Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Protests meet Obama in California
From his decision to include Rev. Rick Warren in his inauguration to silence about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” President Barack Obama has not been the fierce advocate of the gay and lesbian community that was promised in the campaign. So the White House should not have been surprised when Obama was met with protesters last night when he was talking at a Beverly Hills fundraiser.
Officially called “a welcome” (yeah sure), about 200 people gathered to wonder where was the hope that was talked about last fall. One of the protesters was U.S. Army Lt. Dan Choi, an Arab language specialist, who was recently booted out of the service because of his sexuality. We are supposedly in a war against terror, and we do not need the expertise of an Arab language specialist? Mmmmmmmm.
Based on a purely cold calculus, Obama’s silence works for him politically. He stays above a conversation where passions get heated. Independent conservative voters who might not be the most liberal on sexuality issues, warm to him and his policies when they see gay and lesbian voters are dissatisfied. Finally the attempt by Republicans to paint him as a crazed radical fall flat when he matches them point for point on gay and lesbian issues.
We need to accept that Obama is our adversary. He’s not a Westboro Baptist Church nutty. Nor is he the spokesman for the Family Research Council. He’s a politician and contrary to popular belief politicians are not brave. They only do what’s right when forced or for some political gain (to those still upset about the Democratic primary: Hillary Clinton would be following the same script if she were in charge). Let’s not forget that Obama, in the campaign, hinted he expected us to be funky with his work on LGBT matters.
So if Obama comes to your town, throw him a “welcome.”
My husband and I loved Hillary and was dismayed when Obama won. But since he’s running on the Democratic ticket, we thought he’d do and we supported him. My husband is pleased with what he’s been doing to improve the economy, the environment, and some foreign relations issues but I, for one, is still not pleased with Obama. He still has to improve the main causes I’m passionate about: same sex equality (repeal of the DOMA), immigration reform, and healthcare reform. Obama, in my book, has not “made” it. If this continues, I hope an independent moderate will run against him and a Republican nominee after his first term. I dont care if he has the greater chance of winning than the other two but I will not lend my support for him as much as I did before. No to going door to door for him, no to setting up Obama boots at county fairs, no t6o sending him a monthly donation, no to everything Obama…unless of course he does ALL of the things I’m passionate about..or at least improve them. I have no hate for him but at this point, I dont like him.
I voted for Hillary in the primary, then Obama in the general. I’m like Rodney, in that I had that gut feeling about BO, but I pushed the button for him anyway. I won’t do that again. The Repugs are down to 20-something % claiming them, making the way for a very viable 3rd Party option next time around. Democrats get no more free passes from me. Put up or shut up.
Ballnista,
Because we were “promised change”, that’s why we didn’t vote McCain/Palin. She’s the antichrist and he thinks he’s still running for the presidency(msp?).
Ballston, there were plenty of other candidates to vote for. There are more than just one Republican and one Democrat.
John McCain for all his faults, was not George Bush. In fact, truth be known, there was and still is very little that distinguishes John McCain from Barack HomophObama. This is one of my reasons for voting for Cynthia McKinney. Cynthia McKinney supported marriage equality, and to my knowledge most of the third party candidates did, except for the far right and libertarians(who don’t support “government” marriage at all).
Barack HomophObama did not impress me in the least, his opposition to marriage equality was enough reason not to support him. But there was something else, this gut wrenching feeling that he wasn’t going to do much for us. I wanted to be wrong, but I voted for McKinney and in the end I was proven right. Obama has done nor does he have any intention of doing anything for the gay community. He has hobnobbed with domestic terrorists like Rick Warren, he has stabbed gay and lesbian service personnel in the back by refusing to end DADT ban. He sells himself as a “fierce advocate for equality” but he does nothing to advance equality.
If Obama is the best Democrats can conjur up, then McCain wasn’t so bad.
So why didn’t you vote for McCain/Palin?? Makes as much sense as your “thoughts.”
I agree JP the struggle has to escalate and we need to drop the Mr Nice Gay act all together. Of course there will always be those who disagree, but they should simply do their own thing, instead many of those people are here lecturing us. First they tell us how to be angry, then they tell us how we should address homophobia.
I for one believe that all the options should be on the table, and if someone is uncomfortable with an option(ie violence, intimidation, harassment, etc) then they should instead engage in whatever desired peaceful means they chose.
We’ve been force fed non-violence, gradualism and BS for far too long. Even typical establishment types are complaining about the appeal of Prop 8 to the Supreme Court. Why? Because they think the it’s too “premature”. In the early 90s, Romer vs Evans ruled Colorado Amendment 2 unconstitutional, and the same precedent and princple applies to not only Prop 8, but also EVERY single state Amendment that bans gay marriage, gay adoption, etc.
The director of Yes on Equality complained about the US federal court challenge, because he wants his own thing to take precedence. I for one, support both the repeal in 2010 PLUS pursuing the federal route. We should be able to chew gum and walk at the same damn time. Instead we have egotistical queens who want to be the New Harvey Milk, instead of doing what works and using all sorts of possible solutions to overturn Prop 8.
Oh and to Rodney and James… get a room already.
Obama is a politician and does not have anybody’s best interest at heart but his own. He’s a manipulator at best and painted a picturesque fairytale during his campaign. Are we shocked? No. He’s a puppet master like all the others that came before him. Stop waiting for your president to come to the rescue of LGTB Americans. The fight has to get louder.
More than likely,, not that I want to be. I would like to be wrong sometimes. To be quite honest,, I was pleasantly surprised by the above mentioned article.
Oh and don’t forget the “Einstein teaching advanced quantum physics to a house cat” that was classic.
At first I was going to be happy if Obama “did no harm” to Gay people.
Now I’m beginning to think I’ll be happy if he “doesn’t do TOO much harm” to Gay people.
It is foolish to think he will do anything FOR Gay people.
Rodney,
“James gangstalicious on the downlow Withers…”
The man who used the above phrase is now talking about dignity?!?!?! That’s funny.
But point taken. Thanks for the compliment. However, as you noted by tomorrow you will be disgusted again.
James
Oh Withers,, take the d*mn compliment and be a dignified adversary. I don’t dish out compliments all the time, so enjoy the moment.
Rodney,
I don’t like you because you are a bloody racist.
But you are right. You’ll eat those words soon.
James
Shocked!!!!! I am one of James Withers’ biggest critics. And I disagree with him, 98.99% of the time. But I am shocked, truely shocked by the fact that James Withers is 100% right on this subject. Do mine own eyes deceive me? Am I dreaming, is this topsy turvy world?
Withers might not like me cos I really don’t like him, but when someone’s right, they’re right. I have to be man enough to admit it, James Withers this article is top notch. (I know in a day or two I’ll eat those words).
Indy Impact will welcome him if he comes back to Indiana. Always peaceful and legal, mind u, but ignoring those who helped get him elected has me quite disheartened. He wouldn’t even comment about our rights being taken away. Pfffft…