Subscribe to Breaking News
Loading ...Vanasco: Obama clarifies marriage views (sort of)
From a White House statement provided to the Advocate, when asked the President’s views on the Maine and Washington ballot measures:
“The President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same-sex couples, and as he said at the Human Rights Campaign dinner, he believes ‘strongly in stopping laws designed to take rights away.’ Also at the dinner, he said he supports, ‘ensuring that committed gay couples have the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country.’”So it seems – though he doesn’t quite say it – that the President supports retaining marriage in Maine and domestic partnership rights in Washington.
But if he really believes this, than the statement should have tried to persuade voters that they should vote “No on 1″ in Maine, or for Referendum 71 in Washington, or even for the Kalamazoo, Mich. gay rights ordinance.
We all know the president can be clear and forceful and eloquent when he wants to. We also know that his great gift is the power to persuade. He had a chance here to actually do something on our behalf, but didn’t take it.
365ers, what do you think: Is his statement enough? Will it help in Maine and Washington?
No Brian. A member of the House and Senate author and sponsors a bill. They work to get co-sponsors. The bill ‘might’ make it to the Senate Judiciary committee, if they are lucky. The bill is debated there and most bills honestly die in committee or are never even taken for a vote. If the bill even makes it out of the Senate Judicary committee, then this is a huge step forward, but still an uphill battle. The bill gets debated first in the House. Earmarks are attached to the bill, they are debated, and many times the bill dies in the House. The bill moves on to the Senate and has to be synched up with the corresponding Senate bill. There are more debates, and most of the time, even there, the bill can easily be voted down on any given round when it is taken up for a vote in the more conservative Senate. Republicans can fillabuster, the religious right comprises of several lobbying groups which will threaten to unseat congressmen in more conservative districts, there are backroom deals, congressional bullying, and no shortage of threats to end the political careers of house and senate members who do not tow the party line.
Repeals have to be debated and voted on, and this is no easy process. If it were this easy, it would have already have been done.
Why don’t you give me examples of legislation that has been overturned so easy that a child could do it.
There is no work involved in the repeals. The congress passes a law that simply says the laws are repealed. No work required. The laws simply disappear from the United States Code. It is so simple, a child could do it. One day the laws are there, and the next they are not there.
Obama want to conflate repeals with the other truly difficult legislation that has to be created from scratch, like healthcare, or stimulus packages. That is truly difficult work. But repeals?
And when he wants difficult legislation on his desk pronto, he gets it. He got the trillion dollar bailout right away, but two simple repeals have to wait in some line? Why?
Stop drinking the cool aid about all the hard work. The repeals don’t happen because there is too much work. They don’t happen because democrats are afraid of the 2010 election cycle, which they want us to bottom for once again.
Gosh lets put some more unreasonable expecations on Obama:
Here we go…
If he really loved us, then he would paint the White House pink and put a big disco ball in the Rotundra. If Obama really loved gay people, then he would paint the Washington Rainbow Colors. Gosh if Obama really cared about us, then he would change the presidents on Mount Rushmore to be Cher, Madonna, Judy Garland, and Barbara Steisand. Well now, I Obama was really our president, then he would start every speech with “Girlfriend!” end every speech with, “that’s right miss thang!” or “now you go girl!”. Oh course if Obama really valued us, then all cars would be forced to prominently display rainbow stickers, PrideFest attendance would be manditory, and those accused of homophobia would be sentanced to 10 years in drag. And Obama better deliver these results in, I am giving him one week to do all of this, or he will not have my support anymore. Waah.
Brian: DOMA and DATA are two simple repeals??? OMG! Oh gosh, I am absolutely flabbergasted. Astonished beyond belief. Oh you poor thing. Whew! Wow are you green. I would recommend that you start by reading how a bill becomes a law. Regarding hate crimes, this is most likely to pass soon. I know, I know, all of this health care stuff that really doesn’t affect anyone at all, should have come to a vote and passed by Obama in his first week in office with Dems running roughshod over Republicans. And of course
the Republicans would never fillabuster. And those thilly wars in Iraq and Afganistan, well that does not really count; and even if it did, then that war should have taken only a few days to fight. I swear I see the president and congress just playing golf everyday too, right outside of my house on the 19th hole. Gosh I was president, just give me a one month and I would solve everyone’s problems, we would have peace, love and understanding and a perfect world too. Fundamentalist Christians would be kissing gay babies the Phelps clan would be the latest actors on broadway performing in “Rent”. And of course, Obama should just make all of this happen tomorrow – I mean pronto! Yeah right. Hmmmm Ooookkkkaaaay… Now that the unreasonable gay fantasy has ended, indulge yourself in a dose of reality by knowing what you are talking about. Two simple repeals? Can I spell “no credibilty” for you?
After the 2010 elections, gays and lesbians may wake up and suddenly realize that Obama and his democratic supermajority pissed away any chance helping us get the Federal Hate laws off the books. When they do, everyone is going to turn to Rahm and all the other people who spent our political good will, and ask why the democrats couldn’t accomplish two simple repeals. Then there will be real hell to pay.
Democrats and the gay elites are not working! They are having banquets and defending themselves and spewing the party bullshit about full plates and golf games. The HRC better start asking hard questions, and start asking them fast. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKdANxJw4ho&feature=player_embedded
Oblahblah does not get any points for putting our priorities at the bottom of the list and calling it hard work. He should should get a slap in the face for dumping our vets to the curb on his watch and refusing to repeal Clinton’s hatchet job on the constitution by carving us out of the Full Faith and Credit Clause. The democrats get no credit for gaining a supermajority and not engaging in two simple repeals, and then lying, complaining that they had too much work to do. Repealing DOMA would let the Full Faith and Credit Constitutional right of gays operate, but Obama refuses to press it. Obama does not get an A for effort, he gets an F for having a supermajority and refusing to come to our assistance.
With these quoted statements, Obama comes across as dishonest. When asked a simple question that people know deserves a simple answer, if you aren’t clear in the answer, you drive people to the other side, no matter what you say.
How true it is that no one can please everyone. Certainly everyone has their set of expectations. The use of force in most cases represents an angry dictator, not a diplomatic leader. I believe that Obama has already spoken to challenge the states to promote marriage equality at the level that is most effective in this situation. It is so easy to sit back, judge and criticize others, yet not do any real work and expect everyone else to do it all. There are plenty of talking-head right-wing pundits which blow hot air and only complain but really do nothing to add value. I believe that GLBT people are a higher class of people who can get off their asses, step up to the plate and be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Those who complain the loudest are usually those who are those who do the least for the common good of society.
The leader of the free world is expected to speak out in favor of equal rights wherever it is absent. Changing constitutions to deny rights is always to be challenged. I expect him for forcefully protect us, and nothing less is unacceptable. Challenging states to not make legal errors does not make him a dictator, it makes him a leader.
The president does not have the power of a monarch. He does not make decisions at the state level, be it Maine, Washington state, or Illinois. If you want to get something done, then don’t expect other people to do it for you. Get involved yourself like I have with UAFA and the Matthew Shepard bill and only then will you realize just how difficult it is to get anything passed. I do not find it productive to do the blame-game with Obama; if you want to be a team-player, then get involved yourself and stop the negativity.
If Barack Obama advocated at the state-level, then he would be painted by right-wing conservatives as being as “activist president” and he would lose credibility.
Even civil libertarians would disagree as marriage, with the exception of Loving vs. Virginia, has always been historically seen as a “states-rights” issue. Many Jeffersonian type thinkers would see this as being government encroachment at a state level. Obama is not superman, and getting anything passed through congress is a near-monumental task. There are few things that Obama can simply do unilaterally with the stroke of a pen. If he overreaches, he will face a backlash by congressional conservatives.
I support the president because I understand the realities that he faces. Look at it this way: sure, we need what we need NOW. This is true. Now here is the analogy: if you are injured in a car crash in the middle of Wyoming, you have to understand that it takes time for doctors and paramedics to travel to get you. Maybe flight-for-life already has another patient. Maybe emergency personnel is doing the best that they can. Give them credit, because if we beat up on them and expect the impossible, out of frustration and perceived ungratefulness, they might just give up and tell us to go screw ourselves. Just like we are in pain and would have to be patient with paramedics, we are also in pain and have to be patient with the president. He has his heart in the right place. Keep the heat on, but lets not burn the guy. He is doing the best that he can.
I find it very disappointing. Who (other than us, who follow this closely) will even know this statement exists. Real LEADERS, be it President, or Congress members from Maine, etc. would stand and make a speech that is well-reported, and that makes it clear that discrimination is always wrong, and this repeal of civil rights is wrong. I’m tired of playing second fiddle to politician’s fear of losing a few votes from the narrow-minded part of the electorate.
Nowhere near enough. On a par with what would have been the case had Dr. Martin Luther King said, “I have a dream today, but I’d be willing to accept a few crumbs instead. Just don’t hurt me!!!!!”
Apparently firm and strongly-stated convictions are not a requirement for a Nobel Peace Prize.
But I’m sure we will receive his unqualified support AFTER the 2012 elections. Maybe.
Jennifer, I totally agree that Barack Obama is an eloquent precise speaker. This talent had been totally absent in all his statements on GLBT issues. He never ever says anything clearly supportive of our rights, He’s wishy washy! This also seems to evident in his support of the public option for Health Care Reform. His leadership had been anything but clear on both issues. Good luck with all that!
I hope Obama makes it legal in illinois so things can be better for us.