Obama: Pro or Con?

[Safe_Bet]

I campaigned for Obama... I donated money... I voted for the dude... I HOPED like hell that he would do what he said. The problem is that his actions are speaking louder than his words. He's trying to put "don't ask, don't tell" on the back burner and, now, HIS Justice Dept (what a fucking joke that name is) is actually DEFENDING DOMA in the courts.

That's why the attached article really struck a nerve...

Where's the Leadership?

So, WTF? I either need him to go one way or the other. If he stays his current course he is simply proving that he is against us and is utilizing the "decision by inaction"... and that sure as hell ain't gonna fly with me!

 

[neon_noodle]

What did you expect? The Dear Leader is just another corrupt Chicago politician. He sold gullible people on a message of “hope and change”, which sounded like a dumb pop song from the 80’s. Then when he’s in power, he does what will benefit him the most.

There’s no benefit to him to fight for gay rights. He already has those votes. And regardless of what he does the next 3 years, in 2012 you know all the gays are going to rally around him again, after they get all in a frenzy that whoever the Republican nominate is going to thrown gay people out of windows (actually that would be the Iranians). They’ll say “Oh he just had to downplay this issues while he did all these other things, but once he’s re-elected, he’ll be our friend.” And then he’ll sell you out again.

Prop 8 won 52/48 in a state he carried 57/43, and the margin of passage was primarily by the high percentage of blacks who votes yes on 8. Now he could have spoken our against it, maybe even provided leadership. But then what was in it for him? That would have only hurt him other places, so better to do nothing, as the important thing was for him to be elected.

So don’t be surprised. Don’t be mad. And don’t claim you’re going to do this or that. You know you’ll be waving a Hope/Change sign in 3-1/2 years time.

 

[Netzach]

Nice try. And good job on the race baiting part too, as if prop 8 isn't the result of everyone's equal stupidity. Yeah Obama and Blago, totally cut from the same cloth in every way.

For those of us who aren't single issue voters, who care about things like health care reform and whether the economy is going to be driven into the toilet by idiot economics of the right wing flavor du jour for the next decade, yeah, I'm still going to vote against my interests as a queer and rally to do things differently.

When I legitimately CAN vote my interests, I'll do so. Voting R because you're pissed about this is like shooting yourself through the head because you have a headache. Obama may be all "let's not CALL it marriage" but 4 years prior the Republican convention was comparing gay marriage to NAZI GERMANY and applauding. I'm sorry, what's a little Naziism between friends, I should stick around for this? They made it clear that they in no way shape or form give a rat's ass about their Log Cabins.

Frankly, it's a certain amount of privilege that can argue the semantics of marriage. Frankly if civil union WAS equal in all but name, only the very academic would be in a position to turn it down. I'm much more upset about DADT, because that's really a no-brainer, and extending federal employee partner benefits frankly feels like one more reason it's good to have a federal gig, and jack shit to do with most people I know who need to get married and can't.

I'd like to see my friend's partner covered and given full legal rights to do with her property what she wants because she's a working citizen, not because she's married to her partner. I'm not saying let's pit those interests against each other and stop pushing or fighting, but I'm also saying there's other issues on the table that need to be considered.

ALL this shit remains a terrific distraction from the stuff that puts bread on our tables or doesn't, no matter who we're in love with. There's more than one way to skin a cat (get the rights you deserve so you can live a decent life with your partner.)

 

[neon_noodle]

And thus the reason why the Dear Leader won't do anything for gays. He already has your votes, for health care or green houses gases or some other issue. Why spend political capital for a group that's going to vote for you anyway? I guess prinicpals, but the DL hasn't shown too many of those.

So in summary, he won't do anything for gays, and gays will still vote for him because they think R's want to herd them into ovens. Just don't whine and wring your hands when he ignores you for the next 3-1/2 years, and then smiles at you in 2012.

And there's no race baiting if you tell the truth. Blacks voted in large numbers for Prop 8. Now maybe if someone who they voted for by a 19/20 margin would have said "Vote No", it woundn't have passed. But again, no upside to Obama, so no effort on his part.

 

[Netzach]

And thus the reason why the Dear Leader won't do anything for gays. He already has your votes, for health care or green houses gases or some other issue. Why spend political capital for a group that's going to vote for you anyway? I guess prinicpals, but the DL hasn't shown too many of those.

So in summary, he won't do anything for gays, and gays will still vote for him because they think R's want to herd them into ovens. Just don't whine and wring your hands when he ignores you for the next 3-1/2 years, and then smiles at you in 2012.

And there's no race baiting if you tell the truth. Blacks voted in large numbers for Prop 8. Now maybe if someone who they voted for by a 19/20 margin would have said "Vote No", it woundn't have passed. But again, no upside to Obama, so no effort on his part.

Black people voted for prop 8 proportionally NO higher than white people in relation to population. None. It would have passed without them. The whole thing was a complete lie bought hook line and sinker by middle class white gays looking to blame someone, and assholes who were happy to exploit that.

If anything, we should be looking to our own community. Black people have the same percentages of queer relatives and friends as any other community, but by making ourselves out to be Ellen DeGeneres celebrity shiny white and rich and whining about our civil rights, I can see the obvious disconnect. Duh.

Yeah, how hysterical of me not to trust Michelle Bachmann with my rights more than Obama. Given the choice of voting green and letting someone like her win again or getting her the fuck out of there, I know what I'll do.

How exactly is dissent whining and hand wringing? That sounds pretty much like a slur to me, dissent if you're a republican after all is noble opposition no doubt. As I see it, it's good to make noise and hopefully hold these people accountable for things like the deplorable defense of DOMA that went down.

I don't really care if he's all "I don't want to call it marriage, but I want everyone to have the same rights" but when he's actively signing shit comparing gay marriage to underage baby fucking, then what...the....fuck? Doing no harm would be appropriate if you're not going to help.

 

[sugaredwalls]

Nice try. And good job on the race baiting part too, as if prop 8 isn't the result of everyone's equal stupidity. Yeah Obama and Blago, totally cut from the same cloth in every way.

For those of us who aren't single issue voters, who care about things like health care reform and whether the economy is going to be driven into the toilet by idiot economics of the right wing flavor du jour for the next decade, yeah, I'm still going to vote against my interests as a queer and rally to do things differently.

When I legitimately CAN vote my interests, I'll do so. Voting R because you're pissed about this is like shooting yourself through the head because you have a headache. Obama may be all "let's not CALL it marriage" but 4 years prior the Republican convention was comparing gay marriage to NAZI GERMANY and applauding. I'm sorry, what's a little Naziism between friends, I should stick around for this? They made it clear that they in no way shape or form give a rat's ass about their Log Cabins.

Frankly, it's a certain amount of privilege that can argue the semantics of marriage. Frankly if civil union WAS equal in all but name, only the very academic would be in a position to turn it down. I'm much more upset about DADT, because that's really a no-brainer, and extending federal employee partner benefits frankly feels like one more reason it's good to have a federal gig, and jack shit to do with most people I know who need to get married and can't.

I'd like to see my friend's partner covered and given full legal rights to do with her property what she wants because she's a working citizen, not because she's married to her partner. I'm not saying let's pit those interests against each other and stop pushing or fighting, but I'm also saying there's other issues on the table that need to be considered.

ALL this shit remains a terrific distraction from the stuff that puts bread on our tables or doesn't, no matter who we're in love with. There's more than one way to skin a cat (get the rights you deserve so you can live a decent life with your partner.)

Excellent post, it couldn't of been said any better!

 

[PredatorSmile]

Black people voted for prop 8 proportionally NO higher than white people in relation to population. None. It would have passed without them. The whole thing was a complete lie bought hook line and sinker by middle class white gays looking to blame someone, and assholes who were happy to exploit that.

If anything, we should be looking to our own community. Black people have the same percentages of queer relatives and friends as any other community, but by making ourselves out to be Ellen DeGeneres celebrity shiny white and rich and whining about our civil rights, I can see the obvious disconnect. Duh.

Yeah, how hysterical of me not to trust Michelle Bachmann with my rights more than Obama. Given the choice of voting green and letting someone like her win again or getting her the fuck out of there, I know what I'll do.

How exactly is dissent whining and hand wringing? That sounds pretty much like a slur to me, dissent if you're a republican after all is noble opposition no doubt. As I see it, it's good to make noise and hopefully hold these people accountable for things like the deplorable defense of DOMA that went down.

I don't really care if he's all "I don't want to call it marriage, but I want everyone to have the same rights" but when he's actively signing shit comparing gay marriage to underage baby fucking, then what...the....fuck? Doing no harm would be appropriate if you're not going to help.

I'm half black and half puerto rican. I'm also a bisexual woman living in Boston, Massachusetts. And I support gay marriage. My husband is half black and half Irish, and he is also bi and support gay marriage. Not all people of color vote monolithically.

 

[Misty_Morning]

Black people voted for prop 8 proportionally NO higher than white people in relation to population. None. It would have passed without them. The whole thing was a complete lie bought hook line and sinker by middle class white gays looking to blame someone, and assholes who were happy to exploit that.

If anything, we should be looking to our own community. Black people have the same percentages of queer relatives and friends as any other community, but by making ourselves out to be Ellen DeGeneres celebrity shiny white and rich and whining about our civil rights, I can see the obvious disconnect. Duh.

Yeah, how hysterical of me not to trust Michelle Bachmann with my rights more than Obama. Given the choice of voting green and letting someone like her win again or getting her the fuck out of there, I know what I'll do.

How exactly is dissent whining and hand wringing? That sounds pretty much like a slur to me, dissent if you're a republican after all is noble opposition no doubt. As I see it, it's good to make noise and hopefully hold these people accountable for things like the deplorable defense of DOMA that went down.

I don't really care if he's all "I don't want to call it marriage, but I want everyone to have the same rights" but when he's actively signing shit comparing gay marriage to underage baby fucking, then what...the....fuck? Doing no harm would be appropriate if you're not going to help.

Where the fuck do you get your statistics?

What a fucking idiot.

 

[JMohegan]

Prop 8 Myths, by statistics guru Nate Silver.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Originally Posted by Netzach
Black people voted for prop 8 proportionally NO higher than white people in relation to population.

Misty's correct, according to these statistics printed in the LA Times.

White voters were most emphatic in supporting same-sex marriage, with 68% approving of it and 27% opposing. African American voters were almost the opposite, with 54% opposing same-sex unions and 37% supporting them.

Support for gay marriage varies widely among racial and ethnic groups.

 

[Netzach]

Where the fuck do you get your statistics?

What a fucking idiot.

I get my fucking statistics from other fucking idiots at places like Hunter College. And GLBT task force reports, but what the fuck do they know, fucking idiots.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8943

 

[Netzach]

I'm half black and half puerto rican. I'm also a bisexual woman living in Boston, Massachusetts. And I support gay marriage. My husband is half black and half Irish, and he is also bi and support gay marriage. Not all people of color vote monolithically.

Of course not. I can't really see where I intimated they did.

But it's worth examining No on 8.

No on 8 was badly unable to vitally connect marriage rights to people who aren't middle class and white and young and shiny cute. People of color weren't some of the only ones to feel a bit marginalized by the presentation, either.

 

[JMohegan]

Black people voted for prop 8 proportionally NO higher than white people in relation to population. None. It would have passed without them. The whole thing was a complete lie bought hook line and sinker by middle class white gays looking to blame someone, and assholes who were happy to exploit that.

Not a lie, an exit poll.

Click me. Vote by race: 49% of white voters pro-8; 70% of black voters pro-8.

Figures exploited by assholes? Yes, absolutely. Fabricated figures? No.

I get my fucking statistics from other fucking idiots at places like Hunter College. And GLBT task force reports, but what the fuck do they know, fucking idiots.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8943

That's a very interesting study, thanks for the link. The task force report appears to be saying two things.

1) Through analysis of precinct data from 5 counties (in which 66% of African American Californians live), they estimate that support for prop 8 among African Americans was actually 57-59%. Still higher than the support among white voters, but not as high as exit poll data suggest.

2) They explain the higher African American support for prop 8 by noting that African Americans are more religious than other groups in California. Percent attending church weekly: 57% for African Americans; 43% for Californians overall. Increased church attendance = increased support for prop 8, regardless of racial/ethnic group.


http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/johnmohegan/studyfig5.jpg



The task force conclusion: "As shown in Figure 5, controlling for frequency of religious attendance helps explain why African Americans supported Proposition 8 at higher levels than the population as a whole. Among Californians who attend worship at least weekly, support for Proposition 8 was nearly uniform across all racial and ethnic groups. Among those who attend worship less than weekly, majorities of every racial and ethnic group voted no on Proposition 8. The differences that remain among groups are not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level."

 

[JoshuaGlynn]

Personally... I don't like him for the same reasons I didn't like Bush... I don't like the elite bankers he's working for.

Have you noticed that a lot of the things we didn't like about Bushes presidency... Obama seems to be leaving in place, or making worse.

Take gun control. Now let me preface this by saying I don't own a gun. However, it is a Constitutional right to own one, and every time you turn around there is something else coming out from this white house that they want to ban all guns. Not just increase regulations, but ban them.

I could go on and on... but one last thing that gets me is how much he has, to our face, lied to us. One of his big campaign points was that there would be no lobbyist, or Washington insiders in his cabinet.... and practically every one of them is.

What irritates me though... is that I want to like this guy. he is funny, he brings a tech knowledge that we have never seen in a president before. But something about him has bothered me from the start... and the more and more I learn about him.. the more and more I worry for this country.


Just my $.02

Joshua

 

[HarlotMinx]

Personally... I don't like him for the same reasons I didn't like Bush... I don't like the elite bankers he's working for.

Have you noticed that a lot of the things we didn't like about Bushes presidency... Obama seems to be leaving in place, or making worse.

Take gun control. Now let me preface this by saying I don't own a gun. However, it is a Constitutional right to own one, and every time you turn around there is something else coming out from this white house that they want to ban all guns. Not just increase regulations, but ban them.

I could go on and on... but one last thing that gets me is how much he has, to our face, lied to us. One of his big campaign points was that there would be no lobbyist, or Washington insiders in his cabinet.... and practically every one of them is.

What irritates me though... is that I want to like this guy. he is funny, he brings a tech knowledge that we have never seen in a president before. But something about him has bothered me from the start... and the more and more I learn about him.. the more and more I worry for this country.


Just my $.02

Joshua

Actually that's only partially true, the only cabinet member to have at any time lobbied for anyone was William Lynn Deputy Secretary of Defense who previously contracted with Raytheon. I'll admit that I wasn't thrilled about him making the exception but then again I thought that excluding past lobbyists from cabinet was a mistake in the first place. Actually what stands out to me is how many of Obama's campaign points he's actually kept. I was expecting him to do away with many once in office but in hist first 100 days he's held true to numerous promises including overturning three of Bushes biggest conservative pushes within a startlingly short time, the mexico city policy and Guanamano bay were among his FIRST executive actions with the ban on stem cell research shortly following.

 

[HarlotMinx]

Okay so, I was kind of waiting for this, Obama entered office as bit of a golden boy. For the first 2-3 months of a presidency the president is pretty much immune to the media while they "court" each other. Of course Obama pretty quickly made a few bold moves that polarized a lot of people very quickly and whether or not you agree with Obama's goals you do have to agree that he started office hitting the ground running and hasn't stopped since. I mean lets look at the various topics he's spearheaded since getting in office.

• Made legal action to support stem cell research and judge it on his merits rather than it's religious undertones.
• Completely altered just about ALL of the US's foreign political standpoints from making clear his goal of closing Guantanamo bay (interestingly many people there are NOT criminals and terrorists, Chinese Muslim detainees for example who were looking for freedom from persecution and are now being found homes.), reopening possible relations with Cuba, and adopting a almost completely unique diplomacy tactic with Iran and the countries it influences... I have to say that one in particular impresses me.
• Made quite a bit of effort to affirm it is not the government's right to decide the legality of abortion and overturning abortion gag law "mexico city policy"
• Forced through the stimulus package, cap and trade, and a few other legislative bodies that are redefining America's power future (I'm still waiting to see if he supports nuclear energy or goes with something less efficient)
• Is dealing with the simultaneous threat of failure from our auto business, banking system, and health care. Of which he's trying to enact reforms on how such companies go about wise business such as trying to get the US auto industry to finally realize the increasing importance of electric or hybrid vehicles in current markets and figuring what the hell was wrong with many of our financial organizations like AIG's Financial Products unit (god don't get me started)
• Is supporting the Washington's call for representation, at least in the house of representatives.
• Trying to enact long term plans to cut US deficit by half in 4 years (whether or not he does remains to be seen)
• Trying to form a completely change the health care industry with the implementation of a competing government option.
• Dealing with getting a new supreme court justice onto bench with Sotomayor rose.
• Managing a possible new pandemic of swine flue.

Now I'm not naive enough to think that obama single handedly achieved all these things but it IS what's on his plate and what he's been actively working on since coming into office. Like I said, you may not agree with everything he does and frankly I don't agree with all his decisions listed above or the means he implemented them BUT he hasn't been following the characteristic policy of using big words and little actions. In fact I didn't even vote for Obama and I still find myself admiring him. The last president to try and juggle this many balls was Kennedy and he burned out in the effort. Many presidents would take any ONE of these topics and make it the focus for years (take a look at Clinton and health care) but Obama has clearly stated he wants these reforms completely done in less than a year. I maybe wish the democratic party wasn't strong arming the republican party in the senate but at the same time I'm shocked with the speed legislation has been moving..... all this in 100 days.

So now, gay rights? I'll admit he hasn't whipped the senate into working overdrive on getting us marriage but quite frankly what has he done? Obama has in fact made a commitment to overturning don't ask don't tell and I was more than shocked to find out he was hosting youth pride on the white house which is probably the single most public message a president has made in US history on his stance with regards to gay rights. Lip service? Maybe. Does it equate to passing legislation? Hardly. But given the president has done as much before serving even a thirteenth of his time in office I have to give him a round of applause.

I firmly believe that the right to marriage is extremely important to say the least but to be honest I would rather give the president more time to get to gay marriage if it insures that my children will have the ability to get a job or have adequate health insurance. I think the many in the GLBT community saw this amazingly liberal president come to office, saw the senate predominantly populate with democrats, and then expect complete reverse of years of prejudice overnight. And worse still, when it failed to come pinned it on Obama. Keep in mind it's the Senate and the house that forge law and the ones we ultimately have to put pressure on and quite frankly I don't think it's the right time yet to make that push.

 

[cadman7777]

I didn't like Obama or his policies before and I like him less now....

All the czars.....transparent? what a joke

let's just slip another 300 pages to a bill the morning of a vote

he's a thug from Chicago and that's it

 

[HarlotMinx]

I didn't like Obama or his policies before and I like him less now....

All the czars.....transparent? what a joke

let's just slip another 300 pages to a bill the morning of a vote

he's a thug from Chicago and that's it

Well, I would like to point out that the Democratic parties new trend of last minute notifications to the Republican party and their new gung honess about forging legislation without the Republican parties IS troubling (though honestly the republicans HAVE been making the situation worse on purpose in order to appear as victims); I'd like to point out that last I checked it's not in Obama's job description to deliver bills.... or even to make law. That has quite a bit more to do with the democratic senate as a whole. In fact I think Obama was sincere about wanting Bi partisanship and transparency I just think many are taking these words up on both sides with out any interest in actually seeing them come to pass.

 

[daus42]

I didn't like Obama or his policies before and I like him less now....

All the czars.....transparent? what a joke

let's just slip another 300 pages to a bill the morning of a vote

he's a thug from Chicago and that's it

"Thug from chicago- give me a break" He's a politician like all his predecessors. He inherited crap and is attempting to fix it. He still has to deal with Congress and with special interests around, its impossible to please everyone. To call him a thug or Nazi is ignorant! Just stay angry for his term- that will do alot for your blood pressure. The negativity and politics of fear in this country is disgusting.

 

[HarlotMinx]

"Thug from chicago- give me a break" He's a politician like all his predecessors. He inherited crap and is attempting to fix it. He still has to deal with Congress and with special interests around, its impossible to please everyone. To call him a thug or Nazi is ignorant! Just stay angry for his term- that will do alot for your blood pressure. The negativity and politics of fear in this country is disgusting.

I didn't realize it was any more positive in any other country.

Actually despite his.... colorful description of the president and misdirected argument he does bring up a point. The democratic party HAS been delivering 300+ page bills the night before votes and haven't been that open in involving the republican senators in the legal process. Now this isn't me taking sides, I would be just as troubled seeing the republican party do it and actually I'm a bit annoyed at the republicans for turning down the invitations they DO get because they consider them inadequate then whining on the senate floor about how the bills are purely Democratic. And that concern aside, i do think that this monoparty control has been what the US needs for the short term since the US has quite a lot of various problems that have been debated to death with no action that are finally out of nowhere zipping into legislation. My big concern is whether this becomes a long term trend of one party holding complete control of the legislative and executive branch then flopping to the other party where they undo the last parties work. Sadly despite the senates support of Obama and his initiatives they seem to be ignoring his urging for a more honest government though he IS making amazing strides in the executive branch on opening things up.

Funny story, on Cspan they broadcast I White House press release. One of the reporters asked why if the president was so adamant about giving Washington DC representation had he not changed his license plate on his limo to the no taxation without representation license plate. The white house's press corespondent replied that he would hope that the Washington DC citizens would be more interested in a change of policy rather than a change of license plate. That type of outlook has been characterizing this president's term, he has less of a interest in supporting himself to various causes vocally and then watching them go where they end up and more interest in pushing legislation through office efficiently.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Okay so, I was kind of waiting for this, Obama entered office as bit of a golden boy. For the first 2-3 months of a presidency the president is pretty much immune to the media while they "court" each other. Of course Obama pretty quickly made a few bold moves that polarized a lot of people very quickly and whether or not you agree with Obama's goals you do have to agree that he started office hitting the ground running and hasn't stopped since. I mean lets look at the various topics he's spearheaded since getting in office.

• Made legal action to support stem cell research and judge it on his merits rather than it's religious undertones.
• Completely altered just about ALL of the US's foreign political standpoints from making clear his goal of closing Guantanamo bay (interestingly many people there are NOT criminals and terrorists, Chinese Muslim detainees for example who were looking for freedom from persecution and are now being found homes.), reopening possible relations with Cuba, and adopting a almost completely unique diplomacy tactic with Iran and the countries it influences... I have to say that one in particular impresses me.
• Made quite a bit of effort to affirm it is not the government's right to decide the legality of abortion and overturning abortion gag law "mexico city policy"
• Forced through the stimulus package, cap and trade, and a few other legislative bodies that are redefining America's power future (I'm still waiting to see if he supports nuclear energy or goes with something less efficient)
• Is dealing with the simultaneous threat of failure from our auto business, banking system, and health care. Of which he's trying to enact reforms on how such companies go about wise business such as trying to get the US auto industry to finally realize the increasing importance of electric or hybrid vehicles in current markets and figuring what the hell was wrong with many of our financial organizations like AIG's Financial Products unit (god don't get me started)
• Is supporting the Washington's call for representation, at least in the house of representatives.
• Trying to enact long term plans to cut US deficit by half in 4 years (whether or not he does remains to be seen)
• Trying to form a completely change the health care industry with the implementation of a competing government option.
• Dealing with getting a new supreme court justice onto bench with Sotomayor rose.
• Managing a possible new pandemic of swine flue.

Now I'm not naive enough to think that obama single handedly achieved all these things but it IS what's on his plate and what he's been actively working on since coming into office. Like I said, you may not agree with everything he does and frankly I don't agree with all his decisions listed above or the means he implemented them BUT he hasn't been following the characteristic policy of using big words and little actions. In fact I didn't even vote for Obama and I still find myself admiring him. The last president to try and juggle this many balls was Kennedy and he burned out in the effort. Many presidents would take any ONE of these topics and make it the focus for years (take a look at Clinton and health care) but Obama has clearly stated he wants these reforms completely done in less than a year. I maybe wish the democratic party wasn't strong arming the republican party in the senate but at the same time I'm shocked with the speed legislation has been moving..... all this in 100 days.

So now, gay rights? I'll admit he hasn't whipped the senate into working overdrive on getting us marriage but quite frankly what has he done? Obama has in fact made a commitment to overturning don't ask don't tell and I was more than shocked to find out he was hosting youth pride on the white house which is probably the single most public message a president has made in US history on his stance with regards to gay rights. Lip service? Maybe. Does it equate to passing legislation? Hardly. But given the president has done as much before serving even a thirteenth of his time in office I have to give him a round of applause.

I firmly believe that the right to marriage is extremely important to say the least but to be honest I would rather give the president more time to get to gay marriage if it insures that my children will have the ability to get a job or have adequate health insurance. I think the many in the GLBT community saw this amazingly liberal president come to office, saw the senate predominantly populate with democrats, and then expect complete reverse of years of prejudice overnight. And worse still, when it failed to come pinned it on Obama. Keep in mind it's the Senate and the house that forge law and the ones we ultimately have to put pressure on and quite frankly I don't think it's the right time yet to make that push.

Yup, he has STARTED a lot of good thing through Congress.

Nope, he can't do it all now or do it by himself. I don't think that is even expected by the people who worked very hard to get him into office in the first place.

But what he CAN do and hasn't is the following:

1. With a swipe of his pen he can sign an executive order that abolishes DADT. It'll take him a minute so it shouldn't interfere with him working on fulfilling his other campaign promises; just like he promised us that he would do away with DADT.

2. With another swipe of his pen he can tell HIS Justice Dept. to not defend DOMA. They have that choice and he has that right. It'll just take him another minute and he will show the LGBT community that at very least he isn't against us.

Nope. Not hard for him to do at all. Yup. It will take one hell of a lot more guts than he has shown me so far.

 

[HarlotMinx]

Yup, he has STARTED a lot of good thing through Congress.

Nope, he can't do it all now or do it by himself. I don't think that is even expected by the people who worked very hard to get him into office in the first place.

But what he CAN do and hasn't is the following:

1. With a swipe of his pen he can sign an executive order that abolishes DADT. It'll take him a minute so it shouldn't interfere with him working on fulfilling his other campaign promises; just like he promised us that he would do away with DADT.

2. With another swipe of his pen he can tell HIS Justice Dept. to not defend DOMA. They have that choice and he has that right. It'll just take him another minute and he will show the LGBT community that at very least he isn't against us.

Nope. Not hard for him to do at all. Yup. It will take one hell of a lot more guts than he has shown me so far.

Eh, I haven't given up on him yet, who knows i might actually vote for him this time around, I'm going to wait to see what happens. I think theirs a lot of things he COULD do about all sorts of topics... I'm willing to give a term to actually do something. Until then I'm going to keep lobbying my senator..... because it's my constitutional RIGHT to be a pain in the ass.

 

[cadman7777]

"Thug from chicago- give me a break" He's a politician like all his predecessors. He inherited crap and is attempting to fix it. He still has to deal with Congress and with special interests around, its impossible to please everyone. To call him a thug or Nazi is ignorant! Just stay angry for his term- that will do alot for your blood pressure. The negativity and politics of fear in this country is disgusting.

with Rahm...as his sidekick....behind the scenes he's a thug....

I'm guessing you are from chicago...

He inherited crap and that's for sure...and both parties have to share some blame for that...but at the pace we going...socialism is not far off....

btw I only take credit for the thug remark not the Nazi one...most of Congress is his own party and he's having problems with that.....

spread the wealth around......that's what we are all about here

 

[Stella_Omega]

The really fucked up thing is-- he's about as good as we'll get, and I'll vote for him again because the Repubnicans did, do and will treat us so much worse.

 

[SubforRent]

I voted for Ralph Nader (winces, a liberal who votes his principles)

I knew that no matter the statements to the contrary, being a Democrat, Obama was bound to their rigid party line of "civil unions" and "Don't ask, Don't care" that they've had for a while now.

What the man himself believes, is of no matter when it comes to a major party candidate, you run, you accept the positions of the party or you will not be nominated. Superdelegates come into play, and you will lose, in place a lapdog to the party elders will take the stage as the "suprise" nominee.

We have yet to see the necessary force of real change, that will bring equal rights for all to fruition. That change is not political, it is social. Cultural barriers of religion are rigid, and they've done a great deal to stall equal rights for gays in this country, just as they most obviously are doing in Iran or Saudi Arabia.

My generation and those after it are changing the norms. The more exposure to diversity, the more it becomes "acceptable" to be gay, to be in love, to be open, the less the Democrats and Republicans have to gain by touting ignorant backwoods Hick Theology with regards to stonewalling gays and the LGBT community from equal rights.

Social change is a thousand times more powerful than political hype. I don't believe in the "hope/change" mantra any more than I do when I hear local politicians use it, and they have, and they did before Obama did.

And about the dear leader stuff? The more you say it, the more I believe you think its true. Your kicking yourself in the butt with that child's game...but meh, perhaps you really do like to hero worship