First Amendment- Freedom of assembly

Source:  "California ruling puts President Obama on the spot"

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/40683.html
Constitutional connection: 
  Amendment I: Freedom of assembly
Clause 6 of Amendment I ;"The right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Explanation of Connection: 
  Activists are puzzled at President Obama's refusal to endorse gay marriage. Gay and lesbian activists feel as though President Obama has pushed this issue to the "back burner." Citizens are unsatisied and appauled at the "champion he promised to be." They remain uneasy because of Obama's nuanced attitude towards legalizing gay marriage in California. President Obama has opposed the California ballot, seeking to ban it.

This article clearly demonstrates the first amendment and the right of people to peacebly assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances. Conservative voices see that younger people of all political persuasions are more accepting of homosexuality  rather than older people. Not only are the people of California protesting the right to gay marriages but the same is occuring in many other states.

I feel that just like the other situation,President Obama should put his feelings to the side and do what is right. All people should be treated with equality. Gay/lesbian or straight. All are human beings and sexual prefrences should not determine whether or not you may be happy and treated like a United States citizen.

First Amendment-Freedom Of Speech

Source: Barack Obama's mosque moment frustrates Dems -08/21/10
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/41325.html

Constitutional connection: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." Source cited: http://topics.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment

Explanation of Connection:  This article demonstrated the constitutional amendment that I am connecting because President Obama has told Muslim leaders at the White House that he backed the Park51 project (building of a mosque near ground zero) because organizers "have the same right to practice their religion and freedom of speech as anyone else in this country." 

 Although, President Obama does not see eye to eye with the muslim leaders idea of building a mosque near ground zero, the First amendment protects the Muslims right of Congress making no law respecting an establishment of religion nor their views (freedom of speech)  on the situation. This article demonstrates how the freedom of religion and speech serves as a useful defense.Obama's assistants and even Democratic detractors say they admire the president’s willingness to sacrifice his own popularity for principle.

I give props to President Obama because I know that the Islamic people knew that was not an appropriate location to build a Mosque and despite that fact, President Obama put his feelings to the side and allowed the muslims to express their views on the situation and he decided to push back the building of the Mosque project to allow for consideration.