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Loading ...PROMISES, PROMISES: Obama delivers on hate crimes
10.29.2009 8:23am EDT
(Washington) For this accomplishment, President Barack Obama sought maximum publicity.
There was a bill signing at a wooden desk set up in the East Room, with the media invited, followed by a reception for joyous, champagne-sipping supporters and an address to them, again, from the East Room.
Obama was keeping a campaign promise to gays and lesbians by putting his signature on a bill to include violence against homosexuals in federal hate crimes law.Of several such commitments to gay and lesbian supporters, it’s the first one he’s kept. Other promises are either pending or stalled entirely, proving a source of continued dismay for gay and lesbian advocates who worked to help him get elected.
As a candidate, Obama promised to end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that bars homosexuals from serving openly in the military. He pledged to work to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, which limits how states, local and federal bodies can recognize partnerships and determine benefits. He also promised to outlaw job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Nine months into his term, those promises aren’t close to being met.
While clearly pleased by Wednesday’s signing ceremony, which was attended by many members of Congress who came to witness the fruits of a decade of effort, Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said there is still a lot of work to be done.
“We look forward to the days ahead when we will join together again to celebrate full equality and recognition of our community, including in employment, the military and in the full recognition of our families,” Carey said.
The expanded law now also covers crimes motivated by gender identity or disability.
“No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love. No one in America should be forced to look over their shoulder because of who they are or because they live with a disability,” Obama said, referring to Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr., for whom the law is named.
Shepard was a gay Wyoming college student murdered in 1998; Byrd was a black man chained to a pickup truck by three white men and dragged to his death in east Texas that year.
Obama’s relationship with gay activists has been rocky since his election. They objected to the participation of evangelist Rev. Rick Warren in Obama’s inauguration because of Warren’s support for repealing gay marriage in California. Obama responded by having Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson, the denomination’s first openly gay bishop, participate at another event.
As president, Obama hasn’t taken any concrete steps to urge Congress to overturn the Clinton-era “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. He restated the pledge this month in a speech at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay civil rights advocacy group.
“I will end ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’” Obama said, offering neither a timetable nor specifics on how it would be done. He noted that legislation is pending in the House, and that he is working with the Pentagon and Congress on ending the policy.
“We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve this country,” he said. “We should be celebrating their willingness to show such courage and selflessness on behalf of their fellow citizens, especially when we’re fighting two wars.”
On job security for gays and lesbians, Obama said “we’re pushing hard” for it because “nobody in America should be fired because they’re gay.” He said “it’s not fair. It’s not right. We’re going to put a stop to it.”
Obama also pledged during the campaign to work for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. But administration lawyers did the opposite, defending the law in a court brief. White House aides said the lawyers were only doing their jobs by supporting an existing law.
Obama has expanded some federal benefits to same-sex partners, but not health benefits or pension guarantees. He has allowed State Department employees to include their same-sex partners in certain embassy programs available to opposite-sex spouses.
If Obama can so easily amend the hate crimes laws, why can’t he also get two simple repeals of DADT and DOMA also on his desk? Getting the hate crime amendment on his desk didn’t seem to take any time away from Obama — it is a simple amendment to an already established and written law. It didn’t take any time becuase is is not difficult and complex new policy legislation, like billion dollar bailouts or a complete reorganization of the health sector of the American economy, which he is getting on his desk. What is the problem, then, with these two repeals? He should get those laws off the books ASAP, and there is no good reason for Obama to continue to want them to be operative, and he indicated in his administration’s brief.
The democrats could always reliably count on the gay vote, and I think they have taken that vote for granted. The democrats don’t realize how serious a political situation this is for them. The political damage of gays talking down the administration is widespread, it affects gays, their associates, straight supporters, which have grown enormously, family and friends. It could easily result in a failed presidency.
“Obama can so easily amend the hate crimes laws…” What the !#$*? Do you know *anything* about the history of this measure, Brian? “…why can’t he also get two simple repeals of DADT and DOMA also on his desk?” Because that’s not the way this stuff works. The idea of ANY law being repealed “simply” is a joke or at least a delusion of grandeur. This amendment has been going through Congress for a really, really effing long time. The Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell are two LEGISLATIVE policies, not entirely unlike this hate-crimes amendment, which passed through both houses of Congress BEFORE they reached the president’s desk. (Use the Google and search for Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; it might prove enlightening for you. And while you’re at it, use the Google to look for a copy of the United States’ Constitution; it explains how bills should be passed into law, as well as the LIMITED powers of each branch of government.) Obama could, theoretically, issue an executive order that could stop the enforcement of those policies (DOMA and DADT), but ceasing enforcement of those policies does NOT nullify them or prevent them from being legal. Additionally, and I cannot stress this enough: it is the job of CONGRESS to legislate, NOT the job of the president, no matter who the president should be. Pressure should be put on all members of Congress as it is they who will ultimately begin the process of repealing these policies.
But how can I blame you for getting upset at an Associated Press article that is so obviously biased?
First, Obama DID NOT deliver on hate crimes…he simply signed it and wants to take credit. TYPICAL politician.
Yhitzak is right…these are all legislative issues. BUT the executive branch can and should prod the legislature, as it is doing on healthcare.
We won this because of US. We lobbied, we voted, we got the 60 votes needed to attach it to the spending bill which required some republicans to vote for this.
This was a 16 year legislative, lobbying and voting victory. we should thank ourselves, the sponsors and those that voted with us.
I have and have had Obama’s number for some time. He is going to take credit for any results but will not stick his neck out. he’ll sign what comes to him, unless we continue to pressure him to advocate for the changes we want, as we have seen a little movement on that in the last week.
Even defending Doma with those briefs was simply a political wimpy yet predictable move. We see it as aggressively against us, but he saw it as not sticking his neck out for if he didn’t order those briefs (and don’t think holder did this in a vacuum) the wackos would be screaming “but the prescedent, the prescedent”.
Not sticking his neck out from his point of view is advocating against our equality from out point of view.
Seeing it that way reveals what I’ve been saying so long: not a supporter, but will take our votes and say what is needed to keep us happy.
So since we don’t have a “Friend” but do have someone who needs us, we have one and only one thing to do: keep the pressure on him.
Keep writing on your democratic pleas for money “return to sender, addressee not known until action on DOMA and DADT”.
they’ll pay the postage and feel the pain, if millions came back that way.
Don’t open them..insult them..let them know our wallets are closed and our votes are not going to be cast until they do something.
It worked in congress and it can work in the white house.
Obama’s postition that “hey, I just sign the bills around here, I dont’ write them,” is ludicrous. My point, Yhitzak is that Obama can get much more difficult and complex legislation on his desk to sign – when he wants it. He marshals congressional resources to achieve NEW COMPLEX POLICY. He is reorganizing the health care sector! But DOMA and DADT are OLD laws, that merely get taken off the books by two bills that only have to state that the laws have been revoked. Period. There is a great deal of work that must come AFTER the repeals, not before. They are just repeals. Sure they have to be sponsored and hearings have to be held. And I don’t accept that he has more important things to do. Democrats now control the house, senate and white house. After the midterm election, they may not. They are playing politics with civil rights, gambling that gays will always return them to office. But civil rights have to come first on the agenda, not last, because there may NEVER be political consensus to repeal Bill Clinton’s hillbilly hack job on the constitution.
I give Obama credit for signing the bill–George W. Bush promised a veto. However, we can’t just stop now and trust he will do the right thing on gay civil rights.
For those who say we are not being patient, my response is this: our impatience is the fault of Candidate Obama. During the Democratic primary, he promised the moon–going WAYYY beyond his primary competitors (not just Hilary Clinton, but also Joe Biden–his now Vice President). Candidate Obama had every constituency believing he was the 2nd coming of Christ and would walk on water at any moment.
He should never raised our expectations to stratospheric heights. Now he is rightfully so on the hook to deliver and we must keep the pressure on him and Congress as well.
Otherwise, President Obama just might wind up being merely Citizen Obama in 2012.
Obama wanted and got our money and our votes. But his promises to us, except for this bill have been lies.
What exactly has he lied about? From the very beginning, he explained that for civil unions, and against gay marriage. So what the hell are you mad about? He might be timid, but a liar? I think not! He says, that he will continue to sign bills that support equality. This Hate crimes bill is an example of that. And for the last time, please stop hackling him like with the wave of a magic wand, we’ll get all the “rights” we want. You want to bitch to somebody, try your congressmen/women, and senators. Get off the “let’s whine about Obama” train people!
edit: just congress men/women.
We can all sit here, and pretend to be experts. And say, DADT can be overturned without problems, but the reality is far from that. Let’s have the experts on the issue do their jobs, and you stick to whatever it is your an expert on in your personal life. Deal?
typhoon said: “He says, that he will continue to sign bills that support equality. This Hate crimes bill is an example of that.”
Hate crime legislation does not support equality. In fact, it actively promotes inequality by providing special protection to certain people against certain types of crimes. As a gay man I may benefit from that legislation, but I’m not foolish enough to believe, even for a second, that that legislation promotes equality. I am no more equal since the passage of this legislation than I was before. I am still a second-class citizen – just a second-class citizen who might see his attackers go to prison for a little bit longer if he happens to be attacked.
typhoon said: “Let’s have the experts on the issue do their jobs, and you stick to whatever it is your an expert on in your personal life. Deal?”
Someone’s panties are in quite the bundle aren’t they!
I believe the individuals you are addressing are merely expressing an opinion. It may be an ill-conceived opinion, but they have a right to express it. The general sentiment is that we should have seen more action than we already have regarding certain issues, not least DADT and DOMA. I think it is perfectly reasonable to want to know why these vile atrocities have not been overturned.
Anyone with half a brain knows that it’s not a simple matter of signing a piece of paper and repealing them. Theoretically that could certainly accomplish the goal, but in practice it is far more complicated than that. It will take time. And I’m sure that many in the gay community would be prepared to wait if they could see real progress being made. But they can’t.
As for why people are mad at Obama, why they are bitching about him, it’s because he is the President, and he got there on the back of promises he has yet to keep. It is not just reasonable to demand he keep his promises, it is the duty of every man and woman to see that he keeps them. Personally I would rather see people on here “bitching” and “whining” about promises that may yet be kept than sitting quietly and patiently while the best chance we’ve had to move towards true equality passes us by.
Still, if you think people should simply wait patiently for Obama to keep his promises you are more than entitled to that opinion. As I said earlier, everyone is entitled to express their opinion, no matter how ill-conceived it might be.
Really? “Anyone with half a brain knows that it’s not a simple matter of signing a piece of paper and repealing them.” Doesn’t seem like it with the majority on here blaming Obama alone. I suppose it is reasonable to be mad at him for not “keeping his promises”. Wait, let’s review. Even though he said from the beginning that he supports only civil unions, and not marriage. It’s still reasonable to be mad at him for not keeping that promise? And even though, we supposedly have “half a brain” we think Obama could simply clap his hands, and boom DOMA is overturned?
Right, because we don’t have a Congress. Oh, wait we already knew that, no?
Also, he didn’t “get there” on the backs of the LGBT community alone. Lest we forget, we only make up a minut part of the whole of the United States. I suppose it is reasonable for the President to forget about working on diplomacy, creating new jobs, and working on the infrastructure of our country, get rid of Congress so he could overturn DADT, and DOMA pronto.
As for sitting quietly, and waiting patiently. Who said that? More good can come from hackling your Representatives, and Senators, than going directly for the only name in the White House you’re capable of spelling. Show of hands, who actually know their reps, and Senators by name? Anyone….Bueler, Bueler.
But when Obama waves his magic wand, he does seem to get things on his desk to sign, and for much more complex legislation than repeals. He just does not want to wave it toward DADT and DOMA.
His wand works pretty good, in fact. It conjured up a trillion dollars for banks. I don’t even think Harry Potter could do that. Right now he is using it to reorganize on third of the American economy. Hey Obama, point that thing so it stops gay vets from being dumped every month in a time of war.
And about hate crimes not neccessarily supporting equality. I suppose you’re right about that, but it still doesn’t diminish the fact that we are suspect class of minorities. Or as you say, “second class”. So I don’t see it as “special protections” but just an acknowledgement that we are just another group of American citizens discriminated against, and beaten just for being gay, lesbian, whatever. Because, if we sit here and look at the statistics of how many white men, or women beaten simply for being white. Versus, hate crimes on members of our community, they don’t even compare. Just saying.
I was watching Chris Matthews the other nite and he commented about a third party election in 2012 because no one is satisfied with the Democrats or Republicans I tend to agree and would definitly vote for an Independant if I thought he was more true to his words than Obama has been
Meant to say straight people, and not white. Also to Brian I agree that it would seem that he’s actually Harry Potter for the passing the TARP bill. It still had to have gone through Congress, before it got to him. I’m equally dissapointed by the bailout. But again, it wasn’t a solo act. He can’t help it if Petreaus keeps playing it like Professor Snake.