Comments on Our New Internet-Powered Administration…
Hate to sound cynical, but I bought a CD of that "victory" album weeks ago when it first showed up at barackobama.com.
God bless the Huffington Post for rebranding it to sell more copies--let's get that cash coming in for 2012.
um
Since there is a "share your stories" link, this might be a good opportunity to write up your stories of the "big gay pain" of watching states, esp california, elect him and in the same moment, vote legalize discrimination at the state constitutional level.
it might be a good way to get him to make a statement about it in the next few months. since SURELY someone is reading them. if there is enough weight, they might have some effect.
i was thinking of writing about watching my own gayborhood explode with joy over his election, while the nation continues to grow more and more regressive, in legal terms, regarding gay issues.
So...it shouldn't be a surprise, but it just occurred to me that perhaps Obama will run his White House in the same manner he ran his campaign, empowering individuals to feel as though they are a part of the team. At the center of his campaign was his kick-ass web site.
Well...this site, change.gov, has me really excited to think that we may have the same style opportunity to be involved as a core member of his Presidential team.
Wow. Change indeed.
The part I like best? letting the people have a say: http://www.change.gov/page/s/ofthepeople
So, this is a very little thing that just leapt out at me. The federal government, if I'm finding the right reference, is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of "race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status or political affiliation."
At change.gov, however, the Obama-Biden Transition Project goes farther. It "does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by law."
Notice a couple of new categories upon which they are proudly stating they will not discriminate?
I know, it's a baby step. Still, it makes me smile.
I spent about an hour on the change.gov site this morning, and there is NOTHING about glbt issues. There's a very brief mention of the Matthew Shepard act on the civil rights agenda page, and that tiny "we don't discriminate against..." list. Not nearly the caliber of pride.barackobama.com...
What I wrote to him on the site:
Hello President-elect Obama,
Could someone please explain to me why no part of the civil rights agenda includes ending the discriminatory policies like the Defense of Marriage Act or Don't Ask Don't Tell? Where is there any mention for support for gay Americans who have so strongly and vocally supported you, besides the Matthew Shepard Act? Will this administration be like Bill Clinton, courting the help of gay Americans to get elected, and then throwing them under a bus? After the heart-breaking set-backs in California, Arkansas, Florida (not to mention those hateful laws in other states which have been passed over the years) doesn't the spirit of change and justice dictate that you address these inequalities? I understand this is a divisive issue, but we whose personal rights hinge on what you can accomplish as President need you. We need your support. And we need that support to be visible. As JFK took a stand for African Americans, won't you, someone who has been much favorably compared to that great figure, take a proper stand for us and for what is fair and right?
That site is awesome. Finally, a president elect that understands what life is like NOW.
It's already starting to change! WHOOOO Fuck the haters!
Anyone else express an interest in working for the Obama Biden Administration? I wonder how many folks out there are applying?
I made my own little Obama victory playlist on YouTube this morning:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=0BED8230DE16FCF9
Mostly taken from his campaign music, with some inspiring cheese thrown in.
CNN did a little story about how Obama's campaign was so tech-saavy. They talked about how he'd be continuing that sort of thing into his presidency, mobilizing people via emails and text messages to get stuff done. They thought that it might take off and become a whole 'nother branch of government. I think it will be very cool to see!