Comments on: Withers: Protests meet Obama in California

By: Jonboy

Jonboy — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:49:20 +0000

I must admit my furvor over Obama has wained. But, I also realize it has been a short time, though that is coming close to an end. Not so amazingly, what the hell can anyone believe on a candidate? I had the same excitement over Bill Clinton and look what that got our community. An outsider? Look what happened with Carter. An insider is more of the same. A third party…well, that may be fine, but that person will still have to deal with the national parties. And we all can see how the congress would fight the executive branch tooth and nail. I for one can only hope. I believe Obama to be true to his word. I don’t have much of a choice. That will not stop me from putting on the pressure and writing and calling. I got to go and put in 3 more letters into the post on the Uniting Families Act.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:51:02 +0000

I agree that Obama is not brave; I’d add he is disembling and disloyal to the base of the Democratic Party. Proof? His flip-flopping on release of torture photos, continuing the policy on rendition, dissuading investigation of Constitutional wrongdoing by public officials and bailing out banks and insurance while letting homeowners take it in the shorts.

I’m so over Obama and his stupid cheerleaders.

By: drewski

drewski — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:42:38 +0000

What burden is on Obama that he can’t give us some support? Hmmm…he hasn’t done anything to shut down Guantanamo, in fact we might be more entrenched there now than we were before. He’s continued the perversion of our Constitution with regard for the bullshit military tribunals instead of a real trial in a real US court, where real US law prevails. Where he’s had room to change bank regulations to reduce the risk of this meltdown happening again, he’s just putting the same players back at the poker table again. Politics is the art of the possible? We’ve seen plenty of possible swept off the table in favor of maintaining an unsustainable status quo, at a cost of trillions of dollars to the US Treasury. Only a fool spends a mountain of money to keep the circumstances that made him part with the cash.

Maybe it’s time to be nasty. Maybe if enough of us show up in blackface, arm in arm, singing “We Shall Overcome”–maybe paying the local fire department to spray us with fire hoses–maybe then we’ll exist. And we’d “exist” at the cost of alienating millions of black Americans, gay and str8, who are NOT universally against us.

We already have support at the state level, and it’s growing. We have a Democratic Congress which is terrified of its own shadow, terrified of using its power the way the GOP did when it ruled. We have a President who shows less leadership and too much double-talk. These Federal Dems seem to think that gays will continue to endorse this Jim-Crow-meets-David-Geffen game for all eternity, but the anger is growing.

Obama can afford to show us support and he chooses not to. Everything in politics costs something. He’s on our meter, not the reverse, and it’s time he shows himself worthy of our substantial political donations if he wants to stay in that pretty house as something other than a token.

By: stephen

stephen — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:58:48 +0000

True, Obama hasn’t dealt with LGBT issues in the way most of us would like, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that he inherited a LOT of CRAP from Shrub, etc. The economy, the unjustified wars, all of it are things that he must focus on Now. He is just in the infancy of his presidency. Of course, I would like him to give more attention to the LGBT community, and to strike down DADT and make a statement about Prop. 8. Sorry, but I think it is FAR too early to expect him to change his focus. He has 4 years to take action on this issue. It would be impossible for him to focus on EVERYTHING that everyone wants at the same time. He has done things that have disappointed me, but I am reserving judgement until he has had time to deal with the crap SHRUB left behind. Lets leave the comparisons to the Taliban and racial slurs to the side.
Let’s not forget Stonewall. The LGBT community stood up for itself and made itself heard then, when homosexuality was a crime. We need to work together to make our voices heard, and not sit around complaining that the President hasn’t done enough for us.

By: Rita Blass

Rita Blass — Sat, 30 May 2009 03:36:19 +0000

I, for one, am not surprised, its always been my belief that he was primed for office by republicans who knew that he was the only candidate with a chance against hilary. I was devastated when the gay community fell awayfrom her to endorse obama. if u will notice she has already proven herself to her employees even tho the world has lots of need for the state dept roght now, she made short work of handing out equality… Im just saying…I told ya so…

By: tjr

tjr — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:44:56 +0000

Obama is doing a phenomenal job on everything else except gay rights. His approval ratings are still in the sixties which goes to show that by him not acting on gay rights is not hurting him in anyway politically. It is however debatable if the same would be true if he was active in trying to repeal DADT and DOMA. Remember Obama is a politician and a master at it, probably the greatest in a generation. It’s not even six months, I will give him a year to act on gay rights before judging.

By: JERRY

JERRY — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:04:38 +0000

Let’s face it, Obama LIED! He has lost my vote and I have NO faith that he will follow through on his promises. This is doubly sad because, by being black, I am sure he has faced baseless discrimination himself.

By: Tony Renna ny

Tony Renna ny — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:37:35 +0000

rodney K , i agree with you all the way man, but as you know violence places people in harms way , we do need to be stronger as a whole , but with our words and choices we make by staying united , i know mr nice guy dont work , so agreed lets kick some ass , but with our minds and words , and even boycotting those who oppose us ,which is a comment i read earlier that made sense thats where to get them, in the pocket book, and lets face it us gays have more money to spend then most , i feel bad for martin luther king, he taught us to live by the sword is to die by the sword , unfortunately it didnt work out that way for him , he lived pecefully and died violently , that should teach us that a pasive stance does not always work , we must fight hard but with our unity and courage thats how we will get results .

By: Tony Renna ny

Tony Renna ny — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:02:20 +0000

why is anyone surprzed , hillary would have been the better choice , its funny how nobody noticed obama as a homophobe when he openly was not in support of gay marriage , stating , marriage was for one man and one woman , he should have keept his personal opiion to himself , if he really wnated to support the lgbt community , make this a lesson learned that most politicians are alike , with thir own agendas and will most likely if the are straight , will never support us . again when posting please put your full name and location out here , let the man know they dont scare us , as long as we are visible we can stand strong in numbers , be proud of who you are and support all our lgbt community , we are all brothers and sisters and have to remain as one .together with our unity we will succede,

By: James Withers

James Withers — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:00:09 +0000

Yhitzak,

Fair question. I’ve always been suspect about Obama when it came to LGBT issues. I saw him no different from other mainstream Democractic pol who courted the gay vote, but would move on if stuff got too hot. It’s how the Democratic Party operates.

Like I said yesterday, I don’t think he’s a homophobe; however, he will, like others before him, have to be pushed to do what is right.

Enjoy your week-end.

Sincerely,

James