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.”
Just as I predicted, this new president is nothing when it comes to our rights. It is a shame that there are no politicians out there that just say “NO!” to the idiotic bullshit in this country. If Obama wants my support, he’s going to have to push a lot more to granting our equality. Take to streets? I see it coming and like the 1960’s, it will be nasty at times. So, Mr. Obama, if there is a great social or culture war, you need not look who to blame beyond the confines of the Oval Office. Let the cry begin: “Civil rights or civil war!”
Such irony that a formerly oppressed minority would take the side of upholding the anti-christian, high moral crime of discrimination and favor keeping a fellow minority “in their place”.
To paraphrase Jesus “what-the-hell-are-they-doing-in-my-name“ Christ:
What does it profit one to rule the world by upholding the special privileges of the status quo only to lose your soul?
In regards to Obama, most of us in the LGBT community thought that we were voting for Superman when, in reality, we just replaced Lex Luthor with his evil twin. I think I’d rather have the real thing than some viper who lures you in closer with lies just so it can strike with less effort.
Let’s just take a look at Obama’s record so far:
* Obama now supports George W. Bush-style Military Tribunals for foreign war detainees (he was against them as candidate Obama).
* Obama has expanded (not limited) Bush-style warrantless wiretapping; adding special guarantees of government immunity and expanding his “special powers” (without Congressional Oversight) of the Executive Branch.
* Obama has stifled government investigations into Torture and the Human Rights Abuses of the former administration.
* Obama gives away hundreds of billions of tax-payer’s dollars to Wall Street, and then he just turns his back on the union workers who supported him in the Auto Industry.
* Obama allows his minions in Congress to conduct hearings on Heath Care Reform where they invite profit-driven vultures and profiteering extortionists from the Insurance Industry to sit at the front of the table when formulating Health Care Reform — while they simultaneously arrest and expel single-payer National Health Care advocates from the hearings.
* On civil rights, Obama has de-prioritized repeal of DADT which has destroyed the military careers of over twelve thousand loyal, patriot Americans (even as Candidate Obama campaigned to push Congress to overturn that odious Jim Crow-style affront to human dignity).
* Obama (and Pelosi/Reid) have expressed no interest whatsoever in overturning DOMA so that those of us who are legally married (or partnered under some other kind of quasi-marriage-like legal arrangement) can receive federal benefits — as Obama promised.
* Obama’s apologists say that he is too busy trying to save the nation and the economy and jobs — so, then why isn’t he pushing for job equality and protections (ENDA) for the tens of millions of GLBT citizens who do not have the same level of job protections as ninety percent of the population?
In the final analysis, the Democrats and, especially Obama, are NOT “The Change You Can Believe In“! As bigoted, odious and villainous as the Republican Party is, at least they are upfront about it. Whereas, the Democrats, along with their lying segregationist, bigoted demagogue, Barak Obama, are master deceivers who troll the GLBT community for money, political volunteers, and votes — only to slap us all in the face with either that tiresome mantra of “the time is not right” excuse or just an outright “get out of my face” avoidance of us after an election — that is, after they have exploited us repeatedly in order to grab political power.
The Democratic Party un-official line: “Hey, just because they took us to the prom, it doesn’t mean we have to dance with them — right?”
….Well, that is their attitude. And we are expected to gleefully accept that? But what do you expect when all we get from our fearless “leadership” in the GLBT community is to watch them smile and plead: “may-I-have-another-punch-the-gut-sir” and (while bending over to kiss the feet of their heterosexual overseers) “will-you-please-kick-us-in-the-ass-again-master“ ? The subservience from of our masochistic, fan-boy GLBT, Democratic fund-raising, political social clubs and toadies in Washington is sickening.
Fortunately, amongst the deluded millions of Obama sycophants who initially supported this dishonorable bigot, there are millions now who are finally starting to see the light.
It will be a third party ticket for me and my spouse next time — unless the Segregationists Democrats in Congress and the Bigot-in-Chief in the White House get the message. I am sure many millions in the GLBT community will also express a similar outrage at the ballot box. Maybe then “our friends” on Capital Hill, and in the White House, will finally get the message that when you barely win an election, with a desperately cobbled together coalition of minority voters, you don’t dare betray your constituents by ignoring their fundamental demands for equal rights after you are in office.
If things don’t change, and quickly, I’m ready to:
!!! Ditch President Barack O’Bush in 2012 !!!!
© Bud Evans
Such irony that a formerly oppressed minority would take the side of upholding the anti-christian, high moral crime of discrimination and favor keeping a fellow minority “in their place”.
To paraphrase Jesus “what-the-hell-are-they-doing-in-my-name“ Christ:
What does it profit one to rule the world by upholding the special privileges of the status quo only to lose your soul?
In regards to Obama, most of us in the LGBT community thought that we were voting for Superman when, in reality, we just replaced Lex Luthor with his evil twin. I think I’d rather have the real thing than some viper who lures you in closer with lies just so it can strike with less effort.
Let’s just take a look at Obama’s record so far:
* Obama now supports George W. Bush-style Military Tribunals for foreign war detainees (he was against them as candidate Obama).
* Obama has expanded (not limited) Bush-style warrantless wiretapping; adding special guarantees of government immunity and expanding his “special powers” (without Congressional Oversight) of the Executive Branch.
* Obama has stifled government investigations into Torture and the Human Rights Abuses of the former administration.
* Obama gives away hundreds of billions of tax-payer’s dollars to Wall Street, and then he just turns his back on the union workers who supported him in the Auto Industry.
* Obama allows his minions in Congress to conduct hearings on Heath Care Reform where they invite profit-driven vultures and profiteering extortionists from the Insurance Industry to sit at the front of the table when formulating Health Care Reform — while they simultaneously arrest and expel single-payer National Health Care advocates from the hearings.
* On civil rights, Obama has de-prioritized repeal of DADT which has destroyed the military careers of over twelve thousand loyal, patriot Americans (even as Candidate Obama campaigned to push Congress to overturn that odious Jim Crow-style affront to human dignity).
* Obama (and Pelosi/Reid) have expressed no interest whatsoever in overturning DOMA so that those of us who are legally married (or partnered under some other kind of quasi-marriage-like legal arrangement) can receive federal benefits — as Obama promised.
* Obama’s apologists say that he is too busy trying to save the nation and the economy and jobs — so, then why isn’t he pushing for job equality and protections (ENDA) for the tens of millions of GLBT citizens who do not have the same level of job protections as ninety percent of the population?
In the final analysis, the Democrats and, especially Obama, are NOT “The Change You Can Believe In“! As bigoted, odious and villainous as the Republican Party is, at least they are upfront about it. Whereas, the Democrats, along with their lying segregationist, bigoted demagogue, Barak Obama, are master deceivers who troll the GLBT community for money, political volunteers, and votes — only to slap us all in the face with either that tiresome mantra of “the time is not right” excuse or just an outright “get out of my face” avoidance of us after an election — that is, after they have exploited us repeatedly in order to grab political power.
The Democratic Party un-official line: “Hey, just because they took us to the prom, it doesn’t mean we have to dance with them — right?”
….Well, that is their attitude. And we are expected to gleefully accept that? But what do you expect when all we get from our fearless “leadership” in the GLBT community is to watch them smile and plead: “may-I-have-another-punch-the-gut-sir” and (while bending over to kiss the feet of their heterosexual overseers) “will-you-please-kick-us-in-the-ass-again-master“ ? The subservience from of our masochistic, fan-boy GLBT, Democratic fund-raising, political social clubs and toadies in Washington is sickening.
Fortunately, amongst the deluded millions of Obama sycophants who initially supported this dishonorable bigot, there are millions now who are finally starting to see the light.
It will be a third party ticket for me and my spouse next time — unless the Segregationists Democrats in Congress and the Bigot-in-Chief in the White House get the message. I am sure many millions in the GLBT community will also express a similar outrage at the ballot box. Maybe then “our friends” on Capital Hill, and in the White House, will finally get the message that when you barely win an election, with a desperately cobbled together coalition of minority voters, you don’t dare betray your constituents by ignoring their fundamental demands for equal rights after you are in office.
If things don’t change, and quickly, I’m ready to:
!!! Ditch President Barack O’Bush in 2012 !!!!
© Bud Evans
http://rainfish2000.blogspot.com/
Alfred Bear:
Why are you begin so stupid ?
Did you know that there are “black” people that are also gay (in the same proportions as every one else) ?
Alfred,
“Well in non-politically correct speak “niggers hate fags…”
Not sure what this has to do with Obama or what I wrote, but I guess you just couldn’t wait to use the n word. Ooooo. Such an edgy radical bear. Speaking the harsh truth! Meh.
James
Alfred Bear, sometimes the truth needs impolite words in order to BE the truth. You, sir, have spoken the truth, and I applaud your courage in doing so.
To paraphrase a few lines from ANOTHER great bear, Stephen Sondheim: Obama’s not good, he’s just nice. Alfred’s not nice, he’s just right.
I frankly do not buy that Hillary would be following the same path as Obama. She was much clearer in her support for LGBT issues during the campaign than Obama was. And now in the administration, she appears to actually be addressing those real inequalities that are under her control, while Obama does nothing.
>We need to accept that Obama is our adversary.
This is *grossly* premature…not to mention *counter* *productive*!
The guy said he’d get to it in his first term, which, last time I checked, was four years in length. Why are you suddenly changing the ground rules and expecting results–in the style you wanted as opposed to his style–in four and a half months?
If you are taking a more radical or grassroots approach to your politics, I can respect that, and almost all of what I say does not apply to you. March on! Just be clear that your enemy is not Obama…it’s “the system” within which he works.
For the rest of us who are choosing to do our work within the mainstream political system, we need to grow up and toughen up (sorry about the blunt words).
Three steps forward, two steps back. And don’t freak out when we’re stepping backward of if there’s a pause between steps.
Campaigns are won not because someone “is right!”; they’re won with a *lot* of politicking, backroom conversations, ally building, money raising, campaigning hard against our enemies in legislatures and congress, finding alternative candidates and supporting them, street canvassing, neighborhood gatherings, Internet community building, information disseminating, court-case precedent building, and probably a lot more that I’m failing to mention. Oh, yeah…and street protests, too. But venting your anger and disappointment in street protests is just a small piece of a much, much, MUCH larger picture. If you fancy yourself “[mainstream] political” and you’re only doing street protests, then you’re missing the boat.
And hang in there! ’cause, generally, when you compare where we are now with where we were ten, twenty, thirty years ago, we’re clearly *winning*! Let’s not get our panties in a bunch because we’re not winning faster. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize and keep working…!
Obama has NEVER been for advancing LGBT rights. He’s always shown, said and acted on his belief that separate IS Equal – and the status quo is good enough.
I commend him for all he’s done with other areas that affect our Country, but I’ve never, ever mistook him for an advocate or an ally for our community.
We can’t look to him for help. We’ve got to do this on a Grass Roots level, not Grass Tops.
That doesn’t mean we don’t show Mr. Obama that we vehemently disapprove of his unfulfilled campaign promises to us. We need to be visible to him and to everyone in anyway we can.
In solidarity there is victory!
Obama has appointed openly gay people, but needs to do more. Congress needs to repeal DADT. He can’t do that. If he ever gets Matthew Shepard act or DADT repeal and won’t sign them, then I’ll give up on him. In the mean time, I’ll keep telling him to support LGBT rights and telling my representatives to push DADT repeal, hate crimes act, and DOMA repeal. He is still way better than McCain would have been. But don’t count on DOMA going away anytime soon.
We need to push DADT repeal hardest because it teaches discrimination to thousands of new recruits as well as to the general population. Once it is replaced by a tolerance policy, it will be easier to teach tolerance and acceptance to everyone.
Well in non-politically correct speak “niggers hate fags” and with this administration no hope exists for us. Soon “legislation” will create a “LEGAL” framework to take all our rights, then our homes, land, and money. And when they kill us it will be “spun” as a WARTIME LEGAL NECESSITY to save the nation.
Yes he is a little bit of a disappointment. And yes he has been busy. But, Not a word to reverse DADT or issues important. Prop8 – silence by the administration. He might not be a true LGBT friend. We need to all protest and sing in front of the white house: Mr. President: Let the sun-shine, let the sunshine in, ..the sun .. shine in …
Obama is for equality as are most members of the Christian Taliban. But there is an adjective that is missing: “conditional.” They are for “conditional equality” and they are in charge of providing the list of conditions. Guess where we are on that list.
It is sad. I waited in the freezing rain outside of the Roanoke Civic Center (teh heart of appalachia) wearing an Obama/rainbow pin hoping I wouldn’t get my ass kicked to show support for the man that was supposed to overturn DOMA, DADT and institute Civil Unions in the US. Now he has taken DOMA off of his agenda. How can we have legal civil unions with DOMA in place? He is not a fierce advocate. He is a wolf in sheeps clothing like the rest of them. I am scraping the damn stciker off of my car.
No elected official, not even Barney Frank, is going to please every one of us 100% of the time. Every elected official has a constituency consisting of many different people, each with his or her own viewpoint.
Is Obama what I had hoped for? No. Not on GLBT issues; not on the quagmire in the Middle East; not on prosecuting former Dubyah administration officials who broke the law. I can muster up only two cheers for his first Supreme Court appointment, too.
But is he better than Dubyah and his Thugs; is he better than a McCain (for about a year)/Palin (for the following three years) administration? I can’t even begin to calculate how much.
The President will do what he is doing and we will have to continue to keep the pressure on him when we think he’s doing the wrong thing. That’s what our system of government is.