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05/07/2009
CNN on Obama and Gay Rights: 'Think 10-Foot Pole'
As more states legalize same-sex marriage, and valued Arabic linguists continue to be discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and hate crimes legislation advances in Congress, how long can Obama remain silent?
CNN looks into it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 6:54 PM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Crime, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, News | Permalink
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doesn't it feel great to be the most politically disposable group in the states?
grrr
he has disappointed again & again on all things glbt... and still i can't bring myself to hate him
Posted by: sundog | May 7, 2009 7:00:14 PM
Boy, that was fast...it was just on less than an hour ago. The Obama administration is beating around the 'Bush'. In many ways, I feel sorry for him since he was left a mess from the Bush Administration, however, he should at the very least acknowledge the issues dealing with gays, than ignoring it completely... I do understand there are more pressing needs and higher priorities, however, he should put a moratorium, for the time being on the DADT policy before more highly qualified people are discharged.
Posted by: CB | May 7, 2009 7:08:50 PM
Look at what this administration has done so far. Appointments of some gay and lesbians...but none that would require Senate approval (unlike, say, a Cabinet appointment). The United States signing on to that United Nations non-binding resolution condemning the criminalization of homosexuality by other countries - that wasn't exactly politically risky. Then you had Robert Gates saying that repeal of DADT "might need to be kicked down the road a bit". And the removal of the wording about repeal of DADT, repeal of DOMA and the forumulation of a national HIV/AIDS policy.
Obama currently has a 70% approval rating. The Republicans disapproval keeps climbing higher and higher. A majority of Americans support repeal of DADT. Approval of same-sex marriage is climbing. NOW is the time to act on DADT repeal, repeal of DOMA. Before next year and the mid term elections. I don't know what is going on at the White House about GLBT issues. We've been asked to be patient. But exactly how long are we to be patient?
Posted by: Terry | May 7, 2009 7:15:23 PM
"he has disappointed again & again on all things glbt... and still i can't bring myself to hate him"
There is no basis for hating him. I voted for him too, and I don't regret it one bit. Sure, he's pushed us to the bottom of his agenda after appealing for and winning our votes in large numbers.
Lucky for him, my/our vote has a shelf life of four years, which is not plenty of time, but plenty enough to make a significant difference and deliver on many of his promises to our community. But trust that he won't get MY vote in 2012 if he hasn't accomplished anything significant on these issues by then.
Posted by: Jeffrie | May 7, 2009 7:20:04 PM
As I've said before here, write to the man N-O-W. Obama is under a lot of pressure to clarify his position on LGBT rights once and for all, especially given the latest developments in Iowa and New England. He can't afford to be ambiguous with us since we were such a huge force behind his political success and he knows it. And he knows how vocal we can be on issues that affect us directly.
Write to him right N-O-W. Here's the info:
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
E-mail: Comments@WhiteHouse.gov
Don't be a spectator, be an active participant in the fight for your own civil rights. The time is now, don't wait for tomorrow. If you do, and our civil rights are once again stepped on, do not complain like frail little girls because your neighbors enjoy full rights under the law and you're still sitting on the back of the bus.
Posted by: StatUnitense | May 7, 2009 7:20:29 PM
What strikes me about this is that solving the financial crisis is hard – dropping Don't Ask/Don't Tell is a breeze by comparison. Use losing translators as your catalyst reasoning and just do it.
Posted by: Scott B. | May 7, 2009 7:20:48 PM
I think he's turned out to be another "promise-anything-and-everything-just-to-get-elected" politician...
Posted by: Robert | May 7, 2009 7:24:40 PM
Love Paul Begala
Posted by: Marlon | May 7, 2009 7:31:37 PM
I think the best we can get is silence. McCain would already crying to high heavens about the latest marriage developments.
Posted by: galore | May 7, 2009 7:33:30 PM
You know I do sympathize with the President, and I definitely wouldn't want to be on his shoes right now. But the White House needs to understand that we have been waiting to be equals all our lives. Quite frankly the gay community have exhibited extraordinary patience and I know I don't mind extending that courtesy to the President, but we need his solidarity, I don't think that is too much to ask.
Posted by: Rafael | May 7, 2009 7:39:19 PM
scott B
Just the opposite
-A recent poll shows more than 1/3 of repubs and southerns support secession
- New yorker just did an article on 3 southern state legislatures passing resolutions that basically lay out secession with winning margins 43-1, 81-13, etc
- Tx jerk off gov talking up secession last month
It isn't over tax breaks though tax breaks make rich white repubs all wet.
It saddens me to think that probably the best thing is for Obama to keep quiet. His black skin and our rights could push the wacko south over the edge.
As long as he at least appoints a pro gay rights judge to the supremes and doesn't get in the way of states that are enacting gay rights then maybe it is best he remains quiet on the subject.
Posted by: jimmyboyo | May 7, 2009 7:40:29 PM
this is the text of a handwritten note dated 5/5/09 from president obama to lt. sandy tsao, an army officer based in st. louis who is being discharged for being gay:
Sandy - Thanks for the wonderful and thoughtful letter. It is because of outstanding Americans like you that I committed to changing our current policy. Although it will take some time to complete (partly because it needs Congressional action) I intend to fulfill my commitment. — Barack Obama.
the whole story can be read here:
http://glaadblog.org/2009/05/07/a-personal-promise-from-president-obama-on-dont-ask-dont-tell/
feel free to draw your own conclusions. i, for one, believe he tryly wants to remedy the situation.
Posted by: alguien | May 7, 2009 7:43:30 PM
I have never been an Obama fan for this very reason. I felt during the election and still believe today that he is really not on our side. He said he believed that marriage was between a man and a woman and I wonder if I was the only one listening.
However, I will say that he is a BETTER choice on gay issues than presidents in the past. I still do not agree with him and he doesn't agree with me on civil marriage but I can say that this may change. For the first time I am hopeful. Not because of Obama but because we are winning in spite of him around the country. In spite of his in-action and in spite of his silence. Obama may very be on the wrong side of history on this issue.
Again, he is our "better" choice on the issue but he is NOT the best choice. The best part of all of this is that we no longer need him as the times are changing rapidly....dumbo can actually fly without the feather!
Posted by: RB | May 7, 2009 7:48:45 PM
fucking hell, am i the only one annoyed at how people tend to think rick warren is just about being against gay marriage?
he freaking compared us to pedophilia and incest. it's not JUST a gay marriage thing. Rachel Maddow seems to be the only one who really kept touching on that subject when it all came out
Posted by: liz templin | May 7, 2009 7:52:04 PM
I sympathize with the President. I know I wouldn't want to be on his shoes right now. But he must understand that we have been waiting to be equals our entire lives. I'd hope that the President sees the support and the faith that the LGBT people have in his presidency. We only expect his solidarity in return. We are logical people, and if spoken to, we are ready to rally behind him, we just can't afford to be ignored.
Posted by: Rafael | May 7, 2009 7:52:43 PM
I'm torn. It's true he has a lot on his plate but he could at least make some positive statements in support of the advance of equality. He could go and visit family's/people here and aboard affected by HIV/AIDS, discrimination, hate crimes. Maybe he will do all that and more. Things are changing, maybe we should just be thankful and keep working hard at the state and local/city levels. Hopefully he will act concerning the guy being kicked out of the armed services.
Posted by: Keanon | May 7, 2009 7:58:52 PM
Sorry for the double post. Had issues with the comment system arg!
Posted by: Rafael | May 7, 2009 7:59:31 PM
Good grief; I actually liked the Republican lady a smidge more than that weasel-ish Democrat - the horror!
"Kick to the sidelines" indeed. *rolls eyes*
Posted by: PM | May 7, 2009 8:00:11 PM
We are just over 100 days in office, and i have repeatedly denounced the GOP for it's harsh treatment and constant pissing on Obama's presidency - and yes while i would love to see DADT overturned, DOMA repealed, Hate Crimes passed, and at the minimum a Moderate pro choice pro gay supreme..... it is still just over 100 days... and he did inherit a whirlwind of BS from Bush and then the economy and this banking fiasco!!! I'd say putting it into perspective check back in 6 mos.......
Posted by: alex in boston | May 7, 2009 8:04:20 PM
It's a very interesting idea being floated there, the executive order stopping military discharges. Can this be done, circumventing DADT, just as easily as it seems here?
Posted by: Dan | May 7, 2009 8:09:58 PM
yet there's always time for a burger joint visit or puppy walk photo op.
Obama said "god is in the mix" with marriage
and he wants to stay outta that mix.
he's a creepy politician all the way.
Obama who? in 2012
Posted by: Martha | May 7, 2009 8:16:27 PM
Numbers matter in the political business, and the number of Independents who remain opposed to stepping out of our collective way is currently too high. He's the president of ALL of us, remember, so it is our responsibility to get as active as possible to change these Independent hearts and minds. When we've moved those numbers to a neutral position, I'm hopeful that we'll have the president on our side as well.
Posted by: WILL F | May 7, 2009 8:18:08 PM
I voted for Hillary Clinton.
Posted by: Griff | May 7, 2009 8:20:43 PM
The president has always been a very cautious person. It has served him well in the past. I think Obama's trying to bring some sort of order to this chaotic situation. He wants to have a clear list of priorities for the next eight years. And he doesn't want anyone to deviate from that deliberate set of incremental steps. After all, there's supposed to be a somewhat organized process to this.
I do believe this is the only country in the world where activists were demanding same-sex marriage at a time when homosexuality was still technically illegal. In every other country, a government that wanted to pursue gay rights would have modest immediate goals and do a little bit each year. It has never happened whole hog.
And that's why it is so contentious and difficult to deal with marriage before disposing of all these other issues. I've come to the same conclusion that many others have. You need to prioritize. You have to protect the physical well-being of gay people before anything else. So, the Matthew Shepard Act should be first. Then you need to enact ENDA and repeal DADT to ensure that openly gay people can go to work without fear of retribution. Only then, can you start to deal with family law reform at a federal level.
Posted by: John in CA | May 7, 2009 8:21:23 PM
what horse does obama have in this race?
Posted by: tofer david | May 7, 2009 8:28:20 PM