Give Obama time to act
Most times it is counterproductive to bite the hand that feeds you. So why are so many LGBT leaders and people acting too impatiently with the Obama administration?
For heavens sake, they have only been in office six months. Most of what they are objecting to is counter to our own self-interest in the long run.
Let the president do this in his way, because I, for one, know they are working on every issue that he said he would work on.
In the case of "don’t ask, don’t tell," it would be ludicrous to make some sort of executive order and let Congress off the hook of overturning the current law and instituting a new law that requires the military to accept all LGBT people. An executive order nullifying a law is not only un-American, it could be overturned by the next president.
DOMA will be completely overturned and that takes lots of work for Congress todo it right. In the case of hate crimes, legislation has already been proposed and asked for but more is needed.
You may not like the options but that is what was promised, and if you are not willing to give them time, you will be at fault for causing them to lose the 2012 election — and then you will get nothing.
I am completely disappointed in my LGBT friends and their impatience. I say watch, keep the pressure on for what we want and marvel how it all finally happens under the Obama administration.
Dallas
Obama’s had enough time
I don’t like to be wrong, but in this case I wish I were. I hate to say it, but "I told you so!"
After the election of Barak Obama I wrote an article entitled "What did we really change?" I highlighted the fact that minority groups, that overwhelmingly supported Obama for president, in the same ballot voted against the rights of gays and lesbians.
I was called a racist and got plenty of hate mail for comparing the plight of gays and lesbians with the civil rights movement of African-Americans.
One Dallas lawyer said that Obama "unapologetically referenced his gay and lesbian brothers and sisters in a speech," as if anyone should give a damn. And now, not even six months into his term, not only has Obama failed to keep a single promise to the gay community, he is actively working against us.
So not only will gays and lesbians help fit the bill of Obama’s massive socialism, but we get to do it without any of the new rights we were promised.
Obama defends the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as a legitimate exercise of Congress’ power. I have to wonder, would Obama have felt the same way 50 years ago when over two dozen states still forbade interracial marriages?
If Mississippi passed a law which forbids Malia and Sasha from marrying anyone but a black man, would Mr. Obama consider that due process and equal protection?
Besides 50 years, what’s the difference?
And what about "don’t ask, don’t tell"? Obama hasn’t done anything to turn that tide. In fact, he solidified its existence in his recent token memo allowing domestic partner benefits for federal employees.
While some federal employees can get some token benefits for their partners, they still can’t share healthcare benefits, and the memo explicitly excludes the largest portion of federal employees — military personnel!
At least 50 years ago we knew who the bigots were. Strom Thurmond was open about it. So was George Wallace, and a host of others. They never stood on a podium and "unapologetically" and promised equal rights for minorities, suckered their vote, and then once in office sent their lawyers to fight against them.
No, the bigots of times past were open and honest about their ideas, and America rejected them.
Now, Mr. Obama put on some shiny lip gloss and whispered sweet nothings in the ears of gays and lesbians, then turned around and stabbed us in the back "unapologetically."
Why are we so easily pacified? Why do we get warm, fuzzy feelings just because someone says the word "gay" in a speech? And why do we grovel when someone is willing to meet with us?
You can pet a dog all you want, but eventually, it’ll want to eat. We are hungry, and it’s time to stop letting silver tongues delay our equality.
As smooth as Obama is, the reality is that all the time and money that gays and lesbians spent getting him elected eventually help put someone in office who, in turn, hired attorneys using our tax dollars to work against us.
I’d call it sort of elective date rape: Get us drunk on rhetoric, and when we’re so loopy we can’t see the forest for the trees, take our money and have your way with us.
And, when we wake up, we won’t know what happened and will be damaged for decades because of it. Thanks, Obama.
Plano
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition July 10, 2009.
The above Letters are interesting (a little) but they both MISS THE POINT:
Obama is wrestling with his “FAITH.”
Christianity made gay WRONG. Now we have Obama-nation and “abominations.” What a conflict.
I actually feel sorry for the President because he didn’t choose those “christian, anti-gay thoughts,” he inherited them. The only reason he’s a Christian is that his Grandmother was. He never chose it. If he had no religion today he wouldn’t chose one – he would understand that perhaps religion made some sense centuries ago, but not today.
As he wrestles with those nasty thoughts about gays, let’s hope he puts equality before his “faith.”
Gays need to wake up and realize why people think we’re wrong. It is only RELIGION. That is the enemy.
Well said Justin. It’s amazing how many people still have their heads in the sand.
Gee, Carl . . . What was “well said.”
In fairness it should be disclosed that Justin Nichols is a member of the Log Cabin Republicans and he never supported Obama. In this letter he calls Obama a socialist.
Suggesting that he is part of the “group” that Obama doesn’t really care about isn’t entirely true. Justin likely voted for John McCain and what’s-her-name? I also bet he’s religious. Messy.
Gee Mark…I guess it is too hard for you to figure out that I meant every single word Justin wrote was well said. But if you were an Obama supporter, I’m not really surprised it was too hard for you to figure out. I’ve never heard of Justin Nichols before and it really doesn’t matter to me if he is a member of Log Cabin Republicans or not. In case you are wondering, I voted for Hillary Clinton and when she lost the democratic nomination, I voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin and I still think the gay community would have been better off with them in office rather than Obama/Biden. Yes, I am religious and don’t have any problem stating so. If your not, I pity you. However, I don’t mix politics and religion and competely believe in the seperation of church and state, which it seems Obama has a hard time doing since as Andrew W. stated “Obama is wrestling with his FAITH”. I don’t push my beliefs on him and don’t think him or anyone else should push thiers on me.
As a lifelong Democrat, I wholeheartedly supported Obama (money, vote). What a mistake. He is not a fierce advocate. I get so angry with the Obamapologists who say “he’s only been in office for (fill in the blank). Give him time”. No one expects miracles, but we do expect a president who has a spine and does the right thing. As far as I am concerned, he and Democrats in Congress who only provide lip service will neither get my money or my vote. Money talks — this gay walks!