I Voted (Twice) for Obama, and Apparently I Lost
Let's talk hope for a minute.
Barack Obama seized the word "hope" this year, but back in 1977 my first political hero gave a big speech about it out in California. His name was Harvey Milk, and there is a film about him right now every American should see.
The iconic text of that talk is known as "The Hope Speech." It helped Milk get elected San Francisco supervisor, made him famous as the first openly gay city official in America, and provided rhetorical red meat as he led an historic effort to defeat a statewide ballot initiative that would have allowed the wholesale firing of gay teachers, principals and administrators in California public schools.
The defeat of the infamous Briggs Initiative was the highpoint of the 11 months Milk served in office and, as Randy Shilts noted in The Mayor of Castro Street, the single factor most responsible for his assassination a few weeks later in broad daylight in City Hall.
Milk died in part because he worked against a proposed state-sanctioned witch hunt that would have cost thousands of lesbian and gay people their livelihoods.
Thirty years later - the day Obama was elected president - an equally hateful and destructive ballot initiative in California took away the legal right lesbian and gay people had to marry the persons they love.
And this week, President-elect Obama invited Rick Warren, perhaps the most visible leader of that movement, to preside over the very first moments of his presidency.
Rick Warren's selection is a thumb in the eye of every lesbian and gay citizen of this country, and an insult to kind and decent Americans who believed that Obama's presidency was the beginning of a new era in our history.
I am as loyal a Democrat as they come, but I am saying right now, today, publically, on the record, that this is so troubling to me - and frankly to a lot of other people, gay and straight - that I will not vote for Obama in 2012, if I do not have the right that day in whatever state I am living in this country to marry the person I choose.
And I will work actively to encourage as many others as I can to do the same.
It is time in the name of Harvey Milk , Matthew Shepard , Lawrence King and for the freedoms promised every person born in this country - every citizen - in our Constitution for me to take that stand.
My liberal friends are going to get all over me for this. They don't want to hear it, because after eight years of George W. Bush they are afraid that any criticism of Obama will open some fissure in our coalition that the right-wing can identify, exploit and possibly use to recapture the presidency and/ or Congress.
Well, I'm not scared of that, because I also will pledge just as publically to give more money than I can afford, to work my ass off, to write and publish articles and to hound everyone I know to do the same in 2012, if Obama or whomever the Democrats nominate will simply stand for the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, the one that reads:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
You see, I didn't gain anything by voting for Obama, if the person he chooses for his most visible spiritual symbol - the person to pray over his presidency and to hold out to Americans as the model for how to think about lesbian and gay relationships - is Rick Warren.
Warren, who compares gay and lesbian relationships and the loving families they produce to incest, pedophilia and polygamy and likens those who support a woman's right to reproductive choice to perpetrators of the Holocaust, is every bit as offensive to me as David Duke is to me and to every one of my African-American friends.
James Byrd Jr. was dragged to death - chained behind a truck and pulled down a dirt road until his body literally was ripped to pieces - in Southeast Texas in part because people like David Duke a few miles away in Louisiana have made careers signaling with symbols and inflammatory rhetoric that it is ok to dehumanize African-Americans.
Matthew Shepard died alone - tied to a fence after being pistol whipped and tortured to the point that 18 hours later the person who discovered his dehydrated, comatose body initially thought it was a scarecrow - in Laramie, Wyo., in part because people like Warren signal with nuanced speech and religious demagoguery that lesbian and gay relationships are immoral aberrations and deserve to be punished.
When 15-year-old Lawrence King was gunned down earlier this year by a fellow classmate in a junior high science lab, lesbian and gay people actively opposed charging the boy who pulled the trigger with a hate crime or trying him as an adult, because we understand as Masen Davis, executive director of one legal rights group, said, "(the other boy) is just as much a victim as Lawrence. He is a victim of homophobia and hate."
So, a few words directly to you, Mr. President-elect:
Many lesbian and gay people voted for you because we believed in your personal story - - and your call for Hope. We believed that the things you felt and endured growing-up in a fiercely racist society and perhaps not understanding where you fit into the mosaic of American life in some ways mirrored our own. Even though you aren't gay, we believed that more than anyone else who ever stood for high office you have an innate sense of what we have felt most of our lives. Your campaign relied heavily on symbols, and the message that your choice of Rick Warren has sent to people who are looking to you to help them understand how to treat lesbian and gay Americans has dashed that hope in a near irreparable way for many of us.
This is real. Lesbian and gay Americans are fighting on a daily basis not just for our rights under the Constitution, but in some places - as the stories of Milk, Shepard, King and hundreds of others show - for our lives.
All over this country this year, thousands of lesbian and gay kids Sasha and Malia's ages began to realize they are different from their peers. Some, if their parents find out, literally will be tossed out of their homes. Others will endure daily taunts and violence at their schools. Many will feel they only have two choices: stay in the closet or God forbid suicide.
Then, they saw Barack Obama elected president, and even at their young ages I'm sure they saw hope for a better world.
You held out "hope" as the reason for us to make you leader of the free world, Mr. Obama, and we did.
The next time your advisers suggest you hold up someone like Warren, who would tell those children they are innately sinful and that God is going to send them to Hell, as a spiritual symbol of your administration, please think of those frightened gay kids Sasha and Malia's ages.
And remember Harvey Milk's words: "You gotta give em hope."
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"I am saying right now, today, publically, on the record, that this is so troubling to me - and frankly to a lot of other people, gay and straight - that I will not vote for Obama in 2012, if I do not have the right that day in whatever state I am living in this country to marry the person I choose.
It is time in the name of Harvey Milk , Matthew Shepard , Lawrence King and for the freedoms promised every person born in this country - every citizen - in our Constitution for me to take that stand."
Joe, I am with you there. For generations, those who care about gay civil rights have chosen -- unlike evangelicals -- to vote for a broader agenda. Gay voters have steadfastly refused to be one-issue voters, and this has worked to the tremendous advantage of Democrats. But it IS time to stop turning the other cheek. With the recent news that the new President and Congress are going to defer work on overturning "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," we might add every Democrat in Congress to the list of those who will not be supported.
No more money, support, endorsements, or votes for any candidate unless he or she works to legalize gay marriage, overturn DOMA, overturn "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and pass the Matthew Shepard Act. Period.
Good on you, Joe. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
I thought that maybe after two days, I would stop feeling betrayed, sickened and like I was punched in the gut by the Warren choice. It didn't work. I still feel that way.
I am so disappointed and blown away by this Rick Warren mess, and by the tone deafness of Obama's choice, that I really have no joy or enthusiasm for watching his inauguration. I would suggest, for anyone who feels as I do, that you skip viewing or attending the inauguration, and instead, buy a ticket to see MILK at your nearest theatre where it is showing. If it is not showing near you, make a contribution of the ticket price to HRC in the name of Rick Warren.
I only hope that Obama makes better choices starting on Jan 21st.
Sigh.
OK. My partner tells me it's not the symbolism that matters, it's what really happens. And I usually buy that, being a quite pragmatic person.
But, I have had some experience with Christian fundamentalists. An investor in a company I had is and was one, and, while he is sane in many respects, he sent me a christmas card that clearly indicates that he and his ilk are 100% convinced that Obama is the Communist, the Terrorist and the Devil who is going to wreck and ruin our country in one long four year reign of terror.
Having Warren speak is NOT going to change these people's insane minds. This man sat by Terry Shiavo (sp?) for weeks on end, praying and interpreting her every move as a sign that she was not brain dead.
So, my take on Warren? If you're doing it Obama, to appease the fundamentalists, fuggetaboutit. If you're doing it b/c you identify with this man in some way, Yikes.
Remember, not only is he homophobic, he's anti-choice.
Why did gay people think that Obama was going to be just their president?
Well, I look forward to seeing Holocaust deniers and segregationists in the White House!
With all due respect, when I voted for Obama, it was MY hope that he would be willing to be inclusive of people with varying views and opinions, because WE ALL BELIEVE OUR VIEWS ARE RIGHT.
So far, every decision he's made has given me more hope that for once, we may just have a president who isn't willing to ignore ANYONE because of what they believe.
Well, I look forward to seeing Holocaust deniers and segregationists in the White House!
Very simple. This entire issue is solely of Obama's making. And he chose to create the issue. There was no call from the gay community for Obama to choose someone to deliver a prayer in support of gay people, in support of gay marriage or gay rights. None.
He chose an active leader of the Prop 8 forces, someone who equates being gay with incest and beastiality, and who is known for those positions. The fact that Warren supports other commonly perceived "good" causes --- AIDS education, anti-poverty efforts, etc. --- doesn't negate his homophobia.
It strains credulity that Obama and his team --- who ran one of the smartest, savviest campaigns in recent history --- didn't see that selecting homophobe Warren would cause a controversy.
If so, "Why choose Warren?" Answer: Send a message to homophobes that Obama's not THAT liberal. Gays, despite their support, are more easily sacrificed; besides Obama's thinking must go, "Where else are the gays going to go other than on my side, who else are they going to support?"
Obama knew it would cause a stir. He chose to cause the stir. It sends a message to right-of-center people that he's not the leftie they think he is, because, "See, just like you, I don't have that big a problem with homophobes, even if I don't consider myself one, even if I disagree with them." Pretty cynical for a "uniter" guy...poli
I voted for Obama. I campaigned for Obama. Hell, I was a paid intern for Obama.
But I am still very upset about this.
The most upsetting thing is that people are instantly taking the argument against Warren and turning it against the LBGT community. As though we "should have known better". I am gay and when I was working for Obama I knew that he did not support my rights. I still felt electing him was important for America on every issue including same-sex marriage.
Now I am going to work to make Obama realize that his anti-gay platform is incorrect and that through some change he can truly make a difference in this country. And I believe that this is important. I think that the LBGT community needs to work together, stand up and say "Obama, we supported you but do you support us or are you just going to use us like nearly every other Democratic politician?"
We are going to upset a lot of people. Many will claim that we are being inappropriate by bringing up the results of bigotry and hatred against us. As if we should just sit around waiting for equality while every other movement fought with all they had. People will whine and tell us to "shut up" that there are other things to deal with. Well, the man is the leader of this nation and he needs work on every issue especially those involving the equality of millions.
I bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate Obama's inaugural. But now Obama is not going to be my president. He's basically kicked gays and lesbians to the curb to suck up to evangelicals. So I'll drink that champagne on New Year's Eve instead. I'll celebrate the end of 2008. I will not celebrate Obama.
Joe Cutbirth,
If your votes for Obama were solely based on the GLBT rights and comfort then I understand your disappointment! However, the majority of voters made their choice over other issues such as education, economy, health care and the end of Iraq war--
They were.
You voted for him twice?
Are you going to make it thrice? I'm not.
Joe has a right to be offended by the choice of Warren.
As a straight woman I'm offended on two counts -- Warren's comments on gay/lesbian marriage and on abortion.
There is no defendable reason as to why Warren has been chosen for this historic honor. NONE.
The only reason is - triangulation for re-election. Because, as the PE told us when he flipflopped on FISA: Where else can you go? As the O-excusers repeat their battle cry: get over it.
But the 2012 election will not be 2008. In 2012 -- the PE cannot ride the anti-GOP fervor to re-election.
He will be judged by his own record in office - - finally.
Warren was a BAD CALL. Any honest democrat would say so.
(Email I sent to Rachel Maddow)
Rachel,
I make a point to watch your show every night because I believe you are smart, well researched, and you bring a fresh perspective to the issues.
How do you view the Bible? In your view, does the Bible have absolute authority? Do you believe the inerrancy of scripture? Because Rick Warren does. And Romans chapter 1 means a lot to him. He would consider it his road map or his authority. Higher than government authority. According to Romans 1:26-27, homosexuality is not natural. Men having sexual relationship with men and woman having sexual relationship with woman is not the original intent or purpose for sex.
Why does this matter? Because sex was created by God for the context of marriage. According to the Bible (1 Cor 6:9-10), any sex outside of marriage is wrong (sin) in God eyes. If the normal institute of
marriage (Genesis 1:22-24) is between a man and woman, then that excludes sex between woman and woman.
I know this is personal for you!
This is the background that you may have heard before, but when Rick Warren said he doesn't approve of marriage between older man and children and brother and sister, and woman and woman. His ultimate authority for making that declaration is his view of the Holy Bible. He doesn't care what we think! We should understand it and present his view accurately and fairly but we don't have to believe it!
MobilizerJ
MobilizerJ
You are kidding, right?
The Constitution has absolute authority.
The Bible, Wagner's Ring trilogy and Gone with the Wind are cultural fiction. They have no authority in law at all.
You've it all wrong. The absolute authority is The Gospel of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
All other gods are false idols.
I voted for Obama because I believe he is an honest, honorable man who can and will bring change to Washington. By him picking Mr. Warren because of how he feels about gay and lesbian issues is a non issue with me. There is always going to be some group of people who are not 100% satisfied. Look, Mr. Warren is a white man--do you see people of color getting self righteous because the Pres elect didn't chose a black man for the ignagural? Are other religious denominations-- the catholics, jews, mormans upset because a pastor of their faith wasn't chosen? I think the old adage that goes 'you can please some people some of the time and most of the people none of the time'--or something like that--should be used in this instance. The pres elect is trying to bring people together. If he tries to cater to one group of people then he is doomed to fail. Also, remember it was the voters of CA that voted for Prop 8 so some of your anger and disapointment should be aimed in that direction.
Um, he did choose a black man for the inaugural. Rev. Lowery will deliver the benediction.
In addition, you've totally missed the reason gay people are upset. They're not protesting because the person chosen isn't gay. They're protesting because he's a homophobe. Sure, AAs, Jews, and Catholics aren't protesting. But then, Obama isn't including any racists, anti-Semites, or anti-Catholics in the inauguration. If he had, then you can bet your ass those groups would be protesting.
So, are you so sure that there are no members of Obama's cabinet that are homophobes??
This is an invocation for crying out loud - get over it!!!
do you see people of color getting self righteous because the Pres elect didn't chose a black man for the ignagural?
What ethnicity do you think Rev. Lowery is?
This type of toss out there uninformed statement shows you are missing the whole point. No where in my post did I ask that a gay person be placed in the program. WHat I did ask was that Mr. Obama consider what signal he is sending Americans who are looking to him for leadership on how to see lesbian and gay citizens of this country.
He chose someone who vocally has said over and over that we are made of sin anbd going to Hell and that we should not be granted the same rights under the 14th amendment to the constitution.
ARe you going to say the same thing - you cant please everyone 100 percent of the time - if he places a segregationist or a Holocaust denier in such a prominent position?
without empahty,we are just another kind of animal. I am not gay; I am not of the age to have an abortion but I get it. I feel those folks pain because I can feel how I would feel if one of them was my son or daughter.
This is not a matter of catering to anyone. It's political at the expense of gays and women. We get it.;
Thank you. Thank you very much. You have no idea how much your post means.
Thank you!
Just an observation and a comment.
First the observation. I voted for Obama twice too. But I don't lay any claim to him. Neither should you. And your comment about working against him when his approval ratings are in the 70's is really bad timing.
And the comment. If you want to know why so many straight people vote against gay issues, read your own article.
Nothing in my post maintains that i "Lay claim" to obama. THat is a construct you are trying to make to position me in this discussion so you can attack my position. I reject it.
I also dont care one iota about how popular somebody or some situation or trend is when it comes to standing for what I believe is right.
My parents tought me to follow my conscience, not to follow the crowd. Yours may have taught you differently.
grrrrrreat reply! i'm a fan!
All I could register of this blog in my fragile little brain was, "I voted for Obama"... "Rick Warren"... "an insult, a disgrace".
F### Y##! When WE, gays are allowed to vote on YOUR civil rights I'm sure you won't be feeling so smug. We are tired of SUBSIDIZING YOUR family. We are tired of paying higher tax rates. We are tired of being denied our right to make medical decisions for our partners. We are tired of our partners parents suing us when our partners die (despite having our wills in order) and losing everything we own(ed) together to our partners parents because we were not "married".
So ANYONE who tells me to "get over it", all I can say is F### Y##!
Totally agree Dave01. Makes me angry too. Even though I don't have kids, I have voted for every school bond issue that comes up for election. NO MORE. These same breeders I have helped by supporting school bonds, child-care, etc.etc. don't believe I should be able to have the same rights they have? F### Them.
Insulitng flames are more indicative of your personality than the justifiable objections to this choice.
this choice is dangerous to large segments of our population -- including gays who face violence regularly, and women and girls. This is what's disturbing the brightest posters. They get it.
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