Like I said in a previous post on this subject. We need NAMES, actual NAMES to push for these positions.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 10 months ago
Start with gay members of the transition team, including Roberta Achtenberg, Elaine Kaplan and Fred Hochberg, or persons they might recommend.
"Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, urged Obama’s team to give serious consideration to appointing former Interior Department Assistant Secretary for Policy Management & Budget John Berry, who is gay, to a cabinet post. Obama later chose U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) for the job."
Hochberg given his time as head of the SBA would be an obviously great pick both regarding his experience and the fact that he would add some needed diversity in terms of sexuality to the cabinet.
That's a good choice, but definitely think Hockberg is more of a natural fit. No one can play the "he's not qualified" game. I am sure they will as per several of the "talking points brigade" above, but still, it's hard to argue that Hochberg would not be a good fit.
akaison
· 10 months ago
Several names have been mentioned. The problem is not names. the problem is that those names are drowned out with faux concerns over how the person should be qualified. It's a b.s. standard meant to block any names mentioned as implicitedly no qualified.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 10 months ago
and here come the trolls asking where are the left-handed blind atheists. in 3, 2, 1...
JR
· 10 months ago
Could the gays and the Hispanics agree to fill the Commerce Department spot with a gay caballero? Just kidding.
akaison
· 10 months ago
He's doing the same sort of symbolism across the board. When choosing the printers for the inauguration, he choose , as I remember, an environmental friendly one for its political statement.
He choose Republicans for their political statement about the "openness" of his cabinet. He choose others for their statement regarding race and internal politics.
Those making the statements that you are wrong are just full of shit. They know it. It's not an honest conversation in which one has to pretend the only criteria is qualification when in fact it is not.
Which is 3 levels removed from being a position of importance. As someone else describes it, the position is equivalent to being the head of the IT department or secretarial pool at the White House. It has no policy or real legislative influence. Its several levels removed from the President. It's the gay marching band of the White House.
The Other JR
· 10 months ago
OK, fine. It doesn't count. Obama hates gays and is going set civil rights back further than W did.
usagi
· 10 months ago
W actually signed some federal legislation that benefits same-sex couples last week. There's no indication so far Obama will actually follow through on any real action on DADT, DOMA, ENDA, or anything else.
The Other JR
· 10 months ago
He hasn't even been sworn in yet. But feel free to go ahead and think the worst...
akaison
· 10 months ago
There is , however, quite a bit of indication that many of you "supporters of us gays" are more than willing to throw us under the bus whatever Obama does.
The Other JR
· 10 months ago
O... K.
Akaison
· 10 months ago
KO
usagi
· 10 months ago
I will. He's made it apparent he likes gay money and shoe leather a great deal just so long as he doesn't actually have to have any around him in leadership positions. That's based on his public record for the last 12 months plus from McClurkin to Warren. I'd love to be wrong, but there's exactly zero indication he's going to change this trajectory. He'll rely on the "where else will they go?" strategy in 2012 (and probably be correct).
TampaZeke
· 10 months ago
McClurkin and Warren should be the LEAST of our concern.
The fact that he is replacing Howard Dean with Tim Kaine at the helm of the DNC where he will have considerable influence and control over the future policies and platforms supported and promoted by the Democratic Party. This man is personally anti-gay, and personally and politically anti marriage equality, anti-civil unions and anti-choice but yet he has gotten 1/100th the attention of the man who will give a three minute prayer at Obama's inauguration.
We need to be more intelligent and strategic where we spend our outrage capital. Warren is a disgrace and irritating but insignificant in the grand scheme of things when compared to Kaine.
But hey, no problem, don't complain, because Obama is putting a gay man on his staff so we should all be happy and greatful for the crumb that he was so kind to throw to us as we crawl out from under the bus to take our seat at the back of it.
timncguy
· 10 months ago
Obama's transition team has already said there ar no plans to repeal DADT during the 1st two years...
akaison
· 10 months ago
Blah blah blah. Scratch below the talking point, and what do we fine- yet another STFU poster out for "our" interests. You people are quite predictable. I await your diary over at Daily Kos proving how this proves Obama is for gay rights.
The Other JR
· 10 months ago
You seem to have convinced yourself that you know me.
Akaison
· 10 months ago
I know your talking points since nearly other Obama nut brings them up, which is about all I need to know about you.
timncguy
· 10 months ago
Civil rights? Obama doesn't even recognize gay rights as civil rights. He refers to them as "social issues".
TampaZeke
· 10 months ago
Oh well that changes everything JR. This is proof that he's gonna be a big ole friend of the gays just like Bob Barr, Mel Martinez, John McCain, James Inhofe, Trent Lott and Rick Santorum, ALL of whom have or had gay chiefs of staff. As we all know, no one who has a gay on his staff, or alleged gay friends, has ever screwed over the gay community.
Garrett in SF
· 10 months ago
but maybe we'll get another marching band! /snarkoff
FunMe
· 10 months ago
The gays are still going to the inaugaration?
ShirleyGoodnessanMercy
· 10 months ago
This Gay isn't and I live just a mile from the White House. Only good reason to go would be to BOO Rick Warren.
FunMe
· 10 months ago
I ain't watching either.
I'm going to a party to dance to house music - the Obama inaugaration will be just an excuse for me to dance!
Brad Kiley has been named as the director of the Office of Management and Administration by President-elect Barack Obama. Kiley, who is openly gay, is currently the director of operations for the Obama-Biden Transition Project and was a former vice president at the Center for American Progress.
timncguy
· 10 months ago
yep, the gay guy got appointed as head of the white house secretarial pool.
FredJ
· 10 months ago
Why be so snarky and put down Kiley? That is actually a position with considerable behind the scenes power. Not cabinet level - but real power and in the kind of job that gives him the experience and exposure to be considered for something higher leveled some day. One of the reasons so few names of gays are surfacing as viable candidates for the top jobs (some of them being floated here seen sort of weak actually) is because they don't have the experience at the next level down. Kiley and Nancy Sutley represent major improvements in this area.
timncguy
· 10 months ago
the "snark" was meant as a veiled reference to all the recent "but, we gave the gays this..." kind of position. You know, like "hey, the marching band will be gay!". Yep, you know teh gays love a parade.
And, to your other point about names "surfacing". There were multiple qualified persons submitted for EVERY cabinet level position and every white house position that reports directly to Obama by gay advocacy groups. The fact that you weren't copied on the distribution list or that you haven't been made aware of all those names doesn't mean that the Obama transition team wasn't made aware of them.
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
At this point I have seen any Asian picked. But I really don't care who he picks straight, gay, black, white, indian, asian or hispanic, or male or female as long as the person is QUALIFIED. I am sick and tired of people getting jobs that are not qualified. That should be the most important qualification.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 10 months ago
zzzzzzz
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
Oh am glad I put you down for a nap.
akaison
· 10 months ago
It's a stupid comment. How many times are you going to post pretending it's either qualified or gay? That frame is b.s and you know it.
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
Oh, what's the matter? Did I hurt your feelings? I do believe I was replying to Steve not to you. I have every right to my opinion. You don't like it crappola to you. What did I say that was wrong. I didn't say I didn't want a gay. All am saying is I want someone who is QUALIFIED. I would be happy if the person he chose would be gay. But it is his choice not ours.
Akaison
· 10 months ago
Wow, those caps told me. A FALSE CHOICE in caps is certainly more convincing than in normal caps.
Clearly that was the dichotomy that Americablog is advocating in wanting to pressure Obama to pick a gay candidate. Namely, that person has to be unqualified to count as gay for the Cabinet position.
Again, just stupid.
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
No, but again there is no pleasing some of you Queens. You really need to think. I don't think Obama was saying to himself well now I have a hispanic, catholic, jew, a gay or a straight. As a straight person I just don't think that is the first thing that comes to his mind. Believe it or not most straights don't think that way. They don't go around screaming am straight, am straight. No more than a gay person goes around screaming am gay, am gay. But some of the bloggers think that's the ONLY thing that Obama is think of. Stop acting like a bunch of victims. Let the president do his job. For christ sakes let him get in office first. Give him time. I don't think the first issue for Obama is gay issues. This damn country is going down the wrong track and that is where he needs to concentrate. Some of you are cry babies. Get over it. Pick yourself up and keep doing your hard work you do everyday like everyoneelse.
Akaison
· 10 months ago
Shorter post by you: " I am a bigot. I don't care about these issues because you are fags, but I am supposed to be liberal so I am too much of a coward to admit that. So, it's your fault I am a bigot."
It cuts down on the wasted typing. I heard all this before. It was previously with race. It's amusing to see the bigotry translated across a different aspects of me. It only reinforces what I learned about bigotry from being black. Namely, you probably don't even see it, and will blame me for not realzing ou aren't in fact a bigot.
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
Playing the victim again. Blah, Blah, yawn
quark
· 10 months ago
Steven Chu - energy secretary
Kevin
· 10 months ago
A Constitutional law professor of mine used to say that the most important skill a politician can have is knowing how to count. Hispanics are a larger percentage of the population than gays, and are growing at a rate which suggests they'll comprise a third of the population by 2050. Gays are pretty much always going to comprise the same percentage of the population. So from a purely pragmatic standpoint, the returns on appeasing HIspanics are greater than the returns on appeasing gays.
Also, while symbols are powerful, they're not as powerful as building the political capital to accomplish an agenda. Is the agenda getting an openly gay cabinet member or getting the stuff done that Obama has said he wants to do, like repeal DOMA and DADT? Maybe both could be done, but it's not certain, and given the choice between a symbolic victory and an actual victory, I'd take the actual one.
Pissed off in Carolina
· 10 months ago
Get over it people...the only change we got was from a white guy to a black guy. I voted for Barack so can it with the racist crap. I have had it with this bunch of corrupt Dems who are scared shitless of the Repubicans because they know they are swimming in the same cesspool.
Paul
· 10 months ago
There's a NATION-WIDE campaign going on asking people to call and email the Obama transition team daily till the 19th in support of openly gay Fred Hochberg who is supremely qualified.
If he can make Sanjay Gupta the Surgeon General, why can't he make David Geffen the Secretary of Commerce??
Indigo
· 10 months ago
Excellent point! Because David is homely and Sanjay isn't? Just a guess.
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
Maybe he doesn't want it because he makes alot of money doing his own thing.
Jay Randal
· 10 months ago
John > Whom do you propose for the position? I do not know of any openly Gay person who could fill Commerce position other than Rep. Frank. He messed up on the bailout for Wall Street banksters, so many like myself are mad at him.
akaison
· 10 months ago
Several names have already been mentioned.
quark
· 10 months ago
... and yet every time I've seen this asked none of them are listed with any serious discussion of their qualifications relative to other candidates.
Jim
· 10 months ago
Isn't Napolitano gay?
devlzadvocate
· 10 months ago
Shouldn't that question be asked of her?
akaison
· 10 months ago
No, because it allows Jim to pretend like she counts regarding the issue of representation in Obama's cabinet.
menotaur
· 10 months ago
he has appointed a lesbian- ms sutley for the environmental quality job
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
No, why would you ask her a personal question? Would you ask a straight person that?
devlzadvocate
· 10 months ago
The question was, "Isn't she gay? How do any of us know? She hasn't come out. So, if the person asking wants to know that bad, ask her. None of us know. We would only be guessing. You can ask a person a personal question. They have the perfect right to not answer it. Plus, how do you know who is str8 or gay (based on your question, "Would you ask a straight person that", you seem to have some magic gaydar/radar of knowing.) Which would mean you wouldn't need to ask.
ShirleyGoodnessanMercy
· 10 months ago
Senator Mikulski is.
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
I don't believe people should be outed unless they do it themselves. Personally I don't care if the senator is gay or straight as long as she does her job. When I lived in Maryland I didn't vote for her because she was gay or straight. She happens to do a very good job for the people in her district. That I appreciate.
devlzadvocate
· 10 months ago
They do believe gay people have a place at the table . . . under it.
Demo_Dave
· 10 months ago
Amen but only after they vote and donate,.
ShirleyGoodnessanMercy
· 10 months ago
The President/Chair/Whatvever of the New York City Council is a lesbian. Is she qualified for any cabinet positions?
FunMe
· 10 months ago
I'm gay ... I'm latino ... can I run?
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
OK other than that what are your qualifications. That is more important to me.
FunMe
· 10 months ago
I like to have Fun. I believe in commerce ... Commerce St. in my hometown. I believe my dancing will bring a lot of Fun to people in DC. I can dance with a man - backwards! Even better than Ginger Rogers. I wear a mean red dress - I think. Hmm... is there a talent competition too? I'll get back to you on that one.
Have Fun!
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
Well I would recommend you be appointed to the Welfare and Recreational Services. I bet you would do very well. I love your humor. Unlike some of our fellow bloggers.
FunMe
· 10 months ago
Please ... please submit my name!
FunMe ... from FunLandia!
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
OK, give me more details and I will submit your name. Oh, I forgot to tell ya. Am straight, old and white woman. But I still will vote for you just on your humor alone. I bet your a great dancer too.
RitornaVincitor
· 10 months ago
Yes, but stick to pumps. Those heels were nearly the death of Carmen Miranda.
Hello, there are gay people of ALL races and ethnicities, not just white males. I agree that Obama ought to appoint some out gay people of ALL races and ethniticies to high-level posts. But his appointments are his alone to make. Speaking of the gay vote, what were the figures for Obama, does anyone know? I do know that he received overwhelming support from Latinos (especially in the Northeast, California and the Southwest), and from Asian-Americans. Which reminds me, whatever happened to Adolfo Carrión's appointment? Where are the northeastern Latinos, the Dominican-American/Puerto Rican/etc. appointees?
RitornaVincitor
· 10 months ago
I believe Andrew Sullivan said that Obama got 70% of the gay vote, which is pretty good considering how wary many gays were of Obama ever since Donny McClurkin way back in the primaries. Of course the Rev. Warren hadn't happened yet.
RainbowPhoenix
· 10 months ago
Don't forget who the other option was.
RitornaVincitor
· 10 months ago
Pat Robertson?
Indigo
· 10 months ago
Ralph Nader!
RainbowPhoenix
· 10 months ago
I meant the other option for the presidency.
RitornaVincitor
· 10 months ago
Hillary?
RainbowPhoenix
· 10 months ago
Work with me Ritorna. I know you're smarter than this.
RitornaVincitor
· 10 months ago
How many syllables?
RainbowPhoenix
· 10 months ago
One in his first name, unless you use the full version, in which case it's three. Two syllables in his last name. Total of three or five syllables depending on which version of his first name you use.
RitornaVincitor
· 10 months ago
Jefferson Davis!
RainbowPhoenix
· 10 months ago
You at least got the first letter of his first name right.
RitornaVincitor
· 10 months ago
Darn! Are you sure? Jeff Davis was the other option for the presidency, that being of the Confederacy. This is a tough one. I got the first J right. So are you saying none of the other letters I used are in his name? Or could some of them be there, but in a different order?
RainbowPhoenix
· 10 months ago
You could have used the "o" the "a" and the "i".
RitornaVincitor
· 10 months ago
Oh, wait a minute! When you said the "full version" you didn't necessarily mean that the first name had one syllable in the short version and three three syllables in the long version. You could have also meant that there are two additional syllables if using the full name, meaning the middle name has two syllables. Could the middle name by chance also sound like the name of a city in Australia????
RainbowPhoenix
· 10 months ago
Actually you were right about what I originally meant. So that would mean the full name has five or seven syllables.
RitornaVincitor
· 10 months ago
Got it!! Captain John Melbourne Townsend. Odd choice for president, though, because he's dead. But then we almost got stuck with McCain, and he's brain dead.
Well, that was fun. Good night.
RainbowPhoenix
· 10 months ago
I was refering to McCain, but yes that was fun. Good night Vitorna.
RitornaVincitor
· 10 months ago
Ah HA! Still up!
quark
· 10 months ago
He got a similar % of the atheist vote by every estimate I've seen. Atheists make up a higher % of the population than gays and are not represented either.
Boycottutah
· 10 months ago
At the rate he is going he won't get 10 percent of us in 2012.
Laughable
· 10 months ago
Dude, you have a serious unhealthy obsession with this whole gay quota thing. Get a grip.
elizabethcostello
· 10 months ago
And to think poor brilliant Lani Guinier was labeled a "quota queen"! :-)
Demo_Dave
· 10 months ago
Your right there is no obsession with gays after elections only before when they want them donating and working the pollsand most importantly voting after that they are road kill.
met00
· 10 months ago
may I point out that his cabinet is not loaded with Jews or Muslims either.
So skin colour seems to be the issue. you have to have the right skin tone to be considered (and gender seems to be high on that list as well).
elizabethcostello
· 10 months ago
This is total crap. There are only 3 women in the Cabinet, and 5 people of color now that Richardson has withdrawn. MOST OF HIS PICKS ARE WHITE MEN! What planet are you on?
EricVoissine
· 10 months ago
Gays? How about transvestites? How many should be in the cabinet? How about Jews? You don’t mention them. They number 2% of the U.S. population. Do any of them get a cabinet seat? How about Catholics? How many seats do they get? Or what about Free Masons? Or Vegetarians? I own two sheep who need a voice in Washington. Who’ll represent them?
timncguy
· 10 months ago
the VP is a Catholic.
quark
· 10 months ago
Atheists are the most underrepresented population of all.
But folks here say we don't count. Apparently religion is ONLY an important criteria and must be taken into account when they disagree with it (ala Warren).
Jesse Holmes
· 10 months ago
The fact is that are 15 cabinet positions. By that logic, if we were going to operate on some sort of quota system, openly gay Americans don't rate unless they make up more than 6% of the population, which they don't. There are no Jews in the cabinet either; as a Jewish American, you won't hear me complaining.
Demo_Dave
· 10 months ago
Donations and votes work on a quota system. He spent money to get your vote it was all about quotas...oooops until now
TampaZeke
· 10 months ago
There are Jews at the highest levels of his staff though. For example Rahm Emanuel is his White House Chief of Staff.
And by the way, just because OPENLY gay people don't make up over 6% of the population doesn't mean that gay people, who probably DO make up over 6% of the population shouldn't be represented by one of them who IS out.
What about Obama's appointment of Kaine to be DNC chair. Should gay people not complain about that either because we wouldn't see you complaining if he had appointed an anti-Semite who didn't support equal civil rights for Jews?
quark
· 10 months ago
There are also openly gay appointees at high levels in the cabinet. But folks here keep saying that they don't count, so if that is true then the statement that there are no Jews in the cabinet remains a valid point in this discussion.
"just because OPENLY gay people don't make up over 6% of the population doesn't mean that gay people, who probably DO make up over 6% of the population shouldn't be represented by one of them who IS out."
So you have declared that the gays who are not out should NOT be represented by someone more like them? Why do people here keeping marginalizing such a significant portion of the gay population?
Demo_Dave
· 10 months ago
The wheels on the bus go round and round...lay down there's no room at the inn..ps he might need more donations in 2012.
Indigo
· 10 months ago
"A place at the table"? Honey, just dish up that Lobster Bisque and serve it to those fat old white guys. Black guys too. That's your place. You know how that works!
elizabethcostello
· 10 months ago
There's only one black guy in Obama's Cabinet....
Indigo
· 10 months ago
Isn't that interesting . . . ?
RobertSanDimas
· 10 months ago
This is getting ridiculous. President Obama should select his team because they're qualified, not because they're black or Anglo or Asian or gay or Bantu or Hispanic or Inuit. If they happen to be one of those, fine. I am one of those but let's not get into quotas. That got us into trouble long ago. It would be nice to have a variety, but it doesn't have to be effing PERFECTLY arrayed! Come on!
elizabethcostello
· 10 months ago
What a comedian! Bantu or Inuit, etc. Seriously, he has an overrepresentation of straight white men. I was really shocked that he didn't pick more women, but what are you going to do? I mean, if it weren't for women (black, white, latina, asian-american, native american, etc.) Obama would not be the president-elect. Women put him over the hump, and yet he's loaded up his Cabinet with lots of the XY types. Oh well. I guess Hillary counts as 2 or something.
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
I believe I already said that alittle earlier down. People don't want to hear it. Me the most thing is QUALIFICATION.
timncguy
· 10 months ago
so, you don't believe Obama could find a qualified gay?
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
I didn't say that. If the gay person is qualified I am fine with that. But do you realize if a employer who is hiring a employee ask them questions about orientation, if a woman is planning on having children you know very personal questions they can get in deep trouble because that is against the law. I have had the pleasure of hiring people and I would never ask people very personal questions. I only want people that will work well with everyone. Personally I worked with many gays and I can say I really enjoyed working with them except for one guy. He was so in love with himself and he mad fun of people. He would tease people who were heavy or very skinny. I hated him for it. Finally I told him how would he like people teasing him about being gay? He got mad and finally he shut up.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 10 months ago
so we finally see where this is all coming from. some of your "best friends are gay" but omg they are so stuck on themselves. uh huh. and maybe a little uppity too? militant?
btw, if you're an openly gay qualified candidate, it's not a "personal" question. in fact, it's not even a question.
but let me guess. you just wish they wouldn't "flaunt it". get thee back in the closet you gays!
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
There you go again. Playing the victim card is something YOU do well. I KNOW am not a bigot. You have no idea. Just because a person doesn't agree with you doesn't mean am a bigot. But what the hell it doesn't matter what I say you will always think that way. It is ashamed because your attitude is shitty.
timncguy
· 10 months ago
well, maybe a further explanation of what it means to be an OUT gay. YOu don't need to ask them in an interview about their sexuality in order to know they are gay. That's what being OUT means. When you ask an OUT gay if they are married, they don't have to lie about their relationship in order to try to hide the fact that they are gay. All these appointees have their families vetted as well as themselves. If the person is OUT, you know about their partner if they have one. etc, etc, etc.
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
I was talking about the media and other gays outing closet gays. I think when a person is ready to come out they should do it when they are ready. They have personal interests they need to take care of. It just isn't right. That is a big decision for some people to make. Believe me in my own family I have seen them feeling lonely and helpless until they finally spoke up. It didn't make a difference to us because we loved them both. Their mates come to all our get togethers.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 10 months ago
how is this relevant to anything?
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
You are a bigot and you are relevant to me. I don't give a damn what you say anymore. I don't need to justify myself to you and any body else on this blog. My family would be laughing at you if they knew what you were saying to me. I will tell you this I have always had many friends of all types. Yes even before it was fashionable to have friends of color and different backgrounds. Since I was a teenager I was raised that I wasn't any different then anyone else. I know am not a bigot but I see you are one. You can't help it because you see through the eyes of a gay person. If I don't tow the gay line than am not allow to associate with any gay person.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 10 months ago
i don't call people bigots just because i disagree with them. you blew your cover with your gratuitous story about the narcissistic gay friend and the implication that gays are (or should be?) in the closet when it comes to getting jobs.
Boycottutah
· 10 months ago
"Finally I told him how would he like people teasing him about being gay?
Bigot. IF you replaced the word gay with black all the progressives here would call you a racist and scream you off this website. Now let's see how the sentence reads"
"Finally I told him how would he like people teasing him about being BLACK?
Sounds pretty racist, huh???
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
I don't care what you say Boycotttutah, but being black and gay are 2 different things. I know a lot of gays disagree with that but to me its not the same. Within my own family we always talk about the issue because I have 2 members of my family that are gay and they disagree also. That doesn't mean am a bigot or I hate gays. Not at all.
timncguy
· 10 months ago
are you saying you don't believe there is a gay person anywhere in the country that is qualified? And, are you saying you BELIEVE that the picks he has made so far were all the MOST qualified for the individual positions they were given? Do you believe the republican he appointed was the most qualified for transportation? Or, more likely, he was appointed because he's a republican and could show a level of reaching out to republicans?
Akaison
· 10 months ago
They are saying that to win the argument they are willing to make up false choices between being gay and qualified.
It's a lie. They know it's a lie. They don't care becuase it suits whatever is really driving their commentary which is not whether candidates are qualified or not.
Don't expect these liars to admit to what theya re doing. It's just manipulative button pushing from either the right or liberal bigots.
Typical Obama Supporter
· 10 months ago
How dare you compare a wonderful, virtuous minority like Blacks or Hispanics to gays, who sodomize each other and walk around with shit dribbling off their dicks, just so they can mock God!!!!!1!
Bostonian_Queer_in_Dallas
· 10 months ago
Well you've obviously never heard of the fact that we cleanse our rectums before a good fuck.
RobertSanDimas
· 10 months ago
How about cleansing your comments? Let's keep this civil.
Bostonian_Queer_in_Dallas
· 10 months ago
Never...til I hear from john a
SouthernYankee
· 10 months ago
What does that have anything to do with timncguy's comment? He is right about one thing gay men have a good sense of fashion. You have no right to judge him. You know there are alot of straight couples have sex the same way. I may not like it but there are some straights that do. Don't judge how someone has sex. Get a life friend. How dare you, there are alot of straight couples that screw around on their mates. They are no better than anyone else.
RobertSanDimas
· 10 months ago
This is foul.
timncguy
· 10 months ago
I don't see how you could pick anyone BUT a gay man to be head of Commerce. That's like "shopping", right. Who could be more qualified for shopping. LOL
Anonymous
· 10 months ago
We need a Cabinet that loves like America!
RDS
· 10 months ago
It's sad how some in the gay community think that appointing a gay to a position in the cabinet will change anything. It won't. At best it would a token gesture, designed for appeasement only -- and that's the problem as opposed to appointing someone who just happens to be gay.
Demo_Dave
· 10 months ago
It would be an important gesture. Do you think without a Colin Powell or a Condoleezza Rice there would now be a President Barak Obama...???
FredJ
· 10 months ago
Colin Powell or a Condoleezza Rice helped Obama get the Dem nomination?
Hardly
Anon
· 10 months ago
"let's play it fairly and have the Cabinet actually look like America"
That is how we should move forward with new policies, new ideas? determined by "looks"?
If that is so, then I would like to see and all-supermodel cabinet then, at least I could get excited watching politics.
bruno
· 10 months ago
John's repeated sneering contempt filled comments about Latinos demanding a place in the Obama administration does not further the cause of gay/lesbian equality. I don't know about Mr. Becerra, but I am both gay and Latino. In fact, my husband I are one of the same sex couples married before Prop 8's passage and we were both fervent supporters of Mr. Obama. The president elect's failure to actively oppose Prop 8, failure to appoint any gays/lesbians to a cabinet level position, and his invitation to Rick Warren disappoints and angers me as well. However, belittling Latinos for demanding a place at the table is not productive, it merely makes John sound like a racist jerk. Furthermore, given the large and rapidly growing Latino population, any demand that a politician pick a gay/lesbian over a Latino will always meet with failure. Finally, I understand John's anger/disappointment with Mr. Obama, but he needs to find a more productive way of dealing with it.
timncguy
· 10 months ago
you do understand that there are already other latinos named to the cabinet. In no way did John suggest that the ONLY latino put forth for the cabinet be replaced with a gay.
Besides, what everyone seems to miss in this conversation is that any gay named to the cabinet could ALSO be latino, a woman, a black, etc, etc, etc
Egan'
· 10 months ago
John - Nowhere in the article to which you linked does it say that Bacerro being a Latino "is one of his qualifications for being the leading candidate to replace Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary nominee." The supposed Obama "insider" says that Bacerra is at the top of the list of LATINOS to replace Richardson.
I understand that you get off on the outrage related to these issues, but at least have some intellectual honesty. Had I not actually read the article to which you linked, I would have no idea the degree to which you distorted what was said.
IU1995
· 10 months ago
This is one of my favorite, daily must read blogs but good God John you are getting on my last nerve with all of this gay/Hispanic/Jewish cabinet picks and Rick Warren inauguration prayer commentary.
Maybe this really means alot to you but this stuff is NOT THAT DEEP! We have so many more important issues facing our nation than to spend so much time nitpicking about every little thing that Obama does or says ... before he's even president.
It seems like overnight you went from staunch Obama supporter to Michelle Malkin. I can't believe I'm writing this but I'm actually beginning to lose interest in this blog.
timncguy
· 10 months ago
so many more important issues.....
walk, chew gun, talk on phone all at same time. Multi-tasking, heard of it? I can think about and work to resolve more than one issue at a time.
timncguy
· 10 months ago
This is a political blog from a gay perspective. Of course there will be many posts here about gay issues. Especially when Obama has promised a diversity of opinions in his administration and to date that has meant a diversity including all BUT any prominent gay voice.
When you are reading other political blogs that are not gay oriented do you leave comments complaining about their lack of discussion of gay issues? I doubt it.
Boycottutah
· 10 months ago
Memo to Dems:
If the LGBT Community comes to the conclusion that they are no better off with the Dems than the Repubs, we will throw you under the bus and only work for and donate to candidates who work for us.
In 2012 you Dems are going to need us as the Obama charm is wearing off, and not just in the eyes of the LGBT Community.
Obama is not working for us. I am NO Rethuglican but
1) Campaigned with gay hating McClurkin and hate spewing gospel singing Mary Mary.
2) Picked gay hating Warren.
3) Has no LGBT people represented in any substatively significant position in his admin.
4) Is going to delay DADT or just find another good excuse to fuck us over again.
5) Stated days before the election: : "I believe marriage is a union between a man and a woman,now, for me as a Christian, it is also a sacred union. God is in the mix."
5) Pretty much hates us.
Hey Dems, if you don't want our time, money and votes, we can take our BALLS and leave your party.
Irma
· 7 months ago
Obama, please pick qualified people that are not seeing a therapist. Pass on the weak, narcissistic, substance abusing losers.
All Comments
"Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, urged Obama’s team to give serious consideration to appointing former Interior Department Assistant Secretary for Policy Management & Budget John Berry, who is gay, to a cabinet post. Obama later chose U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) for the job."
http://www.sovo.com/2008/12-19/news/national/95...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hormel
read that and think about symbolism.
He choose Republicans for their political statement about the "openness" of his cabinet. He choose others for their statement regarding race and internal politics.
Those making the statements that you are wrong are just full of shit. They know it. It's not an honest conversation in which one has to pretend the only criteria is qualification when in fact it is not.
http://www.gaypolitics.com/2009/01/05/obama-nam...
The fact that he is replacing Howard Dean with Tim Kaine at the helm of the DNC where he will have considerable influence and control over the future policies and platforms supported and promoted by the Democratic Party. This man is personally anti-gay, and personally and politically anti marriage equality, anti-civil unions and anti-choice but yet he has gotten 1/100th the attention of the man who will give a three minute prayer at Obama's inauguration.
We need to be more intelligent and strategic where we spend our outrage capital. Warren is a disgrace and irritating but insignificant in the grand scheme of things when compared to Kaine.
But hey, no problem, don't complain, because Obama is putting a gay man on his staff so we should all be happy and greatful for the crumb that he was so kind to throw to us as we crawl out from under the bus to take our seat at the back of it.
I'm going to a party to dance to house music - the Obama inaugaration will be just an excuse for me to dance!
Brad Kiley has been named as the director of the Office of Management and Administration by President-elect Barack Obama. Kiley, who is openly gay, is currently the director of operations for the Obama-Biden Transition Project and was a former vice president at the Center for American Progress.
And, to your other point about names "surfacing". There were multiple qualified persons submitted for EVERY cabinet level position and every white house position that reports directly to Obama by gay advocacy groups. The fact that you weren't copied on the distribution list or that you haven't been made aware of all those names doesn't mean that the Obama transition team wasn't made aware of them.
Clearly that was the dichotomy that Americablog is advocating in wanting to pressure Obama to pick a gay candidate. Namely, that person has to be unqualified to count as gay for the Cabinet position.
Again, just stupid.
It cuts down on the wasted typing. I heard all this before. It was previously with race. It's amusing to see the bigotry translated across a different aspects of me. It only reinforces what I learned about bigotry from being black. Namely, you probably don't even see it, and will blame me for not realzing ou aren't in fact a bigot.
Also, while symbols are powerful, they're not as powerful as building the political capital to accomplish an agenda. Is the agenda getting an openly gay cabinet member or getting the stuff done that Obama has said he wants to do, like repeal DOMA and DADT? Maybe both could be done, but it's not certain, and given the choice between a symbolic victory and an actual victory, I'd take the actual one.
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=52503152007
Website: http://equalrep.com
Have Fun!
FunMe ... from FunLandia!
http://fashiontribes.typepad.com/main/images/sh...
Well, that was fun. Good night.
So skin colour seems to be the issue. you have to have the right skin tone to be considered (and gender seems to be high on that list as well).
But folks here say we don't count. Apparently religion is ONLY an important criteria and must be taken into account when they disagree with it (ala Warren).
And by the way, just because OPENLY gay people don't make up over 6% of the population doesn't mean that gay people, who probably DO make up over 6% of the population shouldn't be represented by one of them who IS out.
What about Obama's appointment of Kaine to be DNC chair. Should gay people not complain about that either because we wouldn't see you complaining if he had appointed an anti-Semite who didn't support equal civil rights for Jews?
Obama names gay man as director of Office of Management and Administration
http://www.gaypolitics.com/2009/01/05/obama-nam...
The rainbow ceiling has shattered: President-elect Barack Obama has selected Nancy Sutley to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2008/12/10/...
So you have declared that the gays who are not out should NOT be represented by someone more like them? Why do people here keeping marginalizing such a significant portion of the gay population?
btw, if you're an openly gay qualified candidate, it's not a "personal" question. in fact, it's not even a question.
but let me guess. you just wish they wouldn't "flaunt it".
get thee back in the closet you gays!
Bigot. IF you replaced the word gay with black all the progressives here would call you a racist and scream you off this website. Now let's see how the sentence reads"
"Finally I told him how would he like people teasing him about being BLACK?
Sounds pretty racist, huh???
That doesn't mean am a bigot or I hate gays. Not at all.
It's a lie. They know it's a lie. They don't care becuase it suits whatever is really driving their commentary which is not whether candidates are qualified or not.
Don't expect these liars to admit to what theya re doing. It's just manipulative button pushing from either the right or liberal bigots.
Hardly
That is how we should move forward with new policies, new ideas? determined by "looks"?
If that is so, then I would like to see and all-supermodel cabinet then, at least I could get excited watching politics.
Besides, what everyone seems to miss in this conversation is that any gay named to the cabinet could ALSO be latino, a woman, a black, etc, etc, etc
I understand that you get off on the outrage related to these issues, but at least have some intellectual honesty. Had I not actually read the article to which you linked, I would have no idea the degree to which you distorted what was said.
Maybe this really means alot to you but this stuff is NOT THAT DEEP! We have so many more important issues facing our nation than to spend so much time nitpicking about every little thing that Obama does or says ... before he's even president.
It seems like overnight you went from staunch Obama supporter to Michelle Malkin. I can't believe I'm writing this but I'm actually beginning to lose interest in this blog.
walk, chew gun, talk on phone all at same time. Multi-tasking, heard of it? I can think about and work to resolve more than one issue at a time.
When you are reading other political blogs that are not gay oriented do you leave comments complaining about their lack of discussion of gay issues? I doubt it.
If the LGBT Community comes to the conclusion that they are no better off with the Dems than the Repubs, we will throw you under the bus and only work for and donate to candidates who work for us.
In 2012 you Dems are going to need us as the Obama charm is wearing off, and not just in the eyes of the LGBT Community.
Obama is not working for us. I am NO Rethuglican but
1) Bush just signed a gay rights bill:
http://minnesotaindependent.com/21528/bush-sign...
2) Arnold stated gave a moving speech stating that Prop 8 is wrong and that the LGBT Community should not give up the fight: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008...
3) Bob Barr is now against DOMA.
Meanwhile Obama:
1) Campaigned with gay hating McClurkin and hate spewing gospel singing Mary Mary.
2) Picked gay hating Warren.
3) Has no LGBT people represented in any substatively significant position in his admin.
4) Is going to delay DADT or just find another good excuse to fuck us over again.
5) Stated days before the election:
: "I believe marriage is a union between a man and a woman,now, for me as a Christian, it is also a sacred union. God is in the mix."
5) Pretty much hates us.
Hey Dems, if you don't want our time, money and votes, we can take our BALLS and leave your party.