Gay Rights Advocates Not Satisfied By Obama's "Very Small Step"

AMERICAblog:

Ah, those pesky details.

As you may have heard, President Obama tomorrow will be signing a presidential directive, not an executive order, providing "some" benefits to gay and lesbian employees. Well, the details, murky that they are, are coming. And they aren't great.

Read the whole story: AMERICAblog

Comments

[policyhack]

Bill Clinton's endorsement of same-sex marriage may portend a growing confidence among Democrats and moderate Republicans to finally address equality for same sex couples and open service for gay and lesbian soldiers. Admittedly, Clinton is less constrained by the election calculations that encumber Congress and the President when it comes to divisive social issues. Nevertheless, Clinton has always possessed a keen sense for the shifting center of American politics. I hope he’s right.

http://axisofreason.com/2009/07/14/bill-clinton-supports-same-sex-marriage/

[superstition]

Obama deputy campaign manager abandons DOMA & DADT as priorities
http://www.americablog.com/2009/07/obama-deputy-campaign-manager-abandons.html

"After two weeks of the Obama White House reeling over the gay backlash caused by the anti-gay DOMA brief, which compared gay marriage to incest and pedophilia, we now have...

First, that the burden for doing anything pro-gay in the remaining three and a half years of the Obama administration is now shifted to Congress. Obama has no role whatsoever, and no power to influence anything, even though he's still the leader of the free world.

Second, the three big gay rights priorities that Congress should be focusing on do not even include what have organically become the community's top two priorities: repealing DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell. They're not even mentioned in the Obama deputy's essay."

[mmgbizgirl]

I believe in the fight for full Gay Rights and have stomped the pavement for gay family and friends on many, many occasions.

But the way they are coming at this President after 6 months in office, knowing the enormous burdens he inherited, I think it hurts the cause overall.

What it says to me as a supporter is, despite the spiraling problems that must be addressed in our country, that what WE want takes precedence over catastrophic economic failure, two wars, and serious unrest around the globe.

I believe the cause should stay front and center but the venom will assuredly undermine years of hard work.

[GlennInVenice]

The President has been "coming at us" lately. HIS DOJ's support of DOMA last week was offensive and the type of all out attack on us that we would have expected from the Bush Administration. I am sorry that you think the fact that we did not just roll over was inappropriate but you would be wrong. Even if you are patient, you do not permit backsliding and confrontation from an administration that billed itself as a "fierce" fighter for gay rights.

[superstition]

"I believe that freedom and justice cannot be parceled out in pieces to suit political convenience."


-- Coretta Scott King

We don't need a new MLK and CSK. We need our President to learn something from them.

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

Obama hear that sound?

That's MILLIONS of LGBT checkbooks slamming SHUT.

You'll miss that ATM, but I'm sure the Mormons will grease your palms.

[Cesaria]

You in the LGBT couldn't even beat the Mormons so who the hell cares about your empty dollars. It's not worth much as facts have shown.

[superstition]

The DNC cares. A lot.

The President wouldn't have bothered with his hastily arranged cheesy memorandum signing if not for the rapidly dying gay dollars fundraiser.

[jorydozier]

Come on now boys and girls, he's only been president a few short months and has a few things on his plate. To think that gay rights would be anywhere near the top of the agenda is a little impatient. I am not saying it isn't important, as a gay man it is very important to me personally. I just don't think we should give up on the guy yet, but we should continue to put the pressure on the president and all our legislators. M.L.K. spoke against the "tranquillizing effect of gradualism", but bringing about change usually is gradual. Instead of bitching and throwing a fit, it is time to reorganize and come up with more effective campaigns to bring about the change we justly deserve.

[GlennInVenice]

His adminstration attacked us legally last week defending DOMA with language that was trully offensive. Obama has not acknowledge the deed let alone appolgized for it. It seems that his administration does have time to make an effort to legitimize our continued unequal treatment. Therefore, I'm afraid to say that I count you among Obama's many appologists. It does not make up for the lack of an appology.

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

Obama and Congressional Democrats,

The insulting mocking no benefit benefit olive TWIG extended to LGBTs, is what you give to us.
Expect insults and mocking when your candidates ASK us for funds and votes.

do onto others.....

[Ajegunle]

PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE IN GAY MARRIAGE, BUT IN CIVIL UNIONS---HE BELIEVES, HE SAID, IN THE STATE'S RIGHT TO ACT AS THEY CHOSE.

YOU GUYS NEED TO GIVE THIS PRESIDENT TIME. HE WAS NOT ELECTED TO GRANT GAY MARRIAGES AND PROMOTE GAY RIGHTS. YOU CANNOT HIGHJACK HIS PRESIDENCY LIKE THIS!

IT IS NOT AS IF HE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS, AND ISSUES TO DEAL WITH. GIVE HIM TIME.

OR VOTE HIM OUT OF OFFICE IN 2012 AND SEE IF YOU GET A BETTER DEAL FROM THE LOVING AND CARING GOP.

[joemondo]

This is about DOMA which he says he opposes but in action supports.

He made promises to GLBT voters, which we are holding him accountable for. If he didn't want to do those things, he shouldn't have told us he would.

And your little threats are funny.

[Ajegunle]

NO THREATS AT ALL BUDDY.

YOU DONT LIKE WHAT HE'S DOING, VOTE HIM OUT OF OFFICE. I AM MORE THAN SURE THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT.

[Ajegunle]

AND DONT FORGET THE LOVING, "GOD FEARING", AND CARING CHRISTIAN RIGHT

[friskee1]

as i have said to another poster, he is not your boyfriend. and he is not the tooth fairy or the easter bunny. he is human and and is not perfect. he made promiss to evryone one not just gays so take a number and get in line. if anything, get on CONGRESS for dragging their feet on this issue. he can't do pelosi' or reid's job for them. an no, you don't get to claim credit for him coming through anyway because you held him accountable

[evekendall]

President Lyndon Johnson took office on November 22, 1963. He had to contend with the Vietnam War, the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and the Cold War, Communist China, Fidel Castro, Israel and the Middle East, the Ku Klux Klan, defiant Southern Democrats and Republicans, anti-war protests, civil unrest, and riots in the streets, but he got the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 bill passed within eight months of taking office.

Johnson was in the White House just over five years. Apart from the Vietnam War, which was his undoing, he accomplished perhaps the most ambitious domestic agenda in U. S. history with his Great Society legislation that included:

-- Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin
-- Higher Education Act of 1965
-- Social Security Act of 1965 (Medicare/Medicaid)
-- Voting Rights Act of 1965
-- Freedom of Information Act of 1966
-- Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
-- Bilingual Education Act of 1968
-- Fair Housing Act 1968
-- Gun Control Act of 1968

He accomplished this progressive agenda with major advances in civil liberties because he had the guts to push for them - in spite of Republicans and Southern Democrats, of whom he said, upon signing the Civil Rights Act, "We have lost the South for a generation." He knew he would lose them, but he did it anyway because it was the right thing to do. That takes guts.

[friskee1]

your point?

[Ajegunle]

SINCE OBAMA HAS NO GUT, JUST 6 MONTHS IN OFFICE, JUST VOTE HIM OUT IN 2012 AND TAKE YOUR CHANCES WITH THE LOVING AND CARING REPUBLICANS!

[joemondo]

And what exactly do you think the difference would be on GLBT rights?

[jorydozier]

Perhaps Obama has a plan and everyone needs to just hold their horses. The comparison to the civil rights act of '64 is hardly comparable, and if it were, we as gay Americans certainly haven't put up the fight like they did in the 60's.

[rblaquinta]

My sister is gay and for the life of me....I am amazed that people actually think after approx. five months in office our amazing president is suppose to make the entire US happy. Find a cure for all its ills.....cure to cancer, the economy, marriage for all, health care for all, peace the middle east, cut the drop out ratealth, etc. We have become an instant gratification society....after 200 plus years..blacks and women not to long ago could not even vote... Listening to the newest talking head pundit Maher everything Obama has done is just window dressing ...how pathetic...sorry Bill its going to take maybe another month to correct all this country's ill!!!!!!

[joemondo]

I'm surprised you have such a poor grasp of the news and the issues.

No one has said that after 5 months Obama should make everyone happy.

Strawman.

[JennieB]

I always thought gays were pretty smart, but they don't seem to understand that Obama can't "give" health benefits to Fed employees until DOMA is repealed, which must be done by Congress. Obama said very clearly that he does not support DOMA, thinks its discriminatory, and will work with Congress to repeal it. Gays are still pissed. He should have just let them wait for Congress to repeal the law instead of trying to please them.

[joemondo]

He said he'd oppose it, but his DOJ just argued for it, in the most vile terms.

[friskee1]

who wrote the brief? the constitution indicated that black people were 3/5 human but you are pissed at the language it contained?

[CigarGod]

Isn't it odd that those on this thread urging patience with Obama...also have nothing to say about the DOJ brief linking homosexuality with incest and pedophilia?

I wonder why that is?

[Tanyars5]

#1 we understand that it was a mistake.

[CigarGod]

Good first step...but where is the outrage?
That linkage justifies outrage.

If you are a minority and remember the pre-CRA days, you will see the same outrageous linkages were applied to minorities then.

[joemondo]

A mistake?

President Fierce doesn't say it's a mistake.

[JanSP1971]

I think it was WRONG that the DOJ has not been over turned but I do believe with all my heart our President is going to get it done and he will also over turn Don't Ask Don't Tell. Preseidnt Obama is going to do more for the gay and lesbian community then any President even came close to. We must have patience a new day is coming and President Obama and Vice President Biden are working for all AMERICANS.

[3fingerbrown]

During the campaign and in the first days of his presidency, Obama was compared to Lincoln and FDR--presidents who governed in bold, sweeping strokes. It was assumed that because the economy and the world situation were so dire, and because the previous president had made such a hash of things, Obama would govern in the same take-no-prisoners style.

But, it turns out, the president Obama more resembles is JFK--a plodding, pragmatic liberal who moves the debate one small increment at a time, taking what is given without overreaching, with an acute sensitivity to what the political center will bear.

Remember that JFK campaigned much more liberal than he governed, and that civil-rights leaders were frustrated with his slow, deliberate approach to racial justice. He'd put off big civil-rights decisions by saying, "That's something for the second term" (when he wouldn't have to worry about courting Southern democrats to be reelected). It was LBJ, a confirmed New Dealer who revered FDR, who governed in the big Roosevelt-Lincoln style that so many Obama supporters expected from their man.

[Yurdelite]

One finger to you...

[3fingerbrown]

Thanks. Just remember to wipe it after you pull it out of your nose.

[ritenow]

Patience grasshopper! Patience.

[mredder4]

The earlier version of the photo attached to the story was bigger, and included the bottom of the foremost picture that includes the word 'FAIL' beneath Obama's picture. It appears that the picture was edited to exclude that.

Interesting.

[Tanyars5]

No one advocates for the Failure of the President but Repubs and some gays. Go figure.

[t iessa]

I didn't take it that they wanted Obama to fail. I took it that they were saying he had already failed on human rights.

[joemondo]

It's not advocating his failure, but sorrow that it's happened.

[Whinger]

A very small step indeed, but he's walking as fast and as far as the law permits, he has no magic wand to banish the injustice and discrimination overnight.
It should not be forgotten that many are working to prevent change and this is one reason why it will be incremental, but change will come in time.
Gay's should realize that the current administration is on your side, not against you, and the President will do what he can, as and when, to resolve this glaring injustice!

[grandkids09]

I'm for equal rights but why isn't anyone standing up for straight un-married couples and their rights to the same benifits the Gay crowd wants. Many seniors do not marry because they lose benifits. People stay single because of benifits they would lose if married. These issues are not unique to the Gay crowd and yet no-one in the media todate has addressed the issues from the Straight point of view. I feel sorry for Obama because no-matter what he does a group imugers to bash him. He can't do anything it appears that pleases the GOP and its quite pathedic! What a thankless job he has! Perhaps he will throw-up his hands and say," I give-up!" Then what? Whom do you think can do it better? So easy to sit back and bash him and yet put forth no ideas accept to say no!

[Tanyars5]

you are right

[mydwyf]

We need an inclusive 'domestic partnership' legal umbrella.

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

Having his Justice dept SPIT ON our FAMILIES, what CHANGE is that?

We could get that from repigs.