WASHINGTON – Most Americans suspect that President Obama was motivated by politics, not policy, when he declared his support for same-sex marriage, according to a new poll released on Monday, suggesting the impact of his decision was undercut by the unplanned way it became public. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed by The New York Times and CBS News since the announcement said they thought Mr. Obama made it “mostly for political reasons,” while 24 percent said it was “mostly because he thinks it is right.” Independents were more likely to attribute it to politics, and nearly half of Democrats agreed. The results reinforce the concerns of White House aides and Democratic strategists who worried that the sequence of events leading up to the announcement made ... Continue reading →
May 14, 2012, 7:16 amPoll: Age and Partisanship Mark Divide Over Gay Marriage By DALIA SUSSMANPresident Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage last week has had little effect on Americans’ views of the issue so far, the latest New York Times/CBS News poll finds.The poll asked respondents a three-part question: whether same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, or if they should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry, or if there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple’s relationship. Nearly 4 in 10, 38 percent, said they should be allowed to marry, similar to where it’s been recently, but up significantly from just 2 in 10 who said so in 2004.Another 24 percent said same-sex couples should be allowed to ... Continue reading →
May 11 (Bloomberg) -- JPMorgan Chase & Co. said it lost about $2 billion tied to synthetic credit securities after positions taken by its chief investment office were riskier than expected. Bloomberg's Su Keenan reports. (Source: Bloomberg) Continue reading →
SILVER SPRING, Md. — A drug already used to treat H.I.V. infection should also be approved to prevent it, an advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday. The recommendation is the first time that government advisers have advocated giving antiviral medicine to healthy people who might be exposed through sexual activity to the virus that causes AIDS. One panelist called approving the drug “an amazing opportunity to turn the tide on this epidemic.” Studies have shown that people who take the medicine, Truvada, every day have a greatly reduced risk of infection. The F.D.A. usually accepts the advice of its advisory panels, which are made up of outside medical experts. On Thursday, after evaluating studies of the once-a-day pill and hearing ... Continue reading →
Mr. Obama faces considerable risk in jumping into this debate, reluctantly or not, in the heat of such a close election. The day before he announced his position, voters in North Carolina - a critical state in Mr. Obama's re-election plan and the site of the Democratic convention this summer - approved by a 20-point margin a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Continue reading →
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Did you notice the other night on Mad Men that the men were whining? The 60s were rough on everybody, except maybe the hippies who were all stoned. But I think we are seeing that Don Draper and the other male characters in the show are beginning to feel a little put upon. A little trapped. They got what they wanted–power, unlimited booze, women, a wife and a house in the suburbs (except Don who doesn’t want one of those). But now as we inch along historically into the 1960′s, the men are dissatisfied. Is that all there is? seems to be the show’s thematic refrain as of late. Roger dropping acid, Pete flirting with adultery and Don listening to Revolver are only hints at ... Continue reading →
