Subscribe to Breaking NewsRuby-Sachs: Obama’s Public Opinion on Gay Marriage Doesn’t Matter
Yesterday, the New York Times ran a front page “White House Memo” arguing that Obama is facing increased pressure to engage in the gay debate. Today, James and I are discussing whether it’s a good thing for Obama to step into the ring.
I would love to see Obama stand up and say that LGBT Americans deserve equal rights in all areas of the law – something he stated publicly many times before he was President and a sentiment he has now retracted. After all the time spent campaigning for Obama, my own little heartbreak would be mended if Obama would tell the entire country that people like me are worthy of full rights.
But as a political junkie not only do I know that won’t happen, but I don’t care if it does.
I believe that Obama’s public opinion on gay marriage is particularly irrelevant. As well, any public statements made by his office, while comforting, will not translate into actual gains for our movement.
So excuse me for adhering to real politik here, but our focus should not be on whether or not Obama is commenting on Iowa marriage decisions or making public statements about UAFA. They are not the kind of actions that will win this fight.
Instead, intense pressure should be put on the Obama administration to work on backroom tactics to get immigration reform tabled this year. He needs to link valuable votes on economic issues to tolerance for legislative gains on social issues.
Meanwhile, it is our responsibility to pressure members of Congress to stand up and publicly support gay rights issues. Those votes, those individuals, are the ones that matter. They can attain critical mass, can change the accepted discourse in the U.S. and lead to easy votes on equal rights legislation.
This has, to some extent, already occurred. Senator Kerry, for example, has publicly supported LGBT rights and so has Senator Leahy and a number of members of Congress.
But we need to pressure representatives to be more vocal, more committed to LGBT equality.
So let’s forget about Obama for the time being and start targeting Democratic representatives in Congress. Their voices are, surprisingly, more important in this case than the President’s.
Ruby-Sachs, lay off the cool aid! You’ve been drinking way too much.
I disagree with the article. Barack Obama’s opinion does matter. With an approval rating in the high sixties and the passage of several bills in the last 100 days that he openly and aggressively campaigned for, his opinion goes a long way. The president is obviously mindful of the disastrous start of the Clinton administration when it came to dealing with gay rights. I understand his silence on same-sex marriage simply because the majority of America is not there yet, and with this already being dealt with at the state level. However his silence on DADT is quite disturbing.
DADT is a law that must be repealed through congress but it’s up to the president to act a cheerleader for the bill’s passage. Frankly I believe any gay rights bill that lands on his desk he will sign it. It’s also up to us the public to put pressure on our elected representatives.
I’m encouraged that Obama just urged the senate to support an inclusive hate crimes bill, and he wrote to a soldier who was in danger of being dismissed under DADT that he intends to honor his commitment to make sure gay and lesbian soldiers can serve openly.
Congress has to introduce any bill, so I lean toward Emma’s position. I think we should focus mainly on congress at this point. However, the president can play a role, such as urging passage of a bill. So, I would also pressure him – respectfully, with the goal of persuasion, not merely blowing off steam.
There’s also the fourth estate: the media. We can press the progressive and moderate media to cover the government’s slow progress on our rights, so that our many heterosexual allies will also urge the government to act. Remember, most of our issues are drawing the support of strong majorities.
Congress is working on several bills already: equal rights for international same-sex couples, repealing the denial of federal benefits under DOMA, and a bill to prohibit anti-LGBT bullying in schools. The house has passed the inclusive hate crimes bill that I mentioned above. I haven’t heard much lately on ENDA, but my understanding is that they are working on that as well. I see that as a bedrock bill: with that in place, we’ll be able to come out at work and be much more active in supporting our own rights and educating people.
We can encourage all this to happen faster by contacting congress and the media, and to a lesser extent the president.
Lauren, maybe you’ve not been following this site or listening to the news. Obama is not on our side. He now barely even mentions us in his laundry list of groups.
Better to work for change on a local level. Because, honestly, the folk inside the belt line of Washington do not have a clue.
Here in Arizona we have put immense pressure on the Democratic and Republician party for LGBT issues to be addressed. Frankly I really do care that Obama stands up for us because in Republican state like Arizona I personally need to know that our president will be on my and my partner’s side in the future.
What? Politicians get things done, or don’t, on what they perceive to acceptance by their constituents…and the population as a whole. Having the President of the United States stand up and lend his voice and his backing and support to the LGBT community creates a trickle down affect. The more we are seen, the more we are accepted by the population, the easier, and risk free, it is for politicians to do the right thing in passing legislation.
He’s not a god, he doesn’t walk on water, he’s the President, he won, stop campaigning. It’s our job as Americans to examine, criticize and require that our elected leaders do the things they promised and we elected them TO DO because of those promises. We’re swiftly becoming the thing we hated most about the far right, the inability to even contemplate the slightest fault in the president.
Ohhhh, Ruby-Sachs…. equal rights and equal protections are so Pre-Election. That was only for raising funds from the gay folk that bought the Obama Change Lie.
Get with the program here. We won’t hear that talk again until it’s time to raise campaign funds.
As each state accepts Gay Marriage Obama’s position on civil unions looks backwards. He does not look like a leader, but rather, more like those persons he criticized while campaigning. I have never expected him to leave his comfortable political position….but time and real change is smoking him out. We must keep fighting for ourselves and appreciate those who stand with us.
Oh, for the days when leaders actually did exactly that, rather than allow themselves to be blown wherever the winds of polls fling them.
One does not get a good result by building a house from the roof down. Foundation first then then the walls (thats the congress) then the roof (thats the President) As important as the roof is the walls must support it. Think about it Ruby is right.
Clinton tried it to soon with gays in the
military. I need not tell you whst happened there. The congress can only move as fast as their constituents open their minds. Moving to fast would open the door for a right wing take over. The country is moving at a record clip compared to the past. Lets not de-rail the train by going to fast around the corner.
Patience boys and girls. Our day is comming.
I’m willing to give the Commander in Chief a pass for now on gay marriage. I’m not willing to give him a pass on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. At a time when we’re fighting two wars and losing trained Arabic linguists to an idiotic policy, this is not an issue to “push down the road.”
We should, of course, pressure Congress to act. But DADT repeal won’t happen until the Commander in Chief gets firmly and loudly behind it. A handwritten note to a dismissed soldier is a nice gesture. I’d like to see some official action taken. Soon.
I don’t quite agree. Obama is the leader of the Democratic Party. Pressuring Obama is pressuring the party. Every member of congress knows….we’re watching you, really closely.
I think he will remain mostly silent until a political opportunity opens up. It’s not his battle to win. He just needs to not stand in the way.
Another pass for Obama? Of course it matters what he says! Those who elected him and voted for Prop 8 need to hear it. Those who voted for him because he’ll “spread the wealth” but don’t want to spread civil rights need to hear it. Every liberal in this country who has demanded their own rights and then tried to keep others from getting theirs needs to hear it.