Openly Gay Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) Defends Obama: The Best President Ever On LGBT Issues

[Tx4obama]

MINNEAPOLIS -- After heated criticism of President Barack Obama on gay issues at Netroots Nation, openly gay Congressman Jared Polis defended Obama on Saturday, calling him "the best president this country has ever had on LGBT issues."

"Gay Americans have never had anything close to this much of an advocate in the White House in the United States," the Colorado Democrat told HuffPost.

Obama's record on gay rights has been under fire at Netroots Nation, a progressive conference being held this year in Minnesota. Some progressives have said he is too weak on LGBT issues.

But Polis pointed out that the president made two major steps forward: Obama signed into law a repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy that barred gays from the military and announced that his administration would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a law requiring marriage to be between a man and a woman.

SNIP

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/18/jared-polis-defends-obama-lgbt_n_879791.html


Edited to add:
Jared Polis participated in CNN's "Freshman Year in Congress" series, he was pretty awesome in the series and I was sad to see it end. The series followed the first year in Congress of Democrat Polis (including his partner) and another fellow that is a republican.
Anyone wishing to see the videos click on the following link and then click on CNN VIDEO towards the top left: http://www.cnn.com/search/?query=freshman%20year%20in%20congress&primaryType=mixed&sortBy=date&intl=false

[CakeGrrl]

1. But Choi said he was the WORST ever!

I guess actually taking steps to undo the DOMA/DADT policies that another president signed in puts lie to that claim.

[BluegrassDem]

2. Choi is rapidly becoming the new Cindy Sheehan

[krawhitham]

33. +1

[jefferson_dem]

50. Not becoming...

He has become.

[QC]

65. His lack of an oompa loompa has finally driven him over the edge. n/t

[Very_Boring_Name]

96. I know! Why can't he just give it a rest?

If he wanted an oompa loompa then he shouldn't have chosen to be born gay!

[Union Scribe]

130. In the sense that both are individuals who have been screwed over

and aren't "getting over it" because other people tell them too, yeah I guess they are alike.

If you must you can argue about their perspectives being skewed and not representing the reality of a situation, but you can't--or shouldn't, at least--dismiss them because of their focus. They're like that because of gross injustices that forced their hands.

[Phx_Dem]

132. No shit. If he's so unhappy with Obama, don't fucking vote for him.

Vote Republican or stay home.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Link please.

I sure did not hear that. Where did he say what you claim, in caps and all? Or was that not meant to be a factual statement?

[SadPanda]

19. Here is the link

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/dan-choi-relative-to-promises-denied-barack-obama-is-the-worst-us-president-in-history/politics/2010/11/17/1

He is just being unrealistic as far as expectations for a first term. The guy repealed DOMA and refused to defend what is clearly an unconstitutional bill passed in an earlier administration.

Dan Choi: "Relative to promises denied Barack Obama is the worst US president in history."

That is just ridiculous.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. Relative to his promises. Very diferent statment.

I tell you, the President's opposition to equal rights is, he says, based on his devotion to a faith that teaches unerring exactitude in speech, particularly when bearing witness about another person. Thus, it follows that those who wish to defend his views on the subject should at the very least attempt to live up to the standards they are insisting that others should object to only in the sweetest and most careful terms. To post half a quote with cap emphasis added simply does not meet the standard of the philosophy on which the opposition to equality is allegely based. It just seems very wrong, very 'cake and eat it too'. If one supports the faith based thinking enough to make rules for how others should object to it, one should at least pay respect to that faith in their own words and actions. This 'we got rules for the gays but we are free will in the straight commmunity' is a display of the double standard that so many deny exists.
Some of the great teachers have suggested that calling out the flaws of others is wrong. Some have said that only those without flaw can begin such procedings. Just some intersting juxtapositions and ironies.
I wonder if Lt Choi's critics have walked so much as a meter in shoes like his, forget about a mile. I hardly think that they have. I wonder if this is how they would wish to be treated if they were in his shoes. Some of the great teachers said we should treat others as we wish to be treated. Do you think this is how these posters wish to be treated? Do they wish misleading half quotes with caps for emphasis for themselves or the President? I doubt that they do.

[vaberella]

25. We're talking about his promises to the LGBT community (politically).

Where has Obama failed them directly is the point. You mention his faith---well many people have a faith that teaches one thing but they support another. Obama has time and again supported more active measures for LGBT people---and added to that he's working and hoping to repeal DOMA. So name the promises he made to the LGBT community and where he failed in those promises...please.

We're talking policy---not the mans faith.

[dsc]

56. He promised all of the following, none of which has happened yet

He promised ENDA, He promised to repeal DOMA, he promised to repeal DADT which when that tweet occurred also hadn't happened.

[vaberella]

60. It didn't seem that was what the poster was speaking about.

He seemed to be speaking in the general term. You might notice both his style and my style of speech speaking in present tense---versus at the time or past tense. And as far as ENDA and DOMA---I agree he did promise and I don't think he's forgotten. However, he's not getting anything done with this congress in session.

[dsc]

63. it is relevent to judging Choi's statement

Choi clearly stated that Obama was the worst President in terms of promises kept, not the worst in terms of what he accomplished. Honestly I don't know if the numbers would work out better for him or for Clinton under that standard if you looked at Nov 17, 2010. But that is the standard Choi was using and that is how his statement should be evaluated if we wish to be honest brokers of his statement. I concede that this Congress makes it impossible for him to accomplish much which is why so many of us were so Hell bent on getting stuff done in the last Congress.

[vaberella]

23. Wow...I didn't even know this. Jesus.

However Obama did not repeal DOMA....he did repeal DADT. Which should be signed away in a few months (6 to be exact). And he did say or at least the AG said upon the President's approval that they would not be defending a clause within DOMA because they find it unconstitutional.

I don't know what expectations Choi had. But I already knew he didn't like Obama, and that was by many incidences---like the one on CNN was enough to tell me where he stood. He made it seem as though Obama was the worst enemy and was doing nothing for LGBT rights.

[TriMera]

45. Look at the date. It's a tweet from 11/17/2010. It's old news. n/t

[vaberella]

59. You make a good point but it's still valid.

That was the time he thought Obama sold the LGBT up the river and Jane Hamsher was all over it. When Obama allowed the DADT vote during the lame duck season. No one thought Obama would get it passed and they bitched about it. And because he was doing it during a time when it seems nothing gets done. This entire site was saying how Obama made a deal and didn't really want DADT to pass and he was a sell out. Choi was all over it...and it was around the same time he had his infamous breakdown on CNN screaming at Obama and all about how he's being mistreated. In the end, from what I could gather---he never seemed to think Obama did anything in getting it passed--but was ready to blame him for having it fail.

[CakeGrrl]

92. It's not a matter of timeliness, it's about the persistent attitude.

At this stage, Choi isn't sure he can vote for Obama (no, I'm not making that up)? WTF? Relative to what alternative?

[Bluenorthwest]

126. Choi did not like Obama, that is why Choi had Obama discharged

and then why Choi had Obama arrested for protesting, then Choi kept saying that people like Obama should never have equal rights, because of God. That Choi, you sure can see that he had it out for Obama from the start!

[ruggerson]

32. DADT is almost two decades old

The "other" President that signed it into law suffered a huge defeat when he tried to open up the armed forces and let gays and lesbians serve openly. He was no saint, by any means, on LGBT issues, but DADT was a compromise forced on him by a Congress that was ready and willing to pass a binding statute that would have institutionalized the ban on all LGBT citizens from serving their country in the armed forces.

Attitudes are very, very different eighteen years later, and now the public is overwhelmingly receptive to DADT repeal across the board.

[polmaven]

100. And President Clinton...

negotiated ans signed DOMA into law for the same reasons. There would certainly have been a Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman if he had not negotiated that.

[StevieM]

73. Right, because before Clinton became president gays could openly serve, right?

And it's not like the votes were overwhelmingly there to override his veto of DOMA.

[mkultra]

122. Clinton was against same-sex marriage

And said so openly.

[stevenleser]

4. K&R, two of the big four of LGBT issues I hoped this President would do are done.

1. DOMA - gone

2. DADT - Gone

3. ENDA

4. Nationwide Marriage Equality


3 & 4 are a little tougher, but 1 & 2 are pretty huge.

[TriMera]

5. Somebody forgot to notify the press.

I can serve in the military and get married now? When did this happen?

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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

[TriMera]

7. If totally inaccurate crap is all you can post, then snark is what

you deserve. I don't need a lesson in civics, but you might.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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

[TriMera]

12. I didn't say anything about the President. I was commenting

on the fact that neither DOMA nor DADT is "gone". Don't get mad at me because you jumped the gun and now people are calling you on it.:hi:

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dsc]

13. no it isn't 100% right

If you don't believe me, ask any same sex couple who got married where it is legal who is living where it isn't. They aren't recognized as married.

[stevenleser]

16. See my #14

[dsc]

8. DOMA isn't gone

that is utterly false. It should be noted that even if the prop 8 course goes to SCOTUS, and we win, some of DOMA may well survive (the part where states don't have to recognize marriages from other states). But in any case DOMA is still the law of the land right now (our victory in the prop 8 case is on hold pending appeal). DADT is also not gone yet though that is still quite likely just a matter of time.

[stevenleser]

17. See my #14

[Vanje]

71. Your #14 is gone.

Maybe it wasn't so nice.

[Number23]

11. DOMA is not gone

But I agree that DADT is going. I don't understand why some seem to be actually PISSED that DADT is all but gone.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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

[Number23]

21. It's hard to understand because there's no logic to it

It makes no sense at all. It never has, and it never will. But it's very easy to see that this is an exercise in illogical, counter-productive behavior that is not shared by anywhere near a majority.

When he signed the DADT repeal, I believe the president was quoted as saying something like "next up, DOMA" so maybe that's why you got a little bit ahead of yourself on DOMA. I'm looking forward to see where he'll end up next on this. I've always thought that DOMA was the much more egregious (and disgusting) provision between the two.

[Bluenorthwest]

127. This is the new lie of the week. DOMA is not being enforced.

This is being blogged all over as part of the framing of Choi as a liar. Imagine that, they tell lies about gay people in order to call gay people liars, and they think this is the first time we've seen such trickery.

[ruggerson]

20. DOMA is still very much the law of the land

Obama deserves credit for instructing his DOOJ not to defend it anymore after it was declared unconstitutional by a lower court (and after gay advocates raised holy hell), but that does not mean it's "gone."

It's still very much in effect until either Congress repeals it or the USSC strikes it down.

[Unvanguard]

35. Why does anyone think Obama will or can or might bring about nationwide marriage equality?

It's beyond the scope of federal law (short of a constitutional amendment, which clearly isn't going to happen anytime soon.)

The four major legislative efforts gay rights activists have been pushing for federally since the 1990s are hate crimes protections (which Obama has achieved), DADT repeal (which is probably close to achievement), DOMA repeal (which Obama has boosted substantially, but remains far from accomplished), and ENDA (which, disgracefully, has gotten nowhere.)

[Marrah_G]

46. Doma is nt gone and DADT is not quite done yet.

[customerserviceguy]

51. I don't expect the President to do away with DOMA

Not with the two Congresses he's had, but I do expect his nominees to the SCOTUS to be persuasive to Anthony Kennedy to be the fifth vote to get rid of it. For me, that would qualify as this President doing something to remove this stain from our law books.

[Unvanguard]

52. Yeah, Obama's Supreme Court appointments are really important, and worthy of note.

Contrary to some predictions, both have so far sided pretty consistently with the liberal wing of the Court. There seems every reason to believe that both will vote to strike down DOMA.

[customerserviceguy]

53. The only problem has been with Kagan

And that's only because she's had to recuse herself from cases that she prosecuted for the government. I wonder if she's had to work on any marriage equality cases?

[Unvanguard]

54. The Republicans asked her about her involvement in Gill v. OPM.

(That's the Massachusetts equal protection challenge to DOMA that resulted in a district court ruling striking down DOMA.) She gave a vague answer. No idea whether or not she'll have to recuse if that reaches the Supreme Court, but it shouldn't make much difference; there will be other DOMA cases.

[customerserviceguy]

55. Well, if the Gill case comes up first

and it's not a 4-4 tie, then it will set precedent. It's important that both Kagan and Sotomayor be persuasive with Anthony Kennedy.

Hopefully, he will remember that the President who appointed him really wasn't a raging homophobe, even if he was really slow to deal with the AIDS crisis.

[Unvanguard]

57. I don't think it will make that much difference with Kennedy in terms of persuasion.

He will do what he wants. My bigger worry would be pressure to avoid a 4-4 summary affirmance pushing Kennedy to join the four conservatives. But I don't think the justices will be inclined to decide an issue as major as this one on the basis of a fluke. If the vote is likely to be really close, they might just deny certiorari until they can get a DOMA case that Kagan is not recused from. Predicting the future is always hard though; who knows.

[Number23]

10. "Some progressives have said he is too weak on LGBT issues."

HOW??????? He has done more on this issue in 2 years than has EVER BEEN DONE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE BEFORE. How can ANYONE do "more" or "better" than MORE THAN HAS EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE???

How in the world could anyone consider him "too weak" and criticize him on this issue? I understand his critics on Libya. I understand his critics on the lack of persecution for the Wall Street criminals. But on this topic?? He's "weak?" This makes NO DAMN SENSE!!

Edit: After reading the comments on HuffPost, I see that many others don't understand it either. But I hate HuffPost so I'm not sure that's even a good thing.

[RKP5637]

30. Agree!!! n/t

[ProSense]

15. President Obama

has done more than most Presidents on many issues, but evidently more isn't good enough. In fact, doing more means he's "right wing."

He's got all of Bush's policies to reverse, and some of them are going to be harder to do than others.

Going back to the Clinton years, Obama has reversed or is making progress toward reversing/improving 1990s policies, including DOMA, DADT, Glass-Steagall repeal (implemenatation of the Volcker Rule), trade and more.

Obama doesn't get credit for delivering health care reform, Wall Street reform, which included the first ever CFPB. Obama doesn't get credit for appointing Elizabeth Warren to set up the CFPB, but he gets criticized for not yet making her permanent to an agency that wouldn't exist if not for him.

UN backs gay rights for first time ever

He keeps going, trying to fix what other Presidents screwed up.

[vaberella]

26. I think that's the biggest deal most people aren't getting.

He's cleaning most of the mess that was done in the past since it directly affects the future and also implementing new things now to set up for future success. It's a tough road. People want him to do it all. We're talking about mistakes made by countless President's in the past being worked on by one man. But most of that is ignored. Thanks for bringing it up.

[RKP5637]

31. Well said!!! I agree!!! n/t

[young but wise]

44. +100

[ruggerson]

24. I think the fair appraisal lies somewhere in the middle

I don't think he's been "weak" on gay issues, but, conversely, to repeatedly tout him as the "best" Praident that the LGBT community has had is to ignore the fact that the world is a far, far different place, in terms of its attitudes towards gays, than it was a decade ago, which is the last time we had a Democratic President.

I give major props to the President for getting Gates and the military brass aboard a DADT repeal, while LGBT activists were working diligently with Congress to draft and pass a repeal bill. The repeal is a huge step in the right direction despite some major problems (like the stripping out of the anti discriminationn language in the final bill). That the repeal passed is part luck, part strategy and part persistence. All parties involved, including Obama, deserve a lot of credit.

Obviously I'd like to see Obama be a strong voice for marriage equality. He isn't. And his repeated conflation of religion with civil marriage issues actually harms the cause, because it confuses ordinary citizens, who need to hear a much different message - that marriage equality is a CIVIL issue and has nothing to do with people's religious views on the subject.

But the administration has certainly been willing ito listen and learn and evolve, and LGBT legal eagles and other advocates are heard in this WH and included in the making of policy decisions.

Do we have a long way to go? Absolutely.

Is Obama a forceful advocate for LGBT issues? No. Not nearly as strong as he could be.

Is he a political friend to LGBT Americans and their allies? Yes. And he has helped achieve some very important, concrete changes in a relatively short period of time.

[vaberella]

27. + Infinity---as always Ruggerson.

I always like your posts on all issues.

[Unvanguard]

38. This. Good post.

(Though it's worth adding that Obama is clearly moving toward a position supportive of same-sex marriage---though not nearly fast enough---and has lately stayed away from the offensive "God is in the mix" language we saw earlier.)

[DrToast]

40. It's true that the world is a far different place in terms of attitudes toward gays...

...than it was a decade ago.

But it's still not where people like Dan Choi think things are.


I support gay marriage and I do think Obama does, too, but it is a political issue. Thus, he has to weigh the political consequences of supporting it.

I also think he's willing to hold off on this because all the polling suggests that it's just a matter of time before this becomes a non issue. I think it's almost there already.

[ruggerson]

41. Dan Choi is a political activist

it's his job to garner media attention for LGBT issues - until now, mostly DADT, and to pressure and prod the administration from the left.

I'd say so far he's been pretty successful.

[DrToast]

43. I understand

He's pursuing a one track agenda and that's part of the problem.

Honestly, in terms of the problems facing this country, I don't think gay marriage ranks near the top. That may sound cruel, but when I think about things like high unemployment, high poverty rates, and lack of access to health care, I don't think I'm off base.

I think it's fine for him to push Obama, but when he starts suggesting people shouldn't support him for re-election, I think he's off his rocker and ultimately does his cause more harm than good.

[TriMera]

47. There are over 1400 rights and protections that heterosexual

couples get when they get married in this country. I'm sure you, like most people, take them for granted. To those of us who need those rights and protections, but can't have them, it's a big deal.

[DrToast]

49. You're misrepresenting what I said...

To those of us who need those rights and protections, but can't have them, it's a big deal.

I never said it wasn't a big deal.

[OhioBlue]

61. Where did you hear there are 1400?

Is there a link for that? I'm not trying to debate or challenge you on it... I'm just curious. I'm hetro - and have been with my SO for 10+ years... I just don't like marriage... but we do have a son that is almost 4 and am curious to know how much my dislike for marriage affects rights and protections that we might one day wish we had....

[Tx4obama]

90. Here's a link to get you started ...

http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/wedding/f/MarriageBenefit.htm

[OhioBlue]

119. thank you!!

[TriMera]

117. Here are a few more links for you, including documents from

the General Accounting Office.


http://www.whygaymarriage.com/excerpts.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rights_and_responsibilities_of_marriages_in_the_United_States

http://www.gao.gov/archive/1997/og97016.pdf

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04353r.pdf

[Pirate Smile]

48. He alienates allies and seems unstable. He provides an assist to Republicans by continually pushing

this "Obama is the worst President EVER" talking point.

[vaberella]

62. I have to say ---he definitely turns me off.

And I understood his situation --until the CNN situation. And then I gave him the benefit of the doubt when I heard he suffered from PTSD. But it seems he continues on the same path and he's still ill (not that you can ever really feel better from it)--but he seems to be unhinged at times.

[Name removed]

67. Deleted message

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

[dsc]

42. well said

[Pirate Smile]

58. Did you see the NYT article re Obama "evolving" on Gay Marriage:

It reminded me of your thread a few days ago:

President Obama’s Views on Gay Marriage ‘Evolving’

-snip-
Mr. Thompson, then a traveling aide, recalls long conversations about topics like the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion that sparked the gay rights movement, gay adoption — Mr. Obama once volunteered that Mr. Thompson and his partner would make “great parents,” Mr. Thompson recalled — and same-sex marriage, which Mr. Obama has in the past opposed.
Mr. Thompson, an Obama supporter, is skeptical about that. “To this day,” he said, “I don’t think Barack Obama has any issue with two people of the same gender getting married.”

-snip-
This week, he will headline a $1,250-a-plate “Gala with the Gay Community” in Manhattan, his first such event as president; on June 29, he will host a Gay Pride reception at the White House. He is doing so at time when the New York Legislature is considering whether to make same-sex marriage legal — a vote that the president will no doubt be asked about while in New York.
The White House would not comment on whether Mr. Obama was ready to endorse same-sex marriage. But one Democratic strategist close to the White House, speaking only on the condition of anonymity, said some senior advisers “are looking at the tactics of how this might be done if the president chose to do it.”

And Representative Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat who is gay, said in an interview that a top adviser to Mr. Obama, whom he would not name, asked him this year, “What would be the effect if he came out for same-sex marriage?”
“My own view is that I look at President Obama’s record, he was probably inclined to think that same-sex marriage was legitimate, but as a candidate for president in 2008 that would have been an unwise thing to say,” Mr. Frank said. “And I don’t mean that he’s being hypocritical. I mean that if you live in a democratic society, it is a mix of what you think the voters want and what you think is doable.”

-snip-
Tracy Baim, a gay journalist in Chicago who interviewed Mr. Obama in 2004, remembers the candidate asking her to turn off her tape recorder so they could have a candid conversation on same-sex marriage. She said his objections were based on what he saw as realistic considerations: “I know what you want, I know what you can get.”

-snip-
But the Democrat who had strategy discussions with the White House on same-sex marriage said Mr. Obama seemed to be considering his place in history and was moved by the argument of Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who cast the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” as a moral issue.
“This is clearly a president who is interested in making big historical changes,” the strategist said. “I think this issue has moved into that context for him.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/19/us/politics/19marriage.html?hp

He's going to do it and I bet he does it this week.

[Unvanguard]

64. It's almost certainly wishful thinking, but I've been hoping he'll seize on the victory in NY.

If we win there, anyway.

A victory in New York would be a pretty strong indicator of the mainstreaming of same-sex marriage in American politics. What better chance to reverse Obama's absurd and untenable position?

[Pirate Smile]

68. I don't think it is wishful thinking. There are multiple quotes in the article essentially

telegraphing a reversal. I think he's going to do it at Gay Gala fundraiser next week. I may be wrong but ever since last December, this path has been laid out.

[Unvanguard]

94. I guess we'll see. But I wouldn't bet on it.

The recent confusion about how to respond to the questionnaire doesn't bode well.

[Unvanguard]

95. Duplicate. n/t

[Vanje]

69. Yes

nt

[mkultra]

123. Honestly i think that its unreasonable to expect these changes in the first term

While the country is a different place, its not that different. Hatred of gays is still incredibly strong and that hate stems directly from religion. Obama, much like many democratic candidates, has invoked religion as a necessity to gain office. Like it or not, America is full of Christian kooks and you must placate them in order to win.

I would not expect him to rub the crazies the wrong way in the first term. Clinton did the same thing. By the time his second term was over, the right hated him.

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. "anything close to this much of an advocate"... Funny wording.

How sad that it is an "issue" at all, here in 2011.

[RKP5637]

29. I have trouble faulting Obama on LGBT Issues, but then I remember the 50's. I also

well remember Stonewall. It's far from perfect, but it could be a lot lot lot worse IMO.

[Unvanguard]

34. That may well be the case, but it's setting the bar rather low, don't you think?

The right standard is not relative ("better than all the past ones"), but absolute ("good enough").

[ruggerson]

36. Agreed

And it's pretty difficult to make the argument that he is a fiercely strong advocate for the LGBT community (or good enough) when he still opposes marriage equality.

[WonderGrunion]

98. Politically, he doesn't oppose marriage equality

Personally he does. And their is a big difference there. LBJ said some very mean and hateful things about the African American population. He still signed the Civil Rights Act.

[ruggerson]

116. No. His current official position is that he supports civil unions, not marriage equality

n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

37. Good for him.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

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[Bluenorthwest]

128. Hey, you should write to Obama's '08 money people and say

"Geffen" and see what happens. The passionate opposition by a certain section of the gay community to the Clintons helped pave Obama's path to even being in a primary debate. And the community as a whole supported Obama in primaries and in the general election, we voted for him in percentages only bested by the African American community.
So you were saying bithers, they, fellow travelers, and what, again? Oh. Yeah. Selective indignation. My favorite, for the irony.

[Fearless]

70. No one is saying that his beliefs aren't a step in the right direction...

Dissatisfaction stems from the same belief that many people had, that there was a quick fix or that "hope and change" would swoop down and the world would be right. Of course this isn't the case. What we saw was what we wanted to see. And yes we were disappointed harshly. We are frustrated that we didn't get what we wanted, but there is still no possible way to claim that what we got wasn't better than what we've ever had in the past in terms of view by a seated president. I do not condone the fact that we are not "there" yet. But, it is a step in the right direction.

[Tx4obama]

72. Obama quote

I always hope to myself that the majority of Americans that voted for Obama heard him say the words below and that from time to time they stop and remember it when times get tough.

"So let me remind you tonight that change will not be easy. Change will take time. There will be setbacks and false starts and sometimes we’ll make mistakes." - Quote taken from Barack Obama’s Yes We Can Speech

[Fearless]

76. Yes, that is what I'm saying...

However I will add that the moment that a better candidate shows up, he or she gets my vote. Will it happen in 2012? I doubt it. But there are other elections.

[Name removed]

74. Deleted message

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

[Fearless]

75. Because he's the president of ALL Americans not just some.

Also, what percentage of Americans are Black? What about Native American? Jewish? He is president of all of them too and it is his duty to see that all Americans receive the rights promised to them in the US Constitution, as it is for all our elected officials.

[Name removed]

77. Deleted message

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

[Fearless]

78. Just because discrimination happens to a small group doesn't mean that it's right.

[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

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

[Fearless]

82. Plantations making a profit affected more people than enslavement did but...

That doesn't make it the right decision to ignore slavery.

The Bill of Rights was created to get anti-federalists to support the Constitution. It's purpose was to protect those who weren't in the majority from the majority. The Bill of Rights, along with the 13-15th and 19th Amendments protect minority groups or perceived minority groups (in the case of the 19th) from the majority's whims. Historically, I wouldn't have held my breath if we waited for a majority of people to support civil rights issues before fighting for them or before expecting that our elected officials do as well.

[Name removed]

84. Deleted message

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

[Fearless]

86. No laws prevent gays from being fired in most states.

Gays do not have it good. Gays have the equivalent of Jim Crow laws to contend with where they are marginalized because a bunch of religious nuts think that it's ok to tell people they are afraid of that they aren't equal Americans.

Here is a list of the inequalities that "gays" have:

http://www.hrc.org/issues/5478.htm

http://gayteens.about.com/od/rightsandactivism/f/equal_rights.htm

[QC]

79. Your analysis of the issue is both pragmatic and sensible. n/t

[Safetykitten]

81. Very much so. If you do the math, it's such a small group and other groups are larger with more...

pressing issues.

[Fearless]

83. If the group is so small and insignificant why not just give us what we want... would it hurt?

[Safetykitten]

85. Political capital is a finite thing. We have to use it sparingly.

[Fearless]

88. Human rights are not a political game.

Real people are being hurt and killed in this game. That is unacceptable.

[justiceischeap]

104. If our numbers are so insignificant then why is Obama working so hard

this month to "win back" the high dollar LGBT*.* donors he offended?

You really think our votes can't sway an election? If that were true, the Dems would never court us for votes.

And those "pressing issues" you talk about affect us as well, on top of being discriminated against. We don't live in some magical land where what affects the rest of the citizens of this nation somehow skips over us. Would you tell a black person that his rights aren't as pressing as other issues if this were taking place during the civil rights era? If not, why tell the LGBT*.* community that they don't matter enough.

You all act as though our Government can't do many things at once but in fact they can and should.

[QC]

105. (Pssssssst. She was paraphrasing that homophobic pile of shit in GD

that is still open after nearly twelve hours. She's good folks.)

[justiceischeap]

106. Thanks, I obviously didn't read the thread correctly. :) nt

[tekisui]

113. Who cares about inequality as long as those being discriminated

against is a small group?:wtf:

[Vanje]

112. Pragmatic, sensible, AND ...

deleted.

[Azathoth]

87. It's hard to tell if you're being ironic or ruthlessly pragmatic n/t

[QC]

89. She was quoting a homophobic article that was posted hours ago in GD

and is still open.

Direct quotes, in most cases, close paraphrases in others.

They were deleted here but the flamebait bashfest in GD is still open.

[Azathoth]

91. Ah, thanks. I saw the quotes but there was no indication where it came from n/t

[QC]

93. It's wonderfully ironic, isn't it, that the person who actually believes these hateful things

is allowed to work his magic unmolested, but the person who calls out these hateful things gets deleted?

[justiceischeap]

97. You are right, Obama IS the best president EVER on LGBT*.* issues...

But with the bar set pretty damn low (Clinton is the only real comparison here and look what he did. He promised he would allow gays to serve openly in the military and instead we get DADT--which Obama is trying to end).

What a lot of you folks don't seem to get is that the majority of the LGBT*.* community doesn't deny that Obama has done a lot but in comparison, he hasn't done much and we want and deserve the whole enchilada. We have a President that had a majority when he was elected and he could have, in those two years, achieved more. From his first day in the White House he could have told the DOJ not to defend DOMA, it would not have been out of the ordinary to do so. He could have pushed that Congress pass ENDA in those two years when we had the majority. We knew that was the perfect time to get things done and that time was not used wisely IMO.

I, for one, am tired of getting blamed for every damn thing wrong under the sun. I'm tired of hearing that openly gay teachers shouldn't teach because they may molest children. I'm tired of getting blamed for natural disasters, I'm tired of getting blamed for losing elections. If Democrats stood up for the LGBT*.* community and demanded an end to this injustice, this would NO LONGER BE AN ISSUE that can be used against the Democratic party.

Personally, I'm just waiting for the day that Republican party realizes that if they want to sway an election, they'll come out IN FAVOR of LGBT*.* rights. For example, look at NY right now.

Explaining why he is voting for marriage equality in NY, Republican, Sen. Roy McDonald, decided it was time to “do the right thing.”

“You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn’t black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing. You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it. I don’t care what you think. I’m trying to do the right thing. I’m tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I’m trying to do the right thing, and that’s where I’m going with this.”

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/closeread/2011/06/gay-marriage-new-york-not-north-korea.html

I would love a Democrat, especially our President, to stand up on this issue and proclaim "Fuck it, it's time to do the right thing." Instead, it's a Republican saying what really needs to be said on this issue and that, IMO, is sad.

[Harmony Blue]

99. The problem with the whole enchilada is a generational gap involved

As it is clear that for Gay rights to progress my generation will have to come in power in this country to make massive sweeping changes.

Hearing the horror stories of how gay couples can't enjoy the same rights as a hetero couple is enough in my mind to break these chains of inequality and restore fairness in my country.

In other words, until the old farts are thrown out of their political power we can only hope for minute changes currently. But I would never ask the LGBT community to settle for less! Going for the entire enchilada is the dream!

[justiceischeap]

102. I agree, it is MOSTLY a generational issue, that said (R) Senator Roy McDonald

is no spring chicken. He's 64. BTW, I'm not implying that's old by any means but he is in that generation you're speaking of.

[jefferson_dem]

101. Awesome post.

Thanks.

[justiceischeap]

103. Thanks! nt

[great white snark]

107. No Democrat has stood up on the issue?

Or just not in the way you like?

As many say of Obama talk is cheap.

[justiceischeap]

109. If the Democratic party as a whole, stood up and said, we demand equality now

This would be a non-issue and I wouldn't have to put up with your and others "snark" on the issue.

If you're not out there fighting for equality as hard as I am, then yes, talk is cheap. If you're not being denied basic human rights, then yes, talk is cheap. If you're not offering a solution to the problem, then talk is cheap.

[great white snark]

110. Ok.

I just thought votes were at least as important as talk.

[Dawgs]

108. +1. It's pretty easy to be the best when every other President did nothing.

Or, worse.

[great white snark]

111. Good, then Obama will set the standard.

And hopefully every President hence will improve on it.

[AtomicKitten]

114. Best so far with more work to be done.

k&r

[Union Scribe]

131. I think that's a great summary. nt

[ImNotTed]

115. That's a very pragmatic view.

Better than GOP's ideological "purity."

[ImNotTed]

121. Not to mention "practical"

This guy knows what can and cannot be accomplished at any given time under our system.

[craigmatic]

118. Obama has done alot for LBGT. It's other

minority groups he hasn't done enough for.

[FrenchieCat]

120. Like which ones?

:shrug:

[tekisui]

124. Record deportations of immigrants who entered without inspection for one.

He has surpassed even bush on deporting immigrants and breaking up families. Which is especially disappointing considering he ran a campaign on "bringing people out of the shadows."

[and-justice-for-all]

125. When compared with previous presidents, I would agree..

If he federally mandates marriage equality instead letting states do what ever the hell they want, then Obama will be the best President on LGBT issues.

[cecilfirefox]

129. I think he is, I think that is pretty clear,

More equality has advanced for us in this mans presidential term than in the last 10 years. President Obama has been good for us- and anyone who won't support his re-election bid is just a traitor to their own cause.

[ccharles000]

133. Obama has been good on this issue.