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NEW BENEFITS WILL INCLUDE HOME RENOVATION CREDIT. ANY GAY PERSON ADDING OR REMODELING A CLOSET WILL RECEIVE A 50% REBATE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
--30--
What was in it for them? Someone had to see a payoff from this debacle. What I see here is the (yet again, tone-deaf "centrist") hand of Rahm. As best I can figure this is a ploy to pull those mythical disenchanted "values voter" centrists over to the Democratic side by using what sociologists call a humiliation ritual. By publicly shaming gays it signals their continued lower caste status to the dominant caste.
This looks like his usual klaxon not dog whistle imbecilic centrist approach, with the usual collateral damage to the Democratic party. I think the calculation was they will gain more of these mythical social conservatives than they will lose in gays.
I think this is what is preventing the WH from backtracking. This was not an error that can be quickly ameliorated; it was a strategy that has run into a buzzsaw, and Rahm is trying to figure out how to split the baby- how little do I have to give up to the gays to maintain the overall goal. This arrogant, ill-considered, and half-assed Machiavellian ploy sure is working out just as well as Rove's Permanent Republican Majority did.
That'd be a biggie!
Because of John A.... This is getting noticed.
Good job, John. I'm making a donation today.
All he had to do was a Stop Loss for DADT and immediately apologize for that horrid DOMA brief last week and we'd have still grumbled but we'd at least have been willing to give him a bit more time.
Now I want to see a PLAN!
No gay rights, no gay $$$.
Obama, look at my hand and read between the lines!
They all can jump in the river for all I care.
The Obama administration is ending up to be the joke of the century.
so we've surpassed them in popularity!!
/snark
That's EXACTLY how he treats the GLBT community.
Pesky little bugs that need to be squashed without a second thought and kicked to the side.
Guess we'll continue to be paying the equivalent of two mortgages (our real mortage and our monthly health insurance) for years to come.
Although, I'm sure toward year's end, Obama will have implemented bold health care reform that will knock down our monthly premium to $1500. Public option? Yeah, right. That'll really happen under Obama.
For all the BOLD, NEW policies that were touted before the election, I don't see much of it. I see a lot of same old, same old for Wall Street, GLBT, etc.
There is a lot of lovely window-dressing, though.
Untie your hands.
All part of the plan.
But then I began to pay attention to his speeches, his promises -- and to my now shame, convinced my gay brother to contribute and vote Obama.
I'm a lifelong Democrat from four generations of Democrats, and this, plus the backpedalling on the public option for healthcare has caused me to call the DNC and tell them I'm switching my registration to Independent.
"Where's the apology . . ."
=============================
As I mentioned yesterday, there will be no apology. Obama is too stubborn and proud to admit this huge mistake. If we don't appropriately kiss their feet for this first glance our direction, they will use it to show how spoiled we are and it will give them the excuse to not do anything more because we were ungrateful for this "gift." Watch and see.
The solution here is clear: where other party guests bring bottles of wine or hors d'oeuvres, Obama brings speeches. So turn this fiasco of a fundraiser into a major policy address laying out, in a room full of skeptics, why exactly he hasn't yet fulfilled his promises on CIVIL RIGHTS, and what he plans to do to pressure Congress to repeal DOMA (and DADT, since clearly he doesn't have the chops to exercise his C-in-C authority on that issue, even while the military admits actual, honest-to-God Nazis). And in that speech he ought to lay out the case for equal civil rights - which he can do even as he shamefully continues to support only "civil unions" instead of marriage equality.
This fundraiser is no longer a viable option, and will generate far more anger than donations. It's going to take a very grand gesture to salvage this disaster and avoid further damage, and I don't think anything short of a full Presidential address will suffice (especially not a token appearance by Biden--this sonata needs a concertmaster, not a second fiddle).
The Memorandum follows a review by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management ant the Secretary of State
What a bunch of amatuers, can't wait to see if Chuck Todd gives the grilling he promised on Rachel Maddow.
No calling on the Congress to enact legislation to repeal DOMA? This would be a great opportunity to do that.
I'll call my Reps, Jan Schakowsky in the House and Durbin and, ugh, Roland Burris in the Senate to tell them that this needs to be done. With the comment that I am not donating to the Democratic Party until this happens.
NO GAY RIGHTS, NO GAY DOLLARS
THere is a reason that "federal law" doesn't allow equitable treatment and that reason is named DOMA
Which Obama has decided to support (unlike Schwarzenegger who today called Prop 8 unconstitutional).
Your Jedi Mind Tricks do not work on us, Obama-won
Banks...
THAT would of been the time to make this statement.
This just looks like desperation.
In discussing the idea of a truth commission on detainee treatment, Obama and Panetta’s instincts were initially to set up such a commission. However, the political staff walked it back. This quote really stood out for me: “Obama’s political advisors dread any issue that could trigger a culture war and diminish his support among independent voters.”
I think this statement is very enlightening as to his cautious and cowardly approach to a multitude of issues, LGBT rights included.
Are there any people in the administration who know anything at all about American GLBT people? This is the most pathetic period of bouncing off walls I've ever seen. And believe me, I though Dubya was as pathetic as they come. I was wrong about that.
If Obama were a normal person, (which I doubt), this would be one of the most embarrassing moment of his life. But I expect to see his little smirk all through this.
He is living proof that homophobia short-circuits the part of the brain responsible for rationality.
Now you need to followup. Go to the UNSUBSCRIBE section on the email you received. CLICK IT! Done. Feel better?
You people either have enormous gall or are complete idiots to send this fundraising appeal out in the context of health insurance reform on the day Obama announces his little table scrap to GLBT Americans consisting of a couple of federal employee job benefits to unmarried couples WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.
I have to wonder just who is advising the Democratic party and the administration on equal rights issues. You're all bouncing off walls making utter fools of yourselves.
But it just gives American GLBT people living proof of what we've known all along. Homophobia short-circuits the part of the brain responsible for rationality.
Anyone feel better about him now?
To make our voices even louder, those of you with supportive families and straight friends, please ask them to help us. Ask them to contact their representatives, and the White House, to show it isn't just our "10 %" they will be losing financial support and votes from.
We have more strength when the power elite sees that it isn't just us, but also millions of other Americans who believe in civil rights for all, who will withhold money and votes to support us.
Voting for a party that does nothing for us, but gives great lip-service is self defeating behavior. The only thing they will actually "get" is seeing the third party, and progressive vote actually increase.
Sorry, but supporting them because they are not as bad as the Repubs is not acceptable anymore. They stab us in the back while smiling in our faces, so they are better than those who are up front about their feelings about us. Right!
Perhaps, but what happens in the meantime...
That permanent Repub majority that Rove always dreamed about...
Better to focus on pressuring the Dems
This had better come along with a smack down of DOJ for the brief written by an anti-gay mormon homophobe and a REAL action plan for Obama's transition into FIERCE ADVOCATE. There had better be a call to action to the congress to get up off their collective ass and pass some legislation that the vast majority ofthe country is in favor of. NOW.
Let's not be so quick to think Hillary did more than beat Obama to the announcement. In light of it, State's earlier declaration seems to me to be more of her Primary self-aggrandizement.
Now, get a grip.
OTR?
I'm sorry, but this whole debacle is making the Obama Administration look like Amateur Hour.
Still supporting the Obama/Dem gay rights agenda.
Still sending money to them, too?????
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-8/1210139/f...
I told both of the people I spoke with that I was shocked that as senators from CA their office has not even heard of this issue since it broke last week. I even pointed them to Americablog if they were so inclined to inform themselves.
I asked both of them to take a leadership role in responding to the outrage and to issue public statements.
I also called my Rep. Jane Harman in DC. Her office was aware of the situation as was very supportive. I asked them to issue a public statement and said that we need leadership from the Democrats because we have turned off our ATM machine until they take meaningful action.
Withholding our financial support is a start. Active campaigning against Democrats unwilling to support our community is next. When Dick Cheney is more progressive on same-sex marriage than Barack Obama the Democrats have a problem.
We can do this - look at how much John and Joe have accomplished already! The Democrats want our money - they need our support. There must be real action on our communities behalf in order to receive it.
"Until you do right by me, everything you even think about gonna fail" is a great line from one of my favorite movies. We need to make this a reality for the Democrats.
Call the DNC and let them know you are pissed and aren't going to take it any more. 877-336-7200 Tell them you demand that the defense of DOMA in California be withdrawn and the person who wrote it fired. And let them know you'll be working against them until it is.
That ought to strike terror in the hearts of any rational person there...
---
besides saying nothing about regular insurance coverage... better make sure your partner is sick when the need to evacuate from a foreign country (revolution? war?) becomes an imperitive... otherwise, they'll still only evacuate the dog.
at least, that's what I'm reading from this "wonderful" memorandum. /snark
I called the DNC and told them I'm a lifelong Democrat, from four generations of Democrats and that today I'd be switching my registration to Independent.
Both for the continued inaction of gay rights, the disgusting action of the defense of DOMA, and the backpedalling on the public option on Healthcare.
"I'll become a Democrat again when Democratic politician actually serve their constituents."
PHONE NUMBER FOR THE DNC: 877-336-7200
877-336-7200
I let them know I was considering resigning from the party, and I will NOT give them one more dime or help the party in any way until we see some changes. I also said I read the "Fact Sheet" issued from the White House on this memorandum and it is NOT ENOUGH.
Call now!
The personal irony for me is that whenever John happens to mention something personal he's against economics/tax wise, a lot of people here jump all over him for being a closet selfish Republican who can only see his own immediate self interest.
Now don't get me wrong, I think this is a crap turn of events myself . However, I myself think that health care *koff* FOR EVERYONE and with choice between public and private care as well as sweeping economic reform far far outweighs this issue right now. Only because it affects EVERY-SINGLE-AMERICAN, not just one particular group. If there is any issue that has urgency and needs everyone to mobilize, health care is it.
I don't think Obama is betraying anyone actually. I just think he's being a politician and prioritizing things (as well as manipulating friends and foes alike) on HIS TIMETABLE, not the gay communities. And all this gay anger as I said, only helps him appear more moderate with right tilting people and with moderates.
So yeah, you can say that the gay community is being played. But as I said, it's only because of this "hey ho we won't go" "me first" attitude that pervades this board and some of the more vocal in the community (not just John) that makes it ripe for being used as political inoculation.
I myself think that the Obama agenda has gay issues and full equality in mind. Just not before issues that affect everyone, and not just gays. Issues such as health care, financial reform, some judgeships, and hopefully some accountabilty for the Bush era.
And if full gay equality comes at year 3 or year 7 when the right can't use this community as a wedge culture war issue AS IT ALWAYS QUITE EFFECTIVELY DOES DURING ELECTIONS with the help of some of the gay communities more TV news ready, flamboyant cross dressing, speedo wearing parade float writhing members. These images always appear during election season and are ALWAYS used to help to portray the gay community as some fringe oddity and not in any way within the parameters of mainstream and married America. They certainly don't help the cause of gay rights in any way and just seem to be a throwback to the wider sexual revolution of the 1970's. And yes, it hurts the cause of gay rights and equality more than anything else Obama may or may not do.
So even if the like clockwork 4 year season of gay protest succeeds in marginalizing the Democratic party (and Obama) to the centrists and to right tilting Americans as it's done in the past, at least gays (and everyone else) might have affordable health care by then.
And then, just like the schizophrenic nature of this board and some of the community here, depending on what Obama did or didn't do in any given thread, he'll jump from being the phony we won't support anymore to the greatest hero of all time.
I just don't believe in giving up and giving in to cynicism and histrionics. Which is the difference between 'I want to give Obama a piece of my mind' to 'I don't support Obama and The Democrats anymore' as I've read too much of here.
Nothing has changed. You describe it best. The right will not be able to label him as pandering to us. He gives us nothing and he knows it.
We are shit on his shoes.
I still harken back to Clinton and "Don't ask, Don't tell" being used against him to seat Gingrich and stymie everything else Clinton was trying to accomplish.. like health care reform. So to me at least, it makes sense if Obama is going to do Clinton in reverse and move systematically and slowly as well as put gay equality to the side ..for now..
I've been registered Independent but have been voting Democratic for several years now due to my disgust with the incompetent Republican era, but now I'll feel just fine voting third party again.