It Gets Better: President Obama

[Newsjock]

Run time: 03:08 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geyAFbSDPVk   Posted on YouTube: October 21, 2010 By YouTube Member: whitehouse Views on YouTube: 310   Posted on DU: October 22, 2010 By DU Member: Newsjock Views on DU: 3560

 

[Jumping John]

1. He says this as DADT is a law that bullies people in the military to live a lie. Yes it is true! n/t

[laconicsax]

2. He's a fierce advocate for keeping DADT on the books. n/t

[Tx4obama]

4. That is not true. President Obama has ALWAYS been against DADT.

Just because he believes that CONGRESS should be the place for the permanent repeal of DADT and others have their own idea of how it should be repealed - does not take away from the FACT that President Obama is FOR the repeal of DADT.

And I'll bet you my bottom dollar that President Obama was the one behind Gates' MEMO today.

Gates narrows who can OK discharges under 'don't ask, don't tell'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4583640

[laconicsax]

6. Yeah, he's so against DADT, he fights to keep the courts from striking it down?

Thanks for pointing out that Gates has now done more to fight DADT than Obama.

[Tx4obama]

7. Guess you forgot that Obama appointed him & he works for Obama.

IF you think that Gates sent out that memo on his own without Obama's input first then there would be no reason to continue conversing with you ;)

[laconicsax]

10. So he's bypassing Congress?

I'm trying to understand this here...

He fights a court decision that gets rid of DADT because he thinks the repeal should be in Congress but has the SecDef chip away at it because?

He has the SecDef change enforcement rules but won't suspend enforcement by EO because?

He takes action that keeps DADT on the books but won't take action to get did of it because?

3-dimensional chess?

[treestar]

25. Yes, IOW you do not understand what is going on

[laconicsax]

34. Then why don't you explain it to me?

Hmm?

[treestar]

37. It's on the many thread on the subject already

And further down in this one:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=484380&mesg_id=484920

[laconicsax]

44. Too bad I have whomever's post you linked to on ignore.

I'm sure the explanation is transcendent and full of subtlety, nuance, and fierce advocacy.

[treestar]

24. Read the multitude of threads to understand the court thing

Quit using it against the President - it shows ignorance and it's embarrassing.

[laconicsax]

36. Quit pointing out that he's fighting to keep DADT on the books?

You're right, that is embarrassing.

[treestar]

38. Yes it is, because that is a dumb statement

Disagreeing over the way to do something is not disagreeing over doing it. Obama is working on ending it and deserves credit for that - instead of a bunch of thoughtless, research-less, focusing on a court case by people who don't understand the court system or the DOJ.

the ignorance I have seen on this site about the court system is appalling.

[laconicsax]

43. A judge ended it for him.

The DOJ has a 60-day window in which to appeal. If they don't appeal, the ruling stands and DADT is done. The only way to undo the decision at that point would be with a Constitutional amendment or with a case where the someone in military sues, claiming that allowing openly gay servicemembers violates their Constitutional rights, and wins.

Are you really going to sit there and argue that either of those situations is highly likely but a Congressional repeal is unassailable?

Face it. Obama has done more to keep DADT on the books than end it.

[ClarkUSA]

58. The Justice Department's orderly defenses of laws passed by Congress are constitutionally sound.

Top LGBT legal experts like Nan Hunter agree with the WH approach as well:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=517571&mesg_id=517895

Were you as angry at President Clinton when he signed DADT and DOMA into law and approved of running anti-gay ads in 1996? Are you angry at President Clinton for never wanting to repeal DADT?

Or is all your anger reserved for the only President who has ever wanted to repeal DADT? :eyes:

[Cha]

48. No, he's not ..you're mistaken. nt

[laconicsax]

60. So maybe you'd like to explain his work to that end. n/t

[ThomCat]

3. And he doesn't support marriage equality

which denies us a lot of equal rights in our relationships, and allows us to be bullied when we try to visit our significant others in hospitals, or try to get insurance coverage, or try to live together, etc.

Obama is good at talking, but not so good at doing anything to live up to the pretty words.

Unfortunately, he is the president. His job is to deliver on the pretty words. That's the job he wanted, and that's what we elected him to do.

:(

[ClarkUSA]

55. The existence of DADT as a federal law is the fault of Pres. Clinton, not Pres. Obama.

[Shining Jack]

5. I 'm feeling kind of nauseated right now.

:(

[JohnnyK]

8. Quit stalling on DADT, Mr. President!

[laconicsax]

11. "Stalling" implies that he intends to do something about it. n/t

[ClarkUSA]

57. Nan Hunter, winner of GLBT National Bar's highest honor, agrees w/the WH approach.

Read her words here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9311547&mesg_id=9311547

[NYC_SKP]

9. Recommended. (nt)

[WillParkinson]

15. Yep...

And it carries the same believability.

For a president to sit there and talk about how it gets better when he works so hard to deny gays and lesbians of the rights to marry...I really don't consider that 'better'.

[Hamlette]

12. Can you imagine Bush doing this?

[bookman]

59. or McCain?

Or almost any Republican.

[Number23]

13. "we've got to stop this idea that bullying is some normal rite of passage. Just a part of growing up

Could NOT agree more, Mr. President.

I am so glad that an anti-bullying campaign is taking off. This is fantastic. I just heard about two local kids taking their own lives -- one was a young woman who was constantly teased for being overweight (the other was a 16-year old boy who was being abused by his mother). It didn't matter how smart or how beautiful she was on the inside, because she didn't look a certain way she was constantly ridiculed. And she took her life because of it.

It's wrong, it's horrible, it happens to FAR too many kids and it needs to stop.

[TwentyFive]

16. Bullying is abuse. Abusing the weakest members of society is evil. n/t

[dencol]

14. How do things get so much better?

As a gay kids enter adulthood, they often leave the shelter of childhood where they will now be exposed to a workforce that is often anti-gay. There are no real laws to protect against that, except rather toothless anti-discrimination resolutions in individual states. One can't get married. One has no rights to housing. And gay adults are also often harassed, bullied, attacked, and isolated as well. How in the hell do things get better, especially when such discrimination is often condoned and accepted by all levels of government and the courts?

[rainlillie]

17. Thank you for the message Mr. President.

.

[MNBrewer]

18. How would HE know?

[Pab Sungenis]

19. More pretty words.

Now how about backing them up?

[treestar]

23. So now this use of the bully pulpit is useless?

And it is seen as so powerful at other times.

[DemocraticPilgrim]

31. "Pretty words" count look back on any historic figure in history. They shape future. Cynicism drags

drags us back. Barack has been true to his word on all but the public option AND who says there can't be one if a not for profit joins the exchange. DADT will. be repealed if people are wise enough to vote the right way, all in the peoples hands November

[Ratty]

33. I disagree - This is significant

I've given Obama a lot of grief over Warren, McClurkin, his stance against gay marriage, etc. etc., but I give him a lot of credit for this. Just yesterday I was noticing how Hillary was wearing purple and thought wouldn't it be nice if Obama wore at least a purple tie or something - oh well, so much for fierce advocacy. But he went a surprised me and did one better. It Gets Better has been the subject of a lot of derision from the right, as if speaking out against violence and bullying will somehow make kids become gay. He has decisively taken a stand for what's right and used his bully pulpit for once. I cannot see a Republican president doing the this.

No, I'm still not satisfied - it's still just words and he has a lot to make up for - but it's a tiny step in the right direction.

[ClarkUSA]

56. Do you feel the same way about Hillary's video? Was it just "pretty words" too?

[Pab Sungenis]

62. Hillary wasn't in a position to not appeal the decisions

or issue a stop-loss order. Obama was.

[Smarmie Doofus]

20. Tough crowd.

But... on the whole... a fair one.

[JNelson6563]

21. Ah, feel the hate!

DU, you never disappoint.

[treestar]

22. K&R

[racaulk]

26. On the whole, I'm glad President Obama did this.

I was a senior in high school when Clinton was first elected in 1992. Middle school and high school were absolute hell for me, and my teenage years were filled with loneliness, sadness, depression, and frequent thoughts of suicide (including two attempts).

When Clinton was running his first campaign for President, I remember gay people, and their rights, being included as part of the national discourse in a positive manner. It was the first time I ever remember this happening, especially since the only Presidents I really remembered up until that point were Raygun and GHWB. Watching this (and the march on Washington in 1993) on my television in rural, small-town North Carolina helped me to feel not so isolated and alone, and I still recall those being among the first moments that I felt hopeful that I might eventually be OK.

There are still many young GLBTQI people out there that are just beginning on the path of self-acceptance that I once traveled. If hearing this message from their President helps them along that path, or if his words prevent just one young person from taking their life, then taking the time to send this message was certainly worth it.

Obama is taking more of a long-term approach to gay rights than I would like, but while our government works on those issues, I think this message will certainly help young people that are in crisis right now. There is no question to me that is important and worthwhile.

K&R

[Smarmie Doofus]

47. Mmmm.This is pretty much how I feel. Well said.

There's hypocrisy a-plenty. But it's better that he made the video than if he hadn't.

[Number23]

52. Btw, I saw your response to me in the other thread

I appreciated what you said. Thanks for that.

[racaulk]

54. OK, I have to admit.

It took me a moment to remember which thread you were referring to. :P

When I was typing that reply, I hoped that my response would come across as helpful. I'm glad that it was. Thanks!

:hi:

[big lu]

27. K&R

[and-justice-for-all]

28. I still support President Obama...nt

[asdjrocky]

29. Isn't he the bully right now?

He doesn't think you should be allowed to marry, and his justice department is fighting the end of DADT. This is more silly stuff.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DemocraticPilgrim]

30. That is a magnificent u tube, collectors item even. Everyone you know should see this.

[Jankyn]

35. I'm going to give him this one.

Yes, I'd like more from him. But I'm an idealist, not a pragmatist. And he's still the best thing to happen to us in several decades. Thanks, Mr. President.

[Divine Discontent]

39. Thank you, Mr President. This was very well done, and seems truly from the heart.

God bless all who are bullied and outright tortured emotionally and physically.


"You didn't do anything wrong!" - amen...

[Raster]

40. Thank you for saying that bullying is not normal and a good thing. Thank you.

Now Mr. President, say to all those Gay kids getting bullied that they were born Gay and they are just as natural and legitimate as you are. And then tell them, Mr. President, that you support their right to marry the person they love, and that you unequivocally support their right to serve in the American military WITHOUT PREJUDICE and that you will truly be a fierce advocate to ensure that all LGBTQ persons are afforded the SAME legal rights and protections as every other citizen. If you truly want to stop gay kids from killing themselves, this is what you need to say, and most importantly, that is what you need to do.

[lies and propaganda]

41. PROVE IT DUDE

Does the president have NO FUCKING POWER?!?!?!?!
WTF do we need Congress for?

You want gay kids to think its going to magically "get better" then it starts at the top dude. Parents have shown they cant be trusted, we have 8 year old rabid bigots now.. So how about the president do something presidential and stop fucking over a large percentage of this country on a daily basis.

[swilton]

42. I would have liked to have heard him say that there is value in

diversity and that differences enrich our society in the same way that diversity enriches the natural world.

What I heard him say was not that. He merely said (my own words) that because you have been discriminated against, you will be better for it because you will help others not discriminate.

[derby378]

45. If I ever run for public office...

...can I use some of the phrases you elocuted in that post? Very simple, direct, and to the point.

Thank you.

[swilton]

61. Thank you for the compliment

I do hope you run for public office!

[bobbolink]

46. This whole message is just wrong.

I was turned off with the same stuff from Hillary, and I am turned off with this.

Making it an individual problem, and continuing the crap of "permanent solution for a temporary problem" hasn't worked til now, and won't work in the future.

They are saying NOTHING about what they are going to do to change the problem.

BULLYING

What are you going to DO about it, Hillary?

What are you going to DO about it, Mr. President?

Just give sermons and sing a hymn?

TAKE. ACTION.

Those lost lives deserve nothing LESS.

[KurtNYC]

49. the problem isn't 'feeling alone' or 'feeling different'

several of the recent suicides had boyfriends, one for 7 years

the problem is being tortured by classmates, churches and college roommates and not being able to remove yourself or stop it.

[SunsetDreams]

50. K&R excellent!

[Politicub]

51. Thank you, Mr. President.

As one who was bullied myself when I was in school, I know how important these video messages are.

LGBT kids are on the Internet, and they will see these messages. This campaign will save lives.

[great white snark]

53. I could not have said it any better Politicub.

With people like you things will get better.

:toast:

[ab_roll]

63. dems step it up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM05qgtYoNY