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News & ArtsWednesday, June 17, 2009
Politics / Homo Short Answer: "NO"
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 8:15 AM
NBC's political reporters ask...
Will a memo quiet his critics? Also today, at 5:45 pm ET, Obama signs a presidential memo granting same-sex benefits to federal workers. This move, however, seems mostly about placating gay-rights advocates who have been angered by 1) the administration’s hesitance in overturning “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”; 2) its brief defending the Defense of Marriage Act, which Obama has promised to repeal; and 3) Obama’s invitation of Rev. Rick Warren to deliver the prayer at the inauguration. In fact, some wealthy gay supporters of Obama have become so mad that they’re taking their names off an upcoming Biden fundraiser. Of course, the Obama White House has been very reluctant to get involved in cultural issues, and it seems intent on avoiding all the early mistakes Bill Clinton made (like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”). Yet today’s presidential memo is a reactive attempt to quell the anger coming from the gay community. But even the memo doesn’t seem to go far enough for gay-rights advocates. For one thing, as the New York Times notes, the benefits for same-sex couples won’t be extended to health care.
Will this memo—which expires with the Obama administration—quiet Obama's critics? Obviously not, NBC, as Obama's critics are now howling mad over this empty gesture. As John says...
The obsession with not repeating the mistakes of 1993 has resulted in a huge mistake in 2009.... There's a part of me that feels like this was a very cynical political ploy—almost as if they want to have the gay community upset with them. It has been one thing after another and we're always told how smart everyone at the White House is. So, it really feels deliberate. They only decided it was a problem when the gay ATM started to shut down.
The slights, the insults—it does feel deliberate. And as I wrote on Slog last week, there are only two possible explanations for this White House's actions on gay rights: cowardice or animus. And we know they're not cowards, so...
1
The NEW stranger: All Gay Outrage, All the Time.
I'm on your side, Dan, but let someone post about something else at least every second article.
I'm on your side, Dan, but let someone post about something else at least every second article.
3
A memo would do nothing for us. The reason we're all so effing mad is because all we get from the Obama administration is empty effing words. We need something tangible to be like, "okay, I guess we're on our way now."
4
If you are determined to take offense at everything no one will every be able to make you happy.
bitch
bitch
6
The insults feel deliberate because they are deliberate. It's time to walk away from this abusive reationship.
8
Dan, did you sleep last night?
By the way, di it ever occur to anyone that maybe the Obama Administration is just dumb when it come to teh gays?
Or maybe he's scared (for some reason?). You know, that thing with Bubba back in the day?
By the way, di it ever occur to anyone that maybe the Obama Administration is just dumb when it come to teh gays?
Or maybe he's scared (for some reason?). You know, that thing with Bubba back in the day?
9
The needs of the many outweight the needs of the one or the few. Obama isn't scared. He does, however, have some interest in being able to get some other parts of his agenda passed during this term.
11
I would love to see someone at a press conference say to Obama, "Was it always the plan to ignore your promises on gay rights, or did it come up only after you collected gay money, and votes to get elected?"
12
All I think he needed to do for us feds is to issue a statement urging congress to pass the Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities act which has been introduced in both the house and senate. Cause what I really need most is health benefits for my partner.
13
Obama could defer his own partner benefits until DOMA is repealed. To show how easy it is to get by without partner health benefits-- u know since we should be all happy to wait til his second term. Why can't he?
14
This reminds me of the terrifying Harper's cover story this month, in which a novelist posits that Obama and his group don't have the needed Roosevelt-y mojo, just the amazing compassion and smarts of Hoover.
Hoover rode into the White House on a wave of popular admiration for his singular articulateness, prudence and ability to bring people together.
Sadly, events proved Hoover just didn't have the moxie to bust up business as usual when worldwide and domestic shit hit the fan. Promises were broken, plans fell apart. Only Roosevelt had the zest for conflict that smacked everyone into action.
Hoover. Obama. Ouch.
So according to this writer, his failure on this front could be due to cowardice, or animus...or an ineffectuality that will become all too familiar.
Hoover rode into the White House on a wave of popular admiration for his singular articulateness, prudence and ability to bring people together.
Sadly, events proved Hoover just didn't have the moxie to bust up business as usual when worldwide and domestic shit hit the fan. Promises were broken, plans fell apart. Only Roosevelt had the zest for conflict that smacked everyone into action.
Hoover. Obama. Ouch.
So according to this writer, his failure on this front could be due to cowardice, or animus...or an ineffectuality that will become all too familiar.
15
So I guess the best Democrat in the White House in the past 100 years is still Roosevelt?
If I wanted another term of Bill Clinton I'd have supported Hillary in the damn Primary. And the gay ATM shutting down? Shit, they may not even get our damn votes at this point.
If I wanted another term of Bill Clinton I'd have supported Hillary in the damn Primary. And the gay ATM shutting down? Shit, they may not even get our damn votes at this point.
16
11
I'm glad you asked that question, Rub.
It was that second 'money and votes' thing you said.
But please,
do not despair...
Help is on the way,
We are about to turn a corner...
I am about to unleash
the Fierce Advocacy
of
KISS MY SHINY BLACK ASS!
pucker up!
feel better?
I'm glad you asked that question, Rub.
It was that second 'money and votes' thing you said.
But please,
do not despair...
Help is on the way,
We are about to turn a corner...
I am about to unleash
the Fierce Advocacy
of
KISS MY SHINY BLACK ASS!
pucker up!
feel better?
17
At least Obama can put all that "lack of experience" nonsense behind him. He's proving he knows how to act just like a seasoned politician (by ignoring the topics that helped get him elected, but are no longer convenient for him).
19
I told you naive faggots that Obama would use you and throw you away like a dirty cum rag AND I WAS RIGHT!!!
You must have been some kind of stupid naive wimpy white-guilt Seattle progressive liberal douche to not be able to see how obvious it was from the get-go.
Jeeezus, you naive fags, you completely ignored the fact that Obama went to a racist black-nationalist church where "being black" is like their fucking religion or something. A "being black" church that gave notorious Jew-hater and fag-hater, Louis Farrakhan of the Negroes of Islam, a "lifetime achievement award". You naive white fags chose to TOTALLY IGNORE all that and you called anyone who pointed out the TRUTH a "racist".
You naive wimpy white faggots can choke on Obama's dick for all I care because you have already proved how stupid and willfully blind you are.
You must have been some kind of stupid naive wimpy white-guilt Seattle progressive liberal douche to not be able to see how obvious it was from the get-go.
Jeeezus, you naive fags, you completely ignored the fact that Obama went to a racist black-nationalist church where "being black" is like their fucking religion or something. A "being black" church that gave notorious Jew-hater and fag-hater, Louis Farrakhan of the Negroes of Islam, a "lifetime achievement award". You naive white fags chose to TOTALLY IGNORE all that and you called anyone who pointed out the TRUTH a "racist".
You naive wimpy white faggots can choke on Obama's dick for all I care because you have already proved how stupid and willfully blind you are.
20
And to troll away on a segway on FDR and Obama...guess whoelse had a massive amount on his plate on March 4, 1933? Yeah, FDR, and at least 25% of the country was not just out of work but dumpster diving for food!! So you Obama apologists, pull your heads out of your asses already.
Obama had the largest mandate for sweeping change any president has had since the depression. Obama could have made such sweeping reforms in this first few months in office and damn to the GOP. THEY FUCKING LOST!!!! And if they tried to put up opposition, use the massive list of Obama supporters to shut down the opposition.
Instead, he put corporate interests ahead of nearly everything else. Oh and how about that escalation in Afganastan...huh? No one yet has explained why THAT war is okay and Iraq isn't. And we are just NOW getting to banking reform? AFTER we kept giving them money? Talk about fixing the barn door AFTER the horses come home.
At the end of the day this is a result of a Democratic Party that has moved too far to the center and too far into corporate pockets. These aren't your grandma's Democrats, back then the party stood for people and only people. (And yes I know it wasn't all sunshine and lollypops!)
Politics has become a blood sport; the Dems better learn that damn quick or they will lose seats in 2010.
Obama had the largest mandate for sweeping change any president has had since the depression. Obama could have made such sweeping reforms in this first few months in office and damn to the GOP. THEY FUCKING LOST!!!! And if they tried to put up opposition, use the massive list of Obama supporters to shut down the opposition.
Instead, he put corporate interests ahead of nearly everything else. Oh and how about that escalation in Afganastan...huh? No one yet has explained why THAT war is okay and Iraq isn't. And we are just NOW getting to banking reform? AFTER we kept giving them money? Talk about fixing the barn door AFTER the horses come home.
At the end of the day this is a result of a Democratic Party that has moved too far to the center and too far into corporate pockets. These aren't your grandma's Democrats, back then the party stood for people and only people. (And yes I know it wasn't all sunshine and lollypops!)
Politics has become a blood sport; the Dems better learn that damn quick or they will lose seats in 2010.
21
@19: Hey, Dan was trumpeting this "black people hate gay people" thing months ago after Prop 8, so you're late to the game.
22
Gay citizens in Alaska aren't even at the stage of being able to fight for marriage equality. They are currently fighting for simple civil rights in an Anchorage law that says employers, landlords, etc. can't discriminate based on sexual orientation. This has been met with opposition by the religious right and their leader Pastor Jerry Prevo.
www.bentalaska.com
or:
Anchorage Daily News
www.bentalaska.com
or:
Anchorage Daily News
23
Maybe the Larry Sinclair episode was true. Obama sure is treating gay people as evily as those closeted republicans do (brief equating us to pedophiles). Maybe Obama is most like Larry Craig.
24
I told ya so! I told you a year and a half ago. I told you after the convention. I told you right up to election day. If you vote for the light weight junior senator from the galatic center of political corruption you're just gonna shoot yourselves in the ass. Was I the only fag in the country that saw this guy for who he is? It sure sounds like it. But since we're stuck with this oily, one term, closet hate monger then yes, by all means, shut down the ATM now. Fuck him and fuck the demo-publicans. They don't give a shit about us. Got it now? Good!
25
We should have voted for McCain-Palin, they wouldn't have treated us like this. Alaska and Arizona aren't too far behind on the equal rights curve, and it sure would have done us so much better.
26
Keep the pressure on, stay mad, ORGANIZE, be visible, do Dan's one by one marches to the white house or some other march or go to courthouses right here right now just START.
The federal benefits deal proves that GETTING MAD AND FIGHTING WORKS.
Btw -- don't ever trust in any politician, just view them as black boxes or computer programs that process inputs (votes,money, cheers) to get into office promising liberal shit (and deferring promises whenever convenient) or promising conservative shit (and deferring promises, etc.).
Make it GOD DAMN INCONVENIENT FOR HIM TO IGNORE gay justice.
The issue is in the air. Now is the time to get on TV with gay couples, babies of gay couples, parents of gay couples, gay people being taken away from courthouses, gay people silently picketing courhouses where others are getting married, etc.
I mean there isn't even one protest march down at King County Courthouse demanding a stop on all marriages till those judges marry gay people.
Go find the judge with the balls to marry gay people btw, several of them are gay, right? don't they believe the constitution mandates equality? What the fuck are they doing in office with votes of gay friendly Seattle if they won't marry gay people?
Let them go to jail, too.
K.B.O.
The federal benefits deal proves that GETTING MAD AND FIGHTING WORKS.
Btw -- don't ever trust in any politician, just view them as black boxes or computer programs that process inputs (votes,money, cheers) to get into office promising liberal shit (and deferring promises whenever convenient) or promising conservative shit (and deferring promises, etc.).
Make it GOD DAMN INCONVENIENT FOR HIM TO IGNORE gay justice.
The issue is in the air. Now is the time to get on TV with gay couples, babies of gay couples, parents of gay couples, gay people being taken away from courthouses, gay people silently picketing courhouses where others are getting married, etc.
I mean there isn't even one protest march down at King County Courthouse demanding a stop on all marriages till those judges marry gay people.
Go find the judge with the balls to marry gay people btw, several of them are gay, right? don't they believe the constitution mandates equality? What the fuck are they doing in office with votes of gay friendly Seattle if they won't marry gay people?
Let them go to jail, too.
K.B.O.
27
I'm glad I didn't vote McCain-Palin, I still believe Obama-Biden were/are better. Yes, I'm angry, and I'm really starting to doubt Obama's personal integrity at honoring the commitments he made while campaigning. I won't be sending the Democratic Party any money, I'm going to happily give their contribution Lambda Legal, Freedom to Marry and to ERW this month.
28
"there are only two possible explanations for this White House's actions on gay rights: cowardice or animus. And we know they're not cowards, so..."
Actually, I don't think we know that. He recently backed off releasing torture pics, and putting gitmo detainees back in the justice system... the man needs a spine injection.
Actually, I don't think we know that. He recently backed off releasing torture pics, and putting gitmo detainees back in the justice system... the man needs a spine injection.
29
@ 14 - I read that Harpers, too. And it WAS terrifying. The weirdest part of it was finding all that stuff out about Hoover - that he helped feed millions of starving Soviets and WWI era vets, etc. I honestly had no idea.
@ 19 - You should really start taking your meds again. Like, right now. WOW.
@ 19 - You should really start taking your meds again. Like, right now. WOW.
30
Hey, you know the way we criticize the pro-lifers and the gun-slingers because of their single issue politics? You know how we all act like we're better than them because we can see past our own noses?
Good times.
Good times.
32
@30, the major difference that you and so many other people (I'm guessing straight people) don't seem to understand despite it being said over and over again is that these issues are about our very existence and being. Not being acknowledged as equals in this country strikes very, very deeply. How is it you still don't get it?
33
@32
I hate when people assume that if you aren't gay, you just don't understand this horrible slap in the face many Americans just took. Its individuals you have to educate, not an entire sexuality.
I hate when people assume that if you aren't gay, you just don't understand this horrible slap in the face many Americans just took. Its individuals you have to educate, not an entire sexuality.
35
#20 "Oh and how about that escalation in Afganastan...huh? No one yet has explained why THAT war is okay and Iraq isn't. "
What? It's been explained a million times.
What? It's been explained a million times.
36
Check out this post from AmericaBlog:
http://www.americablog.com/2009/06/is-ob…
Aparently gay federal employees already have the right to the benefits he's offering.
http://www.americablog.com/2009/06/is-ob…
Aparently gay federal employees already have the right to the benefits he's offering.
37
@31 - It's just an example. My point is that it's unwise to reject a leader because he handles one (albeit important) thing badly. Look at the alternatives for the position.
@32 - I do get it. The reality, however, is that no matter how much the rights of our friends and loved ones are being withheld, and no matter how much it hurts our hearts, Obama (or indeed any president) has no choice but to approach these things pragmatically. I have little doubt that the president is smart enough to believe in equal rights for everyone, but as a representative of the people, he has to deal with certain other issues with a greater expediency. As an example, when people are dying in Iraq (and Iran, and Gitmo), that has to come first.
Because they're actually going to be dead.
With all of that being said, I do think that his handling of this situation has been poor. I do think he needs to address it, and I do think he needs to grant equal rights to everyone of every persuasion under the law. The louder the (peaceful) protests, the more voices calling to right this wrong, the better. Rome wasn't built in a day, and prejudicial injustices like these can't be fixed overnight.
@32 - I do get it. The reality, however, is that no matter how much the rights of our friends and loved ones are being withheld, and no matter how much it hurts our hearts, Obama (or indeed any president) has no choice but to approach these things pragmatically. I have little doubt that the president is smart enough to believe in equal rights for everyone, but as a representative of the people, he has to deal with certain other issues with a greater expediency. As an example, when people are dying in Iraq (and Iran, and Gitmo), that has to come first.
Because they're actually going to be dead.
With all of that being said, I do think that his handling of this situation has been poor. I do think he needs to address it, and I do think he needs to grant equal rights to everyone of every persuasion under the law. The louder the (peaceful) protests, the more voices calling to right this wrong, the better. Rome wasn't built in a day, and prejudicial injustices like these can't be fixed overnight.
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