Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Obama will sign directive for benefits for gay couples
Oh my. This Obama fellow is good. For the past few weeks President Barack Obama’s name has been an epithet on the lips of many gays and lesbians. From non-work on DADT to a defense of DOMA that made Rev. Pat Robertson sexually aroused, Obama’s White House has come under fire for not being the fierce advocate for the gay community as promised in the campaign.
So as the discontent grew more furious and loud (heck even the MSM was reporting on it), what does Obama do? Today, he’ll sign a directive that will extend health benefits to a number of federal employees who are involved in same sex relationships.
Please. Please. I know this is minor at best, and that’s being kind. And to steal from Alan Van Capelle, the executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, the move feels like the title of a Prince song.
“Welcome to 1999,” Van Capelle said. “How revolutionary of the White House to give benefits to same-sex couples, when two-thirds of conservative Wall Street are already doing it. What an achievement.”
Ahhh, but no matter what you might think of the president, here is one thing you have to acknowledge when you tangle with him: he’s a master at the political game. He offers a sop to the gay community, we get mad at said sop (as well we should), and those voters who are uneasy with gay and lesbian stuff (unfortunately a majority) think Obama is one of them. Essentially it’s addition by subtraction.
Well played Mr. President. Well played.
UPDATE: Made a few changes in the story because the benefits that will be extended are not health nor pension.
Obama,
When can we marry in all 50 states?
He needs to spend some of that political capital he has on DOMA and DADT but this is start.
Well played? Really? Withers – you are smarter then that. This will backfire as it already is as a ploy. Do you really think anyone on the progressive side is buying this crap he threw at us? So in essense, he is further pissing off the GLBT and Democratic party, and I am sure the conservatives will be in an uproar as well that their tax money will have to pay of a benefit they themselves enjoy from OUR tax dollars. Oh wait…he didn’t include health and pension….big FUCKING deal! This isn’t even breadcrumbs at this point…it is the wates created after eating the breadcrumbs…in other words…a big ‘ole pile of CRAP!!!!
Too little too late. The LGBT community shouldn’t and won’t settle for this attempt to shut us up. We will NOT fall back in line like good little lemmings.
Obama isn’t really giving us anything with this new “benefits” package that doesn’t include health benefits, and he’s only doing this because he knows he is in real hot water with the LGBT community. That damn DOJ brief of his dehumanized us, comparing same-sex relationships to incestous behavior. That SOB owes us an apology! And Obama and the Dems can forget about getting any more money, support or votes from me until they change their tunes. I want to see some real reforms from Obama and the Dems, and that means passing ENDA, the Uniting American Families Act, Hate Crimes, Repealing DOMA, Repealing DADT and passing a real benefits package for government workers that includes health care. Until then, no equality for the LGBT community = no money, no support, and no votes for Obama and the Dems.
so there are no health benefits and no pension benefits?…. that leaves…? what exactly?! This sounds almost useless. And quite insulting. –that this would mollify us after all his slights lately–yeah right.
I don’t know if this could even be called a crumb.
This move is supposed to keep us “happy”. Somehow the gay vote has become so second-hand to the new “liberal” President that he thinks chucking us a few good nods whilst defending monstrosities like DOMA and DADT will suffice and keep our votes within easy reach.
Does he think the gay community in the USA lives under a rock? While the entire world is extending benefits to same-sex couples we are increasingly left behind in the dust, does he not think we are taking notice? We are still the ONLY Western power to ban gays from the military. We are aligned with third world countries in that respect (no offence). In this sense, Obama would be considered “conservative” or “right of center” in many more liberal-leaning governments of Europe and perhaps even Canada.
I guess he’ll invite federal employees to the Easter egg hunt on the White House lawn.
This is an obvious and desperate gesture of placation and appeasement. It’s good to see Obama start to squirm–and if he’s squirming, you know he’s not the only one. Every sorry gesture Obama makes is blowing up on him, and it’s very satisfying to see. At least some of the Dems seem to understand–they’ve pissed off a key constituency, and it must be starting to hurt. Oh well–sorry about their luck. The real test will come as we see how many creative ways there are to make Obama squirm more. Funny thing is that Obama seems to think that he can still finesse his mistakes, and he can’t. Don’t think the GOP isn’t watching this with some interest.
DO NOT GIVE THE DNC ANY MORE MONEY!!!! Unless is it at the local level. That is where we can make a difference. Barney Frank, cancel the fundraiser now. If he does not, we need to protest it. It would kind of like MLK raising money for Lyndon Johnson. Remember, Johnson told MLK he had to wait on civil rights as well.
Obama is doing a convincing imitation of Fred Phelps’ lawn jockey.
Way to promote game playing politicians. Meanwhile, he’s only good at the game if you’re playing it too and if you were fool enough to vote for the “man.”
I don’t recall when “yes we can” can be defined as “no not now, but later and less”
I hope Obama doesn’t think he can restore good relations with the gay community by temporarily (!) extending relocation benefits to domestic partners of gay Federal employees.
No money and no votes for the Democrats until ENDA is passed and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is ended.
I’m really pissed at Obama. I thought he was going to be the best president of our history, but now he just looks like a clown. Making farty magic tricks, and pooping out benefits that you wouldn’t even look crossed eyes at. I was a big Obama supporter, but now I’ve been pissed at him, since about March. I really feel like a traitor to the GLBT community for sticking up for him all this time, I’m sorry for doubting the GLBT community and sticking up for him.
I will be changing my Democrat vote for an Independent vote. I won’t vote for a republican, nor a democrat any more. Independent from now on.
I’m not gonna let the elevator bring us down!
Let’s go CRAZY!
Put these batards on notice. No more contributions. No more of our time. No more of our fund-raisers.
NO MORE until you END GAY APARTHEID!
To the DNC….I hope you have a room full of angry queens next week at your “LGBT (Second Class American) Fund-raiser”.
I hope the Dykes on Bikes bust through the front door and circle the $1500 a plate, black-tied self-important lot of ya on their Harleys!