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Loading ...PROMISES, PROMISES: Obama slow on pledge to gays
06.25.2009 6:00pm EDT
(Washington) President Barack Obama promised gay and lesbian voters he would repeal a law banning their open service in the military, would do away with a federal marriage law and would champion their causes from the White House. In his first five months, he’s taken incremental steps that have little real effect and left some people feeling betrayed.
But he’s still willing to take money from a reliably Democratic constituency – he was sending Vice President Joe Biden to a Democratic National Committee fundraiser Thursday evening with gay and lesbian donors.Some gay donors called for a boycott after Obama’s Justice Department, in a court filing, compared gay marriages to incest.
“I don’t think it’s an appropriate time to be raising money. No one is happy now,” said Richard Socarides, who advised former President Bill Clinton on gay issues and did not plan to attend the event. “On gay rights, the country is already in the age of Obama, but he’s governing from the Clinton era.”
Obama issued a presidential memorandum that expands 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 already available to opposite-sex spouses.
But that remains far short of his campaign rhetoric.
“At its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans,” Obama said a 2007 statement on gay issues. “It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”
Since then, he publicly has committed himself to repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that allows gays and lesbians to serve in the military as long as they don’t disclose their sexual orientation or act on it. On Jan. 9, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs answered “yes” when asked whether the administration would end the policy. But as president, Obama hasn’t taken any concrete steps urging Congress to rescind the Clinton-era policy that even some former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have described as flawed.
Obama pledged during the campaign to work for repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, which limits how state, local and federal bodies can recognize partnerships and determine benefits.
In a letter sent to gay-rights groups in February 2008, the president said “I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate.”
But lawyers in his administration defended the law in a court brief. White House aides said they were only doing their jobs to back a law that is on the books.
At the time, even Democrats in his party criticized the move.
“I was profoundly disappointed by this action, particularly coming from this administration,” said Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., the first openly gay nonincumbent to win election to Congress.
Even so, Baldwin and other high-profile gay and lesbians and their allies still planned to attend Biden’s fundraiser. The minimum donation was $1,000 and some tickets went as high as $30,400. The event was expected to draw 160 people, although the DNC was not releasing estimates on how much money the event would net, especially given some high-profile defections.
Human Rights Campaign grass-roots chief Marty Rouse, Gay and Lesbians Advocates and Defenders projects director Mary Bonauto and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe all withdrew. Several other high-profile activists also did not intended to participate, hoping to pressure Obama to make good on his promises now.
The White House plans an East Room reception on Monday for gay and lesbian advocates to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Greenwich Village demonstrations at the Stonewall Tavern in New York City. The demonstrations are viewed as the start of the modern gay rights movement.
“Unless the president on Monday articulates a strong action plan, and is willing to do it with cameras rolling, it is going to go from bad to worse,” said Socarides, the Clinton adviser.
I will say in his defense he is “slow” to act on his pledges, but the asshole “W” before him and most of the christian conservative Repubinazicans have done and won’t do squat for us!
Nonetheless, I don’t and won’t give him and others like Pelosi a free pass. He (Obama) said he was willing to work with people, but he needed to HEAR from everyone as to what was needed. So lets get our butts to DC and get to marching and camping out in front of the white house..
I am waiting for the weather to get better (not marching in DC summer heat) and then I’ll be there!
Meanwhile, lets keep fighting all the small battles and demons around the country and prepare for the long haul War for our rights!
To Nancy Perlosi, Speaker of the House:
Not another CENT, not another VOTE! Not until you repeal DOMA, repeal DADT, enact ENDA, enact UAFA.
“Equality before the Law” is the noblest American dream. Democrats control both houses of Congress. Make it happen!
Adam, Obama hasn’t done one goddamn thing with any significance. If it were football, then the ball hasn’t moved one inch on the field. That’s one helluva long play, let alone first quarter.
Obama has opportunities. Sometimes it does seem that the subtext is that equality for gays can’t come at the cost of votes from blacks, or conservatives, or evangelicals–except that you’ll find majorities in those groups who agree we should be allowed to serve openly in the military. Obama makes Reagan look like a social progressive when it comes to action versus words. As for the infamous DoJ brief, it beggars belief that this President would allow or do something so magnificently insulting. Obama can’t spin it away, neither can HRC, DNC, or the Democratic Party.
I’ve said it before–you wouldn’t see such an increase in coverage on this theme by major news outlets if there weren’t truth to claims by gay groups. There are some very rich gay men and women who have been very good to Democratic coffers, and clearly some of them are having second thoughts. Maybe they’re saying flat-out that they won’t be used. Whatever the case, the story is growing, and all Obama can do is act like a deer in the headlights.
I’ve been waiting for forty two years. We have come a long way but still have a long way to go. And my patients, and the patients of many other LGBT’s is wearing thin. I for one will no longer support Obama’s agenda until he supports ours. The Department of Justice defence of DOMA was the last straw.
If I may repeat some sentiments, I have some questions/comments for the queer elite to pass on to the Segregationist and Chief – if they choose to go to the reception and be used as White House pawns.
- As you are picking out the melba toasts in your chex mix look at him and point to the mix and ask “Is God in the mix”?
-This is my Civil Unionized godless Life Partner Muffy – How is your roommate Michelle?
-We’re feeling quite purposeless right now in our lives, could you set up a lunch for us with Rick Warren?
-So, uh, your mom was white and uh, your dad was black, and uh, their marriage was illegal at one point – uh – so howz your crab salad?
- How does it feel to have Prop 8 as your legacy?
Adam: You’re still a douche. Enjoy riding in the back of the bus with the other spineless, mindless rabble. And enjoy the wait for your civil rights. I’ll be sitting up front fighting for them. It’s ok. You seem like a total woos anyway. You’d just drag down those who actually want to do something besides twitter.
What would happen if we go ahead to the fundraiser, but use checks that state on the memo line (lower left corner of the check) that this check will not be signed until DADT/DOMA is repealed.
Then, of course, don’t sign the check.
You see, the people who take the checks at the gate are probably too busy to verify if the check is signed (believe me, I have been in the position).
You get in, eat your $1,000 dinner and hobnob.
It would be later that your check would not cash because of no signature and someone might call you. At that point, you can explain your position and you at least have some bargaining power.
Luv
Cleara
Actually it is true that the CinC has done all he can do. Something most of you are unfamiliar with is the ACTUAL policy.
It’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Harass, and Don’t Pursue.
Basically everything the letter already asks for.
Even if he made the EO, they just would charge officers with misconduct (they do already) and Article 135.
If you’re not imformed on military matters and the legalities… I mum most of the particulars.
Michael, you are just so eloquent. What you pointed out means diddly. I said he could do more in regards to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The solicitor general doesn’t make policy, btw.
Again, Obama has prodded for Congress to pass legislation for benefits for same-sex couples employed by the gov’t. In the same moment, he urged the repeal of DOMA.
That is the most anyone in an executive position can do on these issues. You people really expect far more than is even realistic.
….. is that all the Uncle Toms in the room that have a place on the plantation have a great rubber chicken dinner.
As for me I have requested my money back because of the BAIT and SWITCH tactics of the Obamam Administration.
The Bait: Lure us in to voting for Obamam with his tlaes of support for gay and lesbian issues.
The Switch: Keeep the Bush era anti-gay tactics and policies.
I think this is also known a FRAUD.
There is a parallel universe when it comes to politics and I can not phantom what it is like to be sitting where Obama is. All I know is that this is not instant soup, you know, that is ready in five minutes. Even though I understand the disappointment and even anger some have experienced, I still feel he is coming to the rescue.
It just wouldn’t be right for Obama to receive contributions from second class citizens… Therefore, I think I can wait to contibute to his re-election campaign until such time as the Obama administration makes good on his campaign pledges to repleal DOMA, DADT, etc…, and to address the injustices we face on a daily basis.
NO SECOND CLASS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OBAMA!!!
They are burning out one of their primary base voting blocs. Frankly, I’m not surprised. They have to be made to listen or they are going to keep on following the status quo. Problem is, how far do we have to go before they will listen?
Either we are a people or we are not. Either we are a culture or we are not. No other group would continue to let a party play lucy to our charlie brown. If we don’t stand up and make noise, not invest and withhold our votes, then we are fools on our way to our own demise.
Despite a letter from 77 Congressional members urging President Barack Obama to take immediate action to stop the investigations of “don’t ask, don’t tell” violations, the White House has issued a statement saying he will not take unilateral action to end military discharges.
As Commander in Chief, Obama has the power to demand a halt on DADT discharges. The letter, authored by Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida and signed by 76 other Congressmen, did not explicitly ask for an executive order but merely for a change in how the discriminatory policy is implemented within the Department of Defense.
According to the White House statement:
“President Obama remains committed to a legislative repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which he believes will provide a durable and lasting solution to this issue. He welcomes the commitment of these members to seeing Congress take action.”
NO MORE MONEY FOR THE DEMOCRATS!!!!!
THE gAyTM is closed!