06/19/2009
After Week of Fury, White House Tone Shifts on LGBT Issues?
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' tone showed a marked difference to previous press briefings when the news regarding the census and other LGBT issues came up today.
Watch it, with transcript, AFTER THE JUMP...
Also, the Justice Department has scheduled a private meeting for next week with LGBT groups:
"At the meeting — which hasn’t been announced and is expected to include leading gay rights groups like GLAD and Lambda Legal — both sides are expected to hash out how to proceed with pending DOMA cases. It remains to be seen, however, whether the meeting will achieve in a long term sense what gay rights lawyers told me they were and are looking for — an ongoing, less-confrontational interaction with the administration in the context of specific cases."
And two top White House officials, Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina and Political Director Patrick Gaspard, are reportedly holding an emergency conference call with the LGBT caucus of the DNC:
"The call will include important updates on the Administration's LGBT agenda and how we move forward."
Watch today's less dismissive press briefing, AFTER THE JUMP...
Q There's The Wall Street Journal report that President Obama wants
to include civil unions to be counted in the census. Can you talk
about that? Is that something the President wants?
GIBBS: Well, I think, obviously, as we've discussed, the President and the administration are committed to a fair and accurate count of all Americans. And as the piece said, we're in the midst of determining the best way to ensure that gay and lesbian couples are accurately counted.
Q And just to follow up on John Berry's call that we had the other day when the President signed the memorandum, he talked about the need for a specific number of votes to fulfill the President's campaign promise of repealing "don't ask, don't tell" and the Defense of Marriage Act, and he kept saying 60 votes in the Senate. But is the White House talking to Republicans that might favor the repeal of this? I know there are a few.
GIBBS: Yes, look, I think the administration -- well, obviously, for math purposes, we're going to have to have a coalition of people that believe, on each of those interests, that the policy isn't serving our nation well. And the President is committed to making progress on both of those issues.
Posted 7:02 PM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Democratic Party, DOMA, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, News | Permalink
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But it will all revert to form after the fundraiser.
Posted by: DaveO | Jun 19, 2009 7:15:47 PM
Sorry, but I can no longer believe or trust anything this administration says on GLBT issues. Obama is a proven liar. When he starts taking real action for our community, maybe then we can trust him again. And 'real action' does not consist of providing a few benefits for GLBT government employees - doesn't do much for the rest of us non-government employees, does it? And those benefits were provided only to calm the current brouhaha. Nope, sorry, screw this guy. We shouldn't even bother attending next week's meeting - how many more lies must we swallow before we say 'enough'?
Posted by: Renton2000 | Jun 19, 2009 7:28:41 PM
Well said, renton2000.
Posted by: jlf | Jun 19, 2009 7:33:06 PM
agreed. obama's dead to me.
Posted by: brian | Jun 19, 2009 7:36:29 PM
He and Obama both are so ... tentative and ... careful and ... worried when they talk about anything related to gay equality issues. It is telling, that these very polished communicators turn spooked and clumsy whenever they are called upon to say the words "gay and lesbian."
Posted by: Jeff | Jun 19, 2009 7:42:45 PM
Consider how much uproar it took just to get this little bit of action for LGBT... I hope everyone won't conceded now (and go back to the status quo)
especially in comparison to the right wing - the right wing aren't necessary donating and supporting - the extreme even give the president flack constantly - but look how much support they garner from Obama's admin - Oh and talk about the big corp - Obama's whole thing getting into office is about separating politics from the big business - and yet six plus month in office - he got all the big biz lining up for big govt stimulus.
Bottomline, I think LGBT community needs to keep on boycotting the DNC, withhold your moolahs for the president's current and future campaign (unless there's proof otherwise) - Make the pressure known - Demand the change that was promised.
Posted by: Dan | Jun 19, 2009 7:46:02 PM
Look, Obama TALKS a good game and then ACTS the same... sure, he's opposed to FISA, then votes for it (before the election, we were warned!); he's for accountability, then won't even proceed with as much as a hint about even the so-called "truth commission;" and finally, he's a "fierce advocate" who then won't lift a finger to stop his own administration from comparing our relationships to incest and pedophilia. NOT. ONE. MORE. DIME. UNTIL. THE. ACTS. MATCH. THE. WORDS!
Posted by: Jamie | Jun 19, 2009 7:50:30 PM
I will believe it when I see it. Until then the President, Congress, DNC and the party can pound sand!!
Posted by: Harry | Jun 19, 2009 7:51:25 PM
keep their fingers (or balls) to the flame = keep pushing
Posted by: willie | Jun 19, 2009 7:52:46 PM
*NOW* they want to change their tune?
do they really think we're idiots?
"um, kiss ass to the lgbt community after we clearly have pissed them off"
jerks
Posted by: Jonathan Adamo | Jun 19, 2009 7:53:24 PM
and i forgot to say, i agree with you renton2000!
Posted by: Jonathan Adamo | Jun 19, 2009 7:54:31 PM
While I am glad to hear a more supporting tone, I concur with renton2000. I don't really trust what they are saying. It feels more like they are trying to save face rather than being truly committed to supporting the community. Who knows how long this may last (or not).
Posted by: John | Jun 19, 2009 8:11:19 PM
The threat of turning off the gAyTM is having an impact. Keep it up! Now is not the time to give in.
Posted by: pablo | Jun 19, 2009 8:14:00 PM
sorry - purse is still closed, fellas.
Full Equality for ALL Americans should be their crusade - not a fundraising powerplay tactic.
Posted by: Methiso | Jun 19, 2009 8:16:02 PM
Actions speak louder than words.
I will continue to demand civil rights for GLBT community--i suggest everyone contacting their representatives in the house and senate and demand their support for GLBT issues. We should have a national website where each district representative is listed with their views...is there one?
Posted by: steve | Jun 19, 2009 8:16:27 PM
Sorry, I don't think there's any difference to the White House's tone whatsoever. We're still getting empty, heartless promises while they hope that we will gleefully accept their table scraps that are thrown our way when we show our disapproval. It is no wonder to me, now, why young people are so disenchanted with our political process. Now my idealistic visions for the "Change You Can Believe In" have been shattered, too. Clearly this is not a civil rights issue to this administration. It makes me wonder how many others in Democratic party love to have us slobbering all over them and padding their campaign budgets, all while they know that they will never have to be accountable for their promises to us. Enough is enough, folks.
Posted by: PS_Ryan | Jun 19, 2009 8:25:52 PM
Keep the wallets closed and watch those opportunities to move gay rights forward open up.
Posted by: Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com | Jun 19, 2009 8:44:09 PM
I tell you what is going to happen. The repubs are going to have an epiphany and endorse gay marriage.
Posted by: Joe | Jun 19, 2009 8:45:31 PM
Less dismissive is still dismissive! What are we Obama's serfs?
Posted by: Joe | Jun 19, 2009 8:47:23 PM
My question to all the complainers is what have you done to help move equality forward? Too often I see snarky remarks that someone thinks it empowers them. But little action to help the movement forward. So what are you personally doing to help the LGBT Community advance in equality in the US and across the globe?
Posted by: Jeff | Jun 19, 2009 8:59:31 PM
We don't need a tone shift we need an equality shift. It's great to see the passion and the financial action. I hope we have a great turnout in DC in October.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=92776112443
Posted by: James Manon | Jun 19, 2009 9:00:31 PM
Wow! Very different....this guy was such an ass before...but as noted above, I will wait and see. The Greens look pretty good to mein 2012 if this bunch doesn't produce much.
Posted by: Rocco | Jun 19, 2009 9:11:05 PM
I see no improvement in "tone" here. The only "improvement" is that they are speaking to us. Contrary to his promises of repealing DADT and DOMA, as of 6/19/09, Obama our farce advocate is now committed to "making progress" on "both of those issues."
Making the same kind of progress as offering unequal, discriminatory employee benefits to a very limited number of federal employees? You have got to be kidding. FritoLay offers more equality to employees than that. I'm putting my money into potato chips.
Posted by: One Butch | Jun 19, 2009 9:18:06 PM
This is the same blah blah blah as usual. Who cares about the "tone" of his voice? I don't. I care about having federal protections and civil rights. And those are NOT coming from this group of people.
Would jews or blacks or women or christians tolerate this kind of nonsense? I don't think so. Why are we?
Posted by: Marc Adams | Jun 19, 2009 9:33:14 PM
I don't disagree with many of you. And totally fine to withhold your contributions to Obama, DNC, et al. However, unless you are now in support of a 3rd party then we need to keep the pressure on. Bush did nothing to support the GLBT community for eight long years, so I am willing to patient (make that a little patient).
Posted by: sharksfansd | Jun 19, 2009 9:34:00 PM