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Loading ...Besen: An Obama administration and gay rights
Who can blame John McCain and Sarah Palin for saying that Barack Obama is “palling around with terrorists?”
The GOP ticket is bombing so badly that they must blow up the race to have a shot at winning. Palin, about as subtle as a moose in an igloo, telegraphed the pugnacious plan of smearing Obama by sneering that they will “take the gloves off.”But, even in their attacks, the McCain campaign is a mumble jumble of mixed messages. On one hand, they tried to portray Obama as a closeted Muslim by having Lee County Florida Sheriff, Mike Scott, call the Democratic candidate “Barack Hussein Obama.” However, Sarah Palin quickly reminded voters of Obama’s former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. This might leave voters who are just tuning into the race wondering why this supposed Muslim spent so much time in church.
The truth is, the McCain/Palin experiment is a dud. He’s looking too old and she’s looking too new. McCain has gone from a man of stature to just plain stodgy, while Palin has been reduced from fresh to freshman. She needs more seasoning, while he’s stayed at least one season too many. He appears long in the tooth, while she can’t help baring her fangs.
Palin’s nasty one-liners aren’t resonating at a time when peoples’ bank accounts are flat lining. Cutthroat politics don’t work as well when people are cutting back on gas and groceries. In a time of grave economic harm, one needs more than folksy charm. Sure, Palin can wink, but people want to know if she can think.
With Barrack Obama and Joe Biden emerging as the adults in the race, they are beginning to pull away. The McCain campaign suspended its operations in Michigan, and a Washington Post/ABC-News poll has Obama/Biden up seven points in Ohio.
A month is forever in a campaign and things can go sour quickly. Still, unless, there is a game-changer, like a YouTube video of Obama having tea in a cave with Osama, it looks like the Democrats will take the White House. Leaders of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, have to begin thinking about what this will mean. What should our community’s expectations be? Will this be a huge step forward or a series of disappointments?
What I fear is that the enormity of our nation’s problems makes it easier for Congress and an Obama administration to put GLBT equality on the backburner. They can even complicate our efforts by portraying us as self-serving at a time of economic crisis and war.
Now, I’m not suggesting that the new president should make gay issues his top priority at the Inauguration. Of course, this would actually backfire and cause a great deal of resentment from people who are worried about feeding their families. However, shouldn’t we expect Congress to pass a law prohibiting job discrimination in the first six months? Or, hate crime legislation to reach Obama’s desk within the first year? Will Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell be overturned by Congress or will Democrats postpone action, afraid of consequences in the midterm elections?
As far as I’m concerned, the Democrats need to take action sooner, rather than later. Since Newt Gingrich came to power in 1994, the Democrats have credibly been able to blame the Republicans for thwarting pro-gay legislation. If they finally have a Congressional majority and the presidency, however, they can no longer hide behind the big, bad ogres of the GOP. If the Democratic leaders make excuses for ignoring our concerns for an extended period of time, widespread disillusionment of GLBT Democrats may occur.
I also worry that some of our best and brightest leaders are too close to the Obama campaign. On one hand, this may serve us well, as they will have voice in the administration. But, as we know, it is always more difficult to criticize friends. Those who end up serving Obama must not end up like democratic versions of the Log Cabin Republicans, essentially serving as party apologists. They should put the well being of the community ahead of their careers.
If the insiders do not have the willingness or the leverage to move the Democrats, I predict the growth of outsider political groups who will turn to direct action to push Congress and the Administration. Sometimes, it takes grassroots organizations that do not have conflicts of interest (such as friendships with the establishment) to propel the movement forward.
Even as we fight on towards Election Day, we should take a deep breath and imagine the possibilities, while managing our expectations. While Obama is not the Messiah and we should not count on miracles, we should expect at least a few campaign promises to come to fruition.
I’m still astounded that so many gay Americans actually support Obama. His conservative African America supporters are already mobilizing in Cali to push through Prop 8, and Obama not only refuses to speak out against them, he actually set up a “Faith Tour” that was headlined by an anti-gay marriage pro Prop 8 bigot. And Obama is already hedging on his primary promises to end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and is standing by while Prop 8 is being passed by his own supporters. WAKE UP PEOPLE
Yeah because we would be so much better off with grandpa McCain….what the heck are these undecideds waiting for? Hillary is not coming back! You have two options an absent vote is a vote for McCain so grow a pair and vote for Obama if you want to have a shot at equality. Come on now. Let’s face it McCain is a stroke away from Death and Palin thinks you can pray away gay. Seriously Obama is our only option.
Wayne,I am inclined to agree with you on this issue. While not perfect I will support Mr.Obama,but let us call for and expect real and palpable change and not fall for the old line of “not right now,but we hear your concerns” Come out with a few big changes concerning LGBT issues and I be there for you again in the next cycle ,but ignore us and you’re on your own. And I think that you’ll have a Democratic Senate and House as well, so no excuses…..
CJ, if you really want to trivialize the viewpoints into a discussion of Pastors and their beliefs, then I assume you will want to discuss Obama’s Pastor of twenty years that hated white people so much that he actually blamed them for creating AIDs as a weapon. I for one, have a problem with anyone who would use the fear of AIDS to justify their own warped racist hatred against whites or anyone else.
Every election, we are forced to weigh the pros and cons of the two major party candidates and decide which is more likely to look out for my interests. Regardless of Obama’s flaws, we certainly cannot blame him for the actions or beliefs of his supporters or even his former pastor. I’ve been in many churches where the preachers said things (unrelated to gay bashing) that I didn’t agree wiht. I’d challenge anyone to make me culpable for their words simply because I was a member of their church. That’s the beauty of America, we can think differently without persecution (supposedly).
As for THIS election, I would much rather vote for someone who stands up to give me equal rights as heterosexual couples than someone who would “tolerate” me. Of course, we may not get everything we want, but we cannot afford to risk electing someone that would support taking away what little we have. Yes, we must hold Obama accountable for the promises he’s made. But at least he is making promises to us.
where was the gay community when Kucinich who wants gay marriage was runnng for office. Out being bedazzled, dazed and blinded by all the hoopla, glitz and glammor surrounding Obama, Hillary, etc, none of whom support gay marriage. The gay community had its chance for a good, supportive candidate and blew it.
Now its just Obama and McCain. I am picking Obama because the GOP ruined out country so I am giving Obama a chance.
We have to be realistic. It’s not the primaries anymore. There is an absolute either/or choice of McCain or Obama on the table, so there’s no point in bemoaning the fact that Obama was not the most gay friendly of the Dem contenders. We need to focus on making sure that McCain (and Palin) stay out of the White House. Even a Centrist Obama administration would be WAY better than a right-wing McCain one!
In my opinion, the next administration’s biggest impact on gay rights will come from the judges they appoint. One would have to imagine that McCain would appoint Alito/Roberts/Scalia types, which as a gay person is a scary thought. That’s the main reason I’m voting for Obama.
Ok guys, first off let’s get the going to die in office bullshit out of the way. McCain is a US Senator ( likewise Obama,Biden and the “BLESSED” H. Clinton), thieving, blood sucking bastards who live unnaturally long lives(must be the great health care!).Given the unnaturally long lives of US Senators a reasonable person asked who is most likely of the four to die in the next 9 years would have to concluded that Gov. Sarah Palin is the only one on the short list.
Granted both sides are doing what all politicians and US Senators in particular do very well, pandering to any and all to get elected or reelected. But even these self serving bastards do have some slivers of honor and decency. I’d say only about half of US Senators would sell their mothers, daughters and sons(regardless of age!) into prostitution to raise money for their campaigns when things got really close to not getting elected or especially reelected.Who would you buy a used slave from? A white man who believes seperate but equal is ok for gay people or a black man who believes seperate but equal is not ok for black people but fine and dandy for gays because the bible tells him so? An honest enemy or a dubious friend? I’ll probably vote for Obama since the media and the left coast have already crowned him the winner but i’m not happy having to pick between shit and shinoola! doesn’t really matter though I guess because it is the same water coming out of both the “staights only” and “Homosexual” water fountains and the back of the bus is warmer in the winter!
Yes, who do we want to protect most..in good times and especially bad times? Our CHILDREN…we all need to support PFLAG, GLSEN and your local GSA’s… don’t have one START ONE. Help our teen and yound adult (VOTING!) gays and they will help us be more active..and it spreads the effect along well.
So many of them have to grow up too soon as it is.
Winning a war means knowing when and where to fight the battles. Our civil rights are a battle to fight, but not now. Our country is on the brink of collapse, leaving civil rights for everyone in the dust; also, let’s not forget our livelyhood, our pursuit of happiness, and our well-being.
More important is removing all elements of the current adminstration and mindset that has destroyed our country in 8 short years.
Now next election, watch out Obama! Gay and Lesbians might just want to stay home with our unlawfully-wedded spouses.
Exactly, as Greg said, We will vote for Obama this one time. Democrats really have the next two years to show they really mean what they say, otherwise its total Green or other in terms of my vote.
I will not be bullied by fear into voting for someone I don’t like. But at the junction Palin scares me alot more than Obama, but next time its sitting it out or another party.
You all realize that Obama has come out against Prop 8, right?
I don’t understand why white homosexuals think their own people are “cool” with gayness. And then pretend Africans, Asians, and Arabs are the only thing keeping them down. There’s plenty of homophobia to go around.
Most of the sodomy laws on this planet were introduced by European colonial administrations from the 16th through 19th centuries. In Eastern Europe, gay pride participants are assaulted every year. White supremacists dislike homosexuality because they wanted more “racially pure” babies. Everytime I see an ex-gay advertisement, there’s some white dude claiming he has been “cured” of his affliction and loves his lesbian wife. The leadership of the religious right consists mainly of white preachers (usually evangelical Protestant and Mormon). Irish and Italian priests dominate the equally anti-gay Catholic Church. Most of the violent homophobic crimes in this country are committed by white males. Who you think killed Matthew Shepard?
Hint: It wasn’t OJ Simpson.
But since you mention Prop 8, where is the Governator with his pledge to campaign against it? Funny, I don’t recall seeing him in any No on 8 ads.