Starbucks Offers Better Same-Sex Medical Benefits Than Obama
Originally posted at Air America Media.
What's the difference between an 18-year-old girl slinging lattes 30 hours a week at Starbucks for $5 an hour and a middle-aged man who has put in years behind a desk working for their country? Well, other than a potential latte-quality divide, the difference is this: If both of those people happened to be married to a person of the same gender, one of them would get medical benefits. The part-time, minimum wage 18-year-old barista's wife would get better benefits than the civil servant's husband.
An administration official last night leaked that President Barack Obama would be signing an executive memorandum granting some benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees at 5:45 p.m. today. The problem, however, is that stipulations in the Defense of Marriage Act -- which Obama's Department of Justice issued a memo in support of just last week -- prevent same-sex couples from being granted full benefits. More likely, the memo will allot them some relocation expenses paid, or some other paltry flail toward positive change. Additionally, the minimal change Obama can mandate by order of a memorandum becomes null and void the moment his term as president is over.
If this hadn't come without such a fight, it could be considered a miniscule victory. As it is, the marginal benefits Obama is likely to offer seem like a dismissive nod toward one of the domographics who helped elect him and have been repaid with one snub after another.
In addition to the blows on DOMA, Don't Ask Don't Tell and immigration, Obama is clearly looking to pick up points before Vice President Joe Biden attends the Democratic National Convention fundraiser meant to ply cash from gay and lesbian Democrats on June 25. One by one, high-profile gay names are pulling out of attending the $1,000-per-plate fundraiser, citing the president's support of DOMA as their reason. No rights, no respect, no cash for the party, they say. Obama is grasping at straws trying to save face and win back the wallets of his gay constituency.
For an allegedly progressive president, it sure is strange that a chain coffee company treats its gay and lesbian employees with more respect and equality than does the federal government.
If you want their money and their service, President Obama, why don't you give the gays some equality?
Originally posted at Air America Media.
Follow Kase Wickman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kaseyawesome
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Shouldn't our government be promoting beneficial social behavior? Does it provide the same benefits to partners of cohabiting heterosexual couples as it does now to cohabiting gay couples? If it does not, then this action my Mr. Obama seems entirely inequitable. I mean, why should only gay couples receive such special benefits from the government?
Because the cohabitating heterosexual couple can get married in ANY state...
I'm not surprised.
From DOMA, to DADT, to more wasteful "war" funding, to bails outs for speculators and predators, and to no national health program, as Malcolm X once said, and I'm paraphrasing him, snakes can be white, as well as black.
Kudos to New England (sans RI) and Iowa too for supporting marriage equality and fairness.
Cheers, Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace
Washington, Connnecticut USA
$5.00 an hour?
Minimum wage is $6.55 an hour.
So is that why a cappuccino cost $5.00? And who said he was supposed to be a progressive? Fox News. . .?
Starbucks closed 600 stores and laid off 12,000 employees recently. Chances are that eighteen year old Barista is out of a job, and I betch ya if she got a job with the Federal Government She'd take it!
Just another in the long line of candidates for this week's non sequitur award. Does it feel good to toss out distractions when people's equal rights are at stake?
I'm glad to know the ridiculous price of a cup of coffee is going some place besides the pockets of executives and shareholders. How refreshing.
Ms. Wickman writes: "For an allegedly progressive president, it sure is strange that a chain coffee company treats its gay and lesbian employees with more respect and equality than does the federal government.
If you want their money and their service, President Obama, why don't you give the gays some equality?"
However, President Obama is not asking for "their money or their service." For all of their complaining, gay Americans are hardly the oppressed minority they claim to be. It's wonderful theatrics that flounder when confronted with facts.
If gays and lesbians employed by the federal government are unhappy with their benefits, it's good for them to know the grass is so much greener at Starbucks. Here's your hats, what's your hurry?
jade7243's comment "gay americans are hardly the oppressed minority they claim to be"... clearly people like this have never been denied the right to see their significant other in the hospital because they weren't considered "family", nor have they been denied a whole other slew of rights that gay/les couples are confronted with on a regular basis. the only way ignorance of this magnitude will change is if someone in their family or a close friend comes out as gay. at that point they may reconsider their bigoted stance.
"Hardly the oppressed minority?" Oh please. Give up some of your own equal rights for all of your life and we'll watch you claim its all "theatrics". How dare you impugn the integrity of people who seek nothing more than equal rights. Shame.
Great article. I just love Starbucks. Obama not so much.
That may be true, but in most of the states of the union, gays live under the threat of violence. Starbucks are nice people, but you still have to consider what elements make up the rest of this country's population.
most...
wow there's a place where there isn't gay bashing?
A direct result of being a Seattle based company. The winter rain does get old but Seattle is one of the most forward thinking cities in the country.
Some folks don't like to hear it but Seattle has had a profound impact-good or bad-from Micro-soft, the whole coffee industry, the beer industry, and, like it or not, gave the 80s/early 90s music scene a huge shot in the arm.
A lot of cities and companies wd. be wise to look at the citiy itself and companies as models of what to and not to do in some circumstances. Starbuck health insurance is a good example.
Air America inter, it takes an act of congress to grant health benefits. Can you do some research before spouting off.
Healthcare for all. Now who was it that campaigned on that idea? McCain? no.... Yes, Obama does not write laws. Too bad he doesn't seem to be influencing Congress to write and pass laws either. Seems like we blamed Bush for everything (rightfully), now we excuse Obama for everything. Rightfully? Just sayin. Give him his 4 years, then hold him accountable for what's been done. If he keeps slapping gays with one hand while handing them crumbs with the other, he will have increased the votes of the Green Party by 1 vote.
Do your homework chocolatecity, the lawsuit Obama was trying to stop would have too.
govt shouldnt recognize any for of marriage..
heteros and homos should rally together to get marriage thrown out and union put in. because only then will there be a legit way to decipher who gets taxpayer benefits and who doesnt. unless you do this... you cant possible just hand out taxpayer money... I can "say" I have a partner too... how are they gonna prove I dont?
As long as the rights are equal. No problem.
Syntax. Such a waste of time, but unfortunately you're right.
A marriage and a union are effectively the same thing. A marriage by any other name still smells like a 60% chance of divorce. But, apparently, a union is a slap in the face to same-sex couples, and a same-sex marriage is heresy to the Christian right. So if changing the wording on some legal documents is what it takes for everyone to get equal benefits, then so be it.
Once again, with feeling.
They. Are. Not. The. Same. Thing.
Marriage: constitutional precedent
the heresy felt by the christian right is a mute point.....
Good for Starbucks. Fortunately, Starbucks is not constrained by DOMA.
But if Congress does is job, the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009 will be passed. This legislation will extend to the same-sex partners of Federal employees the same benefits already enjoyed by the opposite-sex spouses of Federal employees.
Starbucks also didn't write a legal brief defending DOMA that uses case citations to compare same sex marriages with child sexual abuse and incest.
That's right, JackNasty!
:)
What? This is inane.
DOMA is federal law. The DOJ is required to defend it. I do not think Starbucks is relevant to DOMA as it neither applies to Starbucks nor can be defended by Starbucks.
And case citations are precedent nothing more.
Wow! What a crazed statement. . . . shake of the head and roll of the eyes.
5pm, Thursday, June 25, 2009
Mandarin Continental Hotel
1330 Maryland Ave SW, in Washington DC
closest METRO stop is Smithsonian Metro Station on blue/orange lines, Exit to USDA/Independence Ave (not to Mall), cross Independence and proceed south 2.5 blocks on 12th St SW to Maryland
Apparently, you missed the memo-- Barack Obama resigned from his job as a Senator in the fall, and therefore can no longer write laws, or repeal them.
His "memorandum" wasn't much. Unfortunately, until Congress repeals DOMA, it's about the extent of what he can legally do. We've had enough Presidents issuing executive orders that were illegal.
Write a letter to all of your congressional representatives-- House and Senate, Democrat and Republican. Explain that it's time to quit dancing around, and if they won't repeal DOMA (and DADT), then explain that you'll be happy to support someone who will come next election.
The executive branch can't repeal, or write, a law. At best they can encourage, and a few tens of thousands of letters to congress will do the same.
Excellent point!
Except Obama is defending DOMA in court.
The DOJ is defending DOMA in court as it is required to do.
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