DISQUS

offspring · 5 months ago

for the sake of all those gay and lesbians that have bleed on dew covered cement in the dead of night due to groups of people "rolling" gays, to the kids taught to play the game "smear the queer" in school as i was,

for the sake of all the lesbian and gay men and trans that have been raped to change them, or kids sent to shock thereapy against their will, for all the gay soldiers that have died defending this country, and for all there partners having to sit in silence without support without benefits, without respect given family or spouse,

for all the fire bombs, shot, stabbed, strangled burned, tortured, hung, crucified on post, dumped in trash heaps, murdered in national forrest gay people, for all of my fathers and mothers by line of time that had to marry for the sake of life and live a lie, and fight a fight that i never had to,

for all the aids victims ignored in the 80's, even for all the elite gays that have it so good they dont want make waves or are to afraid to risk, for all the gay men and women that have been defeated, broken, abandoned for year upon year so bad that they are defeated and have no more fight,

I say give what is already ours by birth, we dont need approval for who we are when we already exist, we dont need saved except from some of gods followers, we dont need crumbs we are not mice,

for all of the above I say to hell with your small attempt of a handout, to hell with your ignorance of us, to hell the using of us to raise your money, we will not be garbage to be recycled when it suits you, or be excuses when you fail.

We are a people, a people of all colors so we have many leaders, we are a people of many faiths so we have many gods, we are a people of all ages all sizes, all nations who have a harder time of having a central power, we can come together for we above all things on this earth are people. People. People who feel pain, who know suffering, who know humiliation, who know what it is to be used, and very abused, who know silence, death, and awakening. We may not come together on all things as we are very diverse, but to assume that we are so easily bought and paid for, that we are so easy to whore out, is underneath even the lowest of notions.

For all those above I say that no thank you I dont want limited benefits to make you feel better, I say no, no please take your crumb and feed it to your mice, I say we are a PEOPLE we are all we are everyone, we are people.

You will count us equal in all things, for we contribute to all things, you will take away the programs of division or we as a people together will never add up together as one, you will proudly say all american people are one, for if any are unequal the there is no american people just, groups no people, just groups.

So tomorrow you will give a good speach with no action or you will pawn a program or two to the congress, some, will in fact fall for this, some so desparate for even the tiny crumb and i dont blame them some so defeated so beaten down that, that tiny crumb will look like a cake will say, thank you may i have some more.

I say no.

I dont want more when you have the time, i dont want more when it is ok, or politically ok to do without much risk, for unequal people are not a people they are a group. groups will always be divided. I want all for my brothers and sister i simple want all, that is to say, I want the same as you nothing more nothing less, just the same,

if you cant fight for all to have the same as you, then why are you a leader, why are you a president, why are you an american?

nicho · 5 months ago

Try to use the RETURN key once in a while.

offspring · 5 months ago

thank you again for the corrections i value that you have so much to offer.

offspring · 5 months ago

ps nicho i wasnt being a smart ass i have read your post you have alot to offer that makes sense, i ramble and cant spell but i do have the passion even if missdirected at times.

mirth · 5 months ago

offspring,

No disrespect intended, but when I see comments like yours - line after line after line after line after line - with no breaks, the whole thing becomes an unreadable blob and I scroll on by.

I may miss good stuff when I do that, but it saves my eyes.

offspring · 5 months ago

completely understand

offspring · 5 months ago

if anyone wants to re write it if they think it has any good points please feel free to, I am not good at spelling or grammar, or punctuations I dont have the brain for that and i admit it but if there is anything worthy in it please redo it.

threadmonitor · 5 months ago

It doesn't need to be re-written, offspring. No one really cares about spelling or grammar or punctuation. It just needs to be broken into paragraphs. I'll see what I can do.

threadmonitor · 5 months ago

Now, offspring, in a more readable format, I see what you have written is a beautiful prose poem.

mirth · 5 months ago

Thank you, Threadmonitor.

Offspring, your comment is simply...beautiful. And very touching. Tears welled as I read it. It makes me want to say I love you.

Candy · 5 months ago

Well said offspring. Your comment put tears in my eyes (and not because of a lack of paragraph breaks.) Keep fighting the good fight!

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

What you just wrote is beautiful.

johnnyvenom · 5 months ago

wow....that has to be, if I may say so, one of the most brilliant things I have read. My stars, this is just pure Gold. Thank you for posting this!

johnnyvenom · 5 months ago

A humble suggestion, if I may? Could you please re-post this also on other sites like Daily Kos? This needs to be shared.

offspring · 5 months ago

if anyone wants to post this anywhere go ahead because i dont know any other place i can post it, and thanks for the nice things you have said, it meant alot.

JamesR · 5 months ago

Damn offspring, thankyouverymuch.

lileasy · 5 months ago

Wow, Offspring. Just wow.

HelenRainier · 5 months ago

This is NOT good. In fact, I am furious. I am a female Army veteran, one of the "original" hippies of the 60s and a life long advocate for woman's rights (including being pro-choice) and I have never been one to support discrimination of any kind due to things like gender, race, ethnicity, religion (or the lack of a belief in it), and sexual orientation.

It is VERY simple: Until the day that all of our citizens -- particularly if they are taxpayers and law abiding people -- have equal rights, this country is not equal. Until all people have equal rights, those who are being deprived or discriminated against should NOT have to pay taxes, or at the very least, should pay a reduced tax rate because they are being deprived of ALL of their civil rights.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

Thank you, and thank you for your service!

HelenRainier · 5 months ago

Cowboy -- I think there's a misunderstanding. See my response to Offspring. I am hetero. I debated about adding that originally but decided it shouldn't make any difference, so I didn't include. It was not my intent to mislead anyone here. I just don't think it's a big deal.

I am more concerned about the military being forced (by the politicians) to have to lower enlistment standards by including felons, some of whom are white supremacists, gang bangers and people whose moral turpitude is questionable and a real threat to unit cohesiveness and morale.

I worked my up thru the ranks from a lowly scared private at basic training in the Women's Army Corps to become a Detachment First Sergeant in one battalion of a training division and am DAMNED PROUD of what I accomplished.

It wasn't easy along the way -- I had to fight the "male chauvinism" and the "old boys network" with a lot of male soldiers who didn't think that "women" belonged in the military. I made it my personal mission to prove them wrong by playing by the rules and being just as good as, if not BETTER than them.

Funny thing is the only ones who ever seemed to have a PROBLEM with female were the good old southern boys. The true professionals I was fortunate to serve with -- the soldiers in the 82d and the SF guys I became friends with ALWAYS treated me with the utmost of professionalism and respect and welcomed the opportunities to "teach" a female soldier who was there to do the job she was trained d to do.

If memory serves correctly, you are also a vet, are you not? I also thank you for your service and am proud to call you my comrade in arms.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

No I didn't think you were a lesbian. I just thought you were straight, but not narrow friend and I thank you for it!

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

Submarines...

http://www.americablog.com/2009/04/saturday-mor...

offspring · 5 months ago

when I was in the army, and then injured in the army, my platoon and many in my company knew i was gay along with a few others, they didnt give a damn, one sgt did but the Lt. told him to shut up about it, I was told this later on, so I understand your statement commend your service and I am sorry you had to go through this also, it is wrong period for what they do to gay soldiers they should be ashamed. Thank you for all you have done, and thank you to all service members who risk their lives, and their whole being to serve this country.

caphillprof · 5 months ago

Well there we go. For reasons inexplicable we are allowing the odd sgt to dictate US policy and interfere with hard working gay Americans. DADT is so, so wrong.

HelenRainier · 5 months ago

May be a misunderstanding here. I served with many lesbian and bisexual soldiers who were damned fine, but I myself am not. I'm hetereo, but it shouldn't make any difference.

As someone else said, we have gay and lesbians WANTING to serve, going to West Point, and serving as Flag Officers who have to "hide" and then they end up lowering standards to let white supremacists and gang bangers in who pose more of a problem to unit morale and cohesiveness than a whole division of "rainbow" flaggers would.

What a bunch of BS.

Thank you, also Offspring, for YOUR service. It's an honor to have served in the same military with YOU! I stand with you, my comrade in arms!

lileasy · 5 months ago

Ditto.

John · 5 months ago

I'm sure Obama will give a good speech tomorrow night. He always gives good speeches. I voted for the president. I still like the president. But lets be honest here, he's no Nelson Mandela.

There was a man who said he was going to include gays and lesbians in his "new" South Africa. And he didn't waver in the face of fierce opposition. In 1994, 75% of South Africans wanted sexual orientation removed as a protected category from the draft constitution. Twelve years later same-sex marriage was legalized and everyone yawned. The Christian Right made their usual pronouncements of doom and gloom. But nobody cared because they've gotten used to the idea that it is in the constitution.

Sometimes it is just plain, simple leadership, Mr Obama.

timncguy · 5 months ago

Ok, with this Clusterfu@k do you suppose we could finally get Joe Solmonese to tell us what the freaking "secret plan" actually was and why he was so impressed with it?

Ninong · 5 months ago

Barack Obama told us he is a "Fierce Advocate" for gay rights but the only fierce advocacy I have seen has been in that despicable and demeaning brief in defense of DOMA.

Speaking of Don't Ask, Don't Tell he said, "when I am President of the United States of America I will end the policy." Instead of ending it, he has discharged 253 gay service members since January 20. It wouldn't take a lot of audacity to take action on something that has the support of 70% of the American people. Not a whole lot of courage needed there. If he wanted to, he could issue a stop-loss order tomorrow halting all discharges under DADT.

It may be painful to contemplate but could it be that Obama used us in his campaign to get elected and now he's more interested in pleasing a larger audience? Is he concerned that taking action on any of his "gay" promises will cost him job approval points?

David in Arizona · 5 months ago

Ninong, it's already costing him in the public approval polls. Check out Daily Kos. Obama's favorability ratings have dropped from 70% to 64%. At least two of those percentage points have occured in the last 10 days. I'm thinking that at least part of that drop comes directly from the LGBT community. I don't think he appreciates just how badly his administration has harmed the solid relationship he originally had with our people. He's in political minefield country now. He better tread very carefully from this moment on because God ain't in this mix. But LGBT voters and their wallets certainly are.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

What "larger audience" is he trying to please? Like you stated in your post 70% of America is with him on overturning DADT. It makes sense for National Security to get rid of it, yet he does NOTHING. He allows three poster children on why this should be overturned, Lt. Choi, Major Witt and Lt. Commander Fehrenbach, to be discharged. Hell, he is trying to appeal to the MINORITY by not immediately signing a STOP LOSS. If we get attacked again it will be because we missed "human intelligence." Does he really want us to get attacked again and then have to wonder if one of those gay arabic linguists could have translated important intelligence that might have prevented the attack just to satisfy... who the hell is he trying to satisfy?

JamesR · 5 months ago

Even fucking John McCain is for ending DADT, Publicly, vocally, presently. You just can't get more "larger audience" than that. I truly don't understand what is going on.

lileasy · 5 months ago

I believe the President is an extraordinarily cautious person by nature. He is terrified of making a mistake. He may also be trying to be all things to all people, with the exception of the LGBT's who are at the bottom of that list, naturally.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

I used to believe that, but now I think either him or someone advising him is a virulent homophobe.

lileasy · 5 months ago

I'll bet you're right. The operative word is "courage." I think BHO is a gutless wonder. I suspect once he got into office, his advisors warned him if he moved too quickly on LGBT issues, he would end up in the same predicament as Clinton.

TrueBleuCA · 5 months ago

Obama was on the money until he chose to keep Bush/Cheney holdovers like Gates. Get rid of Gates and you solve the problem. He is the one who has Obama by the balls. Hey, isn't that against military policy?

bbock · 5 months ago

I've got news for the Obama Administration. It's not just gay rights groups they need to worry about. I don't belong to any gay rights group (although I have donated money). They need to worry about the individuals, the couples and the families and the friends of gays that they've pissed off with their nuclear option brief.

lileasy · 5 months ago

Yeah, man. And when you have the likes of Bill Maher ridiculing you for inaction and suggesting that you act more like George Walker Bush, you know you are in trouble.

Butch1 · 5 months ago

This is very insulting if they think they can shine shiny objects in front of our faces and think we've lost our attention span. This is too little, too late.

This also, tells you that the president CAN do something on the spur of the moment regarding our rights. That makes it even worse that he knew about the brief's contents and essentially, signed off on it. There is one more case coming up soon about some New England couples and widowed spouses who are and were legally married in their home state and still being denied the rights under DOMA. (this is another approach to it) The White House brief is due out on June 29th. I can't wait to read the language in that brief. Why are they denying legally married couples the federal rights other legally married couples get??!! We may see a recognition of our rights a bit sooner on the Federal level. The justices are going to have to stretch really far to back the White House on this one. How can a legally married straight couple have more rights than a legally married gay couple?? This house of cards argument is starting to shake.

HelenRainier · 5 months ago

Hey Butch! Well stated and I concur.

BTW, have you had a chance to watch Rusty Chevrolet yet? If you have, I hope you enjoyed it!

Butch1 · 5 months ago

Thanks.

I did. The car reminds me of the "planned-obsolence" of two years, that used to be how long the quality of the cars built in Detroit back in the 70s. They seem to immediately start rusting once they were driven off the lot. Those guys have found a way to keep themselves entertained during those big snow drift days. ;-)

Kalil · 5 months ago

I've come to the inescapable conclusion that at the first mention of gays, all the synapses in the otherwise brilliant brain of Rahm Emmanual fuse into an unrecognizable mess, and the entire white house political apparatus is reduced to gibbering madness.

John · 5 months ago

It is hard to figure out Rahm Emanuel. If he's homophobic, then he hides it well. I remember him lecturing Bill Maher about the need to "protect" the rights of gays and lesbians a couple years back. He also noted that homophobia is one of few "acceptable" prejudices left in America. Bill had gone into one of his rants about how hate crimes are thought crimes. And that the states can handle law enforcement by themselves. Emanuel got very irritated with that line of reasoning.

Was it all an act for the cameras? Who could tell with these politicians? But he's a difficult one to read.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

Sometimes I agree with Bill Maher, like his recent criticism of how Obama needs to push stuff through like Bush and say, "Jesus told me to do it!" but he infuriates me with his overreaching and trying to be balanced like his rant on hate crimes being thought crimes. That is all well and good unless you get your ass kicked for being gay in some backwater southern town where the local law enforcement thinks you "had it coming" for being gay. Its easy to talk about hate crimes protections being "thought crimes" when you are a celebrity, like Maher, who never makes it outside of a protected bubble in NYC. He needs to stop smoking so much marijuana. Its starting to affect his logic.

HelenRainier · 5 months ago

Cowboy -- You are so correct. There is a time for tact and diplomacy and to treat people with equal respect. However, when they continue to bite you in the bite despite "your" efforts to treat them with respect, then you have to get down in the sewer with them and start slinging their own s*it right back to them in like manner.

There are people who continually demonstrate they won't play nice or don't know how to play nice. I give people 3 chances to get their act together. If they choose to not do so, then I consider myself justified in resorting to whatever means are necessary to force them to get the message and get their s*it together.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

absolutely, Helen. Three chances! at the most! Obama has had more than THREE chances with our community.

HelenRainier · 5 months ago

My community is that of "secular humanist" who believes that we are all travellers in the same "Universe." Just by virtue of that fact we all deserve and are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. That applies to "all" forms of life -- cats, dogs, bears, trees, the oceans, the skies. Pretty much everything except (IMHO) for creepy crawly things (like snakes and roaches) and some other equally repugnant things (Republicrats and organized zealous religionists).

I am proud to call myself a humanist and have believed in that philosophy since I was about 12 years old. My father taught me well!

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

He did INDEED teach you well.

caphillprof · 5 months ago

It has to be those ballet lessons.

lileasy · 5 months ago

Like the President, an enigma wrapped in a riddle.

Gridlock · 5 months ago

You know, if we keep getting thrown under the bus i say we cut the brake lines while under there and make the fucker crash.

RainbowPhoenix · 5 months ago

From what I see, that bus is already crashing without our interference.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

Yea, and you had better believe if it does crash who are they gonna blame?

If we get hit again, I don't want to hear any whining we should have had more people translating human intelligence when highly trained translators, like Lt. Dan Choi and all the other gay arabic translators were thrown overboard to protect other's fragile sexual orientations in the military. Its called STOP LOSS and Obama could have done it while waiting for congress to overturn DADT.

Again, its been a huge pattern of not just ignoring us but stabbing us in the back. Crumbs aren't going to help now. Especially when Obama is willing to potentially sacrifice our nation's security in order to protect the fragile sexual orientations of straight soldiers.

aratina · 5 months ago

DADT is probably there not to protect people's fragile sexual orientations but to protect straight sexual predators from sexual harassment lawsuits brought on by their LGB victims.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

Would make sense, but military couldn't suit another military victim for sexual harassment. Its all taken care of under the UCMJ.

lileasy · 5 months ago

It is about national security, for god's sake. I guarantee that during my four years in the service, I compromised no one's chastity, nor was I lusting after guys in the shower. Jesus, some of these heteros are absolutely clueless.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

Yep, but trying telling that to a homophobe. I was on a damned submarine and I didn't have SEX with anyone. In fact, this is probably a little gross but needs to be said. I had to be ORDERED to masturbate by the Hospital Corpsman because my prostate got "all backed up" because I thought maybe "nocturnal emissions" would "take care of" any kind of sexual release I might need. Just goes to show you we can control ourselves in a specific environment, as good as, or even BETTER than some of our heterosexual counterparts. I know that hateful pig, Senator Sam Nunn used submarines to undercut Clinton and get that shameful DADT enacted.

lileasy · 5 months ago

LOL. I never needed any encouragement in that area.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

I usually didn't either but I was so busy "doing my job" on the submarine I honestly didn't want to mess with it.

timncguy · 5 months ago

That's why I say vote the repugs back in. Why should we be the only ones getting screwed? The the rest of the country get screwed right along with us.

Diogenes · 5 months ago

Why help those bastards? Go Green, or write in Aravosis or Maddow, or whoever you want. But be sure to tell the Dems that you're doing it and why. Otherwise you're vote just drops off the radar. They'll get the message fast if the numbers get big enough.

offspring · 5 months ago

very, very well put

Diogenes · 5 months ago

Ever have someone take you for granted? Every time you threatened to walk, the threat got weaker. You have to be willing to take the walk.

Do it now, when the wake-up call won't hand the GOP the White House. Change your registration to Green, and notify the DNC that you've done it and tell them why. Withhold all financial support from the Democratic Party and it's candidates, and be sure to write and tell them why. I'll bet they'll wake up fast. There'll be plenty of time to change your registration back if they do. And if the don't, then why would you want to stay?

You have to take action. Marches, rallies, etc. are no more effective than holding your breath and stamping your feet. If you're not willing to walk, with your cash and you're vote, then you just don't matter.

Michael Gass · 5 months ago

I said it before...

There are issues, for the right and left, that they trot out every election to get the base to vote, that both political parties have already had a chance to act upon, and haven't.

Roe v Wade could have been repealed during Bush's terms.

DADT, DOMA, and federal employee's getting benefits (full) could be done now.

Neither side wants to take away these issues because that is how they get fundraising; tossing out the red meat issues.

The Republicans did it to the religious right for decades. The Demcrats are now doing it to the glbt community.

Truckloadbear · 5 months ago

Ya know, it aint fair when you use common sense.

Indigo · 5 months ago

Who is that man and what did he do with Obama?

HelenaMontana · 5 months ago

President Obama, like many before him, has badly underestimated the clout the gay community has, especially when taking into account straight friends and family who bitterly resent the slurs and injustices inflicted on their loved ones.

Speaking as one of the aforementioned friends and family, it'll be a cold day in hell before I give Obama or his surrogates any more money or support. At least until there is a complete reversal of course on DOMA and related matters, and a heartfelt apology from Obama himself.

Ben · 5 months ago

Amen to the Helena! I am also Allied and mad as hell. I like many of you on here had the chance to express it yesterday in response to the DNC emailing me for money to "support thier healthcare push"

My response: You just lost a vote and I will support your worthy cause once you give my loved ones the equal rights and respect they deserve.

TrueBleuCA · 5 months ago

The next time you encounter the "nurture vs nature" debate with family or friends try this line...

Dear Mom and Dad

I was either born gay or you made me that way. Ball's in your court. NOT MY FAULT!

lileasy · 5 months ago

Happy Father's Day, TrueBleu.

Truckloadbear · 5 months ago

The administration thinks we're stupid dykes & fags.

I don't usually use such language but for fuck's sake...How can I possible come to any other conclusion?

nicho · 5 months ago

They can't seem to stop fucking up. He is looking worse and worse by the hour. I thought he was supposed to be so smart -- what with playing three-dimensional intergalactic chess and all that.

This administration is beyond tone deaf on this issue. And if they're relying on inside the beltway political jock sniffers to tell them what the GLBT community wants, they are screwed.

offspring · 5 months ago

very true and to the point good post

TrueBleuCA · 5 months ago

DONATE TO AMERICABLOG NOW!!! No Mo for DNC, No Mo for lukewarm Dems, No Mo for BO!

Gridlock · 5 months ago

Fo sho!

mirth · 5 months ago

mygawdalmighty

So they found time to cook this up right quick-like.

I'm guessing that their blog trolls reported very limited success with "But the president has so much to dooo. And he has so little tiiime. You Gays are so selllfish."

I smell a Rahm.

It stinks.

Gridlock · 5 months ago

Oh you're just bring shrill. SHRILL i tell you! :P

lileasy · 5 months ago

Mirth, you make me laugh...in a good way.

caphillprof · 5 months ago

It keeps going from bad to worse. The White House is cobbling something together--pr first, actual memorandum later--because it never intended to do anything for the gays. If Barry had intended to do something for the gays, then the memorandum and other things would have already been in the works. Clearly, they have not. The campaign was all one big, fat lie. He got to be president and we got screwed.

mozzie killer · 5 months ago

throw the queers a bone

Jude · 5 months ago

They just keep digging themselves deeper and deeper don't they? How pathetic. And insulting. Again.

travelingman.rick · 5 months ago

The secret fucking plan is that one never existed, tell em to shut the fuck up and get in line, yeah that seems to be the only plan they had.

Where do I call to get my four grand back that I donated?

usagi · 5 months ago

Do it. I wish every gay person and gay rights supporter who gave a dime to the campaign would write them and demand the return of their donation. Withholding future contributions doesn't do a whole lot if there's not a baseline to compare it to.
Do it. What can they do but say no?
(Oh, and everyone who's unsubscribing from donor lists, I think you'd be better off staying on them and telling them to go fuck themselves and why when you get the solicitations--takes resources to process those. If you have the time for a project like that, of course.)

TrueBleuCA · 5 months ago

Not going to the back of the bus... Not getting thrown off the bus... Not being thrown under the bus... NOT GOING FUCKING AWAY! Too old, too tired, too angry!

Chitown Kev · 5 months ago

So...exactly what "secret plan" has Joe S. been hinting about? Is the secret plan the fact that there was no plan at all?

Truckloadbear · 5 months ago

Found it.

http://www.obamasplanforgayrights.com/

TrueBleuCA · 5 months ago

Obama had his head right on DADT until he chose to keep Bush/Cheney holdovers like Gates. Old farts like Gates can't wrap their minds around equality for queers. When you are that old (don't start, I'm 60) their nano prejudices against us are too deeply embedded into their DNA.

If he would just replace Gates he would be able to keep his promise to our community on DADT. Gates is the one who has Obama by the balls. Hey, isn't that against military policy?

Dr. Ed · 5 months ago

If only Obama was as liberal as Cheney on the subject of equality for queers. Most leftists can't wrap their nano prejudices against Republicans, as it is too deeply embedded into their DNA.

pdxpunk · 5 months ago

Well there's some quality leadership from Obama, if you were correct. What a dunce....Banging the Bu$hHitler drum at this date is counterproductive and, frankly, dull witted. We need to unite against what is being done to us NOW. Making ANY excuses for the admin just gives them cover. Hate to say it but it is "thinking" like yours that keeps us in the ghetto...When you have Cheney no less espousing positive views of marriage then the bombast you mouth just looks pathetic

booya · 5 months ago

John,
How about putting a running count at the top of your blog: "Number of Gay Soldiers Fired by Obama"
maybe tack on a link to stories/profiles of these soldiers.

TrueBleuCA · 5 months ago

John, I like how booya thinks. This plus a graphic to raise funds for the movement would be great!

Litterbox · 5 months ago

To go one better, why not track all the promises that have been broken by this administration so far? Im really tired of reading the newest and latest thumbing to his supporters. We need to be speaking out.

JamesR · 5 months ago

Hey Mr President:

How about simply apologizing for the overzealous Mormon, refer to Tony West's remedial education, re-iterate commitment to repealing DOMA, with an executive order, (not a sandpaper reacharound with "benefits" that can't ever equal the sanctity of John Ensign's marriage,) and commit to a timetable for abolishing DADT. Either that or our army is going to be taken over by Nazis and Felons, what a choice.

Apologize and make real simple amends the whole rest of the country support and voted for you for, or do a stupid dog and pony show you suck at. Your choice.

mikeyDe · 5 months ago

Absolutely spot on! What could be simpler or easier or less politically damaging? Even the verbiage (except for the apology) has already been written, plus Obama and his most-trusted staff have rehearsed the speech hundreds of times over the past two years.

Patrick · 5 months ago

The company I work for had bereavement leave and counseling benefits for same sex partners when I started working for them in the early Nineties, but as a result of a proposal over 100 of us presented to top management in 2001, they added health care benefits beginning in 2002. One of my coworkers was really happy to add her partner to the coverage. But when her check arrived and she found out that her taxes went way up because health care for her partner had to be taxed as though it were income, she cancelled it immediately. (DOMA and the tax code). Now in 2009 Obama thinks some benefits but not health care cut the mustard? If we had universal health care, all of this would be moot. We would all have health care, regardless of marital status or employment status.

The first thing two things Obama needs to do immediately (he has put these on the front burner by his behavior as president thus far) is to stop firing soldiers who are outed or who come out themselves as gay, and to rescind the outrageous DOMA brief. Then he needs to call on Congress to draft legislation to do away with both these discriminatory and destructive laws. Instead of issuing another meaningless statement tonight, he needs to DO something that has teeth. Otherwise, may the fundraiser go down in the flames of donors canceling and demonstrators gathering like the ACT-UP people of not too many years ago.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

Couldn't he sign a "memorandum" to stop loss Lt. Choi, and Lt Col. Fehrenbach and Major Margaret Witt? Wouldn't it be nice if he signed a memorandum of STOP LOSS to protect our national security while DADT was being overturned?

RyansTake · 5 months ago

That, plus passage of Hate Crimes, plus this stupid bone they're throwing, plus a bonafide plan (including RAPID time table) of repealing DOMA is the *only* way the gay community is appeased or I forgive this President.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

Yep, we've been simmering for quite some time. Someone is a homophobe or an advisor is a homophobe in the Obama Administration and giving bad advice. The pot boiled over and there is a lot of clean up that will have to be done.

offspring · 5 months ago

yes he legally can do that but hasnt

offspring · 5 months ago

how selfish a of people to demand full and equal treatment, how can they not see we have an agenda full of others, sorry but if you cannot see that if you can not take care of people living breathing suffering in equality in america in 2009 then you should not be leading it, nor should those that are with you, for an america with any american treated as unequal is not america in any true meaning. I would figure giving all americans the same equal rights is far more important an issue that deserves top priority, than to be put together in the dead of night by a paint by numbers crew, saying what will shut them up. An america unequal isnt america, and no gay rights no gay$$ ps gay rights = human rights, period the same not different. All rights not just those that are convienant again i am sorry for the misspelling

Diogenes · 5 months ago

It's obvious. Until now, their plan was "Screw the gays! Where're they gonna go, to the Republicans? Ha, ha, ha!"

New plan: "Throw 'em a scrap. That'll shut 'em up."

John · 5 months ago

Honestly, this 111th Congress has been a bitter dissapointment thus far. And not just on gay rights. They've thrown all the progressives overboard. The only major piece of legislation they've passed is the 800 million dollar give away. Any hope that this session would be as transformative as the legislatures of the 1930s or 1960s has disintigrated at this point. Right now, we'd be lucky to get "good enough" HMO health care (in the AMA we trust), "good enough" almost card check (whatever that means), and "good enough" ENDA (probably transgender free and with all sorts of exemptions for the religious). I suppose it isn't all that surprising that the Pelosi-Reid Democrats are as dysfunctional as the GOP was. But still, knowing that has not made the pill any easier to swallow.

markf217 · 5 months ago

Separate and unequal... President Obama should know better.

cowboyneok · 5 months ago

Separate but "equal" always works, huh? Separate but equal is what its all about.

Separate YES... Equal... NO

jurassicpork · 5 months ago

Is anyone else beginning to feel buyer's remorse right about now and feeling a little embarrassed at how we carried on on Election Night and again on Inauguration Day?

Because the more I hear about this man, the less I like him.

RyansTake · 5 months ago

Well, I can say one thing, at least on glbt issues, I don't think Hillary could have *possibly* been worse. In fact, in terms of this administration, she's been the only 'leader' on our rights insofar as the power she has.

mamazboy · 5 months ago

I'd like to think HRC would have been different, but how can we know? The world has officially gone mad when Ted Olsen is planning to defend gay marriage and the Obama administration is calling us pedophiles!

jurassicpork · 5 months ago

But let's not forget that Hillary, Obama and McCain had one issue and only one uniting them- an opposition to gay marriage. But how many people, including those in the LGBT community, would consider that important enough to be a deal-breaker?

For me, it almost was.

nicho · 5 months ago

As someone who didn't carry on either of those days, I'm still feeling buyer's remorse, but our options were so limited. Obama or McPantsload/Failin.

Frank Probst · 5 months ago

Write this on all of the fund-raising requests you get:

Until I get my gay rights, you don't get my gay money.

Eric · 5 months ago

So far I've delivered something similar to that message to the president, the DNC, MoveOn and giveemhellharry.com. We all need to do this.

TrueBleuCA · 5 months ago

Hey John

How about a fundraising graphic to show our opponents that every slight of hand on their part equals a direct response in donations to AmericaBlog?

lileasy · 5 months ago

I like that suggestion Bleu. When I complete this tread, I am heading to the Donate spot and doing just that. I am most greatful to John and AMERICAblog for what they are doing. They sure as hell deserve our support more than this administration does.

offspring · 5 months ago

told ya it is like american idol lol he is seacrest the right you will be getting is....... duh duh duuuuu, We have gay marriage in several states it will happen in others, they know this their house of power and cards is shifting as they dont know who to kiss ass with, how about the people who elected you, for you see a funny thing is , alot of straight people who like gay people, some who dont but still believe we should have equal rights, voted for him for this and other social changes if he does this to one of the last legal groups to discriminate against in america then those same people will sit back and say to themselves if he is willing to do this against them, then is anything he said honest, is anything he told us the truth, where we taken so it isnt just the gays no, no it is the many others that know when you break your word to the most vunerable of us then you will have no problem breaking it to them. sorry for the misspelling and punctuations.

lileasy · 5 months ago

Offspring, it is clear that you speak from the heart. Screw the punctuation.

mamazboy · 5 months ago

What a sickening lack of principle is on display here. What was the good of electing a Democrat if he's turning into Bush Lite? Not just on our issues, but on just about everything else, down to the smallest revolting detail like trying to suppress the visitor logs at the White House. I can't watch Obama anymore; it's too depressing.

MichaelS · 5 months ago

Couldn't agree more. The WH visitors list just confirmed my worst fears -- we have a centrist, maybe even conservative, Dem for president. Worse yet, we have one with no courage. From everything he's done on the economic crisis to Rock Warren to torture investigations to our gay rights, he's as bad as Bush. No, worse -- Obama is afraid to upset the conservatives.
I'll say this, at least, for both Bush and Cheney -- they never gave a shit about who they pissed off. And they got almost everything they wanted done.

offspring · 5 months ago

kinda like watching american idol with seacrest only played by obama and the human rights you will be gettiing are....we will be right back in two years for re election tune in to find out what will will offer maybe...

bruces · 5 months ago

Well said!

TrueBleuCA · 5 months ago

Throw the bone back!!!!! Don't become a token faggot! Denounce this ploy for what it is. The LGBT population demands Full rights, Equal Rights NOW! or stick it where the sun doesn't shine Mr. President. No more DNC money, no more Mr. Nice Gay! Hey John, thanks for the receipt for my donation. You are one activist that our community can definitely count on over and over.

TrueBleuCA

Ryan · 5 months ago

Weird... my post just disappeared.

Gridlock · 5 months ago

ok, cynical as i am even I'm just blown away by the absolute duplicity.

Holy. Freaking. GOD.

RyansTake · 5 months ago

Amen!

Marlin Bynum · 5 months ago

The biggest problem is that DOMA most likely makes this action illegal and it will be challenged by religious conservatives immediately.

timncguy · 5 months ago

oh gawd, then we'll have another "brief"

Gridlock · 5 months ago

There are already more in the pipe coming in defense of DOMA, somewhere in the 20's this month.

Eric · 5 months ago

OK, so now that we know this is all a sham, when do we start working on all the other "guests" at this fundraiser next week?

TrueBleuCA · 5 months ago

Goodnight Gracie. Got to go to work in a few hours so I can get health insurance coverage. Guess I should feel special!

Muzikal203 · 5 months ago

This is not good, not good at all.

bbock · 5 months ago

We need a big gay celeb (Ellen?) to do a Kanye: Barack Obama doesn't care about gay people. Maybe she can stand next to Mike Meyers when she does it.

lileasy · 5 months ago

Meyers is Canadian, isn't he?

TrueBleuCA · 5 months ago

Don't get me wrong, I like Mike Meyers, but I will never be able to erase his "embarrassed" look when Kanye made is statement. I would rather see it made by Oprah, yeah sure!

Ninong · 5 months ago

CNN is reporting that health care benefits ARE included:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama will sign a memorandum Wednesday granting health care and other benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, two senior administration officials said.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/16/obama.sa...

RyansTake · 5 months ago

Don't believe it. The news media fact checks nothing. It's not legally possible because of DOMA to extend health benefits and other, similar benefits to same-sex couples in federal employ. I don't even think it's possible if they offered it to all non-married couples, regardless of orientation.

CNN probably caught the memo about Obama extensions and made the assumption -- and who wouldn't make that assumption? What other benefits in America are as important as health care? Obama may try to say he'll try to get it to extend to health benefits as part of a pretty-sounding speech, but it's going to have to get through Congress... and if they're going to get that bill through, why the hell not just pass a freaking repeal to DOMA?

Ninong · 5 months ago

CNN finally revised their story to say "It will provide some health care benefits, but will stop short of full health coverage..."

Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State, has already granted full benefits, including full health care benefits, to the same-sex partners of state department employees in spite of DOMA. The way she got around that was to grant the benefits to ALL couples, including unmarried opposite-sex couples. I don't remember the exact details, but I believe there was a requirement of living together for more than a year and probably providing proof of shared checking accounts or something like that. Anyway, Hillary managed to do it several weeks ago.

To get around DOMA, all you have to do is NOT recognize same-sex marriages or same-sex civil unions or grant benefits to same-sex couples that are not available to opposite-sex couples. If you can grant benefits WITHOUT recognizing a same-sex union, then you can get away with it. Hillary granted benefits to unmarried couples who live together while saying nothing at all about gender. She managed to do it without recognizing same-sex marriage.

Ninong · 5 months ago

CNN revised their article just a few minutes ago as follows:

"It will provide some health care benefits, but will stop short of full health coverage, the officials said. Details of the benefits were not immediately available."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/16/obama.sa...

bob_h · 5 months ago

I'm guessing that with the Republicans on the offensive on national security, with Cheney accuses him of endangering the nation, Obama feels he cannot fix the gays in the military thing right now. But he will when the politics are better.

caphillprof · 5 months ago

but Cheney loves the gays?

Finrod · 5 months ago

Well, presumably he loves his gay daughter.

lileasy · 5 months ago

Oh, Bob. Bob. Bob. You're such a dreamer. Hope you're right, though.

terrya · 5 months ago

My understanding, and correct me if I'm wrong, is that this memorandum only covers the time Obama is in office. After that, these benefits are taken away. This memorandum is NOT the same as an executive order.

Gosh, our benefits (hell, not even all of our) benefits given and taken away...where has this happened before? Hmmmmm.

Mike_in_the_Tundra · 5 months ago

Obviously the White House figures that we're so sex-crazed, that we haven't been paying attention.

Litterbox · 5 months ago

John,

I sympathize with you, I really do... I think though that you and the rest of the gay community were duped by Obama and this is just more evidence of it. The gay community should demand some answers, not from some admin flunkie, but from someone higher up the food chain. You and every other supporter thats feeling left out in the cold deserve some answers and it may also send a message that accountability is back on the menu. Youre pretty powerful in Washington and Im sure you could find an inroad.

TrueBleuCA · 5 months ago

Hey Litter I agree with you.

Also, I wonder if Obama is brave enough to give another interview with Rachel Maddow. Hey Rachel, give BO a call and invite him. Bet you he won't accept.

royboy722 · 5 months ago

To quote Dorothy Sbornak......."to widdle to wait." Mr President, you have bigger things to worry about....you just lost my vote!

RP · 5 months ago

They're just throwing us crumbs on the floor while everyone else gets to eat at the table. Remains to seen if the power-gays will settle for them. I, for one, am not. The veil has been pulled back on the intentions of this administration and unless the show us some serious progress on gay issues and soon they have no more support or money from me. They know they have us stuck between a rock and hard place because our voting alternatives suck, but I expected more.

Diogenes · 5 months ago

Talk is cheap, and easy to ignore. As long as they know you'll hold your nose and vote for them, or send them cash, your needs don't matter.

Change your voter registration and tell the DNC why you did it. Answer every fund-begging letter with a reply of "No equality, no money."

Look how fast they took action when they started losing actual donors.

DanDeLeon · 5 months ago

Big announcement!@!!@# Maybe Donnie McClurkin will sing first and Rick Warren can do the prayer before the big unveiling.

Obama is a homophobic prick.

Long Memory · 5 months ago

BTW John, how does it feel to get thrown under the bus? We transpeople are still here fighting the same fight you are to get Obama to keep his promises GLBT issues. Once we all pry ourselves back onto the bus, you going to throw the transgendered people back under it?

Diogenes · 5 months ago

Too right! GLB need to learn solidarity. No more selling out some for others.

bowser · 5 months ago

When did John throw the transgendered people under the bus?

Savage8862 · 5 months ago

Obama is stringing us along and giving us little crumbs to save his campaign contributions. The Democrats in the Senate will announce something in a few weeks I'm sure to further string us along. They want to stop the loss of campaign contributions.

More of the Same · 5 months ago

Wow. This really just angers me beyond words. Even sadder, it doesn't surprise me. At. All. Last night when a segment was coming on the news program I was watching, my reaction was "Oh, I'm so sure."

It's not change, just more of the same. Painfully so, because people believed in him and are dealing with the disappointment and outrage that they have been lied to and manipulated for a vote. No more.

Tim Miller · 5 months ago

It's a pathetic, panicked, meager crumb from Obama: limited Partner Benefits for LGBT Federal employees -excluding any that actually matter like health and retirement - and will be denied to the overwhelming majority of Federal employees in the military who Obama still kicks out for being gay. What a crock!

IMSnooping · 5 months ago

Well, as a straight, pro-equal-marriage-rights Republican, let me just chime in to say that I'm sorry this is happening. While I strongly opposed Obama and generally think he's stepping on the gas on our journey on the road to fiscal ruin, I at least held out hope that he would bring swift, marked improvement on improving the landscape for gays.

It seems like it would be pretty easy for him to do some of these things -- like ditching that horrid "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the military. I really don't think any of this would be politically complicated for him.

Keep up the fight -- and now I'll scamper on back to my own side of the tracks. ;)

William M · 5 months ago

Hi John,

Good post.

Like many Americans, I have slowly and steadily moved away from the reflexive homophobia that existed in our society for decades.

So, my position as a straight man (no pun intended), is generally that, Yes, our country needs to ease up on anti-gay rhetoric and anti-gay policies, and embrace gays as an important party of our community and society.

I'm still in favor of keeping marriage traditional (man and woman), but am fine with civil unions. I do tend to vote GOP based mostly on taxes, defense and culture issues.

The political issue gays face is this: The GOP is not yet gay-friendly. At best, some elements are gay-neutral (which is good). Dems say they are gay friendly, but only to the extent that they get money and votes from gays. With Dems, it's all about power. If gay support hurts the Dem politcal agenda, the Dems will cut you all loose.

So, currently your choice is between an honest opponent (it's ok to have an honest disagreement on marriage rights for gays) and a weasel ally (like the French).

thomasAlex · 5 months ago

Traditional Marriage (man and woman), this is not the definition of Marriage!!!

Man and woman is the Extensional Definition, which also includes man and man, woman and woman, man and multiple woman, etc.

Marriage is defined as " a social, religious, spiritual, emotional and/or legal union of individuals that creates kinship."

megapotamus · 5 months ago

Um, if it doesn't include healthcare just what benefit are they talking about? Even before its denounced as a sop it should be noted that it isn't even much of a sop. I think it is all moot at this point. The societal collapse Obama is manufacturing will take all, all at once. But at least there seems to be some reality leaking through the BarrackGoggles that so thoroughly afflicted the nation last fall. Bush (and even Cheney!) are not devils after all. And Obama is no God. Nope, not even a genius. And as we proceed it will be ever more apparent that so much the hellish Bushies did were simple common sense and would have been done by a President Gore, President Clinton or, GASP! even a President Obama.

Chris · 5 months ago

Obama's dilemma is whether to support gays or black Americans, and there are a lot more black Americans. Look at the following reactions of blacks to gay issues:

- Washington, D.C. city council proposal to recognize gay marriage
- New York Senate brouhaha over gay marriage. Two Dems defected, one returned when he found out that he would probably be prosecuted for cutting up his girl friend.
- California Prop 8.

Gays only gave him money. Blacks gave him a lot of votes. A lot more than gays.

Guess where Obama is going on gay issues.

Enough said.

Racer33 · 5 months ago

Wait, you mean he promised you the world to get your vote and is not seeing it through? Noooo! What...a....total....surprise..............to no one

You suckers believed his happy horsesh** despite it being blatantly obvious he was pandering for your vote.

You wanted him, you voted for him and now you got him-deal with it!

Diggs · 5 months ago

You gays better get back in line if you know what's good for you. If you can't show support for Obama, then STFU.

BoBo from Texas · 5 months ago

Another example of the "fierce moral urgency" that Obama feels about equality for gays. He can be counted on by the community to act on his promises, especially about marriage.

It's not about money, it's Hope and Change!

BJ · 5 months ago

Obama is a POLITICIAN - duh! I mean really, John. What did you really expect?

LH · 5 months ago

All you guys will wind up supporting the Democrats in 2010 and 2012.

You have little support among Obama's cultists. All they'll do is pull a "we need to rethink/reframe/revise what 'progressive' means (no gay marriage)" and the zombies will follow him along.

Look, the mistake you made in 2008 was ignoring the consequences of feeding and nurturing a burgeoning fascistic, Orwellian cult of personality. But it's too late now, the horse has left the barn.

He doesn't give a crap about gays, sorry to tell you. He cares about personally controlling the world's economy/job sector, yes. That is readily apparent and provable.

But many of you are progressives and will swallow the crap sandwich he serves up. There's your dilemma. What are you going to do, adopt fiscal conservatism, small government, low taxes, low spending policies? Why, it would almost be easier to achieve your "eqaul" rights by going libertarian and getting government out of everything.

But you never will. Hence, crap sandwich eating time.

Orion · 5 months ago

[Snort]

Homosexuals got a lot of attention as long as policymakers thought they made up over 10% of the population. 10% is a sizeable voting bloc. After the new studies came out that homosexuals only make up 2%-3% suddenly you're not so hot. You're "useful idiots" to work the phone banks and do the legwork in their campaigns but the Obamas in the world know you'll never turn on them and even if you did en masse it would hardly make any difference.

Ben · 5 months ago

I know the gay community decided long ago that Obama was lying on the issue of gay marriage to get elected, but has anyone ever considered that he might actually be against it? He is a member of the one demographic that polls nearly unanimously on the subject. Anyone know Rev. Wrights views on the issue?

Dick · 5 months ago

Don't fret, Cheney still loves ya'!

Charles · 5 months ago

Who is the bigger fool?

The Fool occupying the Oval Office...or the fools who voted for him?