No President Has Ever Been Better To Gay People. Thank You President Obama.

[DonRedwood]

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 02:34 PM - Edit history (1)

I'm a gay man nearing 50 and I've been there for a lot of the gay rights fights. I've been hassled by cops, I've been jumped and would have been beaten except I beat them instead. When I was younger it was illegal for two men to dance together on the West Coast.

Yes, in the 1960s and 70s two men could be arrested for dancing in California. Now they can marry. There is still work to be done, but until you walk through the gay part of town scared someone is going to introduce your teeth to a baseball bat, you don't truly understand that gay people are persecuted on a daily basis.

President Obama has stood firmly in his support of me. He did not grandstand, he did not act showy, he did not scream from the bully pulpit. He just simply stood firm and let the right wing scream and gnash their teeth and show themselves to be hate mongers. And then Obama did his business.

He stopped prosecuting, he changed rules, he stood firm. He helped change the world.

DOMA, a dagger in my heart as a tax-paying-domestically-partnered homosexual. Gone.

DADT, an insult beyond belief to the gay Americans who have given their lives to this country. Gone.

Gay Marriage, something you don't understand if your own marriage isn't invalidated the minute you cross state lines to go visit your inlaws in the south, is now going to be respected, at least by the government, no matter where I am in the country. (and, yes, lots of work to be done in this area, but the first major hurdle has been cleared).

It is a big day at our domestically-partnered household. We don't want this "back of the bus" union any longer. Governor Brown just announced clerks in California must start issuing same sex marriage licenses. When the most populated states start changing on an issue, the rest will often follow.

Thank you President Obama. The right wing has attacked you in ways that no other President has ever faced. The Right Wing Slop Trough known as FOX has rallied the ignorant and hateful to try and stop everything you have tried to accomplish. But today your guidance moved the country forward. Today you became a President who made the world better. Lincoln, Kennedy, Johnson and now, sir, I proudly put you on that list of American Presidents who fought ignorance and hate. You are a true civil rights leader in your own quiet way. Thank you.

[dennis4868]

1. You chose the wrong website

If ur looking for people to give Obama credit for anything

[DonRedwood]

6. Odd how he is responsible for every little dept of government

and gets in trouble for everything they do...but at the same time he is never responsible for any of the good things done by every little department.

But I'm gonna give him plenty of credit in all of this. Forcing the GOP to come up with millions of dollars to support their anti-gay agenda, making young people see how the GOP is spending their taxes (witch hunts against homosexuals) was a huge turning point in all of this.

Obama was able to drive a wedge between the GOP and youth. Beautifully handled.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

59. God forbid if Ed Markey lost his Senate race; everyone on DU and the left bloggosphere

would be blaming Obama, not the candidate, not the campaign...

OBAMA = BAD, BAD MAN!!!!!!

[BlueCheese]

111. The Supreme Court is not a department of the executive branch, though.

Obama appointed two of the justices in the majority, so he gets credit for that. So did Clinton. But the other things you cite-- the turning of public opinion (which I feel is more the work of many, many people who came before), matters more in legislative action.

Congratulations to you personally on the rulings, though. No matter who gets credit, it's a great day.

[Cha]

124. Yeah, I know it hurts like shit to give Pres Obama credit for anything.. these peeople disagree..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110211464

[BlueCheese]

137. I give Obama credit for the things he does.

He appointed Kagan and Sotomayor. That was important. So were many, many other things in getting to this point.

I don't see everything that happens through an Obama lens. Sometimes things happen that aren't related to him. That's the way the world works.

[carolinayellowdog]

17. some people will turn anything into a chance to bash DU

and you had to get in there first to bring gloom to a happy thread-- what a shame, this is a great day for us all

[DonRedwood]

48. Still a very happy day!!

And the trolls will probably be flocking here...they always do after big news like this.

[Flying Dream Blues]

95. Well said.

I hated that that was the first reply to this beautiful, heartfelt post by the OP. It IS a great day for all of us, and President Obama indeed played a strong role.

[MjolnirTime]

151. It's not DU. It's the Old Elm Brigade that overruns this place that never give Obama credit.

[davidpdx]

153. The poster has a point

A few weeks back you had people running around yelling the 'b" word because Obama wouldn't sign an executive order RIGHT NOW. This was after Michelle Obama was heckled (and in which about half of DU said she deserved it). I think DU does deserve a good bashing now and then for its reactionary element.

[rhett o rick]

166. I thought bashing DU was verboten. I notice he didnt stick around to enter

and decent discussion.

[davidpdx]

172. Well he didn't really bash DU

He stated (more or less) that as of lately most of DU has been hostile to Obama (and to a degree Michelle Obama for the ones who agreed with the heckling incident).

The OP pointed out that Obama has done a lot to bring LGBT issues to the forefront (which I think is true). Obviously there are some people here who thinks he hasn't and that is what the response was about.

I have plenty more to say about this, but I won't go into that.

[Buzz Clik]

29. I'm with the OP all the way. Big ups to Obama.

[BlueCaliDem]

36. Ain't that the friggin truth!

President Obama is only responsible for all the ails Congress passes with veto-majorities, not the good that he does for this country day in, day out. It's as if some people around here would get ill if they gave him credit where he's earned it. The ODS is thick these days on this Democratic Party supporting site.

[DonRedwood]

49. He is responsible for a tiny IRS office in Cincinatti but not for the DOJ not supporting anti-gay

laws, after he gave the direct order.

See how that works?

[BlueCaliDem]

51. Yep. ODS is thick and alive among the

trolls on this site. Their deep dislike for President Obama is suspect. It's always,

Obama = BAAAAD

Snowden/GiGi = GOOOOOOOD

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't President Obama a Democrat? And haven't both GiGi and Snowden supported Republican/Libertarian Ron Paul?

And isn't this Democratic Underground, a site that supports Democrats and the Democratic Party?

Now we discover that Snowden is actually a CONservative Republican as his background is coming to light, as shown in this thread: Ed Snowden: Leakers “should be shot in the balls,” and "cut this Social Security bullshit" http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023102239

I wonder if all Snowden's and GiGi's staunch supporters here will denounce them and apologize to those who have smelled a rat from the get-go? Should I hold my breath? On second thought, nah.

[DonRedwood]

57. That rat was smelly from the get-go.

It was like.... "birth certificate, birth certificate, bengazi, bengazi, bengazi...IRS, IRS, IRS,gasp, snowden, snowden, snowden".

I wonder what the next big thing will be?

[Number23]

147. But the defense that even being a two-faced hypocrite that somehow Snowden

is still wise and all powerful has TRULY given me my laugh of the week. That thread has so many people trying walk back shit while removing the egg off their faces it is HILARIOUS.

The reason he chatted about how much he hated the president and social security was because in his infinite wisdom, he knew he was being spied on and was just giving the people spying on him some hot, juicy red meat! He's NOT just another libertarian Republican who's pissed at the president and trying to bring him down!! He's NOT!!

[Summer Hathaway]

159. OMG!

"The reason he chatted about how much he hated the president and social security was because in his infinite wisdom, he knew he was being spied on and was just giving the people spying on him some hot, juicy red meat!"

When I first read that original comment this morning, I was sure it was meant to be funny (which it was!) - but then realized the poster was dead serious!

[Number23]

162. Can you believe it??! And what makes it all the more astonishing is that

s/he is one of a very loud cabal that screams "cheerleader!" "cult of personality!one" at every person who even so much as smiles in the president's direction. I hear the Looney Toons theme music every time I see a post from that person but THAT shit took the cake.

I mean you just have to to keep from

[Coccydynia]

96. You lie!

[bigwillq]

142. Oh boo hoo to you.

[rhett o rick]

164. You grabbed the #1 response to try to start a fight. Maybe it's you that's on the wrong site. nm

[rhett o rick]

165. It appears you dropped this turd and left. Your job done. nm

[uponit7771]

2. Obama aint shit! (he didn't light his hair on fire or nothin!) /sarcasm <-cause this is needed here

[still_one]

3. You are correct

[Hekate]

4. Kick! Rec! Love!

[DCBob]

5. Not good enough for those blinded by their pristine ideology.

Maybe someday they will wake up and realize he's been the main guy between them and the RW wolves.

[DonRedwood]

9. Obama is so quiet in his political chess game

We got used to Bush, Bush, Reagan and all of their soapbox grandstanding. Everything was loud and in your face. Obama's style unnerves a lot of people because he doesn't seem to be doing much...but then these big changes happen. BIG changes.

[DCBob]

12. I think thats the problem.. they want shouting, fist banging, cussing, spitting, etc.

That's simply not Obama's style at all.

[DonRedwood]

26. The right has been so nasty...it is hard to take that

It is like having a bunch of racists spit in your face sometimes. And, as I watch how they treat Obama, it is his cool reaction that unnerves me sometimes.

[BlueCaliDem]

38. I guess they didn't get it when he was labeled, early on as No Drama Obama.

[DonRedwood]

60. He has his own style of politics

I was a big Hillary fan so it took Obama a couple years in office to win me over. Took me that long to realize he is all work...instead of all talking about how awesome he is as a President.

[BlueCaliDem]

146. Which can be infuriating at times, I know.

But I've never considered him as an awesome president.

I consider him an awesome father, husband, friend, b-ball player, Progressive {albeit pragmantic}, and a rags-to-riches example, but I've been plenty disappointed in him nonetheless.

That said, I didn't immediately pile on him. I waited and looked and saw the power of Congress that has successfully hidden themselves and absolved themselves of all failures as they pushed the cameras onto the president {the greatest propaganda trick that Corporate America has ever made was to convince the American people that the U.S. Congress is powerless}.

President Obama is a hard worker and a good man, and I've slowly come to realize that he truly wants the best that he can do within his power for this country. If every Treasury-draining congresscritter and senator felt the same way, this country would be moving forward with leaps and bounds. Alas.

[tridim]

112. They want SPORTS...

Because they think chess is boring.

[DCBob]

141. roller derby?

[Politicub]

120. If the US is still here 100, 500, 1,000 years from now

Obama's contributions to gay liberation will be an important part of our American civil rights story.

That, and finally putting us on the road that leads to healthcare equality.

[bunnies]

10. Someones always gotta piss in the punchbowl.

hooray.

[DonRedwood]

19. no more pancake?

[bunnies]

23. Figured I could do for a change today.

Pancake returns tomorrow.

[DonRedwood]

27. Phew. OK. I don't like change.

And I do like bunnies. :0)

[DonRedwood]

67. The troll is gone.

Good call bunnies!

[bunnies]

72. yayy!

So sick of these damned trolls. Had to know they'd flock from the freeper hole today.

Oh dear. I dont know if I can make the day without my pancake. Its hard to recognize own posts.

[Skittles]

15. is the freak republic missing someone?

[DonRedwood]

28. Should we give credit to Bush?

[DonRedwood]

53. They should only get blame?

[Buzz Clik]

31. Is that what the OP said? NO!

Take off.

[DonRedwood]

54. New member, anti-Obama, I smell a troll.

Go back under your dirty little bridge! Glenn Beck is on today wearing a cub scout uniform crying about end times. Isn't that more their style?

BIg news days always bring out the trolls. I figured I'd get hammered for a pro Obama post but... :0) I'm tough. thanks for the support!

[uppityperson]

47. Who the hell said that?

[DonRedwood]

68. ZAP...and another troll is gone.

[DonRedwood]

66. My my Skittles, you are quite the Troll Hunter.

You sniffed that one out FAST!

[Skittles]

106. that one had a capital T on his forehead

not much of a challenge

[Buzz Clik]

30. -1

[BlueCaliDem]

41. -2

Freak Republic is missing their .....

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

61. Frankly, I don't give a fuck about what he said in the past. As long as his policies reflect

progression on this issue, whatever he said in the past is moot.

Many Democratic politicians held the exact same view and have now matured on this issue.

Bill Clinton said the same thing. He signed DOMA into law and championed the law on the campaign trail in 2006. He now fully supports marriage equality.

The fact that Obama didn't wait until his second term or until he was out of office--unlike Bill Clinton and a lot of Democrats--should mean something. But, it's never enough is it? OBAMA = BAD, BAD, BAD MAN!!!!

[chillfactor]

8. I agree with you wholeheartedly.....

I married the man I loved......you should have every right to marry the man you love....congratulations!!!!

[leftstreet]

11. Millions in unemployment lines are cheering today!!

[DonRedwood]

20. Gay people are unemployed too.

But I won't apologize or be quiet about my civil rights and I will certainly enjoy a victory.

:0)

[Buzz Clik]

33. -1

[BlueCaliDem]

42. -2

[Hekate]

78. -3

[Cali_Democrat]

85. -4

[snooper2]

103. -5

[treestar]

135. -6

[Prism]

13. History will be very kind to him on this issue

The first few years of his administration were a bit of a train wreck for the LGBT community, but he righted his ship and steered into the currents of progress.

There is more yet that he could - and should - do on these issues, but it's always import to highlight and applaud a politician when he or she does well.

President Obama has done well.

[DonRedwood]

40. His guidance of the DOJ was the most gay friendly thing a Pres has done for a long

time. Just that alone changed the dynamics of many things.

[Whisp]

14. K&R. You are right. He is a decent and fair man

and that is why I trust him.
I am happy for you and your love. I am happy for all who will be celebrating this today and forward into the future.

[Doctor_J]

16. I am a little confused

he's responsible for this SCOTUS decision, but not for domestic spying or prosecution of MMJ users? Help me out here.

[DCBob]

18. Sure, its all Obama's fault.

and yes.. you are confused.

[DonRedwood]

21. snicker.

[Buzz Clik]

34. +1

[BlueCaliDem]

43. +2

They really hate Obama, don't they? Who do you think they voted for in last election?

[rhett o rick]

173. How can you think that it's Obama's fault? Apparently he cant close Gitmo, cant stop domestic spyin

cant stop extensions of the Patriot Act, cant stop the banks from ripping us off, cant stop indefinite detention getting in the NDAA, cant get single payer, etc. Make up your mind. Is he helpless or responsible?

[DonRedwood]

22. Which President do you think has done more for Gay People? Harding? Grant?

Just curious. If you don't agree, I'd love to hear who you think has done more.

[Buzz Clik]

37. It's a real pisser when you have to go a whole day without shitting on Obama.

Bummer, man.

[great white snark]

62. I hope you're not a real doctor.

Because I can image you telling patients that Obama causes cancer.

[SunSeeker]

80. LOL! nt

[zeemike]

69. The one that deserves the credit

Is that one conservative justice that voted with the minority....I would guess it was Roberts but I don't really know.
But it is a great opportunity to praise Obama for being the man even though he had no vote on the SCOTUS...but watch out...the next step is calling you homophobic if you criticize Obama.

[Hekate]

81. Obama "Has no vote on the SCOTUS" -- so who appointed the justices on his watch?

Who would Mad Man McCain have appointed?

[zeemike]

94. Well I have no idea.

But if it was Roberts that voted with the minority should we then thank Bush?
meanwhile they voted 5-4 to end the VRA...is Obama responsible for that?
The facts are this....DOMA means nothing to them...there is no money to be made or no political hay to be made other than to tweak the conservatives who will blame it on Obama the same way we give him credit for it, and turn out big time in the next election...but restricting the voting rights of millions of people IS important to them.

[leftstreet]

145. +1

So true, DOMA means nothing to these elites. When Clinton signed it no doubt the Democrats knew they'd pull a 'victory' with it after Bush. Now the next GOP frontrunner can start the anti-gay marriage thing

It's all a fucking game to them

[Doctor_J]

121. Yeah, it is a terrific day for gay rights.

For the president? meh. Like I said, I guess I am missing something. Aaron Hernandez was charged with 1st degree murder and a laundry list of gun charges. Props to Obama for that too I guess, since he sort of almost got a background check passed after Sandy Hook.

[DevonRex]

24. Scalia certainly blames this DOMA ruling on President Obama in large part.

Thank you. I don't expect many people to agree with you. This isn't a site that likes President Obama.

[ProSense]

32. Thanks, Obama:

Thanks, Obama >> updated, Edith Windsor reacts
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023101179

[nevergiveup]

35. I totally agree with you.

As an approaching 70 year old gay man I applaud our president. I never thought I would see this day. It is sad that those who despise the president can't at least give him credit on this one issue but that is OK, as history will take it from here and it will treat him kindly.

[Orsino]

44. I think I credit the electorate even more.

The Supreme Court that killed the republic with Citizen's United and killed the VRA would have happily ensured the perpetuation of discrimination through marriage laws, were it not for a society that is learning to reject anti-gay bigotry--and not just to reject it, but to ridicule it.

I think we also gave our president the courage to get slightly ahead of the political curve, and he in turn helped us to get to today.

[ZombieHorde]

45. I agree.

He's done more for marriage equality than any other President.

[graham4anything]

46. Thank you President Obama. 100%. Forward.While Republicantealibertarians BushPaulfamilyinc- Reverse.

I have the back of Barack Obama

I will never stand with Rand and Jeb. In fact I can't stand Rand.

And if every democratic voter in 1980 voted for Jimmy Carter, and if Al Gore was seated,
the SCOTUS would have been 9 to 0 now for decades.

Ralph Nader has been proved a liar and yesterdays ruling and todays ruling proves that SCOTUS is all that matters.

And the next two will most likely be democratic retirements which President Obama will replace.
The next four after would most likely be changes.

The democratic President will get to pick those.
The republican president will NOT pick those

The wisdom of 1980 and the non-seating in 2000 has clearly shown there is a difference.
Ronald Reagan slept for 7 years.
What was any democratic voter thinking in 1980?
And the fracture and sabatoge, etc. led to Alito and Roberts.

SCOTUS makes all the difference.

and we shall overcome yesterdays ruling to insure all rulings are like the one today
because remember, just like yesterday showed, voting wrong in 2016 (even if ones own wedge issue is not addressed)
can lead to whatever victories are won, to be reversed.

Who would have thought 50 years later, what they did yesterday would happen

SCOTUS matters.

and we just have to make sure, whatever restrictions any state puts in from yesterday, that all the people have what is needed
to have their vote. People showed in 2008 and 2012 they would do the impossible to vote, and they did.

FORWARD.

Thank you President Obama.

and thank you Don Redwood.
(wish everyone here would feel the same).

[Hekate]

84. +1

[awoke_in_2003]

50. I have, at times, been critical of Obama...

but when he came out in favor of marriage equality PRIOR to his re-election bid- well, that took some guts IMO.

[Hissyspit]

150. In agreement.

[RainDog]

52. k&r n/t

[SaveAmerica]

55. That's President NoDoma to you, sir!

[Arcanetrance]

56. I have to agree while there are things I've disagreed with the president on he deserves

some credit for trying to move the debate forward on equality. The one thing I hope people keep in mind is that this ruling was one judge away from going the other way. That alone shows that people can't keep staying home vote in 2014 and 2016. Just staying home and refusing to vote is basically handing votes to the other side

[Fearless]

58. "Better"

Is a loaded word.

He did drag his feet on removing DADT until a court had to step in and order the Administration to do so.

He did not invalidate DOMA, the SJC did. He does not have the power to invalidate laws.

This has nothing to do with the president. It has to do with millions of Americans who stood up and said that enough was enough. That is who should be thanked here. Not the president.

[DonRedwood]

64. The President ordered the DOJ to stop with DOMA, and the service to stop DADT

and stopped govt. persecution in these areas. By doing this Obama forced the GOP to give up millions of dollars to fight Obama and to continue DOMA. This was all played out in the media with the young voters seeing the GOP were hatemongers and anti-gay. He gave two distinct choices to young voters and this wedge issue has made a big difference with younger Americans and their opinion of the GOP.

I'm gay. This President has done more for me than any other. If you don't agree, then tell me the President you think has done a better job on gay rights.

Remember who signed DADT and DOMA. Hard to say those people have done more than Obama. Before that, not many Presidents even mentioned the word gay.

[sibelian]

71. Thank you Don.

On this issue, Obama's done beautifully.

[Fearless]

73. Your wrong

The President only ordered DADT removed AFTER the court ordered him to.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/06/dadt-repeal-court-order-_n_891591.html

And the president doesn't have the ability to invalidate laws. He asked the US AG not to pursue section 2 of DOMA. So when it comes to the AG's jurisdiction they would ignore existing law. He did not remove DOMA. The court did today.

As I said "better" is a loaded word. More like lesser of two evils to gay people.

And you stating that your gay does not automatically make you right either. It gives you neither greater or higher knowledge of the issues. It only pertains to who you love and/or sleep with.

[SunSeeker]

89. You're wrong.

The court only ruled after the Obama Adminstration argued DADT was unconstitutional. From your Huffpo link:

After the government appealed U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips' decision, the 9th Circuit agreed to keep the policy in place until it could consider the matter. The appeals court reversed itself with Wednesday's order by lifting its hold on Phillips' decision. It cited as a reason the Obama administration's recent position in another case involving same-sex marriage that it is unconstitutional to treat gay Americans differently under the law.

[Fearless]

105. Umm...

The court order was on July 6th 2011, a Wednesday.

The Administration supported the decision on July 7th 2011.

The quote you give was not regarding DADT, it was a completely different court case as your quote states. Again, as I said the Administration did not remove DADT until ordered. Regardless of opinions voiced prior to the fact in other court cases.

[SunSeeker]

132. What part of "reason" do you not understand?

... It cited as a reason the Obama administration's recent position...

[SammyWinstonJack]

65. ...

[Zoeisright]

74. Bull fucking shit.

God you whiners make me sick. Sonia Sotomayor (appointed by PRESIDENT OBAMA) and Elena Kagan (appointed by PRESIDENT OBAMA) made the difference in this case. The vote was 5-4, dear; two of those five were Obama appointees.

Your blind hatred is sickening.

[Fearless]

87. And which two did they replace? And how would they have voted?

The court has remained 4-4-1 for almost a generation. 4 liberal, 4 conservative, and 1 wild card.

And the president did not select them because of Marriage Equality. That's just silly.

And I don't hate the president. I don't hate anything.

[BlueCheese]

104. By that logic, Bill Clinton deserves as much credit.

He appointed Breyer and Ginsburg.

Also, Eisenhower deserves credit for everything the Warren Court did.

There's a certain truth to each of these, but to give all the credit to the executive is stretching it.

[Fearless]

114. Exactly.

It's just silly. Marriage equality was not on their minds when they picked people.

[Maximumnegro]

138. Right. A McCain presidency and Romney

presidency would not have affected the ruling or the gains made nationwide in the cause for LGBT rights.

No difference in the slightest.

None.

Well, maybe a little.

Ok, maybe a whole FUCKING LOT.

[Fearless]

140. Would you not then thank the voters?

[phleshdef]

110. His approach to ending DADT was/is SUPERIOR to the way you are advocating that he should have gone.

President Barack Obama pursued Congress to end it the right way, not some namby, pamby bandaid executive order that had a good chance of accomplishing nothing. His re-election was never guaranteed. Romney or someone could've just reversed his order. He did it the right way, the better way, the superior way. He ordered the military to do all the studies and such so that hard evidence could be brought before Congress and the American people to prove all the arguments against openly gay service members wrong. And then Congress passed it and he gladly, gleefully signed it. He gets all the credit for ending DADT the right way and theres nothing you can say or do that will change that.

He also set the events in motion that led to this case even making it to the Supreme Court and he appointed 2 of the justices that voted on the side of GLBT rights.

It has everything to do with the President and the activists alike. So I'm thanking them but I'm also thanking him and will continue to do so and so will many others and you can't do anything to stop that.

[riqster]

116. Well said. nt

I don't like Obama. I didn't like Clinton or Carter. But all three have proven to be excellent prexies.

People need to decouple like/ dislike from their assessment of accomplishments.

[Fearless]

122. Actually no

All I've said is that he did NOTHING to get rid of it until he was forced to. Which is the truth. The rest is stuff you and others have put in my mouth.

[phleshdef]

123. What you said was complete and utter historically inaccurate bullshit.

He campaigned on repeal in 2008. That's not "doing nothing".

Shortly after he was elected, he ordered his Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Pentagon to reach a consensus on carrying out the repeal and present legislation for repeal to Congress. The Obama team said at that time, it would be repealed by 2010. That's not "doing nothing".

He then advocated for the repeal publically several times over the next year. That's not "doing nothing".

He announced the continuation of efforts for repeal the next year during his SOTU address. That's not "doing nothing".

Within a month or so after that address, a bill for repeal was finally introduced in Congress. The bill didn't pass at first. But the President had the DOD performing a comprehensive review during that time which would produce the evidence needed to backup the notion that the repeal would not have negative effects among units. That's not "doing nothing".

After that, he had Gates and Mullen going to Congress and urging them to repeal it. That's not "doing nothing".

Finally, by the end of 2010 (as predicted by the President's team), on December 18th, the ban was finally repealed, the President signed it on the 22nd. He put the signature on it that made it LAW. That's not "doing nothing".

He spent 2 years working with the Pentagon, his staff and Congress to get DADT repealed, very much involved in the public politics side of it and the inner policy side of it. You are wrong.

[Fearless]

125. Words are not actions.

Words do not remove laws. Actions do. He spent time with the Pentagon and DELAYED doing something until the court made him.

[phleshdef]

126. First off, in politics, words can most certainly be actions.

Secondly, he ordered the Joint Chiefs of Staffs and the Pentagon to begin the process of crafting policy for repeal pretty much as soon as he was elected. That was a very critical action.

He also called on Congress to get it done several times, which is an example of a President's words equating to actions.

But most of all, and this is the one that's really gonna stick in your crawl, he signed it into law, had the final word on it, period. That's the most important action of all. When you are talking about legislation, there is no action that is more important than that, nothing, nadda, zip. He OWNS the taking of the most vital action in repealing DADT. This is just something you are going to have to live with.

[Politicub]

119. I love how this is driving you bananas

It brings me joy to see how foolish and ridiculous you look by twisting yourself into a pretzel trying to minimize his historic contribution to human rights.

Must be sad to live in your head.

[SunSeeker]

127. +1

[Cha]

131. Wow, I was just about to post the same thingish.. and saw yours..

Twisting himself into a damn pretzel to avoid giving Pres Obama any credit.. it's too freaking pathetic.

These People in Cal are actually thanking the Prez.. "You're invited to the wedding"!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110211464

[mountain grammy]

63. Yes, thank you, Mr. President!

It was the court's ruling, but the decision is so much sweeter with Kagan and Sotomayor appointees and the President happy and on board! It's a very good day indeed!

[Rowdyboy]

70. I feel like I've stumbled into an alternate universe where the President is actually appreciated....

I know it won't last (This is DU after all) but it feels good today.

[Cha]

134. lol Rowdyboy.. there are some in this very

thread twisting themselves silly to try and take away anything from the President. The venom is strong..but, not strong enough. "Love Conquers Hate"

It highlights your point exactly.

[DonRedwood]

174. Yeah, pretty anti-democrat in here lately... subversive trolls?

[Hekate]

75. Tears of joy for you and yours, DonRedwood

Hugging you and yours with tears of joy in my eyes.
This is a great day, and as far as I am concerned, my marriage is only strengthened by the love in yours.

Hekate

President Obama has stood firmly in his support of me. He did not grandstand, he did not act showy, he did not scream from the bully pulpit. He just simply stood firm and let the right wing scream and gnash their teeth and show themselves to be hate mongers. And then Obama did his business.

He stopped prosecuting, he changed rules, he stood firm. He helped change the world.

DOMA, a dagger in my heart as a tax-paying-domestically-partnered homosexual. Gone.

DADT, an insult beyond belief to the gay Americans who have given their lives to this country. Gone.

Gay Marriage, something you don't understand if your own marriage isn't invalidated the minute you cross state lines to go visit your inlaws in the south, is now going to be respected, at least by the government, no matter where I am in the country. (and, yes, lots of work to be done in this area, but the first major hurdle has been cleared).

[SunSeeker]

76. K & R

[Iggo]

77. No President has done more for gay people.

[Gravitycollapse]

79. No President has really done anything for Gay people. So that's not saying much.

[Iggo]

128. You are correct.

[Nye Bevan]

82. He's certainly come a long way since "marriage is between a man and a woman....

..... God is in the mix".

It was a good day when he had his epiphany on this issue, and I was happy to welcome him on board.

[wryter2000]

83. I hadn't heard about Governor Brown's announcement

This is so exciting!

[cali]

86. Credit where credit is due

k&r

[Aristus]

88. I'm happy for you, DonRedwood

It's a happy day, a long time in coming. As a straight ally of LGBT's, I've applauded all of the advances in civil rights that have happened since President Obama took office. None more so than DADT. I'm a veteran myself, and everytime I heard a military person, or just a Rambo-type who never served, but considered himself an uber-patriot anyway, talking about, "Well, our boys are going to have to be showering next to them, and sharing foxholes with them..." I just wanted to clutch my head.

So now, DADT is gone. And DOMA is joining it in the dustbin of history.

Now every time some Republican's marriage breaks up, he will be able to blame marriage equality for that. After all, now everyone's marriage is at risk...



It's a great day...

[sheshe2]

115. Well said, Aristus!

[Logical]

90. This is something we all can agree on! n-t

[SunSeeker]

91. K & R

[Rosa Luxemburg]

92. True

[totodeinhere]

93. The Supreme Court made those decisions, not Obama.

Yes he changed his stance on gay marriage after having opposed it, but so have most Democratic politicians and even some Republicans.

[BainsBane]

97. He appointed two of those judges

Think about who a President McCain would have appointed.

[totodeinhere]

99. Then should we also give Reagan credit for appointing Kennedy? After all, Kennedy wrote

the DOMA decision.

[BainsBane]

100. Yes, actually

He's a hell of a lot better than than some of the others.

[BlueCheese]

107. Well, he also appointed Scalia, so Reagan gets a net of zero.

The total score, if we're apportioning credit by president, is Obama 2, Clinton 2, Reagan 0, Bush Sr. -1 (Thomas), Bush Jr. -2 (Roberts, Alito).

[BainsBane]

109. You asked if he should get credit for Kennedy

Not if he was a fantastic President.

[BlueCheese]

113. It was someone else who asked.

I was just being pedantic.

[phleshdef]

102. Obama directly set events in motion that led to this case making it to the court in the first place.

And he appointed 2 of the justices that were key votes on the issue.

Sorry, you don't GET to take this away from the President, no matter how bad you obviously would like to.

[MjolnirTime]

152. so, you admit it. you just can't credit Obama for anything. understood.

[totodeinhere]

156. I didn't say that. You did. But look. The whole country is

moving in the direction of gay rights. If Obama were not president and someone else held the office the same thing would be happening. The gay rights movement is unstoppable now as Rachel Maddow has said. And up until just a little over a year ago Obama was on record as opposing gay marriage.

[BlueCheese]

98. First, let me offer personal congratulations.

It's well past time for the ugly blight of discrimination to end in this country. We have a long way to go, but this is a step forward.

Now as for being the best president so far on gay rights: well, that's a pretty low bar, to be honest. Times change, and people change with them. To take an extreme example, Reagan was better on racism than Thomas Jefferson. Goerge W. Bush was more enlightened than Abraham Lincoln. The average American of 2013 is better than the average American of any previous year on gay rights.

To me, relative to his time, Obama has been benign, but not forceful, on gay rights. This is a huge improvement on Bush, who was actively hostile, and a mild improvement over Clinton, who was stung early and then frequently caved to political expedience. I'm also not sure why Obama deserves credit over a Supreme Court decision, other than that he appointed two of the justices in the majority. (Of the other three, two were Clinton appointees and one was a Reagan (!) appointee.)

Right now, Obama's official position on gay marriage is that it's a state issue. Can you imagine if that had been Lincoln or LBJ's position on slavery or voting rights?

(Also, I don't really understand why Kennedy gets so much credit for civil rights. He wasn't around long enough, and his contributions were often reluctant. A number of the judges he appointed were more problem than solution.)

[Flying Dream Blues]

101. Beautiful post. I am so happy

to be celebrating with you today, happy for all of us that our much-maligned (and rightfully so) Supreme Court has found its way to a just and good decision. I know it has been a long road to this point, and more to travel, but I want to say thank you to you, to all of our GLTBQ brothers and sisters, to President Obama, and all of the people who have stood up for what's right. Our country is so much better today than it was yesterday.

Love to you, DonRedwood.

[darkangel218]

108. I give that much to Potus.

[sheshe2]

117. Here comes the sun~

Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Little darling
It's been a long, cold lonely winter
Little darling
It feels like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Little darling
The smiles returning to the faces
Little darling
It seems like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/here-comes-the-sun-lyrics-beatles.html ]

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Little darling
I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling
It seems like years since it's been clear

Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun
It's all right
It's all right

Read more: BEATLES - HERE COMES THE SUN LYRICS
http://www.metrolyrics.com/here-comes-the-sun-lyrics-beatles.html

The sun shines on California, Equality and the World~

To you and yours DonRedwood!

[Hekate]

130. I'll be down at the Courthouse Sunken Gardens at 6pm to celebrate with my friends!

I got the great news from local email messages, and I Will Be There.

Did you catch Rachel when it passed? She had a short say on Andrea Mitchell -- believes the pressure from the military bases in the US will flow outward to surrounding communities, because the military is fully prepared to implement these measures. I'll have to catch Rachel on rerun tonight because her show is at 6pm here.

Anyway, I am glad I caught her brief comments because they put a big smile on my face after just about upchucking from waves of negativity at "Democratic" Underground.

Hekate

[sheshe2]

133. I caught it on DU~

First thing this morning, I was on my way out. No will have to watch Rachel tonight!

It is sweet news Hekate~ Simply said Beautiful!

I haven't read much on GD yet....busy working on a few OP's.

Have a great celebration with you friends tonight!


SUN

[Hekate]

136. I hope I'll see some of the adults I watched grow up as kids; hope to see my daughter's girlfriend

Put in a call to an old friend who's transgendered son lives out of state, but I know she'll want to be at the Courthouse too, and she hadn't heard the news yet -- so we'll find each other in the crowd.

Hubby hates crowds and noise, so I will leave him at home to watch Rachel without me.

This affects ALL of us, doesn't it?

I am so excited.

Hekate

[sheshe2]

139. Tell everyone that Boston says hello~

This does affect us all, we are better for it~

Celebrate tonight, Hekate. And ask your hubby to tape the show!

Actually surprisingly we have had some great news in the past 48 hours.

I just posted a few OP's about in GD no less!

[Politicub]

118. +1 and the gay community and its allies will always remember that

He has cemented his place in history as a champion of gay civil rights in so many ways.

His second inaugural address was amazing in the way it linked the civil rights struggle of all people as having a common thread.

[Cha]

129. Mahalo, DonRedwood, for your sweet tribute and acknowledging Pres Obama's leadership on

on helping GLBT with their Equal RIGHTs!

"You are invited to the wedding"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110211464

[bigwillq]

143. Thank you to President Obama and everyone else

that made this possible in one form or another.

It's indeed a happy day.

[Number23]

148. I like your post.

Co-sign 100%

[DevonRex]

161. Thank you BWQ. You've always given

credit where it's due. Thanks for reminding us that there were many who fought hard for this and who will continue to fight. It's not over until it's national. In the meantime today's a happy day.

[Ms. Toad]

144. He has become a strong advocate.

That said, he was very late to the party and I don't like the pretension that he did not dramatically fail to be the fierce advocate he promised for most of the first term.

He has, now, truly changed to his core thanks to his daughters and their friends and and a few inside folks I know he is in contact with on a very regular basis. And, the cynic in me also says - the change in the tide of public opinion, which he adeptly sensed, let him jump in publicly at just the right time to make it appear he was leading the tide instead of being swept along with it.

But however he got here, he is here now and I am elated that he is now using the bully pulpit of the presidency to strongly advocate for LGBT rights.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

149. agreed. no president has.

[DJWBlue]

154. I agree. I still cannot understand the gay people who praise Clinton when he was the one who

sold us out.

[tblue]

155. Yup! Kudos to President Obama!

I noticed how opinions changed all across the country after he said he supported marriage equality. It was amazing! Yeah, that was a game changer, aside from all the policy accomplishments. Yes, he deserves our gratitude.

[DevonRex]

160. That's not what Scalia said in his dissent. And rim job for Obama?

You really said that to a gay man on DU. So, I guess that language is ok for everyone to use?

[Rowdyboy]

158. He was a slow starter but once he got wound up he has come through big time....

And any one who says he hasn't is an ungrateful fool.

[Cha]

163. +1

[Bradical79]

167. What does this have to do with the NSA?

Nothing! It also has nothing to do with Afganistan, Guantonimo, Keystone Pipeline, Corporate bailouts, or free trade agreements.

It's a good post thanking Obama for making the right decisions on this particular issue. I wish people would stop thinking this invalidates every negative opinion of his other actions( or inactions) or try to claim his support of equality was completely meaningless because of unrelated things he may have screwed up.

[Zen Democrat]

168. And also give credit to the Dems who blocked Judge Bork for SCOTUS

Which have us the back-up guy, Justice Kennedy.

[Major Hogwash]

169. Kicked and recommended.

Whoever called him "No Drama Obama" don't know squidilly-dee!!

[Crow73]

170. No need...

The NSA reads my emails.

[Saviolo]

171. +1 and thanks to Obama!

I'm Canadian, so this has been a reality in my life for some time (I'm also gay and married), but I've got a lot of US friends, and a lot of them are about to get married.

Do I agree with everything Obama does? Hell no. Spoilers: No elected official is ever going to please anyone 100%, or even 100% of their base at any time. It's not going to happen. Ideologies just don't work like that. I disagree vigorously with Obama about a great many things.

Is this a huge plus for Obama? Hell yes. I appreciate the work that Obama did towards this goal. This is actually huge. Just by talking about how he has evolved on the issue, and talking about equal rights, changed the political landscape into something that made this possible.

Also: Big props to Joe Biden for somewhat forcing Obama's hand on the issue in the early days of his evolution. Was it a gambit to make Biden look like a rogue veep that was dragging POTUS alone? Was it just Biden saying the wrong thing at the right time? Whatever it was, good on him.