The debate over gay marriage spills into this Sunday’s television talk shows, with leading advocates on both sides of the issue making the rounds in the wake of President Barack Obama’s newly announced support for same-sex unions.
CNN’s “State of the Union” has evangelical leaders Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, and Gary Bauer, chairman of the Campaign for Working Families and president of American Values.
CBS’s “Face the Nation” has Ted Olson, the former solicitor general under President George W. Bush who’s now one of the leaders of the opposition to California’s Proposition 8 that banned gay marriage there, as well as Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat and key Obama supporter.
CBS also has Ralph Reed, the former executive director of the Christian Coalition, and Clay Aiken, the openly gay former “American Idol” contestant.
Additionally, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) stops by, and CBS hosts a special Mother’s Day panel on the women’s vote that includes Democratic strategist Anita Dunn and Republican commentator Bay Buchanan.
ABC’s “This Week” has Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), an openly gay member of Congress, and Rep. Marsha Blackburn, (R-Tenn.) — as well as a political roundtable that includes Reed, Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen and POLITICO’s Maggie Haberman.
CNN also has Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper — as well as the two chairmen of the congressional homeland security committees, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.).
Meanwhile, NBC’s “Meet the Press” homes in on this fall’s presidential election with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is interviewed about the big bank’s dramatic loss of $2 billion in risky investments, as will Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.).