#26
Posted: 10/25/10 at 12:21am
Well, Nemo, maybe you are about to find out otherwise. Cheers !
Associated Press: Gay voters angry at Democrats could sway election — Page 2
#27
Posted: 10/25/10 at 12:52am
Huffington Post has the AP article up as its lead article with this new pithy quote from actor Alan Cumming:
Alan Cumming: Obama Has Done 'Diddly Squat' For Gay Rights
Actor and Obama supporter Alan Cumming sharply criticized the president this week for seeking to stay a judge's decision to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
"We keep hearing that Obama is an ally, that DADT will end under his watch," Cumming wrote on his blog, "but what do we actually get? Diddly squat thus far on a federal level and in addition to that some very offensive statements that would have made the Republicans look bad."
"In a time when America is full of hatred of all kinds, but especially hatred towards young gay people, what message is the president sending when he repeatedly goes out of his way to spread the message that the gay population is not worthy of the respect that everyone else is?!"
Cumming isn't the only supporter of gay rights who is angry with Obama. If Democratic candidates are counting on long-standing support from gay voters to help stave off big losses on Nov. 2, they could be in for a surprise.
Across the country, activists say gay voters are angry -- at the lack of progress on issues from eliminating employment discrimination to uncertainty over serving in the military to the economy – and some are choosing to sit out this election or look for other candidates.
President Barack Obama's hometown of Chicago ...
===
Then it continues as before.
Alan Cumming: Obama Has Done 'Diddly Squat' For Gay Rights
Alan Cumming: Obama Has Done 'Diddly Squat' For Gay Rights
Actor and Obama supporter Alan Cumming sharply criticized the president this week for seeking to stay a judge's decision to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
"We keep hearing that Obama is an ally, that DADT will end under his watch," Cumming wrote on his blog, "but what do we actually get? Diddly squat thus far on a federal level and in addition to that some very offensive statements that would have made the Republicans look bad."
"In a time when America is full of hatred of all kinds, but especially hatred towards young gay people, what message is the president sending when he repeatedly goes out of his way to spread the message that the gay population is not worthy of the respect that everyone else is?!"
Cumming isn't the only supporter of gay rights who is angry with Obama. If Democratic candidates are counting on long-standing support from gay voters to help stave off big losses on Nov. 2, they could be in for a surprise.
Across the country, activists say gay voters are angry -- at the lack of progress on issues from eliminating employment discrimination to uncertainty over serving in the military to the economy – and some are choosing to sit out this election or look for other candidates.
President Barack Obama's hometown of Chicago ...
===
Then it continues as before.
Alan Cumming: Obama Has Done 'Diddly Squat' For Gay Rights
#28
Posted: 10/25/10 at 6:35am
"He HAD to do it in the 1st two years, because the 2nd two years are always about making sure you have a 2nd eight years.
Actually he had to do it in the 1st first year, because this 2nd year is about making sure the Democrats have another 2 years, which is unlikely this year on account of how stinky they were last year and the year before."
In hindsight, that's a fair statement, but keep in mind that if the Dems hadn't lost Kennedy's senate seat, DADT would have been repealed a few weeks ago. Brown, the ladies from Maine, and other 'moderate' Republicans joined the filibuster to stop its repeal. In retrospect, I think the Dems' biggest blunder was taking that seat for granted, and letting it slip away to the GOP.
Actually he had to do it in the 1st first year, because this 2nd year is about making sure the Democrats have another 2 years, which is unlikely this year on account of how stinky they were last year and the year before."
In hindsight, that's a fair statement, but keep in mind that if the Dems hadn't lost Kennedy's senate seat, DADT would have been repealed a few weeks ago. Brown, the ladies from Maine, and other 'moderate' Republicans joined the filibuster to stop its repeal. In retrospect, I think the Dems' biggest blunder was taking that seat for granted, and letting it slip away to the GOP.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
#29
Posted: 10/25/10 at 7:56am
Agreed.
And had the Democratic Congress overturned DADT, the Congress and the president would have been perfectly positioned to embrace the pro-gay-marriage sentiment emerging across the county. Their proactive position on gay rights would have energized the college campuses and the progressive movement, and the Democrats would have been seen as blazing the trail for the new civil rights movement instead of hopelessly mired in non-activity.
But Teddy died. And it was Barack's turn to lead. And he chose not to.
And had the Democratic Congress overturned DADT, the Congress and the president would have been perfectly positioned to embrace the pro-gay-marriage sentiment emerging across the county. Their proactive position on gay rights would have energized the college campuses and the progressive movement, and the Democrats would have been seen as blazing the trail for the new civil rights movement instead of hopelessly mired in non-activity.
But Teddy died. And it was Barack's turn to lead. And he chose not to.
Updated On: 10/25/10 at 07:56 AM
#30
Posted: 10/25/10 at 8:16am
"...it was Barack's turn to lead. And he chose not to."
For me, that sums up my disappointment in this administration. Given the scenario he inherited, you could rationalize some of the policy failures. But the bottom line is: he hasn't been the leader he promised to be, the one so many of us voted for. She's been maligned in the press, but Pelosi, of whom I'm not necessarily a big fan, has done all the heavy lifting for the Dems in the past two years. Of all the accomplishments of the last two years, and despite all the negatives, there have been accomplishments, I can't think of one where I remember Obama as playing a pivotal role.
That said, the GOP, with the help of a few Dems like Nelson and Lincoln, made it nearly impossible to govern. And for that, the GOP is being rewarded. It confounds me that Americans are buying their snake oil.
For me, that sums up my disappointment in this administration. Given the scenario he inherited, you could rationalize some of the policy failures. But the bottom line is: he hasn't been the leader he promised to be, the one so many of us voted for. She's been maligned in the press, but Pelosi, of whom I'm not necessarily a big fan, has done all the heavy lifting for the Dems in the past two years. Of all the accomplishments of the last two years, and despite all the negatives, there have been accomplishments, I can't think of one where I remember Obama as playing a pivotal role.
That said, the GOP, with the help of a few Dems like Nelson and Lincoln, made it nearly impossible to govern. And for that, the GOP is being rewarded. It confounds me that Americans are buying their snake oil.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
#31
Posted: 10/25/10 at 9:36am
All anyone has ever expected from Obama is that he do the right thing. His lack of interest in doing so is an indicator of what we can expect for the rest of his term.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
#32
Posted: 10/25/10 at 9:39am
I never had that expectation of him.
#33
Posted: 10/25/10 at 10:04am
I expected he'd do what he said. Not really because he said it, but because his supporters (many of whom were good friends of mine) believed he would. Then it turned out they didn't so much believe him as they had a blinding hatred for Hillary Clinton. Bygones. I didn't expect miracles. I didn't expect magic. I expected him to keep his word.
For the record, I will be voting in this election. One should never miss a chance to vote in Chicago. I most likely won't be in Illinois when it comes time for the 2012 elections, so I don't know what I'll be doing then. To cast a second vote for Obama simply because he's not a Republican doesn't really feel very productive to me.
Also, IS Bill Clinton really that revered as a pro-gay president, or is that just rosy hindsight? Whenever I think of DADT I remember protesters on the news chanting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Clinton, go to Hell."
What's funny to me is that when I saw this headline my first thought was "Really? Suddenly we're powerful enough to swing elections?" My second is that the scapegoat is now firmly in place for when the Dems lose the House and Senate. "It's gay apathy that caused us to lose!"
Basically, I just get the impression that gay apathy is a problem because of how it will affect straight Democrats.
For the record, I will be voting in this election. One should never miss a chance to vote in Chicago. I most likely won't be in Illinois when it comes time for the 2012 elections, so I don't know what I'll be doing then. To cast a second vote for Obama simply because he's not a Republican doesn't really feel very productive to me.
Also, IS Bill Clinton really that revered as a pro-gay president, or is that just rosy hindsight? Whenever I think of DADT I remember protesters on the news chanting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Clinton, go to Hell."
What's funny to me is that when I saw this headline my first thought was "Really? Suddenly we're powerful enough to swing elections?" My second is that the scapegoat is now firmly in place for when the Dems lose the House and Senate. "It's gay apathy that caused us to lose!"
Basically, I just get the impression that gay apathy is a problem because of how it will affect straight Democrats.
#34
Posted: 10/25/10 at 10:14am
I think it's Rosy Hindsight and a healthy dose of rage blindness. Here's a news bulletin from a month ago; Weird how it's Obama's fault.
"Moments ago, the cloture vote on the Defense Authorization bill, which included a repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gays in the military and the DREAM Act, failed on what was almost a straight party-line vote. Forty Republican senators, including moderates Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, voted against cutting off debate on the bill. (Lisa Murkowski missed the vote)."
"Moments ago, the cloture vote on the Defense Authorization bill, which included a repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gays in the military and the DREAM Act, failed on what was almost a straight party-line vote. Forty Republican senators, including moderates Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, voted against cutting off debate on the bill. (Lisa Murkowski missed the vote)."
#35
Posted: 10/25/10 at 10:40am
Clinton's been doing a lot of Legacy Damge Control lately, pretending to be in favor of marriage equality and pretending that DADT wasn't entirely his fault, by shifting the blame to Colin Powell.
Clinton's no friend of the gay community, but of course, no one in American politics is a friend of the gay community.
Clinton's no friend of the gay community, but of course, no one in American politics is a friend of the gay community.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
#36
Posted: 10/25/10 at 10:41am
I don't think each specific instance is Obama's fault. But he is the President. And he ran a campaign of inclusiveness and then it seemed he couldn't quickly enough backtrack and/or damage any credibility he might have had in the first place.
#37
Posted: 10/25/10 at 11:30am
PS - Two words. Fierce. Advocate.
#38
Posted: 10/25/10 at 2:16pm
To pretend we shouldn't even discuss these issues is why anger grows.
Twitter @NamoInExile
Instagram none
#39
Posted: 10/25/10 at 2:22pm
"Sit down, you're rockin' the boat!"
#40
Posted: 10/25/10 at 3:17pm
barney Frank just said on the Michelangelo Signorile Show that if the Democrats lose control of the Senate, Obama should drop the DOJ's DADT appeal.
#41
Posted: 10/25/10 at 3:25pm
Obama should do a lot of things.
If Democrats lose control of the Senate or the House or both, Obama will continue to pander to Republicans' every anti-gay whim.
Of course, Obama will do that regardless of who wins/loses Congress anyway.
If Democrats lose control of the Senate or the House or both, Obama will continue to pander to Republicans' every anti-gay whim.
Of course, Obama will do that regardless of who wins/loses Congress anyway.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
#42
Posted: 10/25/10 at 3:39pm
Obama should do a lot of things.... but when I challenged you to name a couple you couldn't. Not one. You can't engage in a discussion, you can only scream and quail and rant and call names. What's the point?
#43
Posted: 10/25/10 at 3:43pm
Goodness, Joe.
Well here goes. Things Obama should do:
1. End discharges under DADT.
2. Stop supporting DADT in the courts.
3. Start supporting marriage equality.
There. Happy?
Well here goes. Things Obama should do:
1. End discharges under DADT.
2. Stop supporting DADT in the courts.
3. Start supporting marriage equality.
There. Happy?
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
#44
Posted: 10/25/10 at 3:53pm
See how easy that is? I'm going to make a grown up out of you yet! It really isn't so hard to have a back-and-forth.
Now would you like me to explain why he is instead following a different path? I'd be happy to, but if there really isn't any point, well then, there isn't really any point.
Now would you like me to explain why he is instead following a different path? I'd be happy to, but if there really isn't any point, well then, there isn't really any point.
#45
Posted: 10/25/10 at 3:57pm
Dear Joekv99. He's following a different path because he hates gay people. It really is as simple as that. All the drivel about political expedience and having to follow procdures aside, his adherence to bigotry in not supporting legal protections and full equality for gay men and women make that clear to those with eyes to see and brains to think.
And you're quite right. There's really no point in you responding to any of my posts. Please feel free to ignore them in future, and I'll gladly extend you that same courtesy.
And you're quite right. There's really no point in you responding to any of my posts. Please feel free to ignore them in future, and I'll gladly extend you that same courtesy.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
Updated On: 10/25/10 at 03:57 PM
#46
Posted: 10/25/10 at 4:14pm
To think Obama wasn't smart enough NOT to record an "It Gets Better" video when he knew he was going to have to do the procedural/expedient/blah blah blah thing.
THAT, I think, added insult to injury.
THAT, I think, added insult to injury.
Twitter @NamoInExile
Instagram none
#47
Posted: 10/25/10 at 4:16pm
Namo, I think he was damned if he did, damned if he didn't. It is a shame that he only wound up throwing his own bigotry into such sharp relief in the process.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
#48
Posted: 10/25/10 at 4:33pm
Wow- you really believe that Obama hates gay people? Now I feel stupid trying to engage you.
#49
Posted: 10/25/10 at 4:33pm
Wow- you really believe that Obama hates gay people? Now I feel stupid trying to engage you.
#50
Posted: 10/25/10 at 4:43pm
Joekv99, one does not advocate discrimination against people one loves. Discrimination is an act of hatred, no more no less.
Barack Obama's position on marriage equality is an open endorsement of discrimination against same-sex couples. There are no two ways about it.
Looks like we disagree. It does happen round here. Don't bother trying to engage me. We wouldn't want you to feel stupid. Just ignore my posts, as I will from now on ignore yours.
Barack Obama's position on marriage equality is an open endorsement of discrimination against same-sex couples. There are no two ways about it.
Looks like we disagree. It does happen round here. Don't bother trying to engage me. We wouldn't want you to feel stupid. Just ignore my posts, as I will from now on ignore yours.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
.jpg?format=auto&width=365)
Tickets From $58
Tickets From $71
Tickets From $71
Tickets From $71
