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07/08/2009
Hildebrand: On Gay Issues, President Obama Will Get 'er Done
Rex Wockner turns in a must-read interview with Steve Hildebrand, who was Barack Obama's openly gay deputy national campaign director.
Hildebrand has communicated directly with the president on the uproar over that document.
"I told him very clearly that many in the gay community across the country are getting very anxious and that folks have felt very hurt by the Justice Department brief—the language that was used in it. He reassured me that he will not disappoint the gay community during his time as president, that the promises he made during the campaign are promises he will fulfill, and he was very forthright about his commitment to equality."
Hildebrand also blew off the possibility of a rumored deal between HRC and the administration to put Don't Ask, Don't Tell on the back burner:
"...I think that's pretty crazy. Anybody who followed Barack Obama during the campaign and anybody that really knows the guy—he's not exactly one who's out cutting deals with special-interest groups on the left or the right for the timing of various legislative initiatives. Barack Obama as president and commander-in-chief is, and will continue to go through, a process, methodically, to get the ducks in a row in order to get the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell done in a successful way that isn't just going to happen overnight. He has to move the minds of the public, he has to move the minds of Congress and he has to move the minds of military leaders. And once that happens, and the ducks are in a row, I believe he can successfully move forward for repeal, something that he feels very strongly about and something that the spoke very passionately about."
Posted 9:50 AM EST by Matthew Rettenmund in Barack Obama, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Rex Wockner | Permalink
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@Clay and others:
It was the anger that caused the action. Our anger is justified and necessary. Obama can't get away with promises anymore. He has to DO SOMETHING to get our loyalty and our money back again.
Posted by: Jeffrey | Jul 8, 2009 6:19:17 PM
Just never going to be good enough for some of you no matter what?
Tell you what. Let's put you in the Wayback Machine and send you back 1 year. Then you tell me who's better you, Obama or the other guy?
Posted by: Derek Washington | Jul 8, 2009 6:23:23 PM
Anybody who isn't completely angry and frustrated with Obama is either an apologist or not paying attention.
Posted by: Jeffrey | Jul 8, 2009 6:41:52 PM
"Anybody who isn't completely angry and frustrated with Obama is either an apologist or not paying attention."
I can't speak for Clay, but I don't think many of us so-called "apologists" are saying there's nothing to be angry or frustrated about. I'm angry and frustrated with Obama, too. (Even as I'm happy with the job he's doing on the world stage, for instance. We could have McCain.) The point is there are constructive ways to use one's anger and futile ways. I suppose people venting here with name-calling and nothing else is cathartic for them and thus serves some purpose, but anger that doesn't have a strategy behind it squanders the leverage we do have.
Posted by: Ernie | Jul 8, 2009 7:17:21 PM
"Squanders the leverage we do have"?!? You have to be kidding? Exactly what "leverage" do we have? NONE because as a community he knows we aren't going anywhere.
The fact of the matter is his polling in key states is going south, the economy is worse with record deficits, unemployment is the highest it's been in decades, and the stimulus is a JOKE (only 5% has been distributed). It's quite conceivable that the Republicans -- in spite of themselves -- will make significant gains in Congress and almost certainly wipe away the filibuster-proof Senate majority. Then our issues will REALLY be on the back burner.
There is a sense of urgency here.
Posted by: LincolnLounger | Jul 9, 2009 12:08:18 AM
"people venting here with name-calling and nothing else"
I agree. But it seems to me that most people are angry and have really interesting comments and insight. And if they are like me, they might rant here but they are also active in organizations to facilitate change as well as sending emails and making phone calls to our leaders. Don't assume just because someone expresses his or her anger on here that it ends there. Blogs like this help us stay fired up and focused. In fact, they have been invaluable in helping to ignite a nationwide passion to fight for our rights.
Posted by: Jeffrey | Jul 9, 2009 12:16:25 AM
Oh, and just saying he's better than McCain is a pretty poor defense (i mean wouldn't just about anybody fit that description?) and it doesn't excuse what he's done to us and not done for us.
Posted by: Jeffrey | Jul 9, 2009 12:19:46 AM
Thanks for the Log Cabin Republican talking points, Lincolnlounger. You're quite right, there is a sense of urgency, because we currently have a party and President in power who are on record in support of our rights and have made us promises. When you make promises you can be held to them, and our contributions and support can be tied to fulfilling them. The Republicans owe us nothing and, even if they did (that'll be the day), they're not in a position to follow thru. The urgency is because we currently have leverage, not because we lack it.
Jeffrey: Saying Obama is better than McCain isn't a defense or an excuse. One can be angry with Obama's inaction and misguided actions on gay rights and still support his presidency. I want him to do much better on gay rights because I think he has so much potential as a president. And I agree, anger can be a motivating factor. Nothing wrong with being angry and fired up, if it's channeled constructively. But I've seen a lot of defeatism here along the lines of: Obama and the Dems will never do anything for us, so fuck them all, I quit. If we'd had that attitude in VT, we wouldn't have marriage equality within the state.
Posted by: Ernie | Jul 9, 2009 10:47:39 AM