as well as for the families and friends of Iowa’s LGBT community.

“While this is arguably one of the most important and historic statements President Obama has made publicly on LGBT issues, his remarks follow a series of policies this administration has put forth in support of equal rights for LGBT Americans. The values that the President cares most deeply about are how we treat other people. President Obama recognizes that people are going to have differing views on marriage and those views, even if we disagree strongly, should be respected.

“As we applaud the position taken by President Obama today, we must also acknowledge the fight for full equality for LGBT Americans is far from over. Our opposition continues to push a divisive and well-funded tactical agenda which seeks to undermine equality efforts across the country.

“The likely Republican nominee for President, Mitt Romney, not only opposes same sex marriage, but he believes we should amend the U.S. Constitution to prevent committed gay and lesbian couples from marrying.  A Federal marriage amendment, such as the one Romney supports, would be the first time this country amended the Constitution to deny Americans equal rights. Additionally, his opposition to civil union could potentially rollback a whole range of equal rights and benefits for gay and lesbian Americans.”

Statement released by Republican Party of Iowa Chair A.J. Spiker:

DES MOINES, Iowa- The Republican Party of Iowa released the following statement from Chairman A.J. Spiker in response to President Obama’s gay marriage decision:

“Marriage is an institution that can only be between one man and one woman. While President Obama continues to play politics, the Republican Party of Iowa will continue to support maintaining the traditional view of marriage as between one man and one woman.”

RNC Platform: Preserving Traditional Marriage

Because our children’s future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage, we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman, so that judges cannot make other arrangements equivalent to it. In the absence of a national amendment, we support the right of the people of the various states to affirm traditional marriage through state initiatives. Republicans recognize the importance of having in the home a father and a mother who are married. The two-parent family still provides the best environment of stability, discipline, responsibility, and character. Children in homes without fathers are more likely to commit a crime, drop out of school, become violent, become teen parents, use illegal drugs, become mired in poverty, or have emotional or behavioral problems. We support the courageous efforts of single-parent families to provide a stable home for their children. Children are our nation’s most precious resource. We also salute and support the efforts of foster and adoptive families. Republicans have been at the forefront of protecting traditional marriage laws, both in the states and in Congress. A Republican Congress enacted the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of states not to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states. Unbelievably, the Democratic Party has now pledged to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which would subject every state to the redefinition of marriage by a judge without ever allowing the people to vote on the matter. We also urge Congress to use its Article III, Section 2 power to prevent activist federal judges from imposing upon the rest of the nation the judicial activism in Massachusetts and California. We also encourage states to review their marriage and divorce laws in order to strengthen marriage. As the family is our basic unit of society, we oppose initiatives to erode parental rights.

SECOND UPDATE: Within 90 minutes of ABC’s broadcast today, the Obama campaign pulled in $1 million in donations.

The Obama campaign and Democratic Representative Bruce Braley’s re-election campaign both seized on a good list-building opportunity today. Excerpt from the Obama campaign’s e-mail blast:

[desmoinesdem] —

Today, I was asked a direct question and gave a direct answer:

I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.

I hope you’ll take a moment to watch the conversation, consider it, and weigh in yourself on behalf of marriage equality:

http://my.barackobama.com/Marr…

I’ve always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. I was reluctant to use the term marriage because of the very powerful traditions it evokes. And I thought civil union laws that conferred legal rights upon gay and lesbian couples were a solution.

But over the course of several years I’ve talked to friends and family about this. I’ve thought about members of my staff in long-term, committed, same-sex relationships who are raising kids together. Through our efforts to end the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, I’ve gotten to know some of the gay and lesbian troops who are serving our country with honor and distinction.

What I’ve come to realize is that for loving, same-sex couples, the denial of marriage equality means that, in their eyes and the eyes of their children, they are still considered less than full citizens.

Even at my own dinner table, when I look at Sasha and Malia, who have friends whose parents are same-sex couples, I know it wouldn’t dawn on them that their friends’ parents should be treated differently.

So I decided it was time to affirm my personal belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.

I respect the beliefs of others, and the right of religious institutions to act in accordance with their own doctrines. But I believe that in the eyes of the law, all Americans should be treated equally. And where states enact same-sex marriage, no federal act should invalidate them.

If you agree, you can stand up with me here.

Thank you,

Barack

Here’s an e-mail blast Bruce Braley’s Congressional campaign sent out the evening of May 9. It links to a page collecting signatures for a “thank you” note to the president.

[desmoinesdem] —

It’s a historic day for civil rights in America.

In an interview this afternoon, President Obama publicly endorsed marriage equality, saying “same-sex couples should be able to get married.”

President Obama has learned what we already know here in Iowa: that loving, committed couples from all backgrounds deserve to have the same rights under the law. The right to adopt children. The right to be free from discrimination. The right to pursue happiness. And the right to marry the person you love.

Let’s show President Obama that we appreciate his strong stand for equal rights.

Tell President Obama: thank you for supporting marriage equality.

I’ll take your thank you notes and deliver them to the White House.

Today’s news is a step forward – but we still have a long way to go. My hope is that President Obama’s change of heart helps convince more people that true equality under the law means ending marriage discrimination. After all, freedom means freedom for everybody.

Thank President Obama for supporting marriage equality.

Sincerely,

Bruce Braley

THIRD UPDATE: Senator Tom Harkin told reporters the president did “the right thing, the courageous thing.”

Harkin says his personal views on gay marriage have changed during his time in Washington. “My thinking on this has evolved over the years, too,” Harkin says. “All of us have (evolved), as we get a better concept of civil rights and expanding equality under the Constitution of the United States, all of us, many of us, our thoughts have evolved, mine along with it.”

Iowa is among six states and the District of Columbia that allow same-sex marriage. Harkin says he’s done a one-80 on this subject in the past 15 years. “I’m a co-sponsor of the bill which is the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, which, in all frankness, I will say that I voted for back in the ’90s. I think now we recognize, at least I recognize, that this is not correct.”

DOMA, enacted in 1996, is a federal law that defines marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman. Harkin says voters in North Carolina and elsewhere likely haven’t heard the last of this issue. “If you’d left it up to North Carolina and South Carolina and Alabama and Mississippi back in the ’60s, they would’ve amended their constitutions to deny civil rights to African-Americans,” Harkin says.

One of Iowa’s leading opponents of same-sex marriage, Bob Vander Plaats, had a very different take:

Vander Plaats predicted Obama will pay a heavy price in the 2012 election where he will be opposed by Republican Mitt Romney.

“I believe the base that was inspired to make Obama a one-term president will only be more inspired. And if I’m Mitt Romney today, I am smiling bigger than life. I believe it will make Obama a one-term president,” he said.

Vander Plaats said it will be important for Romney to properly message his stance on marriage.

“He can’t waffle on it. He is going to show leadership, ‘That you can trust me, that I will be for one-man, one-woman marriage.’ He has campaigned that way. He has signed the National Organization for Marriage’s pledge, which includes a federal marriage amendment for one-man, one-woman,” he said.