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Loading ...Dean drops out of LGBT Democratic Party Fundraiser
06.24.2009 4:43pm EDT
(Washington) According to Ben Smith at Politico, former DNC Chairman Howard Dean has pulled out of tomorrow’s LGBT Democratic Party Fundraiser in Washington, D.C. A Dean spokeswoman, Karen Finney, said that he pulled out due to a scheduling conflict because of a “family commitment.” Dean was listed as one of the top four invites to the event, which Vice President Joe Biden is set to attend as well.
The fundraiser has met with much controversy in response to the Justice Department’s defense of the Defense of Marriage Act. Several other prominent figures have dropped out of the fundraiser because of the Obama administration’s stance on DOMA.“I will not attend a fundraiser for the National Democratic Party in Washington next week when the current administration is responsible for these kind of actions. How will they ever take us seriously if we keep forking out money while they harm us,” said author and civil rights activist David Mixner last week in a statement after pulling out from the fundraiser. “For now on, my money is going to battles within the community such as the fight in Maine or the March on Washington!”
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network announced Monday that they will have protesters outside of the event tomorrow.
“SLDN will be calling upon the President to end his silence on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” executive director Aubrey Sarvis released in a statement on SLDN’s website Monday. “We will be wearing and handing out buttons with the number 265, representing the number of service members who will have been discharged this week since President Obama was sworn in.”
Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, and Hilary Rosen, the managing partner of the DC office of the Brunswick Group, have also dropped out of the event.
Openly gay elected representatives Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, and Jared Polis are still scheduled to attend and are listed as three of the top four names on the invitation.
“I’m a Democrat and a proud Democrat. Our party’s not perfect but certainly I will help the Democrats however I can,” Rep. Polis explained to the Advocate on why he is still attending.
The Obama administration is using its political capital for other initiatives like the Stimulus package, and now Health Care, etc. before addressing promises it made to the LGBT supporters. Which means, when it comes to the administration finally addressing its promises to the LGBT community, it will have a much tougher battle. Gee, maybe team Obama will schedule their “fight” for LGBT issues just before the mid-term elections. That ought to make the Repubs happy!!
Claiming that the Obama administration has been saddled with all of the heinous things left by the Bush Crime Family does not mean that they are to be exempted from multi-tasking; they can put their energies into more than one issue at a time. Walking and chewing gum is expected of the rest of us; we must expect the same from men and women who are making a handsome living off our taxes. They have the perks that the rest of us dream about, so for them to prioritize other things and not our civil rights is disingenuous.
What’s clear is that Frank has become an ineffective liason between the US House and the LGBT Community. Sending him to the media outlets to console us is no longer going to work. He has lost all credibility within our community.
Money talks. We’ll see how loudly it talks.
I want to see the list of names of those who attend the ‘private’ cocktail party at the WH Monday noc. Not another dime to any of them either.
I have to admit I’m conflicted on how to proceed/react given my allegiance to both the Democratic Party and the struggle for GLBT rights. I can understand the need to be patient, but only if I am assured that the Administration is actively calculating how to proceed toward political victories for our community and not merely dragging its feat or de-prioritizing our causes.
But let’s not forget what happened with the military issue back in 1992 when our community insisted that the Clinton administration take immediate action. Obama has been in office only 6 months. He is dealing with a multitude of very serious and politically complicated issue from health care to the economy. But we do need to be reassured. In fact we are entitled to an on-going accounting of where our priorities are positioned in the Obama pipeline and what action is being taken or planned.
What’s needed now is clear, ongoing communication between the Obama administration and GBLT political leaders.
Not another cent, not another vote!
As far as I’m concerned, Mr. “Fierce Advocate” Obama can be a one-term President.
I hope that the fundraiser is a big bust. I rsvp-ed my apologies, saying that I would not be donating any further money to the DNC until gay people are treated as equal citizens in this society.
I have withheld my taxed income to lend any financial support to the DNC and others. I’m offended that my vote is taken for granted every election. I’m sick and tired of having my rights put on the back burner and I’m sick and tired of delay delay delay, no matter what the so called other important issues of the day are. Nothing would change if there were no economic or health care reform crisis, make no mistake about that.
Comparing our lives to incest and pedophilia….has met with not one word of repudiation coming from the White House and we’re supposed to sit idly by and say or do nothing? It seems that hypocrisy and bigotry have found a comfortable home in the White House and in the party in general. I’m done with all of them. Going back to the Greens.
they made a decision that effects us all they dont have any prior engagments they are a bunch of cowards who are afraid of what someone may think of them and as far as money is concerned people should still give from the heart and not the mind !!
Malcolm X once said “The house nigger will work harder to save the mansion when it’s on fire than will da Massa”. You listening Barney?
More importantly, are the rest of us listening? I say “Just One Time” give our money, time and votes to the Republicans as a punsihment of the Democrats. Lets do en masse. Lets do
“Just One Time” We’ll never be taken for granted again.
DNC fund raising rep made the mistake of calling me today, asking if I would continue my support. He sure got an earful.
It will be interesting to see what kind of protest show up at the fundraiser. It is being held at a hotel in Washington that is very difficult to get to by public transportation and there is relatively little parking within comfortable walking distance.