AMERICAblog: I'm a field Negro. What are our leaders?
RecoveringTexan
· 7 months ago
Spaulding, Signorile, and you folks at Americablog have it exactly right. And I believe I am exactly the sort of person those groups attending want not to lose: one who has parted with significant $$ on behalf of those groups.
As a contributor to Obama's campaign and as a caucus delegate on his behalf and, most importantly, one who has worked grassroots campaigning off and on for 25 years, I expected to be disappointed at some juncture. With Obama, it happened earlier and more damningly than I would have imagined with his vote on the new eviscerated FISA legislation. But he continues to reach new lows.
As a past donor to gay political groups, I will not donate a penny to any group with a representative at the upcoming Mad Hatter's Tea Party. I'm madder than hell, and I'm not going to take it from these putative "leaders." They're lackeys and House Negroes for attending. And I never thought I'd quote Malcolm X, either.
BlueJelloElf
· 7 months ago
What are the best gay orgs to donate to, that actually get meaningful work accomplished? I've seen Lambda Legal and the NCLR mentioned in a few places. Do people agree, or are there better ones?
White House parties aren't the problem. It's having to sell your soul in order to attend that's the problem.
nicho
· 7 months ago
You put it so much more nicely than I do. My take is that I always kind of expected Obama and Rahm to date-rape us. I was just figuring that we'd get dinner first.
cowboyneok
· 7 months ago
Our community has got to ensure we make pariahs of the A-listers who are tone deaf in this fight. Not only boycott their organizations but they need to be punished in a social way. If they aren't willing to actually LEAD then they need to just stay and party with the master while the rest of us move our people / community forward. They need to GET OUT OF THE WAY... They have a choice. Hope they are listening.
chris10858
· 7 months ago
Oh please, please, please... let us know who ends up going to the fundraiser. It will be a cold day in Hell before I give my gay dollars to their company or organization again!
Just as we need to do to Obama and the DNC, perhaps Joe Solomnese and other glbt group leaders also need a proverbial "bitch-slap" to remind them they too work for us and are not just there to rub elbows with politicos.
Dave
· 7 months ago
Unless I have misread history, and gay people were systematically ENSLAVED, BOUGHT and SOLD for 400 years, you have no right to talk about 'field Negros' or 'house Negros'. You do not help your cause by this type of inflammatory rhetoric.
Seansmith
· 7 months ago
As a black man, I must say demeaning a civil rights struggle to the level of “mine was worst than yours so shut up” is most inflammatory. As a gay black man I must say that this notion of the gay civil rights struggle being a walk in the park is sickening.
While us blacks had it terrible, gays have also been murdered, beaten up, electrocuted, emotionally enslaved, mentally crippled, and taught – to themselves and others – that we were less than human from everyone else.
So what’s the major difference between our struggle and any other one? For us, all of those horrible things are still happening to us. And it’s been happening since the beginning of society. Longevity-wise, the gays are the only group who have been discriminated throughout history; past, present, and for now, future.
So instead of misreading history, maybe you should just start with reading it.
Liam
· 7 months ago
"Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood."
"We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny...I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be,"
"Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery, Selma, in Albany, Ga. and St. Augustine, Fla., and many other campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement,"
"Many of these courageous men and women were fighting for my freedom at a time when they could find few voices for their own, and I salute their contributions."
- Coretta Scott King
John Aravosis
· 7 months ago
Pam is black, she posted the video, and the text, and said she'd been thinking about it lately because of the gay uproar. I think that's her right. Second, I will never understand how some people feel that learning the lessons of history somehow demeans that history. No one is stealing Malcolm X's legacy by posting a video of him telling a moving story about his people's civil rights struggle, and then saying, wow that has meaning in my life and our struggle too. It's when people don't empathize with your struggle, don't find a commonality with your suffering, that you should start worrying.
Gridlock
· 7 months ago
No, we've just been oppressed since the dawn of time, beaten, murdered, burned, and gassed in concentration camps.
Calm yourself.
lileasy
· 7 months ago
...hanged in Iran, brutally tortured to death in Iraq.
PeteWa
· 7 months ago
Uhhh... guess what? There are black gay people too. So, even by your incredibly narrow view of the world, gay people were ENSLAVED, BOUGHT and SOLD for 400 years. Maybe you don't see gay people as your brothers and sisters, but I DO see black people (and gay black people) as MY brothers and sisters.
Also, as was noted, please try and do the LEAST amount of work and click the links (goes to Pam's House Blend) before you let your preconceived notions determine how you are going to interpret any one post.
cowboyneok
· 7 months ago
Most recently gays were tortured to death in Baghdad by having their anuses super glued shut and fed laxatives until their intestines exploded and died of peritonitis...
"Recent reports out of Baghdad document the gruesome gluing of anuses of gay men, who are forced to swallow laxatives, leading to death by diarrhea, come amid continuing genital mutilation of gays."
So, stop with the whole comparisons with the way gays are treated versus other minorities.
We have been burned at the stake as demon possessed. In fact, I can think of very few societies who treated us honorably and as equals.
lileasy
· 7 months ago
A year before his death in 1987, Bayard Rustin, the civil rights leader, said: "Twenty-five, thirty years ago, the barometer of human rights in the United States were black people. That is no longer true. The barometer for judging the character of people in regard to human rights is now those who consider themselves gay, homosexual, or lesbian." (Wikipedia -Bayard Rustin)
Mateo1970
· 7 months ago
I still can't believe that not a single Administration official has apologized for calling gay people pedophilic criminals and comparing our relationships to incest and beasteality. If this had been said of any other minority community, they would have been in the streets screaming. And besides that, when is Obama going to personally apologize for ending Dan Choi's career and the careers of other gay vets?
So tell us who's going. We'll hold them accountable. Because the next time the Obama Adminstration files a brief in support of DOMA--they will have hell to pay within the community. We support all you are saying John. KEEP IT UP! If we get quiet, our issues will be tabled yet again.
steven88
· 7 months ago
I fear that Eric Holder is going to make Alberto Gonzolas look competent.
vkobaya
· 7 months ago
I've said it before. Obama not only betrayed gays, he's the enemy of all common Americans, the peons, surfs, wage slaves, unionists, women, children the blood sweat and tears Americans who are the real America.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-harvard20-2009jun20,3,3233106.story From the Los Angeles Times She finally has a home: Harvard Khadijah Williams, 18, overcomes a lifetime in shelters and on skid row. By Esmeralda Bermudez 11:03 PM PDT, June 19, 2009
Khadijah Williams stepped into chemistry class and instantly tuned out the commotion.
Obama should adopt this kid into his family as a foster kid. Invite her to every White House Thanksgiving and Christmas for the rest of his terms in office. Do his damn best to see that she not only graduates but graduates with highest honors and then succeeds in graduate school.
The story also says she reads 4-5 books a month. He should give her an unlimited book account for text books and recreational reading. I think if he did that, Bush's claim of 187 books in the last 3 years would be dust as well as Rove's claim to have beaten Bush with 190 books. I hope Obama takes up the obligation to help this kid. I hope she devours Harvard.
Then again, if Obama is the man I think he is turning out to be (a Bigoted Bush clone), he will bust his butt to keep this girl from graduating, disrupt her studies, minimize her scholarship to Harvard, have his bigoted friends harass and make studying as difficult as possible, bribe professors to give her failing grades, etc. Hope I'm wrong about Obama, but he has turned my stomach and I hope he helps her, not hurts her.
vkobaya
· 7 months ago
Dear people, Stop thinking this is only a gay issue. What do you think Obama is going to do for Khadijah Williams if he invites her to the White House? He'll smile, pat her on the head and give a gold presidential dollar coin telling her to save it as it is valuable. A gold presidential Bush dollar coin.
The guy sold out everybody, not only the gays. Blacks, Hispanics, unionists, American soldiers, environmentalists, all common Americans. You want gay rights, then start acting like you are as American as the rest of America that has been betrayed by George Obama Bush. He has no intention that we get real healthcare, just continue to enrich his crooked corporate buddies, continues to murder American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, continues to the Wall Street thieves the trillions of tax dollars that belong to the next American generation, etc., etc., etc.
SRhodes
· 7 months ago
Hi Dave, I guess you missed the part where John clearly indicates that he's quoting Pam Spaulding. Pam is a fabulous black lesbian. I guess by your standards that at least gives her the "right" to make such a comment. As far as "helping our cause," well... thanks for your advise.
cowboyneok
· 7 months ago
I'll proudly remain a "field negro" in the gay rights movement. Please G-d, don't ever let me become a "house negro" to my brothers and sisters trying to gain equal rights...
Let me ALWAYS remain a "field negro" and work for the day when the LGBT community can proudly declare we are EQUAL CITIZENS in the United States of America.
sherifffruitfly
· 7 months ago
I've lost track - is this post before or after you blaming black folks for Prop 8?
inspired2b
· 7 months ago
Everyone - I understand the frustration, as I am, but here is what I suggest. As a community let's not be about barking but biting. I am withdrawing my donations from HRC tomorrow morning and I suggest everyone else do the same. I do not have time to make comments that are negative and I am not personally hating on the gay leaders but it is time to wake them up. So No negative comments from me, I will let actions be my talk. I advise the same of everyone on here and anyone else you can chat with.
Gridlock
· 7 months ago
No talk = no message spread.
bite without bark leads to an isolated impact.
Bite AND bark.
193army
· 7 months ago
When is a right worth fighting for? Ever day.
Chris From Maine
· 7 months ago
The gay leaders have been pacified and rendered irrelevant.
Rights have to be fought for, they cant be granted. And it's fairly clear this group of "leaders" arent willing to fight. So its time for new leaders.
Gay people deserve better.
psychodrew
· 7 months ago
Gays who kiss the administration's butt aren't leaders. They may have prominent positions in some organizations but they most assuredly are not "leaders."
kugelschreiber
· 7 months ago
I'm going to killed for this, but it has been my observation that there is a place for "insiders" and "outsiders" for getting things done, and, though there is often tension between the two, they both have important roles to play.
I'm uncomfortable with all this talk of "field negros" and the calling out of LGBT traitors in our midst, but I have to concede that ferocity has been useful in the push-back. Without the anger, it is true that it would be easy for Democrats to put our issues on the backburner once again.
Likewise, I recognize that attending a cocktail party at the White House could be interpreted as selling out. Nevertheless, I think there is value at having LGBT people dealing with Administration officials in a friendlier manner than some here would like.
John Aravosis
· 7 months ago
I don't disagree with you, and you shouldn't be called out for recognizing the importance of insiders. I routinely recognize their importance, and in many ways, I am one. I've lived in DC for 25 years, have worked in politics for 20. I've met presidents, ambassadors, movie stars, TV personalities, and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I've never been one to believe that being an insider is bad, or per se makes you a sell out.
But.
Once you've tried and tried and tried privately - inside - to get people to keep their promises, and they then publicly slap you in the face, you have to recognize that the inside strategy is no longer working.
Either the White House doesn't care what the insiders are telling them privately, or worse, the White House is doing exactly what the insiders are telling them to do. Either way, it's working against the best interests of our community. So now we take another approach.
kugelschreiber
· 7 months ago
Fair enough.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 7 months ago
then it comes down to this: what would we want the house negroes to do when they find out about the underground railroad or some other effort to free the slaves? if you think the house negroes have more to lose than to gain, you should stop supporting them.
nessa
· 7 months ago
'house negroes" would this term be used if we were dealing with a White President? We don't want these groups to show up because we want to stick it to Obama and the WH, he needs to be put on the spot for the Doma brief, the name calling however is ridiculous. I would rather you quote MLK over Malcolm X any day.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 7 months ago
i've been hearing this analogy for decades (i just didn't know it came from MaclolmX). the idea is to focus attention on which leaders gain personally from appeasement.
Gridlock
· 7 months ago
Actually yes, and we have our own term that's analogous.. house faggots.
nessa
· 7 months ago
Name calling is not productive.
Gridlock
· 7 months ago
it is when it draws a parallel
Butch1
· 7 months ago
Or Porch Faggots. The ones who aren't even allowed in the house.
kugelschreiber
· 7 months ago
Hmmmm... I'm thinking that the slavery metaphor serves no one on this.
John Aravosis
· 7 months ago
Well, it was an African-American lesbian blogger, the top lesbian political blogger, in fact, who invoked the comparison. I simply agree.
kugelschreiber
· 7 months ago
No. I realize that. I'm just suggesting let's not run away with it too far. It gets sticky.
Gridlock
· 7 months ago
Nah, it just makes people "uncomfortable", people who would rather not have "their" fight aligned with the icky gays.
Boo frickety hoo for them i say.
Seansmith
· 7 months ago
Yeah, as a black man myself, I agree. Not because John is wrong, just because we have to be very, very careful with using this parallel.
Even though the gay community is completely right in using it, it will turn even some of our most ardent supporters off. It's a shame that even with civil rights; you still have to play social politics.
A very smart move is leaving the black civil rights struggle parallels to black GLBT activist. That's the only way we're going to win people of color with this argument. I completely disagree with it but that's just how it is, we have to play the game.
Butch1
· 7 months ago
I understand your point. But, all of us gays and lesbians, black, white, yellow, brown, etc., can own it if we make it our own by calling it house faggots and field faggots. Those blacks who do not want us associating with their struggle can not say very much when we are talking about ourselves.
marko
· 7 months ago
So tell me , John , in all your ridiculously over the top diatribes you are supposed to be a gay leader? And when you were more than happy to vilify , demean and yes , throw under the bus the not only our Trans friends , but the entire concept of being transgendered because you wanted what's yours everyone else be damned , were you being a "house negro" or a "field negro" then? Your angry little rants (and occasional unfortunate appearance on the tele ) do absolutely nothing to advance LGB and especially T rights . I'm beginning to think that your gay rights agenda is of by and for you and other gay men of some wealth and stature ... oh , and somehow trying to cash in our justified disappointment in the administration by encouraging people to be soooooo pissed off that they just have to donate to Americablog (that'll show 'em) . More and more you show in your approach and your posts that you are only out for yourself. Where are our leaders , you ask, well, sir, I don't rightly know, but I know that you aren't even in the running.
John Aravosis
· 7 months ago
Marko, people here can read the record of my work on fighting DADT in 1993, working on the Senate hearings on ENDA, putting together the Matthew Shepard Online Resources Web site, leading the charge for Master Chief Timothy McVeigh who was outed by AOL, taking on Dr. Laura, and Mary Cheney, and Microsoft, and Ford, and now Obama, and decide for themselves whether I'm fit to lead. I don't however see you telling us why you are any better? And in fact, you aren't leading at all - you're simply trying to take down those of us who are trying to make a difference for our community. I think we know whether you prefer to live in the House or the field.
Alec
· 7 months ago
I find this debate fascinating. The administration's apologists can't even argue in good faith at this point. I'm not in complete agreement with some of what you've said and done, but please keep the pressure on them. It is beginning to have an impact.
John Aravosis
· 7 months ago
Thanks Alec.
nicho
· 7 months ago
What's ridiculous and over the top are all the people who come here to shit on John. If it weren't for him and Joe and all their hard work, no one would be talking about this.
Name
· 7 months ago
I think AmericaBlog does a lot of good -- showing leadership on multiple issues, including strong leadership on GLB issues.
Yet, I have to say, while I've been reading AmericaBlog this last week and it's reaction to the Obama DOJ Brief, I have been reacting in two ways:
(1) Cheering on AmericaBlog for reporting on the Obama DOJ Brief. It's led me to take action in my own way and sharing the info with other people who had not heard about the Brief, who in turn have been writing letters, etc.
I've also been so pleased that at least someone out there, such as AmericaBlong, who has connections and resources is using their information to educate & inform the greater public. One would think that these type's of reports should be coming as "Action Alert's" from ALL of our Big Gay Orgs, etc.
(2) Questioning why the AmericaBlog response to the Obama Brief is different from the ENDA / Trans fiasco last year. I think I remember that AmericaBlog was explaining that "we" had to take what was being offered and that Frank & HRC were just being pragmatic.
I haven't posted anything on this because I wanted to check the old ENDA posts and get my facts correct.
Though I disagree with what this writer said about AmericaBlog (they are leaders), I agree with the point.
So, I'm curious. If HRC, Frank, etc, thought it was OK to throw Trans Protections out of ENDA to be "pragmatic", why are we surprised that the Dems are doing this again in a slightly different way?
Can AmericaBlog help us see the difference between their "pragmatic" approach to ENDA last year, and the outrage they are sharing now?
I personally wish AmericaBlog was as outraged over last year's ENDA Fiasco as they are now.
Butch1
· 7 months ago
Why don't we try and fight today's battles. Yesterday's ENDA battle is over and ENDA this year has been included with DADT and DOMA. Why do you want to continue to pick at old wounds and for what purpose? ENDA is on board THIS year. I think we should stop trying to split the support our grass-roots community is trying to achieve with old arguments.
makingaripple
· 7 months ago
It's now time to fire these incestuous collaborators from their well paid posts. It's time to stop giving money to these organizations as well. It's time to regroup with the courage and integrity which are THE defining elements to be Gay. They must all be outed for the collaborators that they are and to NEVER be in a position of leadership or power within MY community again.
Antinous
· 7 months ago
Thank You John, for more years than I care to remember I have given money to the Democrat Party and members of congress throughout the nation to help with their campaigns. I can no longer with clear conscience continue to do this, when our elected officials toss us an occasional crumb hoping to silence our voices. I thought with this administration we would begin to see the results we have waited so long to enjoy, apparently I was wrong. We are always last, yet we are the first to give, the time has come to pick up the merchandise before we pay the cashier. The time has come to demand not ask, our rights, our dignity, our souls have ridden on the hard bench long enough, it's time.
Gridlock
· 7 months ago
Gays are going C.O.D.
Cash on delivery.
No gay rights = no gay dollars.
HereinDC
· 7 months ago
Love it, Great to put on a poster Thursday
Antinous
· 7 months ago
Precisely.
boloboffin
· 7 months ago
I don't see anything wrong with going to the party, provided that no one ate or drank anything. Can you imagine that kind of statement? I know, it'd never happen. But no fun and games around the cocktail wiener table until some real progress is made. "Bread and circuses" is not what we need. We need our rights.
HereinDC
· 7 months ago
UPDATE: Here's a Facebook group organizing the protest at the DNC gay fundraiser this Thursday.
I don't do Facebook
kugelschreiber
· 7 months ago
Well, La-Dee-Dah!
terrya
· 7 months ago
I wonder sometimes if our "gay leaders" really give a damn about fighting for the rights and equality of GLBT people who will never, ever get a chance to go to the White House for a party.
SRhodes
· 7 months ago
After being cut off from power for so long, it's starting to look like a race to see who can stick their head the farthest up the Pres.'s a$$
Liam
· 7 months ago
Pam's House Blend is now reporting:
2nd DNC Fundraiser to be Protested in Boston on June 23rd
BOSTON, Mass. (June 21st, 2009) -
...The tactic of protesting DNC fundraisers is now spreading. Another DNC fundraiser will be held in Boston on June 23rd at Fenway Park starting at 5pm. Join The Impact MA and local activists plan to protest in front of the entrance from 4:30pm till 5pm to bring awareness to the lack of Congressional and Presidential action on LGBT rights and particularly to the egregious DOMA legal brief.
"Quite frankly, our community has gained more in the past 6 days than we have in the past 6 months due to public criticism and the threat of protest. If these are the only actions that our leaders respond to, then it's the actions we'll take. We strongly urge President Obama and the Democrats in Congress to follow through on their promises of LGBT equality and most especially to take swift, concrete action on repealing DOMA." said Paul Sousa, co-chair of Join The Impact MA.
Just for historical context, by House Negro everyone knew who he meant - Martin Luther King Jr.
Who accomplished more? Malcolm X or MLK Jr.?
And who will get more done for gay rights? Americablog or those going to the White House?
In both cases, the latter.
John Aravosis
· 7 months ago
Putting aside the fact that you're being a dick, that's quite interesting, I didn't realize he was referring to MLK.
As to your other point, that's why I'm here - to make sure Barack Obama does more for gay civil rights than I do.
davidasposted
· 7 months ago
Know this:
MLK Jr. decided late in a career ended by assassination that working within the system to secure civil rights for blacks was not working. He decided to expand his fight to include poor people in the U.S. and abroad in the hope he could make more wholesale changes in what he recognized was a fundamentally unjust world system, hence his "Beyond Vietnam" speech in 1967 at New York City Riverside Church and the 'Poor People's Campaign' of 1968. Only after he began working outside of the system in the manner Malcolm described in the video John posted, did he become the target of assassins.
In short, MLK decided before his death that working inside the system could not yield the results he and other blacks desired. It was only then that he was assassinated. He was killed because he was on to something, something Malcolm believed and espoused as well: you don't get what you want if you seek compromise in an unjust system.
Tyke
· 7 months ago
This sounds completely made up to me. I was active in the civil rights movement in the 60's and have NEVER heard the "theory" you present. In fact MLK's last speech before his death and the march & rally he was attending were totally in step with his prior long term approach.
Butch1
· 7 months ago
Well said, and I think you neutered a potential "dick."
Liam
· 7 months ago
‘justice too long delayed is justice denied.’
hopelesspedant
· 7 months ago
Certainly true, but it doesn't change the fact that the phrase used here was specifically meants as an insult to MLK Jr and his methods to work from the inside to accomplish his goals.
That Americablog uses it as a slur against those trying to work from the inside is very telling.
cowboyneok
· 7 months ago
Martin Luther King did not advocate working from the inside. He advocated doing EXACTLY what Americablog and those willing to protest are doing. Its called non-violent resistance. Non violent resistance is NOT working from the inside like Malcolm X is describing. Not by a long shot. Boycotting and protesting "field negro work" isn't working from the inside. Going to a damned cocktail party "house negro work" is working from the inside.
cowboyneok
· 7 months ago
sayz you.
Name
· 7 months ago
Regarding the WH Party, I think all we're going to get is an updated photo from Clinton's photo with Ellen & Ann. It was a great photo back in the late 1990's -- the President of the USA comfortable with gay couples. I think Ellen & Ann were holding hands, though don't remember.
A photo is worth a thousand words and that photo spoke volumes!!
So, in 2009, we'll get a new photo with Obama and another gay couple showing how comfortable he is with gay couples, etc.
Personally, I think this WH Party is being used as a ploy and threat. I think the Obama people are sending the message, "If you boycott us or say mean things about us, you won't be invited to the big party. So be nice to us and we'll invite you and take your picture during this 'historic' event."
By the way, it is a pretty cool idea to have this WH Party 40 years after Stonewall, but the timing is now ruined with the Obama Brief.
Maybe he should do this party for the 45th Anniversary of Stonewall (if he gets re-elected) and then he can announce all the great things he did for the GLBT Community, such as DOMA, DADT, ENDA. Then the photo's and party will have true value!!!!!
Gridlock
· 7 months ago
Without equality, any new photo should be torn up a la Sinead O'Connor.
mirror
· 7 months ago
John, I'll bet you would find even more that you could quote or agree with in Malcom X if you took the time to check him out.
Also, open your mind a bit to learn what the conditions were like in the inner cities in the late 50s early 60s. Even the short discussion in "Nixon Land" ready with and open mind might give you a better idea of why many blacks would have doubts about the MLK way...
John Aravosis
· 7 months ago
Fair enough.
mirror
· 7 months ago
P.S.
The "House ________" is a classic archetype of political or social betrayal. This example in the slave society is just the most brutal. I think the analogy, the comparison, is valid.
mirror
· 7 months ago
P.P.S. The analogy only works so far, because the house slave fails to have solidarity and loyalty with a group it should have solidarity and loyalty with in order to achieve a better long term benefit for the group, but there is no betrayal where there is not first stated loyalty.
For the house gays, for many there is a betrayal. Because their in-fact allegiance does not follow the identity group they claimed to be working for, does not follow their original stated loyalty...
Butch1
· 7 months ago
House faggots are in denial and actually believe Obama, with a little bit more time, etc., will fulfill his promises even when the writing on the wall states differently. They also, think we are upsetting the apple cart and we field faggots will make Obama mad and ruin what the house faggots have accomplished to get Obama to like them. They are holding us back with their "wait, your moving too fast and you're being unkind to Obama." routine. These people are turning out to be a hinderance rather than a conduit to the government to get things done.
BornGay
· 7 months ago
Here, Here !!! Well said!!
Watch out H.F.'s....the F.F.'s are coming for your jobs.
Butch1
· 7 months ago
If they don't wake up and actually start holding our administration and congress accountable for this "bait & switch" "one-pony" act that our carnival of a government continues to give us instead of real equal rights, then they should step aside and let some real leaders lead the charge. The house faggots want rights but are too afraid to even ask for them. We field faggots aren't asking, we're demanding them and we want them, NOW!! No more excuses; nothing could be more important than the equal rights of its citizens.
Not all the special gay invitees have said they plan to boycott. Brian Fricke, a gay Iraq war veteran and board member for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said he was disappointed by the Justice Department brief, but still plans to attend the fundraiser.
Fricke said if Obama endorsed the filing, it would be "truly an egregious, two-faced, litigiously aggressive act against our community." Fricke also said that if Obama doesn't correct the Justice Department, then "there is no case" with which the president's actions could be defended.
"That being said, the DNC's LGBT Leadership Council is an excellent platform for our community," he said. "Withholding attendance or funding from it only damages the vehicle we use to lobby on our behalf. We must continue to demand equal rights under the law in full right now without burning the bridge that will lead us to a realized dream."
Other invited activists who have said they wouldn't attend the event are David Mixner, a gay Democratic activist; Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda; and Andy Towle, a gay blogger.
Another gay invitee, Richard Socarides, a New York attorney who was an adviser for President Clinton, also said he wouldn't be attending, but he told the Blade it was because of a prior commitment and not because he's boycotting the event.
"I'm not boycotting, but at the same time, I'm not able to attend," he said.
Gridlock
· 7 months ago
Is anybody else tired of the word "disappointed" being used in this situation?
It's like the new "terrorist".. a stupid, catch-all term.
I'm not disappointed, i'm FURIOUS.
Disappointment is when you forgot to pick up milk and can't have your cereal in the morning.
This kind of pathetic stance is why politicians walk all over us. Call us the worst thing possible, and we meekly respond in how disappointed we are with the language chosen in calling us predatory criminals. Nevermind that the concept is also hideous, either..
This needs to stop, NOW.
JamesR
· 7 months ago
You are correct. I just had to edit my last post. "Disappointment " is to this is as light pink is to searing coherent laser red. They are the same hue but the intensity and energy are different, and the colors are in fact named and perceived differently.
I don't know a better word right now to use for the extremity of the quality of disappointment but when I find it I will use it.
Furious is where this emotion will lead, right now personally I am simmering and pissed off. A strong emotion may seem to be easily dismissed as hyperbole if not explained properly and put in context - disappointment is just the beginning, like the pebble that starts an avalanche.
And you are correct that politicians do not care for such introverted innocuous fleeting emotions as disappointment. We can all go hang, or stew, or cry for all they care. ANGER, however, they understand, it is a currency they trade.
Stonewall itself was not an expression of "disappointment."
John Aravosis
· 7 months ago
Yes, if he screws us just one more time, then NEXT time I'm going to be vewy vewy angry. How many times have I heard that one.
cowboyneok
· 7 months ago
I've about had it with SLDN. They are far too willing to play along with two servicemen being discharged every day. I'm sorry, but I am becoming VERY suspicious of groups who's entire reason for being is a single issue, and if resolved they won't have much reason for maintaining their organization. I've yet to hear SLDN give a good, valid reason for Obama not issuing the STOP LOSS Executive Order.
davidkc
· 7 months ago
I am loathe to use the "F' word, but "House Faggots" is the only phrase that fits for these sell-outs. I know that they'll tell themselves and each other that they're working within the system to fight for LGBT rights, that these things take time, that when the president calls you have to jump, that us peons in the hinterlands just don't understand how Washington works, etc. Well, what these H.F's can't seem to understand is that they're so secluded in the DC bubble that they can't see that they're part of the problem that is keeping us from attaining full equal rights for LGBT Americans. Those wonderful LGBT people who stood up to the police at Stonewall did more to advance LGBT rights than the H.F.'s invited to this bogus White House cocktail party ever did.
davidkc
· 7 months ago
And I might add, the people who led the Stonewall rebellion were definitely what you would consider DC outsiders.
Butch1
· 7 months ago
Yes. " Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose. . ." " Me and Bobby McGee" - Kristofferson.
cowboyneok
· 7 months ago
Ooooo! Good one! "House Faggots" I think I could learn to hiss that at any sellout.
Indigo
· 7 months ago
There's a fascinating anthropology at work here, watching a black president dance around the painfully obvious anti-gay prejudices he enables. Won't the history books have fun?!?
vkobaya
· 7 months ago
Obama is a black president who also encourages racism against Blacks and Hispanics accusing them of forcing him to be homophobic.
shinrai
· 7 months ago
John, you are the only person I know of who has hit on the point about President Obama's parents' marriage being illegal in many states when he was born. He should know better than to promote "separate but equal" when it comes to us. Great job.
The main excuse the Dems present for inaction is there are not enough votes to make such and such happen. They don't realize that is a very lame and static view, and a virtual admission of ineffectiveness.
I think somebody at the fundraiser should ask Vice President Biden why he voted for DOMA and whether he is willing to speak out in favor of its repeal at this time. And the next time somebody gets to confront Senator Reid, they should ask him the same thing.
The HRC backed out of the DNC fund raiser...... last I heard. The HRC should also refuse to go to the cocktail party as well. We all know Rahm threw this 'last minute' shindig to placate the so called 'leaders' of the LGBT community. I can hear it now.... Stop all the whining about the DOMA brief..... we're gonna include you guys in the census.... aren't you happy about that?? or maybe they,ll hear..... it's really tough to tackle your issues the first term..but wait...the second term...you guys just hide and watch wink ~ wink.... The supposed 'leaders' ought to pay a penalty for schmoozing while the rest of us wait...... either in not giving a vote or not giving money ....... our 'leaders' need to know that we are pissed and we want change WE can believe in... NOW!
Don
· 7 months ago
Hey, Andrew Tobias dropped a hint of something big about to happen. It's all hush hush apparently and we're not supposed to know until after the boot-kissing is finished. What could it be? I hope: As a minimum - the heads... er...resignations of every DOJ A**hole who signed the Defense of DOMA. Then how about "our man" Obama stop promising to follow Congress and do what he promised - LEAD.
Gridlock
· 7 months ago
Maybe someone got some new Jimmy Choo's
John Aravosis
· 7 months ago
Well, the community wants it to be something significant about DOMA, ENDA, or DADT. Which means it will probably be something about hate crimes.
JamesR
· 7 months ago
Yes, but taking a step back, in order to take a step forward (into a footstep you were just about to take when you stepped back) is not as virtuous as the proverbial 'taking one step back to take two steps forward.'
Its called expending a lot of effort to stay in the same spot.
If the big "secret" is just some announcement of "victory" on legislation already progressing, especially involving hate crimes, it's inviting us all to applaud him for simply doing the right thing that virtually everybody was going to do anyway. If that's what it is I will feel kinda used.
And I will be devoid of whom I voted for, as an American, that if this is how he treats these issues, our president - who has power and moral authority like no other before in living memory - will be letting the better part of said authority wither on the vine.
FunMe
· 7 months ago
Oh gosh, they really have made it so much easier.
So we know who are real friends are. So we decided, no gay equality, no gay $ money. So we say to the DNC who thought they fooled us. No - never. They fooled themselves because the GAYTM is closed to them. Wow, the power of money.
And now these "gay leadership" organizations who STILL fall for Obama's tricks, and forget the GLBT community by attending the stupid champagne party.
THOSE organization will get the wrath of the GLBT community: not one of them will ever get big bucks support from the GLBT community itself.
You have been warned if you attend: no gay $$$ to your gay organization!
imo09
· 7 months ago
You might want to look into what Malcolm X's actual views on gays were. But that would take effort--sort of like the difference between posting and governing.
Or insread, compare the Obama administration's record on gay rights 8 years from now with Bush and every other rightie you've had the intellectual laziness to compare him to. In the meantime discuss patience and timetables with John Lewis or anyone else who actually risked death to achieve civil rights.
John Aravosis
· 7 months ago
So you mean there aren't people in life who fight for change and others who are simply apologists for the status quo? Your point doesn't make any sense.
Also, it's funny you should mention the Bush administration since it's their old DOMA brief that Obama's DOJ used as the basis for its brief (you did know that, right?) Sometimes change is the same old thing.
But hey, keep apologizing for people who label us as akin to pedophilia and incest. I don't know about you, but I expect more from Democrats than they be simply better than Republicans. That's hard an adequate standard for any human being, let alone a Democrat.
imo09
· 7 months ago
Thanks for replying. Yes I did know about the DOJ brief on DOMA. It was ridiculous. It think DOMA and DADT should be overturned yesterday. But, I think the issue comes down to a matter of strategy and timing not ideology, and if you choose to see Obama, or even his administration, as opposed to universal rights then you are going to find yourself with some strange bedfellows and , I think, proven wrong in the long run.
I fully support your objectives; it's your analysis I occasionally find fault with.
okojo
· 7 months ago
As much as I think GLBT community should be pissed off with the Obama Administration, Do you really think that the Republicans will even listen to the GLBT? Closet Cases like Lindsey Graham are going to be more emphatic?
I feel like DADT will take some time, ditto with DFMA, and the Obama Administration has to tread lightly until they get the political support to move forward. Having Clinton Veterans like Rahm Emmanuel will also get those who got shellacked by the 1994 mid term elections, which I believe Emmanuel lost his job as political director.
John Aravosis
· 7 months ago
I think you're right, Republicans would be an even bigger pain in the ass. But that does not, I think, mean that we don't demand that Democrats keep their promises to us, and more generally, show us some respect. Otherwise, we'd never get any of our major promises kept.
Daniel
· 7 months ago
The stark reality is that Congress does not consider gay people to be human beings. If they did, they would not be violating the human rights of millions of gay Americans.
No rationale human being upholds any constitution that not only excludes them but also violates their human rights. Most of the USA, including the federal level, is simply a failed democracy. A house divided against itself cannot stand, and that applies when only some people have their human rights protected by government while others do not. Government of some of the people, by some of the people, for some of the people, is not a sustainable government, nor should it be.
As soon as human rights became a popularity contest in most of the USA, the fledgling democracy of the USA imploded; the country did not even reach 250 years old before nose diving. The rule of law is fragile and tens of millions of Americans, including Congress, voted to bring an end to it by excluding others from the protection of constitutions that, when working properly and not ruined by self-serving majority groups, should protect everyone if everyone is expected to continue any allegiance to those constitutions.
All Comments
As a contributor to Obama's campaign and as a caucus delegate on his behalf and, most importantly, one who has worked grassroots campaigning off and on for 25 years, I expected to be disappointed at some juncture. With Obama, it happened earlier and more damningly than I would have imagined with his vote on the new eviscerated FISA legislation. But he continues to reach new lows.
As a past donor to gay political groups, I will not donate a penny to any group with a representative at the upcoming Mad Hatter's Tea Party. I'm madder than hell, and I'm not going to take it from these putative "leaders." They're lackeys and House Negroes for attending. And I never thought I'd quote Malcolm X, either.
http://site.pfaw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=h...
Just as we need to do to Obama and the DNC, perhaps Joe Solomnese and other glbt group leaders also need a proverbial "bitch-slap" to remind them they too work for us and are not just there to rub elbows with politicos.
While us blacks had it terrible, gays have also been murdered, beaten up, electrocuted, emotionally enslaved, mentally crippled, and taught – to themselves and others – that we were less than human from everyone else.
So what’s the major difference between our struggle and any other one? For us, all of those horrible things are still happening to us. And it’s been happening since the beginning of society. Longevity-wise, the gays are the only group who have been discriminated throughout history; past, present, and for now, future.
So instead of misreading history, maybe you should just start with reading it.
"We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny...I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be,"
"Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery, Selma, in Albany, Ga. and St. Augustine, Fla., and many other campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement,"
"Many of these courageous men and women were fighting for my freedom at a time when they could find few voices for their own, and I salute their contributions."
- Coretta Scott King
Calm yourself.
There are black gay people too.
So, even by your incredibly narrow view of the world, gay people were ENSLAVED, BOUGHT and SOLD for 400 years.
Maybe you don't see gay people as your brothers and sisters, but I DO see black people (and gay black people) as MY brothers and sisters.
Also, as was noted, please try and do the LEAST amount of work and click the links (goes to Pam's House Blend) before you let your preconceived notions determine how you are going to interpret any one post.
"Recent reports out of Baghdad document the gruesome gluing of anuses of gay men, who are forced to swallow laxatives, leading to death by diarrhea, come amid continuing genital mutilation of gays."
http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archiv...
So, stop with the whole comparisons with the way gays are treated versus other minorities.
We have been burned at the stake as demon possessed. In fact, I can think of very few societies who treated us honorably and as equals.
The Right-Wings is still using Obama's derogatory words to support why they hate us: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/227119...
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-harvard20-2009jun20,3,3233106.story
From the Los Angeles Times
She finally has a home: Harvard
Khadijah Williams, 18, overcomes a lifetime in shelters and on skid row.
By Esmeralda Bermudez
11:03 PM PDT, June 19, 2009
Khadijah Williams stepped into chemistry class and instantly tuned out the commotion.
Obama should adopt this kid into his family as a foster kid. Invite her to every White House Thanksgiving and Christmas for the rest of his terms in office. Do his damn best to see that she not only graduates but graduates with highest honors and then succeeds in graduate school.
The story also says she reads 4-5 books a month. He should give her an unlimited book account for text books and recreational reading. I think if he did that, Bush's claim of 187 books in the last 3 years would be dust as well as Rove's claim to have beaten Bush with 190 books. I hope Obama takes up the obligation to help this kid. I hope she devours Harvard.
Then again, if Obama is the man I think he is turning out to be (a Bigoted Bush clone), he will bust his butt to keep this girl from graduating, disrupt her studies, minimize her scholarship to Harvard, have his bigoted friends harass and make studying as difficult as possible, bribe professors to give her failing grades, etc. Hope I'm wrong about Obama, but he has turned my stomach and I hope he helps her, not hurts her.
Stop thinking this is only a gay issue. What do you think Obama is going to do for Khadijah Williams if he invites her to the White House? He'll smile, pat her on the head and give a gold presidential dollar coin telling her to save it as it is valuable. A gold presidential Bush dollar coin.
The guy sold out everybody, not only the gays. Blacks, Hispanics, unionists, American soldiers, environmentalists, all common Americans. You want gay rights, then start acting like you are as American as the rest of America that has been betrayed by George Obama Bush. He has no intention that we get real healthcare, just continue to enrich his crooked corporate buddies, continues to murder American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, continues to the Wall Street thieves the trillions of tax dollars that belong to the next American generation, etc., etc., etc.
I guess you missed the part where John clearly indicates that he's quoting Pam Spaulding.
Pam is a fabulous black lesbian. I guess by your standards that at least gives her the "right" to make such a comment.
As far as "helping our cause," well... thanks for your advise.
Let me ALWAYS remain a "field negro" and work for the day when the LGBT community can proudly declare we are EQUAL CITIZENS in the United States of America.
bite without bark leads to an isolated impact.
Bite AND bark.
Rights have to be fought for, they cant be granted. And it's fairly clear this group of "leaders" arent willing to fight. So its time for new leaders.
Gay people deserve better.
I'm uncomfortable with all this talk of "field negros" and the calling out of LGBT traitors in our midst, but I have to concede that ferocity has been useful in the push-back. Without the anger, it is true that it would be easy for Democrats to put our issues on the backburner once again.
Likewise, I recognize that attending a cocktail party at the White House could be interpreted as selling out. Nevertheless, I think there is value at having LGBT people dealing with Administration officials in a friendlier manner than some here would like.
But.
Once you've tried and tried and tried privately - inside - to get people to keep their promises, and they then publicly slap you in the face, you have to recognize that the inside strategy is no longer working.
Either the White House doesn't care what the insiders are telling them privately, or worse, the White House is doing exactly what the insiders are telling them to do. Either way, it's working against the best interests of our community. So now we take another approach.
Boo frickety hoo for them i say.
Even though the gay community is completely right in using it, it will turn even some of our most ardent supporters off. It's a shame that even with civil rights; you still have to play social politics.
A very smart move is leaving the black civil rights struggle parallels to black GLBT activist. That's the only way we're going to win people of color with this argument. I completely disagree with it but that's just how it is, we have to play the game.
And when you were more than happy to vilify , demean and yes , throw under the bus the not only our Trans friends , but the entire concept of being transgendered because you wanted what's yours everyone else be damned , were you being a "house negro" or a "field negro" then?
Your angry little rants (and occasional unfortunate appearance on the tele ) do absolutely nothing to advance LGB and especially T rights .
I'm beginning to think that your gay rights agenda is of by and for you and other gay men of some wealth and stature
... oh , and somehow trying to cash in our justified disappointment in the administration by encouraging people to be soooooo pissed off that they just have to donate to Americablog (that'll show 'em) .
More and more you show in your approach and your posts that you are only out for yourself.
Where are our leaders , you ask, well, sir, I don't rightly know, but I know that you aren't even in the running.
Yet, I have to say, while I've been reading AmericaBlog this last week and it's reaction to the Obama DOJ Brief, I have been reacting in two ways:
(1) Cheering on AmericaBlog for reporting on the Obama DOJ Brief. It's led me to take action in my own way and sharing the info with other people who had not heard about the Brief, who in turn have been writing letters, etc.
I've also been so pleased that at least someone out there, such as AmericaBlong, who has connections and resources is using their information to educate & inform the greater public. One would think that these type's of reports should be coming as "Action Alert's" from ALL of our Big Gay Orgs, etc.
(2) Questioning why the AmericaBlog response to the Obama Brief is different from the ENDA / Trans fiasco last year. I think I remember that AmericaBlog was explaining that "we" had to take what was being offered and that Frank & HRC were just being pragmatic.
I haven't posted anything on this because I wanted to check the old ENDA posts and get my facts correct.
Though I disagree with what this writer said about AmericaBlog (they are leaders), I agree with the point.
So, I'm curious. If HRC, Frank, etc, thought it was OK to throw Trans Protections out of ENDA to be "pragmatic", why are we surprised that the Dems are doing this again in a slightly different way?
Can AmericaBlog help us see the difference between their "pragmatic" approach to ENDA last year, and the outrage they are sharing now?
I personally wish AmericaBlog was as outraged over last year's ENDA Fiasco as they are now.
Cash on delivery.
No gay rights = no gay dollars.
Great to put on a poster Thursday
I don't do Facebook
2nd DNC Fundraiser to be Protested in Boston on June 23rd
BOSTON, Mass. (June 21st, 2009) -
...The tactic of protesting DNC fundraisers is now spreading. Another DNC fundraiser will be held in Boston on June 23rd at Fenway Park starting at 5pm. Join The Impact MA and local activists plan to protest in front of the entrance from 4:30pm till 5pm to bring awareness to the lack of Congressional and Presidential action on LGBT rights and particularly to the egregious DOMA legal brief.
"Quite frankly, our community has gained more in the past 6 days than we have in the past 6 months due to public criticism and the threat of protest. If these are the only actions that our leaders respond to, then it's the actions we'll take. We strongly urge President Obama and the Democrats in Congress to follow through on their promises of LGBT equality and most especially to take swift, concrete action on repealing DOMA." said Paul Sousa, co-chair of Join The Impact MA.
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/11614/join-...
Who accomplished more? Malcolm X or MLK Jr.?
And who will get more done for gay rights? Americablog or those going to the White House?
In both cases, the latter.
As to your other point, that's why I'm here - to make sure Barack Obama does more for gay civil rights than I do.
MLK Jr. decided late in a career ended by assassination that working within the system to secure civil rights for blacks was not working. He decided to expand his fight to include poor people in the U.S. and abroad in the hope he could make more wholesale changes in what he recognized was a fundamentally unjust world system, hence his "Beyond Vietnam" speech in 1967 at New York City Riverside Church and the 'Poor People's Campaign' of 1968. Only after he began working outside of the system in the manner Malcolm described in the video John posted, did he become the target of assassins.
In short, MLK decided before his death that working inside the system could not yield the results he and other blacks desired. It was only then that he was assassinated. He was killed because he was on to something, something Malcolm believed and espoused as well: you don't get what you want if you seek compromise in an unjust system.
That Americablog uses it as a slur against those trying to work from the inside is very telling.
A photo is worth a thousand words and that photo spoke volumes!!
So, in 2009, we'll get a new photo with Obama and another gay couple showing how comfortable he is with gay couples, etc.
Personally, I think this WH Party is being used as a ploy and threat. I think the Obama people are sending the message, "If you boycott us or say mean things about us, you won't be invited to the big party. So be nice to us and we'll invite you and take your picture during this 'historic' event."
By the way, it is a pretty cool idea to have this WH Party 40 years after Stonewall, but the timing is now ruined with the Obama Brief.
Maybe he should do this party for the 45th Anniversary of Stonewall (if he gets re-elected) and then he can announce all the great things he did for the GLBT Community, such as DOMA, DADT, ENDA. Then the photo's and party will have true value!!!!!
I'll bet you would find even more that you could quote or agree with in Malcom X if you took the time to check him out.
Also, open your mind a bit to learn what the conditions were like in the inner cities in the late 50s early 60s. Even the short discussion in "Nixon Land" ready with and open mind might give you a better idea of why many blacks would have doubts about the MLK way...
The "House ________" is a classic archetype of political or social betrayal. This example in the slave society is just the most brutal. I think the analogy, the comparison, is valid.
The analogy only works so far, because the house slave fails to have solidarity and loyalty with a group it should have solidarity and loyalty with in order to achieve a better long term benefit for the group, but there is no betrayal where there is not first stated loyalty.
For the house gays, for many there is a betrayal. Because their in-fact allegiance does not follow the identity group they claimed to be working for, does not follow their original stated loyalty...
Watch out H.F.'s....the F.F.'s are coming for your jobs.
Not all the special gay invitees have said they plan to boycott. Brian Fricke, a gay Iraq war veteran and board member for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said he was disappointed by the Justice Department brief, but still plans to attend the fundraiser.
Fricke said if Obama endorsed the filing, it would be "truly an egregious, two-faced, litigiously aggressive act against our community." Fricke also said that if Obama doesn't correct the Justice Department, then "there is no case" with which the president's actions could be defended.
"That being said, the DNC's LGBT Leadership Council is an excellent platform for our community," he said. "Withholding attendance or funding from it only damages the vehicle we use to lobby on our behalf. We must continue to demand equal rights under the law in full right now without burning the bridge that will lead us to a realized dream."
Other invited activists who have said they wouldn't attend the event are David Mixner, a gay Democratic activist; Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda; and Andy Towle, a gay blogger.
Another gay invitee, Richard Socarides, a New York attorney who was an adviser for President Clinton, also said he wouldn't be attending, but he told the Blade it was because of a prior commitment and not because he's boycotting the event.
"I'm not boycotting, but at the same time, I'm not able to attend," he said.
It's like the new "terrorist".. a stupid, catch-all term.
I'm not disappointed, i'm FURIOUS.
Disappointment is when you forgot to pick up milk and can't have your cereal in the morning.
This kind of pathetic stance is why politicians walk all over us. Call us the worst thing possible, and we meekly respond in how disappointed we are with the language chosen in calling us predatory criminals. Nevermind that the concept is also hideous, either..
This needs to stop, NOW.
I don't know a better word right now to use for the extremity of the quality of disappointment but when I find it I will use it.
Furious is where this emotion will lead, right now personally I am simmering and pissed off. A strong emotion may seem to be easily dismissed as hyperbole if not explained properly and put in context - disappointment is just the beginning, like the pebble that starts an avalanche.
And you are correct that politicians do not care for such introverted innocuous fleeting emotions as disappointment. We can all go hang, or stew, or cry for all they care. ANGER, however, they understand, it is a currency they trade.
Stonewall itself was not an expression of "disappointment."
The main excuse the Dems present for inaction is there are not enough votes to make such and such happen. They don't realize that is a very lame and static view, and a virtual admission of ineffectiveness.
I think somebody at the fundraiser should ask Vice President Biden why he voted for DOMA and whether he is willing to speak out in favor of its repeal at this time. And the next time somebody gets to confront Senator Reid, they should ask him the same thing.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call...
What could it be? I hope: As a minimum - the heads... er...resignations of every DOJ A**hole who signed the Defense of DOMA. Then how about "our man" Obama stop promising to follow Congress and do what he promised - LEAD.
Its called expending a lot of effort to stay in the same spot.
If the big "secret" is just some announcement of "victory" on legislation already progressing, especially involving hate crimes, it's inviting us all to applaud him for simply doing the right thing that virtually everybody was going to do anyway. If that's what it is I will feel kinda used.
And I will be devoid of whom I voted for, as an American, that if this is how he treats these issues, our president - who has power and moral authority like no other before in living memory - will be letting the better part of said authority wither on the vine.
So we know who are real friends are. So we decided, no gay equality, no gay $ money. So we say to the DNC who thought they fooled us. No - never. They fooled themselves because the GAYTM is closed to them. Wow, the power of money.
And now these "gay leadership" organizations who STILL fall for Obama's tricks, and forget the GLBT community by attending the stupid champagne party.
THOSE organization will get the wrath of the GLBT community: not one of them will ever get big bucks support from the GLBT community itself.
You have been warned if you attend: no gay $$$ to your gay organization!
Or insread, compare the Obama administration's record on gay rights 8 years from now with Bush and every other rightie you've had the intellectual laziness to compare him to. In the meantime discuss patience and timetables with John Lewis or anyone else who actually risked death to achieve civil rights.
Also, it's funny you should mention the Bush administration since it's their old DOMA brief that Obama's DOJ used as the basis for its brief (you did know that, right?) Sometimes change is the same old thing.
But hey, keep apologizing for people who label us as akin to pedophilia and incest. I don't know about you, but I expect more from Democrats than they be simply better than Republicans. That's hard an adequate standard for any human being, let alone a Democrat.
was ridiculous. It think DOMA and DADT should be overturned yesterday.
But, I think the issue comes down to a matter of strategy and timing
not ideology, and if you choose to see Obama, or even his
administration, as opposed to universal rights then you are going to
find yourself with some strange bedfellows and , I think, proven wrong
in the long run.
I fully support your objectives; it's your analysis I occasionally
find fault with.
I feel like DADT will take some time, ditto with DFMA, and the Obama Administration has to tread lightly until they get the political support to move forward. Having Clinton Veterans like Rahm Emmanuel will also get those who got shellacked by the 1994 mid term elections, which I believe Emmanuel lost his job as political director.
No rationale human being upholds any constitution that not only excludes them but also violates their human rights. Most of the USA, including the federal level, is simply a failed democracy. A house divided against itself cannot stand, and that applies when only some people have their human rights protected by government while others do not. Government of some of the people, by some of the people, for some of the people, is not a sustainable government, nor should it be.
As soon as human rights became a popularity contest in most of the USA, the fledgling democracy of the USA imploded; the country did not even reach 250 years old before nose diving. The rule of law is fragile and tens of millions of Americans, including Congress, voted to bring an end to it by excluding others from the protection of constitutions that, when working properly and not ruined by self-serving majority groups, should protect everyone if everyone is expected to continue any allegiance to those constitutions.