06/17/2009
Obama Signs Memo Granting Limited Federal Employee Benefits ; Reiterates Pledge to Get Rid of DOMA
There you have it. Please discuss. Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
Note from Andy 6:30 am 7/18: Thanks to Mike for posting this last night. I was out at a previously scheduled event so wasn't able to see it or read much of the reaction.
Here's the official White House statement.
Rep. Tammy Baldwin released this statement after the signing:
"President Obama’s orders today will make a real difference in people’s lives. Domestic partners, parents, and their children will now receive a number of meaningful benefits currently granted other federal employees. LGBT Americans yearn for full equality. After last week’s U.S. Department of Justice filing seeking to dismiss a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), many in the LGBT community, myself included, were profoundly disappointed. After that disappointment, I was heartened to hear the President make a strong case today for the repeal of DOMA. It was also gratifying to hear the President proudly announce his support for my Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009. I look forward to working with him and House and Senate leaders as we work toward passage of this legislation that will extend to the same-sex partners of Federal employees all of the benefits currently enjoyed by the opposite-sex spouses of Federal employees. President Obama said today that his Memorandum is just a start. I agree that it is an important step in the quest for full equality for LGBT Americans. I welcome the challenge and the President’s support.”
Posted 6:45 PM EST by Michael Goff in Barack Obama, Barney Frank, DOMA, Gay Marriage, Tammy Baldwin | Permalink
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Nothing from us until real results from them. This memorandum is a joke. The promises at this point are empty.
Posted by: henry | Jun 17, 2009 6:49:27 PM
Equality at long last! Rest easy, Harvey Milk, your goals are met.
Posted by: Adam | Jun 17, 2009 6:50:55 PM
Good. Let's keep hoping, and keep positive energy flowing toward our president. He's the best hope we've had in my 60 years on this planet.
Posted by: Stick | Jun 17, 2009 6:54:39 PM
"One step" - it is a pebble before the step and I think Bo (the dog) pee'd on it. "Over the coming years?" Introduce the bills already, what's the issue? Oh and did anyone else pulld out of the dinner or plan to? I hope those who pulled out do not end up going. I hope more people drop out and I hope everyone pressures them to do so. The HRC needs to grow a pair and stop being nice about things. It's time. No delay! No excuses!
Posted by: David | Jun 17, 2009 6:54:45 PM
Such enthusiasm. Such fire in the belly to change real wrongs.
Yeah, whatever.
Acts, not words. Now, not later.
Now.
Posted by: Tyler | Jun 17, 2009 6:54:49 PM
In a way, this song reflects my feelings...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT_08gchS8k
Posted by: CB | Jun 17, 2009 6:55:06 PM
Only the most naive amongst us will get bought off by this transparent attempt to parry recent criticism.
DOMA and DADT need to go. Until that time, please don't buy into this nonsense, however heartening it was to hear Obama talk about us.
Posted by: Terry | Jun 17, 2009 6:56:19 PM
Thank you, Mr. President. But this is NOT ENOUGH and it's not even one of the PROMISES you made during the presidential campaign! We want DOMA and DADT repealed now! No more waiting for the right time! This is the perfect time. And if DOMA is repealed, you don't have to sign this memorandum which is basically a "band-aid" solution for the ongoing problem. We want real solution!We don't want another Clinton!!!
Posted by: Gayalltheway | Jun 17, 2009 6:57:00 PM
Unimpressed, Mr. President. You can do better. You promised to do better.
Posted by: peterparker | Jun 17, 2009 6:58:07 PM
A very nice step. The most important part was his reaffirmation of his desire to help repeal DOMA. I'm confident it'll get done.
Posted by: Brian in Texas | Jun 17, 2009 6:58:22 PM
Blah, blah, blah ...
WHATEVER!
HRC is back to being a typical Democrat who CAVES to homophobic Obama.
No Gay $$ to HRC or the Democrats until we see true equality for the GLBT community, not this piece of shitty paper giving federal employee benefits that they already have.
Jerk!
Posted by: FunMe | Jun 17, 2009 7:00:16 PM
One inching forward for gays, one giant stumble for placating homosexual-kind. We can get lost in the notion that we have a president who offered a memorandum for gays, but then so did Bush! Feet to the fire, brothers and sisters!
Posted by: MackMike | Jun 17, 2009 7:01:16 PM
Aha! Now Little Joe's (Solmonese) mamby pamby comments about this being a first step makes sense.... Rather than calling Obama and the administration on their bullshit.
He got to attend the Memo signing and get his picture taken.
Tell me Joe, was it good for YOU?
Posted by: Mark (another one) | Jun 17, 2009 7:01:30 PM
What about non-federal domestic partners and those of us that are married legally in our states????
This is horseshit!
But, hey, some gay families also got to roll their fucking eggs on the White House lawn on Easter.
Good Job, Mister President!
Posted by: SFSCOTTIE | Jun 17, 2009 7:02:29 PM
The last time I watched a small group of appreciative people crowd around someone signing legislation, it was in New Hampshire. Governor Lynch was signing in MARRIAGE EQUALITY. This is nothing in comparison to that.
Posted by: Bruno | Jun 17, 2009 7:02:56 PM
I hope we turn his hair gray before the end of his first term.
Posted by: David | Jun 17, 2009 7:03:59 PM
No doubt all those short-sighted, impatient cynics are breaking out in hives; Strategy matters, even in the realm of justice.
rob@egoz.org
Posted by: rob adams | Jun 17, 2009 7:04:21 PM
Whats to discuss? We were BETRAYED. Obama is no friend, let alone a "Fierce Advocate" of the GLBT community. Its time for us to DEMAND equality and not expect others to give it to us out of the kindness or humanity in their hearts.
Posted by: Jim in MN | Jun 17, 2009 7:05:48 PM
Its a step. One he only took because we refused to shut up, and its our responsibility to not shut up until he takes the one after that and the one after that.
Posted by: Steve | Jun 17, 2009 7:07:11 PM
i think this memorandum shows that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. keep on squeekin', boys and girls.
Posted by: psgoodguy | Jun 17, 2009 7:12:10 PM
thank you steve. your's is probably the most level-headed assessment of the situation that i've seen here.
Posted by: alguien | Jun 17, 2009 7:12:29 PM
The only time I recall a president signing something so late in the day was when Clinton signed DOMA at midnight because it was so abhorrent to him that he had no other way of showing his opposition---other than not signing it, of course.
They scheduled this minuscule thing late in the day in hopes that it wouldn't make the nightly news most places. It's no accident: they think gays are something most Americans just can't deal with. I am not impressed.
Posted by: Paul R | Jun 17, 2009 7:15:15 PM
Two giant steps backwards followed by a stumbling shuffle forward is not progress by any measure.
Waiting for congress to repeal DOMA and DADT without the president and his power of the bully pulpit is the same as doing noting at all.
Posted by: Mike Hipp | Jun 17, 2009 7:17:12 PM
So where is the repudiation of the reprehensible DOMA brief that made comparisons of gay marriages to incest? How about an apology? At least admitting that it was wrong? Nothing? But we are supposed to believe his promises (yet again) even though his own Justice Department has labeled our unions to have no more standing than incestous ones?!
Posted by: Wayne | Jun 17, 2009 7:23:05 PM
IMPATIENT CYNICS? in the 40 YEARS since Stonewall not ONE federal law has been passed to protect LGBT citizens. The so called "Model of Democracy and freedom" a beacon in the night to rest of the world has allowed OTHER countries to forge ahead in equality.
Here are a few little known (or talked about facts);
1) The President of the United States *does* have the power to halt the drumming out of LGBT military men in service TODAY. He is the Commander and Chief. The concept is known as "stop-loss" and his predecessor sure didnt have a problem doing it to tens of thousands of soldiers he put to war.
2) Men and Women in the military already serve with LGBT people. Some of them are closeted and SOME are not. A large number of the ones who aren't serve in the armed forces services of our Allies. They do this EVERY SINGLE day of the year and I don't hear our allies screaming about a loss of military cohesion. Its called DISCIPLINE.
3) The President *ALSO* has the power to mandate federal recognition of gay marriage. WHAT? you say? well, folks, try reading your own constitution (and we complain about the bible thumpers not knowing their own bible)... It works as follows:
1) Article six of the U.S. Constitution demands that the United States honor treaties with foreign countries above state law, even above federal law. So much so it explicitly states that our treaties, along with the Constitution itself, are considered to be "the Supreme Law of the Land". What does that mean? it means that issues like marriage and civil contracts negotiated under treaties with foreign governments must be honored by the United States. We, also, have EXPLICIT tax treaties with foreign countries outlining how that system works for married couples. The President and every member of congress are bound by *OATH* to uphold the Constitution. So the President can simply state the federal government must do so to honor our commitments under treaty law. Why is it that not one SINGLE major news organization has picked up and reported on this? Probably because there would be no debate on this. its clear, it could happen overnight.... if we had a President that actually believed in equality and his obligation to every citizen of the United States and it's allies.
But we don't and somehow no one, yet, again, is going to care to look into or press this issue. Where is GLAD, or HRC in this matter? We are impatient, because NO ONE should have to be PATIENT to receive a civil right.
Posted by: Jim in MN | Jun 17, 2009 7:25:42 PM