I watched a little bit of the speech. Pretty, pretty words, as usual. Looking for the substance now, and so far, haven't seen anything. I found it funny that he talked about how the LGBT community shouldn't have to be patient, but then goes right into how that at the end of his adminstration, they will be happy with what they accomplished.
Something that was bugging me throughout the speech and I couldn't put my finger on until now was how he spoke about LGBT equality. It felt very much "you people, your problems" instead of how the denial of equality hurts us all. I'm a straight woman, but I don't think of marriage equality and discrimination as someone else's issue. It's mine, because as long as injustice is carried on and sanctioned by my government none of us are free.
ezpz
· 5 months ago
Yes, his words did have a separate AND unequal quality to them.
I agree with you - it does affect us all. I too am a straight woman; yet I feel repulsed by the homophobia this WH has put on blatant display as the president talks out of both sides of his mouth. It's dizzifiying.
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out-- because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out-- because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out-- because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me-- and there was no one left to speak out for me."
Insert 'gay' 'catholic' 'morman' etc.
OregDon
· 5 months ago
I remember (unfortunately) all the whoop la about Harry Truman integrating the military. ("oh, it will never happen! Oh, you can't force the races to mix. ." etc. etc.)
Give 'em Hell Harry basically said "suck it up" and integrated the military anyway.
I was in the Air Force starting in 1952, stationed in Texas and Mississippi and my impression was that it worked very well. .we all slept in those WWII barracks with open bays and we got along well, and became friends.
That apparently laid down a precedent for the rest of society.
It's become obvious that "Obama ain't no Harry Truman!"
Don
· 5 months ago
Here's the actual story.
On 26 July 1948, President Harry S Truman signed Executive Order 9981, establishing the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services. It was accompanied by Executive Order 9980, which created a Fair Employment Board to eliminate racial discrimination in federal employment.
Segregation in the military services did not officially end until the Secretary of Defense announced on 30 September 1954 that the last all-black unit had been abolished. However, the president’s directive put the armed forces (albeit reluctantly) at the forefront of the growing movement to win a fully participatory social role for the nation’s African-American citizens.
jpjones
· 5 months ago
And what do you know? That executive order turned out to be SUSTAINABLE.
Zorba
· 5 months ago
You know, I'm getting fed up with the speeches and pretty words. Sure, he speaks well- hell, compared to Bush, Obama is a verbal genius. But I'm not even gay, and I'm getting sick and tired of this. Equal rights for gays, lesbians, bi-sexuals, transgendered- why is this such a big problem? People are who they are. I just don't get it, I really don't. To me, it's like having a problem with people who are allergic to cats, or who have green eyes. People are people. I guess the GLBT community will have to take a page from the Civil Rights community back-in-the-day. Nobody is ever given their rights- you have to stand up and demand and fight for them, and I'm with you every step of the way.
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
The thing I took away from the speech was Obama admitted discharging gays and lesbians from the military was bad for National Security but he will not do anything a LEADER would do if he knew National Security was being negatively impacted. Isn't it the Commander-in-Chief's job to keep us safe? Why doesn't he sign a STOP LOSS EXECUTIVE ORDER? Is it really more important to assuage homophobia versus take immediate action on the discharge of talented, qualified gays and lesbians in the military, Mr. President?
Lt. Col. Fehrenbach mentioned how its a generational thing. Well then, sign the damned order and tell the old people their days of running things are OVER! We have national security to think about, instead of making bigoted old people feel better about the potential gay people might serve openly in our armed forces!
One thing the Obama thinks is our responsibility is actually his. Eisenhower knew this when he integrated the military with African Americans. His ACTION changed minds. He let the military know he was the Commander-in-Chief and he expected integration and MADE IT HAPPEN. Then there was a collective shrug of everyone's shoulders when it happened after hearing the hysterical Southern bigots rant and rave the military wouldn't survive.
It is up to the President to TAKE THE ACTION to change minds as well. We are doing our part in changing minds, but the Obama Administration is NOT. He needs to stop showing so much latitude to that generation that thinks bigotry is "the American way." Those days SHOULD BE over with his election! We won... they LOST... and Obama needs to start acting like it.
Keith & Dustin
· 5 months ago
It is mind numbing to see Obama sit idly by while our gay military brothers and sisters are fired just because of their sexuality--especially when so many people in the country approve of gays serving in the military. It won't be the end of the world, like the old white men think, it will actually make the military better, more rewarding and sought after career. After listening to all of his speeches on the campaign trail I expected a much stronger leader. The more I see how his policies are playing out, the more I get the feeling he is more republican than democrat.
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
Its also infuriating to hear him ADMIT to the LGBT A-listers at the White House it is a SECURITY THREAT and to then blatantly lie that there is nothing that can be done to STOP IT, and have our so-called leaders continue to fawn all over him.
If we get hit again, and it was because we didn't keep up with arabic human intelligence then I want to know WHY homophobia was placed ahead of National Security!
JamesR
· 5 months ago
I thought when DADT was written there was a clause in it for exception during a time of emergency, war. Or at least that was the intent of it's crafters - as they did not want to force any president to blindly enforce it to the detriment of National Security. I would say now - two hot wars and threat from Arabic speaking terrorists, qualifies.
Armchair warriors have gotten quite fond quoting the "Jack Bauer" BS - 'what if we could stop an attack if we could just torture' etc. What really IS the case is 'what if we could stop an attack if we just had enough f***ing Arabic translators.' This isn't TV. This isn't a game. This is beyond politics.
I would appreciate the honesty of one of those original DADT crafters if they just 'came out' and said that it was more important to have discharged known-to-be-gay servicemembers than it was, and is, to be safe from attack. Bet they won't. Bet they can't
There was intercepted communication untranslated that gave (more) clues to 9-11 sitting untranslated before the fact. Could have made a difference. How many are there now?
JamesR
· 5 months ago
It looks to my non-lawyer, non-JAG brain that part 2 of subsection E of the whole thing, USC Title 10, Subtitle A, Part II, Chapter 37, § 654,
- right at the end, says "[E:] Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed to require that a member of the armed forces be processed for separation from the armed forces when a determination is made in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense that— [2:] separation of the member would not be in the best interest of the armed forces."
That's damn wide leeway. I'd say being any soldier IN WARTIME qualifies. Not just the decorated fighter pilots I guess we don't need, nor all those apparently disposable translators.
But I'm just a civilian. For me along with society at large, all our 'best interests' - like being protected from fucking terrorists - are subordinate to peacetime gay fragging.
Not change, and I still can hardly believe it.
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
We have THREE POSTER CHILDREN just waiting for Obama to sign the Stop Loss Executive Order, and Obama had the gall to tell one of them to his face, Lt. Col Fehrenbach, there was nothing he could do at the time which is an OUTRIGHT lie.
Lt. Col Fehrenbach, Lt. Dan Choi, Major Margaret Witt... POSTER CHILDREN for ending DADT!
atariageguy
· 5 months ago
sigh. That's it, huh?
Look, the words are very nice. But simple truth is the President's OFFICIAL view of gays and lesbians is currently only defined in one place: the DOMA brief. Therefore, officially he views gays and lesbians as lesser humans and Americans and as reviled as incestuous lovers or practitioners of bestiality. Those are HIS words - his only legal, meaningful words regarding gay folks.
Until he actually does something - anything at all to help treat gays as equal (and he has done ZERO), then his default view appears to be outright hostility to gay men and women.
End of story.
When he actually does something to prove otherwise, then that default view will happily change.
Until then, he, his administration, and the Democratic party by extension, appear to despise gays. If that is the intention, then I can say "Well done!"
I would never have thought I'd be saying this. Seriously. But it's their own actions (not words) that speak this so loudly.
John
· 5 months ago
I don't know whether to laugh or what. There was so much unnecessary applause and howling that Obama himself seemed taken aback by it. During his speech, the president gave the crowd that "I didn't get to the good part yet" look more than a couple times. Even he doesn't believe how incredibly easy it is to fool these people.
Butch1
· 5 months ago
It appeared to me he wanted to get through his speech so he would be done with it and was continually interrupted. He didn't seem to be enjoying it. He is uncomfortable around gays.
I also noticed that this was the first event, his wife, Michelle attended with him. Did he need support having her there so he would feel more comfortable being around all the gays and lesbians?
Seansmith
· 5 months ago
I'm glad I'm not the only one who caught this.
JaySF
· 5 months ago
No, you weren't the only one who caught it. And, in fact, I don't know what made me shut it off early more...Obama's seemingly lack of demonstrated interest in the topic or was it in just being there at all...or...the over exuberance of the crowd at the end of his every sentence. I just know, about half way through, I got nauseous and had to turn it off.
Moncusa
· 5 months ago
That ridiculous over-exuberance of the clapping crowd might have been a panicky defense mechanism, since they know most of us are looking at them as Uncle Toms.
2patricius2
· 5 months ago
I listened to the words and the cheers and found myself shouting at the president. Unfortunately, no one at the party was shouting at him. He said he is urging Congress to overturn DADT and DOMA. If so, he sure is secretive about it. So the Congress is the reason that he hasn't stopped firing service members; and the reason his "justice" department has defended DOMA by comparing gay relationships with incest and marriage to underaged children is that he had to "defend the law"? Nonsense. He may be hearing what we are shouting from afar and online, but he slid right around our objections and got applause for some nice words. I hate to say it, because I really thought he would be different and I supported him from the time he announced his candidacy - but I have no respect for his integrity anymore, and I certainly do not believe any of his promises. We needed leaders at the party today who would take another Stonewall rebellion into the White House. But all they seemed to do was grovel and cheer, and smile and open their mouths for some stale crumbs.
Another haiku: Obama throws stale bread. House queens, like pigeons, coo and peck crumbs off the floor.
lynnwe
· 5 months ago
Exactly right.
Macbill
· 5 months ago
Time for the D.A.W.G .program (Don't Ask; Won 't Give).
I'm feeling disenfranchised. I won't forget the next time I'm hit up for dough.
willd
· 5 months ago
They clap so loud as if it would make Obama's promises come true, you'd think they were trying to save Tinkerbell.
JaySF
· 5 months ago
Okay, I keep harping on this one encounter I had 11 years ago, but it is exactly what you are talking about here. Rep. Barbara Kennelly (D-CT) was running or Governor against an arch-conservative opponent. I met with her as part of a PAC right after she voted FOR DOMA. When challenged, she dissembled. When pushed, she stated "off the record" that she felt forced to vote for DOMA even tho she didn't believe in it because her opponent was hammering her on her stance on a woman's right to controlling her own body. In short, we were an expedient political football. As we were leaving, she asked me if I would support her election and I said I wasn't sure what I would do because it is much easier to fight an honest fight with a known enemy than to get stabbed in the back by a friend.
We keep letting our friends do this to us and our response is: "Well the alternative is not acceptable." Why not? In the end, what more do we get? Empty words? Are we truly any better off than we were 5 months ago? We have some Federal employees who have access to some benefits - but who is going to help the State Dept employee's partner overseas when he/she gets sick and doesn't have healthcare? Hell, who is going to help him/her get HOME if the State Dept employee dies overseas? And it is sooo great that the president hosted a cocktail party 40 years after Stonewall - oddly, a bar in Fort Worth was raided this weekend just because it was gay, but so far our "fierce advocate" has remained quiet even about this abuse of police authority against our community. But hey, at least queer people got to drink champagne in the White House while those who were drinking beer in Fort Worth are trying to come up with bail money.
Mike_H
· 5 months ago
We have to stop being afraid to support third parties and independent candidates.
The "where else where you go" rhetoric is killing us, and it allows the Dems to kick us around like abused spouses.
jpjones
· 5 months ago
I could not agree more!! A Republican president would do what - compare us to something WORSE than pedophiles?
heyitsfeej
· 5 months ago
Hasn't he said all of this before? The guy is like a broken record at this point. The talk has been talked on LGBT civil rights; it's about time the walk got walked.
Soundboy_jeff_meanie
· 5 months ago
closet homophobia is to Democrats what sexual promiscuity is to repugnicans.
lynnwe
· 5 months ago
I knew I could count on AmericaBlog to note that the emperor is naked. Thank you for speaking the truth while others in the gay mediaa nd movement are all aflutter over nothing. The only thing more disheartening than the President's empty tea party rhetoric was the batch of gay sycophants who applauded him. They just helped him win his bet that he could charm us with more crumbs. Disgusting all around. I am quite certain that the folks who rioted at Stonewall, those who gave so much since then fighting for what little we have gained, and the soldiers fighting their discharges today were/are thinking, "Gee, maybe someday we'll get a nice WhiteHouse RECEPTION out of all this."
kevinbgoode
· 5 months ago
Well, I expect that by the end of the week, I'll be getting the barrage of emails from LGBT organizations crowing about how wonderful the reception was at the White House today - and how it symbolized so many "gains" that these organizations have made for our rights.
Then they'll ask for money.
Butch1
· 5 months ago
...and then they'll be refused.
lynnwe
· 5 months ago
Good insight kevinbgoode. And yes Butch1: Absolutely refused.
SD_Dave
· 5 months ago
UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE! Lt. Col. Fehrenbach wasn't allowed to wear his uniform? His "chain of command" advised him he wouldn't be allowed to use it because it would be a "political event". This despite being able to wear it for all other events where the Coward....er....Commander-in-Chief was present?
Every day, the anger just grows.
nessa
· 5 months ago
Is that the only thing you took away from this interview? If so that is very sad. I too had pause when I heard this but overall I thought this was a very good interview. He stated he still has hope in Obama and so do I. Like I said down thread I think this will get done this year.
Ps. By the way he said Obama knew who he was so Obama is aware of the outcry and anger.
SD_Dave
· 5 months ago
Nessa,
No that isn't the only thing I took away from the interview. I also took away from the interview that DADT probably won't be repealed in the next 5 months either. It wasn't a real good interview from a President Obama's perspective or other LGBT servicemen and women who will be discharged in the upcoming weeks, months and possibly years in the future.
JaySF
· 5 months ago
Dave - that is the law of the military. When I came out at a press conference in 1993, my first political act, I KNEW the regulations and, as any good military boy would, I wore a suit. Today, 16 years later, I am still kicking myself in the butt for that decision - I was afraid that if Clinton did get the ban lifted, the military would discharge me anyway under the pre-text of wearing my uniform at a political event. I was young and dumb (okay, I'll ease up on myself...I was idealistic). Yes, be angry with the power structure...but Lt Col Fehrenbach chose to be in compliance with military regulations.
SD_Dave
· 5 months ago
I understand that and yes, you should lighten up on yourself :) The problem here however, is that Fehrenbach didn't "choose" to out himself, he was outed by a civilian for which the military violated the policy, NOT Fehrenback. The violated the Don't Pursue accommodation in the policy. Secondly, every other political event he attended (i.e., GWB events) he was granted the ability to wear his uniform. This is different, how? Because it is something that affects him directly?
Butch1
· 5 months ago
He has been for 18 years and for them to go after him now with two years left until he could retire, I would have broken that rule and worn the uniform. His superior officers should not take away the honor this man has earned wearing his uniform. They need to be retired, not him.
Semantics
· 5 months ago
From today's WAPO:
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the event was not designed as a way to mollify the gay community or reward its support during the campaign. Several activists familiar with the planning said it had been in the works for months.
"We didn't play a lot of interest-group-based politics in the presidential race," Gibbs said.
I am tired of being called an "interest group" by this White House!
JamesR
· 5 months ago
Yes, just about THE only disenfranchised group of American citizens left, an "interest group."
There are no words.
MichaelS
· 5 months ago
Whoever Obama's opponent is in 2012 has to ask only one pointed question of the incumbent: How can you trust a Commander-in-Chief who openly believes that a Pentagon policy is hurting national security, a policy over which he has the immediate control and power to suspend in order to strengthen our national security, and he refuses to do so because of political considerations??
I have to admit, I'll vote for the Repug.
Mateo1970
· 5 months ago
This is getting insane. The Obama apologists are now saying "Stop complaining. President Obama will get to our issues near the end of his second term in 2016. We need to be patient."
WTF?!!!!!
SD_Dave
· 5 months ago
I'd rather listen to HIM when he said "It's not for me to tell you to be patient, any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half century ago."
He's right, it is NOT for him to tell us to be patient. We have been patient LONG ENOUGH!
ezpz
· 5 months ago
To repeat what some have suggested re DODT....
All who are serving in the military while gay should come out at the same time. Then, let's see how long it takes for an executive order.
Butch1
· 5 months ago
Yes, I've been saying that on this blog for quite awhile. I really wish they would be done with a service and country who doesn't appreciate them in the least for putting their lives on the line. This country doesn't deserve good soldiers like these.
ezpz
· 5 months ago
Agree. THAT would make a statement that Obama would have to take note of. A speech and a story wouldn't cut it. If everyone came out at once, he'd HAVE to take action if he's serious about national security. Or would he pull a Reagan a la firing the striking air traffic controllers?
I hate to say this, and I was so angry at the McCain rhetoric that O would rather win an election than bla bla bla, but I see now that Obama's top priority is being a (slimy) power hungry, power driven politician and not a leader or commander in chief of a troubled country with more and more dangerous entanglements around the world each day.
For the record, I did not, nor do I prefer McCain. It's just that he was the devil we knew.
Butch1
· 5 months ago
I think you may be right. I feel like I was used as a tool to elect Obama as president. If he isn't careful, he's going to lose his base. I'm relieved that McCain didn't become president. He isn't bright enough and we do not need another macho acting president getting us into more wars. Since we are still in two wars I can not imagine having to try and send troops to N. Korea or Iran because of McCain's bravura. Unfortunately, Obama has turned 180 degrees on many of his promises. He acted like he was going to bring our troops home from Iraq but that is still going on; he added additional troops to go to Afghanistan which is escalating the war not reducing it; he was going to bring DADT to and end and he thought all the prisoners held at Gitmo should have trials. Well, he's changed his mind on that as well as taking his time closing Gitmo. I would be willing to bet that if Kucinich had been elected, all these problems would have been resolved. The media, and the DNC made him out to look like a crazy far-left wing fringe liberal when actually, the democratic party has moved to a centrist position and Kucinich was only a real liberal or progressive as it is known today. I am feeling like my party has left me and has moved to the center. Now we have a right wing GOP and a centrist DNP or if you'll permit me; a plane with only a right wing.
ezpz
· 5 months ago
I also don't recognize this so called Democratic Party. To me, Paul Wellstone, Howard Dean, yes, Dennis Kucinich - THEY are the real dems who seem to be an endangered species these days.
Yes, McCain with his PTSD causing him to react rather than respond would have been disastrous. Who knows if he might not have brought on the crapture by now.
As always, it was the lesser of the evils, except this time I thought I was voting FOR someone rather than against the worse of the two.
*sigh*
Butch1
· 5 months ago
"Crapture" is right. ( or rupture ) All we need is another Theocracy on this globe ( our wonderful American christian Taliban and their never ending battle to make this country a Theocracy. ) trying to rush us to a nuclear holocaust so they can meet their invisable sky fairy.
I guess we should be greatful we have a spineless president not willing to make any decisions to bring us to that point or any other. We can still protest him and the DNC and keep our purse strings shut but there isn't much else we can do except vote them out of office. Perhaps, a new progressive party would be nice, but I digress.
One Butch
· 5 months ago
It was so nauseating when he said the part about "there are still fellow citizens ... who fail to see your families like their families and who would deny you the rights that most Americans take for granted." Uhhh...like YOU Mr. President? YOU who do not "believe" in marriage equality???? And all the creepy intonations of "this story", this "story"of Stonewall, and how "this story, this struggle" continues today. He must have invoked "this story" about ten times. That was really weird. Obviously he is a total bigot completely out of touch with reality. He NEVER EVEN MENTIONED DOMA. My goodness. Unbelievable. Also, the whole "is there a duck in the room" thing was surreal and hilarious- Whoever set off the duck noise was protesting, in their own way, and that was the best part of the whole thing. I think duck noises should be set off at his every appearance!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKq3LUGg9ZE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXPcBI4CJc8
Butch1
· 5 months ago
Or every time he makes a pontifical statement that he has no intention of honoring.
offspring
· 5 months ago
listen we all know full well the game that is afoot, when re eleciton time comes then you will hear the outcry of our leaders saying they will pass this they will pass that but they need re elected to do so, if they dont do it now when they have the most stroke, when the country isnt so focused on the negative sides of the issue, when it could pass trust me it wont be passed down the road when things get harder and they will.
Richard Day
· 5 months ago
"Gays will be pleased by the end of my administration."
LOL but for different reasons I suspect.....let's make sure it's 4 years and not 8.
One Butch
· 5 months ago
Everyone I know is laughing their ass off about the "fucking a duck" protest. The mainstream media and even the bloggers are totally clueless. It's shocking! But at least all the normal people are enjoying it.
willd
· 5 months ago
Victor Farenbach is on Rachel Maddow tonight.
nessa
· 5 months ago
I just saw the interview it was with Rachel's replacement. He stated he was hopeful after speaking with the President. I hope this can get done before he has to leave in about 5 to 6 months, that is the time frame he gave.
I am not like most on this site I actually think this can get done this year!! Please continue to call congress!
jpjones
· 5 months ago
Farenbach was stated explicitly that he does NOT believe Obama will stop DADT before he is discharged. He said that Obama told him that it is a "generational" thing. So while he tells the cheering buffons in the room - and the TV audience - that we'll all be so happy by the end of his administration (translation: come back, baby, you know I love you, it'll be different this time, I promise) he's telling the honorable gay soldier that things will change in the next generation - what, twenty, thirty years from now?
gmsdallas
· 5 months ago
Dear Sir,
Please don't talk to me again until after you've actually done what you promised for LGBT rights. At this point, speeches, no matter how pretty, are just insulting.
Fireblazes(CheetohsandCatfood)
· 5 months ago
Hey, Obama promised to give us all a happy ending!
Keith & Dustin
· 5 months ago
I had to laugh at that, it sounded like a massage therapist advertising on craigslist--2 hour massage with happy ending lol.
Bostonian_Queer_in_Dallas
· 5 months ago
Yeah I mean why the fuck worry about roughly ten percent of the nation...they only hurt us on election day anyway if we say ANYTHING pro gay rights. I mean the fags and dykes are hurting the Democrats anyway. They are just a big ole nelly elephant in the room. Maybe they'll go away so we can have two terms. I mean it's only ten percent. Who cares? We'll suck 'em off to get some campaign dough next year but otherwise they are easily thrown under that bus...I mean god forbid we piss off the Southern Strategy White Trash.
Matt Algren
· 5 months ago
And you know what? That perception was only verified by the crowd in the White House. Someone said upthread that they were whooping it up, and they were. They started before President Obama started and they didn't let up until after he was done. It was disgraceful and embarrassing.
But the bigger problem is that now the White House knows that next time The Homosexuals are up in arms about something, they just have to order some lambchops and go back to ignoring us.
(Unless, of course, the rank-and-file stop letting the lobbyists get away with it.)
Butch1
· 5 months ago
They may end up having to pay their own way when the common gay man and woman's TM stays closed.
Mike_H
· 5 months ago
That's exactly what we need to do. Let them all know they don't speak for us, that we're ANGRY at their behavior, and that they aren't getting any more of our money.
And make it clear we're supporting the groups who haven't been fooled by Obama's bait and switch.
Soundboy_jeff_meanie
· 5 months ago
see... THAT'S the funny thing. Obama ran with LGBT rights as part of his PLATFORM.
proving once and for all that gay rights isn't a 'toxic' issue anymore.
that's why I don't understand the whole backing off completely thing... he won the election calling himself our 'fierce advocate', why not just do what he said he'd do?
sonofloud
· 5 months ago
Because Obama was/is lying to you......he is spreading the war he was "against' even further into afghanistan and pakistan, he supports the idea that the US can kidnap, torture, and indefinitely imprison any person in the world, he said he was against FISA then renewed it when it was going to expire, etc. How many more lies does it take?
sonofloud
· 5 months ago
Didn't mean to sound snippy especially since you raise a good point.....he said that "unlike Hillary" he did not support DOMA, etc.
jpjones
· 5 months ago
Sucked off? Hardly. Feels more like a lackluster handjob from someone who keeps looking at their watch.
Soundboy_jeff_meanie
· 5 months ago
Time for us all to start wearing t-shirts that simply say
Define "fierce advocate" again?
Steve_in_CNJ
· 5 months ago
i want one that says "ask me about my niece".
nokkonwud
· 5 months ago
How about one that says "Ask me about my rights." on the front and "I'll get back to you when I get some." on the back?
Indigo
· 5 months ago
Separate but equal is back.
ezpz
· 5 months ago
It's not even equal.
Blacks used to be able to serve in the military as long as they were separated from the white population. They couldn't hide that they were black, so DODT didn't apply.
Today, gays can't serve because simply because they are gay. Not separately, not together. Not at all. Period.
Separate but equal would be an improvement. At least they would not be getting discharged on a daily basis.
Indigo
· 5 months ago
True point. So what to say? Second class citizens?
ezpz
· 5 months ago
Sad to say, it would seem so, according to the WH, Congress, the Defense Dept, et al.
Even Obama noted yesterday in his *speech* that like the AA civil rights struggle, this too is a civil rights issue. Too bad his words, nice as they sound, are belied by the reality of his actions and inactions.
DODT was a bad law from the beginning. Now, in the 21st century, it's almost worse than separate but equal imo. Again, if they feel that strongly, they should segregate the gay population and not discharge them. Please note, I think that would be awful, but it would expose the bigotry and the idiocy that homophobia trumps national security and would elicit major public outrage from all decent human beings, regardless of orientation.
Buster looked as peeved at having to show up and repeat himself to the gays ("we're making progress") as Bush did most of the time in front of the press.
He gave off this vibe: I'm here, you're queer, now shut the hell up while I do more important stuff. To get you bastards off my back, I hosted this PR event. And it's the last one I'm gonna do.
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 5 months ago
Haiku for the Obama Administration (#231):
Shrimp canapes? Mmmmm . . . Oh. My. God. Barack's right THERE! That waiter is hot!
Gee
· 5 months ago
Pres. Obama is not going to DO ANYTHING on gay rights until his second term. He does not want to risk his chances of re-election.
Isn't it obvious??
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 5 months ago
Some of us AmericaBlog Kidz are gettin' mighty cranky, so Buster better not think he's got a second term in the bag...
jaime
· 5 months ago
cuz a President Sarah Palin would learn us all real good. It is demonstratively true fact that the most effective way to advance your cause is to get the conservative christian repulbican elected.
Work on Obama, keep the pressure up, but chill on the vitriol. It didn't work for PUMA and it certainly won't work for you.
Butch1
· 5 months ago
Yes, it became apparent in his speech today when he mentioned that by the end of his tenure, we should be happy, or some such rot. It's a political move which strings along his base in hopes he will fulfill his promise and doesn't give his enemies any ammunition to use before the next election. Well, we have political moves as well and if we pull our money and our votes, he may learn that he does need us to win his next election. He isn't holding all the cards by a long shot. If he wants a second term, and help from us, he had better move up his schedule on our equal rights.
mml34
· 5 months ago
he talks pretty but has no game.
i think hillary was referring to this lack of the killer instinct when she talked about what was necessary to get the '64 civil right act and the '65 voting rights act passed. LBJ lobbied, arm twisted and finally shoved it down the south's throat when he signed the legislation.
does anyone believe obama has any arm twisting in his bag of tricks? i don't. he's too busy trying to play nice.
give. me. a. break. there is no "playing nice" in politics.
shell
· 5 months ago
I suspect Obama IS looking at this history -- but only one part. When Lyndon Johnson passed the civil rights acts in his terms, remember what he said? "There goes the south for a generation." And how many generations has that been?
I know a lot of people will get mad at me for saying this -- they always do -- but it is how I felt felt since I was a kid. (And I grew up in the south.) The south is backwards, will never change. Let them leave the F-ing country. My whole life, I have seen them act this way. They never change. They are racists, homophobes, misogynists, etc. Enough!
(And spare me the "but there are GOOD southerners. DUH! But not nearly enough. And if they objected to their state that much, they would have left by now. I did.)
mml34
· 5 months ago
true shell, true.
good thing for obama that LBJ had a pair and kissed off the south for a generation. obama seems more willing to kiss off his supporters.
manman
· 5 months ago
Your quote that you repost above is so spot on, Joe. I've been contacting Feinstein about the Uniting American Families Act and other issues for several years, and despite the fact that folks like me are not only constituents but members of her own local community, she is a textbook specimen of what you describe. She trots out her stock niceties but patently chooses not get it--and it is a choice.
Dan Savage's idea of orchestrating a civil disobedience action (different couples from all over the country would show up at the White House each day for a year, demanding to talk to the President about repealing DOMA, being turned down, refusing to leave and being arrested) has much appeal to me because I believe we must demand our rights.
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 5 months ago
Haiku for the Obama Administration (#232):
"Check out those cool shades!" "Those hot Secret Service guys?" "Yeah, I'd SO do them."
caphillprof
· 5 months ago
Back in the day, it was always "alleged" that those invariably handsome Secret Service guys were sworn only to do one another. It was some closed fraternity in an office building in the 1500 block of L Street NW. There was an African-American agent who used to be detailed to Barbara Bush who on the odd weekend off spent his Saturday evenings at Remingtons.
However a friend's roommate on a hot summer night left their unairconditioned apartment on Mintwood Place to take a walk in the cooler night air and ended up "doing" a Secret Service guy protecting some diplomatic mission.
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 5 months ago
Haiku for the Obama Administration (#233):
"Fabulous par-tay!" "Yeah, Debbie Downer bloggers Want me to stay home!"
twostep376
· 5 months ago
I think AMERICAblog has done some outstanding coverage since the DOMA brief. But the posts are quickly sliding into pure cynicism, I think. Before every statement, every "reception," everything, there is a post that loads the dice and pre-spins the event negatively. I am not defending any of the presidents actions (or lack there of). But come on guys.
Personally, I think Obama has made some pretty huge mistakes thus far when it comes to LGBT issues. However, I do think he was much more honest than I expected him to be today in his remarks. Was it a home run? No way. But it was not abominable, and it certainly was not backstabbing.
Oh, and about this: "One might forget that the Obama administration defended the Defense of Marriage Act law recently. "
I doubt anyone who was watching today forgot about the administrations defense of DOMA. Because Obama recognized that defense.
Gridlock
· 5 months ago
Yeah, who could imagine we'd be purely cynical when the actions of the administration have done NOTHING to foster that kind of perception AT ALL
*gives you his most doe eyed sarcastic look*
John Aravosis
· 5 months ago
Yes, and he lied about it. And for some reason that's okay with you.
met00
· 5 months ago
Loving has nothing to do with equal rights for all people in America.
Tell that to his mother.
Sorry, but I can't excuse him this. Rahm will always have some issue that comes before equal rights and a reason to put it off for the next battle. Obama will follow those instructions.
Today there were some mighty nice words, but again no actions.
That post put up a few days ago says it best. I will think about donating money to Democratic causes when I have "practicable", "durable" and "sustainable" Democratic cause to donate to.
alanindc
· 5 months ago
Thanks for saying what so many of us wish we had the outlets to say.
DaveVentura
· 5 months ago
So if "unjust laws must be overturned," why did Obama defend DOMA?...Does he think it is a just law? This isn't making sense for a "fiece advocate."
great piece -- so disgusted by the so-called gay leaders (read: Democratic Party hacks) who are so easily charmed by the Bullshitter in Chief.
canuck55
· 5 months ago
The Republicans are reeling from 8 years of Bush torture, economic collapse, sex scandals, and just generally being idiots. The public opinion on gay marriage and gays in the military is shifting very favourably. And Obama got elected with the help, political and financial, of a number of prominent LGBT groups and individuals. So what more does he need before he actually does enact change on these issues?
postdamnit
· 5 months ago
Balls!
christophe
· 5 months ago
The President of The United States just dared LGBT Americans to go and get - what is rightfully ours.
So who's next?
CONGRESS
No more wasting time. Let's go get some quality-crafted legislation passed in the best interests of all LGBT Americans - and walk it over to The President for signature into law, ourselves.
Let's Do It!
another_steve
· 5 months ago
Obama is both a slick, smooth-talking and successful politician, and an ally of the community. There are two separate agendas there, and only the most naive among us deny the reality of either.
We need to keep the heat up high, yes. But we also need to remember that we're not dealing with the enemy.
Matt Algren
· 5 months ago
Every three days, five people lose their jobs because President Obama won't sign an Executive Order to stop what he himself says is bad for our national security. Tomorrow at 8AM, Lt. Dan Choi takes his place in their ranks.
You tell me, does that sound like a friend or an enemy?
another_steve
· 5 months ago
Of course Obama is spineless for letting the discharges happen. Name the last successful President of the United States who wasn't spineless when it came to moving decisively on social justice issues.
Not justifying it. Only observing it.
Let's stop demanding that our politicians not be politicians.
shell
· 5 months ago
Name the last president? Uh, I think I already did -- LBJ. Yes, he didn't run for another term, but that had NOTHING to do with equal rights. It was the VietNam war.
And why should we stop demanding that our politicians be politicians? Since when has pandering to the basest of the base been somehow RIGHT?
And besides, again, WHY is he pandering to the lowest of the low?
In many ways, the US *is* Iran. Iran has mostly young people. (Under 25 or 30) While the US isn't like that, the whole gay issue comes down to generations -- the young people are FOR justice. The old coots aren't. Sure, you can pander to the old coots, but take the results, Obama. They won't be pretty. You can think it won't matter -- by the time the younger ones are in the majority, you will be out of office, but think of your legacy. Do you really want to be seen as the idiotic old coot? Because you are acting like it now.
jpjones
· 5 months ago
LBJ signed the the Civil and Voting Rights Acts long before Vietnam exhausted him and convinced him not to run for re-election. That's SPINE, baby!
Turq
· 5 months ago
In some ways he - and other other spineless Democrats - are worse than outright enemies. With a clear enemy, you know not to turn your back. With Obama, many in the LGBT community (not me, I'm relieved to say, because I had his number from the Democratic primaries) turned their backs, only to find themselves stabbed at the least expected moment.
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 5 months ago
Not the enemy, no. Just: the supervisor/manager who stares at his computer screen, and mumbles some distracted vocalizing, while you're trying to tell him the building is starting to burn down.
ann marie
· 5 months ago
this is how it feels to be Rendelled.
Its that lingering sting you feel when someone you thought was your friend assfucks you without lube.
like when Rendell cleared the field for Casey then he (tried to) cleared the field for Spector.
yep....a lingering sting.
really sucks
shell
· 5 months ago
This looks so familiar. Remember last year? I can't remember the exact issue -- something to do with womens' rights. So many women's groups -- like Emily's List -- were silent. Did nothing. (And there were several more national ones, abortion rights-related.) It had something to do with Holy Joe ..... was it the line about "riding a short distance to get to a doctor for the morning after pill"?
Anyway, it seems that many "rich gays" are acting the same way. They just look at this as "Who else do we have"? It's Obama or McCain/Palin/Romney, etc. Move to the next step, imbeciles! As this blog has said many times: It's not the 90s anymore.
nycwill
· 5 months ago
Those "gay leaders" at the WH today do not speak for me. They will never get another dime for me unless they immediately ask for action on BO's campaign promises. Upside: at least I know I'll never have to schlep through western PA in the rain trying to get toothless people to vote for a dem. Enough. He's a liar, a manipulator, and contrary to a few posts I've read here, he is the enemy. Wake up, call or write your members of congress, the HRC, call DNC, call all our "allies" and let them know how you feel. It's wonderfully therapeutic!
postdamnit
· 5 months ago
I would like to know who exactly were these so-called leaders that were there.
Anyone have a list of names??
Matt Algren
· 5 months ago
Andy Towle has the list. (I don't know how complete it is, though. Lt. Col. Fehrenbach wasn't on it.)
kingstonbears
· 5 months ago
And yet again.
Just remember, you can always join us in Canada. Hey, my husband and I will invite you to an evening of copious libations and a pool party.
Hugs to eveyone. Glen
mikeyDe
· 5 months ago
from 'the man from hope' to the 'audacity of hope'
applause
Webster
· 5 months ago
to "justice delayed" to "justice denied."
booya
· 5 months ago
ok John, I'll take your point at face value that there are more "Political Homophobes" (seems like an appropriate term)than we like to think.
CHALLENGE: then OUT them on your blog. shame them into moving on our issues. bradcast the evidence and cal for boycotts of support in terms of volunteer and monetary support till they agree to move our issues.
Create a Gay blacklist of politicos and link it at the top of your blog. remove the names only when the advance our issues in a substantial manner.
nycwill
· 5 months ago
great post. and check out Irene Munroe's article over at HuffPo - she gives a timeline of how BO slaps us down and humiliates us. interestingly, there is one commenter to Monroe's entry who seems to understand why LGBT issues are failing with BO. her article plus his comments were brutally pragmatic, if harsh, and thus very enlightening. there's a truth to them. I'd love you guys' thoughts on this. He writes:
"The reason people are saying magic wand is because it seems that the LGBT community has no real understanding of the legislative process. I finally figured it out after writing on this subject for 8 months. The president doesn't whip bills like this. You guys have to. This is how a President keeps his word. He nods to congress and tells them he will sign the bill. Privately. He tells them that when they line up the votes and the pass a bill he will sign it. He further keeps his word by telling congress that any bills that further erode the rights of LGBT people will be vetoed, and finally he does a couple of rose garden ceremonies and does stroke of the pen business. That is how a President keeps his word. What you guys want is for him to write a bill, take it to congress, whip the bill, and then pass it. That isn't his role, it won't happen, no president in history would handle this issues that way. You guys need a political arm of your movement. A good one. What you have now is a bunch of incompetent fools. So again, the reason the Pres is calling you guys into the white house isn't to apologize, it is to tell you to act like you know what is up."
JaySF
· 5 months ago
Oh, there is a lot of truth to the words about how a President can actually handle this issue. However, a "fierce advocate" would do more than what this individual is speaking to. Maybe there are some impatient individuals who expect the President to have gone to the mat for us as soon as the bell rang on Inauguration Day. I'm not naive to think we should have achieved any substantial advancements. But there are two things I didn't expect that is now making me demand that the Obama Administration BEGIN to take some action. 1) He has allowed his DoJ to not only support DADT and DOMA (and okay, if you believe he can do nothing else, fine), but he allowed a brief to be submitted that went too far - as a fierce advocate, he allowed wording that should not have been used. 2) As far as DADT, he claims he must work on this issue in a way as not to do detriment to national security - and rather than implement a stop-loss (demonstrating to the Pentagon, Congress and to the nation his commitment to his ideals) while it takes YEARS to repeal the act through Congress, his leadership has remained silent and 265 lives have been irrevocably altered...AND...by discharging qualified and expensively trained military personnel, he is putting this nations security at increased risk.
His words are not matching his deeds. We have hung on words before and have seen no support from past leaders. We believed him to be different, that was our mistake. He believes us to be the same, I hope that becomes HIS mistake.
nycwill
· 5 months ago
wow jaysf. that is a GREAT way to put it. however, that still leaves us with - do we fight our way, the new way which doesn't seem to be that effective in the short run, or do we fight his way, the old way which is excruciating but perhaps will win the day a few years down the road?
JaySF
· 5 months ago
Will - It's not a question of "fight" - it's a question of holding him and the DNC accountable or their words AND their deeds. His spinners can say what they like, but this little champagne reception was thrown together when the heat started coming on. If we crawl back into the wood-work, applauding him as we go, because "Gee, he actually invited us to the White House" - then we deserve to get shafted. WE, as an entire community, need to make him and the DNC painfully aware that he has broken our trust. We may not have an alternative candidate to vote for in the next election - but that doesn't mean we have to vote for him. We can keep our voting finger and our wallets home during his next campaign. If he wins the day, good for him. If he loses and it is determined it is in no small part to our efforts...then yes, we are stuck with another enemy...but we have been there before and we will be there again. BUT...the DNC will sit up and take notice! They can no longer just expect us to fall in line behind their lies and empty promises. Our bark is just whining as long as we have no teeth to bite. Politicians only care about winning the next election - we have to prove to the Dems that they will have a lot more work to do to win without us.
Keith & Dustin
· 5 months ago
I like the way you think. It will be a real wake up call to the Dems if they lose our vote and the WH next election. Maybe then they will get the message. The sad thing is it usually takes something like that to get them moving on anything. I fault Obama to a certain degree but I fault The Congress and Senate much more. IMO, Our rights should have been settled when our Declaration of Independence was adopted.
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 5 months ago
Just like Harry Truman quietly, gently, privately, subtly sent a signal to Congress that he would concur with their incremental legislation to integrate the armed forces.
nycwill
· 5 months ago
whoa! you really can say so much with so few words! you're right of course. Truman threw down the gauntlet. i'm thinking out loud here - my view is that Obama will never throw down any gauntlet anywhere, that he's a chicago-machine politician and those are the only rules he knows. he's not our champion. but if we play by his rules, can he be PERSUADED? and if we don't play by his rules, what chance do we have at all?
Savage8862
· 5 months ago
Well my Representative, Al McAffrey from Oklahoma City, failed his community by choosing the photo op over the discussion. He chose to release a press release after the event saying that he hope President Obama keeps his campaign promises to the GLBT community. My gay representative chose not to confront the homophobia in the White House but instead chose to write a press release after the fact instead. Al McAffrey has failed the Oklahoma Gay and lesbian community which voted for him.
I no longer believe that the Obama White House will overturn DADT or issue a stop loss executive order. He would rather continue the discrimination and continue to keep the GLBT community as second class citizens. He would rather keep us in our place.
Semantics
· 5 months ago
It's clear that we can't rely on this president to fight for GLBT civil rights. We could continue to scream about his inaction (and I, for one, have definitely been screaming), but let's redouble our efforts to fight for equality, OURSELVES! I say we keep both our dollars and our energy in that fight, which includes pressing organizations like HRC, which have all too readily accepted the idea that we should wait patiently, at the sidelines.
sonofloud
· 5 months ago
The Republicans are against the gay community but at least they tell us to our face. People like Obama are far more dangerous because they pretend to support us all the while: increasing the faith based initiative, nominating a 6th catholic for the Supreme Court, comparing our relationships to incest, etc.
johninsd
· 5 months ago
Great post Joe. Let me quote Mitchell Gold from the Washington Post this AM: "This is so incredibly historic and symbolic. I don't think for a minute that we can forget that under the Bush administration we didn't see that."
Whoop Ding. Crumbs and speeches, but again, no action. Gee Mitchell, I should send you a book I purchased and read recently, entitled Crisis, 40 Stories.... Pathetic.
I supppose you gave Mr. Obama a copy? Maybe you could read him a passage or two?
But maybe Mrs. Obama and her staff will be purchasing some of your furniture for the White House?
Two people a day are having their lives ruined. This is about our Civil Rights. Get over yourselves and meetings with our elected representatives. Demand our rights.
As my life partner of 32 years (now husband of 9 months in Calyfornia) said as he left for work this morning...pathetic.
dantheman99
· 5 months ago
I agree. It's all just words. I'm beyond words anymore.
What needs to be paid attention to action, not meaningless photo ops where the HRC gets to crow about preserving its beloved "access".
None of these words make up for that legal brief supporting DOMA. The President could have stop lossed the soldiers getting discharged or a supplemental brief could be filed correcting the first.
The only reason we are even getting the crumbs we are getting is because some people started pulling out of the DNC fundraiser.
That he found a room full of LGBTs that could be pacified with a few words and a meaningless photo op tells me that the whole equality movement needs to be rescued from organizations like the HRC.
Can we please stop acting like battered wives returning for more just because he promises (again) that he'll change and how much he really loves us? Imagine if we had shown the solidarity to completely boycott the DNC fundraiser. We may have gotten even more than crumbs.
There are obviously still so many gays starved for validation that when a politician tells you how much they care they throw all sense of reason out the window.
All Comments
Something that was bugging me throughout the speech and I couldn't put my finger on until now was how he spoke about LGBT equality. It felt very much "you people, your problems" instead of how the denial of equality hurts us all. I'm a straight woman, but I don't think of marriage equality and discrimination as someone else's issue. It's mine, because as long as injustice is carried on and sanctioned by my government none of us are free.
I agree with you - it does affect us all.
I too am a straight woman; yet I feel repulsed by the homophobia this WH has put on blatant display as the president talks out of both sides of his mouth.
It's dizzifiying.
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me."
Insert 'gay' 'catholic' 'morman' etc.
Give 'em Hell Harry basically said "suck it up" and integrated the military anyway.
I was in the Air Force starting in 1952, stationed in Texas and Mississippi and my impression was that it worked very well. .we all slept in those WWII barracks with open bays and we got along well, and became friends.
That apparently laid down a precedent for the rest of society.
It's become obvious that "Obama ain't no Harry Truman!"
On 26 July 1948, President Harry S Truman signed Executive Order 9981, establishing the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services. It was accompanied by Executive Order 9980, which created a Fair Employment Board to eliminate racial discrimination in federal employment.
Segregation in the military services did not officially end until the Secretary of Defense announced on 30 September 1954 that the last all-black unit had been abolished. However, the president’s directive put the armed forces (albeit reluctantly) at the forefront of the growing movement to win a fully participatory social role for the nation’s African-American citizens.
Lt. Col. Fehrenbach mentioned how its a generational thing. Well then, sign the damned order and tell the old people their days of running things are OVER! We have national security to think about, instead of making bigoted old people feel better about the potential gay people might serve openly in our armed forces!
One thing the Obama thinks is our responsibility is actually his. Eisenhower knew this when he integrated the military with African Americans. His ACTION changed minds. He let the military know he was the Commander-in-Chief and he expected integration and MADE IT HAPPEN. Then there was a collective shrug of everyone's shoulders when it happened after hearing the hysterical Southern bigots rant and rave the military wouldn't survive.
It is up to the President to TAKE THE ACTION to change minds as well. We are doing our part in changing minds, but the Obama Administration is NOT. He needs to stop showing so much latitude to that generation that thinks bigotry is "the American way." Those days SHOULD BE over with his election! We won... they LOST... and Obama needs to start acting like it.
If we get hit again, and it was because we didn't keep up with arabic human intelligence then I want to know WHY homophobia was placed ahead of National Security!
Armchair warriors have gotten quite fond quoting the "Jack Bauer" BS - 'what if we could stop an attack if we could just torture' etc. What really IS the case is 'what if we could stop an attack if we just had enough f***ing Arabic translators.' This isn't TV. This isn't a game. This is beyond politics.
I would appreciate the honesty of one of those original DADT crafters if they just 'came out' and said that it was more important to have discharged known-to-be-gay servicemembers than it was, and is, to be safe from attack. Bet they won't. Bet they can't
There was intercepted communication untranslated that gave (more) clues to 9-11 sitting untranslated before the fact. Could have made a difference. How many are there now?
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10/654.html
- right at the end, says "[E:] Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed to require that a member of the armed forces be processed for separation from the armed forces when a determination is made in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense that— [2:] separation of the member would not be in the best interest of the armed forces."
That's damn wide leeway. I'd say being any soldier IN WARTIME qualifies. Not just the decorated fighter pilots I guess we don't need, nor all those apparently disposable translators.
But I'm just a civilian. For me along with society at large, all our 'best interests' - like being protected from fucking terrorists - are subordinate to peacetime gay fragging.
Not change, and I still can hardly believe it.
Lt. Col Fehrenbach, Lt. Dan Choi, Major Margaret Witt... POSTER CHILDREN for ending DADT!
Look, the words are very nice. But simple truth is the President's OFFICIAL view of gays and lesbians is currently only defined in one place: the DOMA brief. Therefore, officially he views gays and lesbians as lesser humans and Americans and as reviled as incestuous lovers or practitioners of bestiality. Those are HIS words - his only legal, meaningful words regarding gay folks.
Until he actually does something - anything at all to help treat gays as equal (and he has done ZERO), then his default view appears to be outright hostility to gay men and women.
End of story.
When he actually does something to prove otherwise, then that default view will happily change.
Until then, he, his administration, and the Democratic party by extension, appear to despise gays. If that is the intention, then I can say "Well done!"
I would never have thought I'd be saying this. Seriously. But it's their own actions (not words) that speak this so loudly.
I also noticed that this was the first event, his wife, Michelle attended with him. Did he need support having her there so he would feel more comfortable being around all the gays and lesbians?
Another haiku:
Obama throws stale bread.
House queens, like pigeons,
coo and peck crumbs off the floor.
I'm feeling disenfranchised. I won't forget the next time I'm hit up for dough.
We keep letting our friends do this to us and our response is: "Well the alternative is not acceptable." Why not? In the end, what more do we get? Empty words? Are we truly any better off than we were 5 months ago? We have some Federal employees who have access to some benefits - but who is going to help the State Dept employee's partner overseas when he/she gets sick and doesn't have healthcare? Hell, who is going to help him/her get HOME if the State Dept employee dies overseas? And it is sooo great that the president hosted a cocktail party 40 years after Stonewall - oddly, a bar in Fort Worth was raided this weekend just because it was gay, but so far our "fierce advocate" has remained quiet even about this abuse of police authority against our community. But hey, at least queer people got to drink champagne in the White House while those who were drinking beer in Fort Worth are trying to come up with bail money.
The "where else where you go" rhetoric is killing us, and it allows the Dems to kick us around like abused spouses.
Then they'll ask for money.
And yes Butch1: Absolutely refused.
Every day, the anger just grows.
Ps. By the way he said Obama knew who he was so Obama is aware of the outcry and anger.
No that isn't the only thing I took away from the interview. I also took away from the interview that DADT probably won't be repealed in the next 5 months either. It wasn't a real good interview from a President Obama's perspective or other LGBT servicemen and women who will be discharged in the upcoming weeks, months and possibly years in the future.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the event was not designed as a way to mollify the gay community or reward its support during the campaign. Several activists familiar with the planning said it had been in the works for months.
"We didn't play a lot of interest-group-based politics in the presidential race," Gibbs said.
I am tired of being called an "interest group" by this White House!
There are no words.
I have to admit, I'll vote for the Repug.
WTF?!!!!!
He's right, it is NOT for him to tell us to be patient. We have been patient LONG ENOUGH!
All who are serving in the military while gay should come out at the same time. Then, let's see how long it takes for an executive order.
If everyone came out at once, he'd HAVE to take action if he's serious about national security.
Or would he pull a Reagan a la firing the striking air traffic controllers?
I hate to say this, and I was so angry at the McCain rhetoric that O would rather win an election than bla bla bla, but I see now that Obama's top priority is being a (slimy) power hungry, power driven politician and not a leader or commander in chief of a troubled country with more and more dangerous entanglements around the world each day.
For the record, I did not, nor do I prefer McCain.
It's just that he was the devil we knew.
Yes, McCain with his PTSD causing him to react rather than respond would have been disastrous. Who knows if he might not have brought on the crapture by now.
As always, it was the lesser of the evils, except this time I thought I was voting FOR someone rather than against the worse of the two.
*sigh*
I guess we should be greatful we have a spineless president not willing to make any decisions to bring us to that point or any other. We can still protest him and the DNC and keep our purse strings shut but there isn't much else we can do except vote them out of office. Perhaps, a new progressive party would be nice, but I digress.
And all the creepy intonations of "this story", this "story"of Stonewall, and how "this story, this struggle" continues today. He must have invoked "this story" about ten times. That was really weird. Obviously he is a total bigot completely out of touch with reality. He NEVER EVEN MENTIONED DOMA. My goodness. Unbelievable.
Also, the whole "is there a duck in the room" thing was surreal and hilarious- Whoever set off the duck noise was protesting, in their own way, and that was the best part of the whole thing. I think duck noises should be set off at his every appearance!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKq3LUGg9ZE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXPcBI4CJc8
He's got that right.
http://bit.ly/iiQjc
I am not like most on this site I actually think this can get done this year!! Please continue to call congress!
Please don't talk to me again until after you've actually done what you promised for LGBT rights. At this point, speeches, no matter how pretty, are just insulting.
But the bigger problem is that now the White House knows that next time The Homosexuals are up in arms about something, they just have to order some lambchops and go back to ignoring us.
(Unless, of course, the rank-and-file stop letting the lobbyists get away with it.)
And make it clear we're supporting the groups who haven't been fooled by Obama's bait and switch.
proving once and for all that gay rights isn't a 'toxic' issue anymore.
that's why I don't understand the whole backing off completely thing... he won the election calling himself our 'fierce advocate', why not just do what he said he'd do?
How many more lies does it take?
Define "fierce advocate" again?
Blacks used to be able to serve in the military as long as they were separated from the white population. They couldn't hide that they were black, so DODT didn't apply.
Today, gays can't serve because simply because they are gay. Not separately, not together. Not at all. Period.
Separate but equal would be an improvement.
At least they would not be getting discharged on a daily basis.
Even Obama noted yesterday in his *speech* that like the AA civil rights struggle, this too is a civil rights issue.
Too bad his words, nice as they sound, are belied by the reality of his actions and inactions.
DODT was a bad law from the beginning. Now, in the 21st century, it's almost worse than separate but equal imo. Again, if they feel that strongly, they should segregate the gay population and not discharge them. Please note, I think that would be awful, but it would expose the bigotry and the idiocy that homophobia trumps national security and would elicit major public outrage from all decent human beings, regardless of orientation.
Buster looked as peeved at having to show up and repeat himself to the gays ("we're making progress") as Bush did most of the time in front of the press.
He gave off this vibe: I'm here, you're queer, now shut the hell up while I do more important stuff. To get you bastards off my back, I hosted this PR event. And it's the last one I'm gonna do.
Shrimp canapes? Mmmmm . . .
Oh. My. God. Barack's right THERE!
That waiter is hot!
Isn't it obvious??
Work on Obama, keep the pressure up, but chill on the vitriol. It didn't work for PUMA and it certainly won't work for you.
i think hillary was referring to this lack of the killer instinct when she talked about what was necessary to get the '64 civil right act and the '65 voting rights act passed. LBJ lobbied, arm twisted and finally shoved it down the south's throat when he signed the legislation.
does anyone believe obama has any arm twisting in his bag of tricks? i don't. he's too busy trying to play nice.
give. me. a. break. there is no "playing nice" in politics.
I know a lot of people will get mad at me for saying this -- they always do -- but it is how I felt felt since I was a kid. (And I grew up in the south.) The south is backwards, will never change. Let them leave the F-ing country. My whole life, I have seen them act this way. They never change. They are racists, homophobes, misogynists, etc. Enough!
(And spare me the "but there are GOOD southerners. DUH! But not nearly enough. And if they objected to their state that much, they would have left by now. I did.)
good thing for obama that LBJ had a pair and kissed off the south for a generation. obama seems more willing to kiss off his supporters.
Dan Savage's idea of orchestrating a civil disobedience action (different couples from all over the country would show up at the White House each day for a year, demanding to talk to the President about repealing DOMA, being turned down, refusing to leave and being arrested) has much appeal to me because I believe we must demand our rights.
"Check out those cool shades!"
"Those hot Secret Service guys?"
"Yeah, I'd SO do them."
However a friend's roommate on a hot summer night left their unairconditioned apartment on Mintwood Place to take a walk in the cooler night air and ended up "doing" a Secret Service guy protecting some diplomatic mission.
"Fabulous par-tay!"
"Yeah, Debbie Downer bloggers
Want me to stay home!"
Personally, I think Obama has made some pretty huge mistakes thus far when it comes to LGBT issues. However, I do think he was much more honest than I expected him to be today in his remarks. Was it a home run? No way. But it was not abominable, and it certainly was not backstabbing.
Oh, and about this:
"One might forget that the Obama administration defended the Defense of Marriage Act law recently. "
I doubt anyone who was watching today forgot about the administrations defense of DOMA. Because Obama recognized that defense.
*gives you his most doe eyed sarcastic look*
Tell that to his mother.
Sorry, but I can't excuse him this. Rahm will always have some issue that comes before equal rights and a reason to put it off for the next battle. Obama will follow those instructions.
Today there were some mighty nice words, but again no actions.
That post put up a few days ago says it best. I will think about donating money to Democratic causes when I have "practicable", "durable" and "sustainable" Democratic cause to donate to.
http://pophangover.com/?p=3871
see?
So what more does he need before he actually does enact change on these issues?
So who's next?
CONGRESS
No more wasting time. Let's go get some quality-crafted legislation passed in the best interests of all LGBT Americans - and walk it over to The President for signature into law, ourselves.
Let's Do It!
We need to keep the heat up high, yes. But we also need to remember that we're not dealing with the enemy.
You tell me, does that sound like a friend or an enemy?
Not justifying it. Only observing it.
Let's stop demanding that our politicians not be politicians.
And why should we stop demanding that our politicians be politicians? Since when has pandering to the basest of the base been somehow RIGHT?
And besides, again, WHY is he pandering to the lowest of the low?
In many ways, the US *is* Iran. Iran has mostly young people. (Under 25 or 30) While the US isn't like that, the whole gay issue comes down to generations -- the young people are FOR justice. The old coots aren't. Sure, you can pander to the old coots, but take the results, Obama. They won't be pretty. You can think it won't matter -- by the time the younger ones are in the majority, you will be out of office, but think of your legacy. Do you really want to be seen as the idiotic old coot? Because you are acting like it now.
Its that lingering sting you feel when someone you thought was your friend assfucks you without lube.
like when Rendell cleared the field for Casey then he (tried to) cleared the field for Spector.
yep....a lingering sting.
really sucks
Anyway, it seems that many "rich gays" are acting the same way. They just look at this as "Who else do we have"? It's Obama or McCain/Palin/Romney, etc. Move to the next step, imbeciles! As this blog has said many times: It's not the 90s anymore.
Anyone have a list of names??
Just remember, you can always join us in Canada. Hey, my husband and I will invite you to an evening of copious libations and a pool party.
Hugs to eveyone. Glen
applause
CHALLENGE: then OUT them on your blog. shame them into moving on our issues. bradcast the evidence and cal for boycotts of support in terms of volunteer and monetary support till they agree to move our issues.
Create a Gay blacklist of politicos and link it at the top of your blog. remove the names only when the advance our issues in a substantial manner.
interestingly, there is one commenter to Monroe's entry who seems to understand why LGBT issues are failing with BO. her article plus his comments were brutally pragmatic, if harsh, and thus very enlightening. there's a truth to them. I'd love you guys' thoughts on this. He writes:
"The reason people are saying magic wand is because it seems that the LGBT community has no real understanding of the legislative process. I finally figured it out after writing on this subject for 8 months. The president doesn't whip bills like this. You guys have to. This is how a President keeps his word. He nods to congress and tells them he will sign the bill. Privately. He tells them that when they line up the votes and the pass a bill he will sign it. He further keeps his word by telling congress that any bills that further erode the rights of LGBT people will be vetoed, and finally he does a couple of rose garden ceremonies and does stroke of the pen business. That is how a President keeps his word. What you guys want is for him to write a bill, take it to congress, whip the bill, and then pass it. That isn't his role, it won't happen, no president in history would handle this issues that way. You guys need a political arm of your movement. A good one. What you have now is a bunch of incompetent fools. So again, the reason the Pres is calling you guys into the white house isn't to apologize, it is to tell you to act like you know what is up."
His words are not matching his deeds. We have hung on words before and have seen no support from past leaders. We believed him to be different, that was our mistake. He believes us to be the same, I hope that becomes HIS mistake.
I no longer believe that the Obama White House will overturn DADT or issue a stop loss executive order. He would rather continue the discrimination and continue to keep the GLBT community as second class citizens. He would rather keep us in our place.
People like Obama are far more dangerous because they pretend to support us all the while: increasing the faith based initiative, nominating a 6th catholic for the Supreme Court, comparing our relationships to incest, etc.
Whoop Ding. Crumbs and speeches, but again, no action. Gee Mitchell, I should send you a book I purchased and read recently, entitled Crisis, 40 Stories.... Pathetic.
I supppose you gave Mr. Obama a copy? Maybe you could read him a passage or two?
But maybe Mrs. Obama and her staff will be purchasing some of your furniture for the White House?
Two people a day are having their lives ruined. This is about our Civil Rights. Get over yourselves and meetings with our elected representatives. Demand our rights.
As my life partner of 32 years (now husband of 9 months in Calyfornia) said as he left for work this morning...pathetic.
What needs to be paid attention to action, not meaningless photo ops where the HRC gets to crow about preserving its beloved "access".
None of these words make up for that legal brief supporting DOMA. The President could have stop lossed the soldiers getting discharged or a supplemental brief could be filed correcting the first.
The only reason we are even getting the crumbs we are getting is because some people started pulling out of the DNC fundraiser.
That he found a room full of LGBTs that could be pacified with a few words and a meaningless photo op tells me that the whole equality movement needs to be rescued from organizations like the HRC.
Can we please stop acting like battered wives returning for more just because he promises (again) that he'll change and how much he really loves us? Imagine if we had shown the solidarity to completely boycott the DNC fundraiser. We may have gotten even more than crumbs.
There are obviously still so many gays starved for validation that when a politician tells you how much they care they throw all sense of reason out the window.