06/18/2009
Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann on Obama's 'Fierce Advocacy'
Rachel Maddow had Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) on last night to discuss Obama's tiptoe toward gay rights.
Olbermann hosted Human Rights Campaign's Joe Solmonese.
Said Solmonese: "What I was really looking for was the conveyance of health care benefits to federal employees...I was looking for him to call on Congress to do that...Ultimately that move will provide federal employees with the full compliments and benefits that we are looking for them to receive."
Watch them, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 7:13 AM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Keith Olbermann, News, Rachel Maddow, Tammy Baldwin | Permalink
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It's all becoming "to little to late" to me. Here's fierce advocacy for LGBT rights is beginning to sound more like "let's get the gay vote now and worry about how to blow them off later". Could it be he is just another politician marginalizing the voters who helped put him in office?
Posted by: philberto | Jun 18, 2009 7:27:25 AM
I didn't think that either Joe or Tammy were aggressive enough. Particularly Joe. He's supposed to be an ACTIVIST. He sounded pretty much like it was back to "business as usual" at HRC. I am also frustrated that people don't point out exactly what DOMA is - and what it forbids/prohibits - even with civil unions, etc. People in general think that it only says that states don't have to recognize other state's marriages. It does MUCH more than that. I wish they would point that out more often to educate those in the middle.
Either way - I AM GOING TO BE SO PISSED if there is a decent turnout at this fundraiser at the end of the month. PISSED. We need to cut off the money until there is something besides a freaking memo.
Posted by: Dan | Jun 18, 2009 7:49:20 AM
Representative Baldwin: You are holding the fundraiser so that you can tell the administration how important lgbt rights are? I hope that we can get the point across to this administration how important our rights are without shelling out thousands of dollars to sit in a hotel banquet hall with them. If we yell loud enough they will hear us - and yelling is free - so real folks can do it. Lame excuse. And we are not just "impatient" - we are pissed - the DOMA brief was so unacceptable on so many levels. And dear Rachel: love your show, but your interview was softball.
Mr. Solmonese: You can hear what the President has to say without standing behind him smiling and clapping. I know it is a rush for you to be in the White House and meet with the President. Your gushing knows no bounds. But you didn't use this opportunity to mention the DOMA brief? WTF? Take a lesson from Eartha Kitt - sure she was banned from the White House - but she had her integrity and the knowledge that she spoke truth to power (okay so it was Ladybird and not Lyndon - but close enough). The DOMA brief letter you sent to the Administration gave me a glimmer of hope that HRC was being pushed by the community to actually lead a movement - your actions and statements last night reaffirmed my view of HRC as an lgbt training ground for future administration appointments. Just sad.
Posted by: Cleveland Bob | Jun 18, 2009 8:10:24 AM
Kudos to Rachel and Keith for calling out Obama AND our own leaders.
Poor Obama, his hands are tied. Too bad there was no mention that Truman ended racial discrimination in the military 60 YEARS AGO without congressional approval.
Posted by: Rick | Jun 18, 2009 8:14:23 AM
We must keep pushing. People don't just give minorities rights. Minorities need to push this administration until we take the rights that are due us
Posted by: Matt | Jun 18, 2009 8:41:35 AM
Matt's correct: you get as much freedom as you take.
Posted by: Elcamino | Jun 18, 2009 8:53:46 AM
Its really a sad state of affairs when both Keith and Rachel came off stronger than the self appointed leaders of the Gay Community.
Joe Solomese needs to be FIRED plain and simple. I am so sick of his Obama ass kissing ways and his 500 dollar suits. He doesn;t earn the 225k a year salary thats given and he has the backbone of a jellyfish.
Posted by: Wolfie | Jun 18, 2009 8:59:21 AM
Well, considering that Ronald Regan refused to even acknowledge AIDS in the US, and the Clinton's giving us lip service up to the inaugural ball (with Ellen and Anne dancing along side), then signed DADT into law, this is a good progression. It might take a few more administrations (hopefully we won't slide back into GOP hands), but the momentum is there.
As the pool of gay-marriage supporting states grows, the US Government will have to come in line, too. Much like how companies began offering domestic partner benefits that helped mold a lot of state regulations to do the same.
Little steps; but forward steps.
Considering how much infighting goes on in the gay community, and how ineffective and bloated a lot of the organizations have become, how we got this far is quite remarkable. Sort of; evolution in spite of ourselves.
Posted by: Rad | Jun 18, 2009 9:35:50 AM
I think it's funny in the Solmonese interview that the word 'gay' is never mentioned.
Posted by: Jeff | Jun 18, 2009 9:41:20 AM
What's that line from "Dog Day Afternoon"? I want to be kissed when I'm getting...?
Posted by: woodroad34 | Jun 18, 2009 1:26:42 PM
The boulder is now rolling, KEEP PUSHING!
Posted by: Sargon Bighorn | Jun 18, 2009 4:35:07 PM