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Monday, June 29, 2009

Frank Rich's Column Yesterday

Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 10:10 AM

046e/1246295414-missionaccomplishedobama.jpg

Frank Rich contrasted the bravery of Stonewall rioters—mostly street kids who'd been thrown out of their homes by their parents—with the cowardice of President Obama. Unlike their contemporaries, student anti-war protesters, the kids at Stonewall didn't have dorms to go back and student meal plans and parents willing to speak to them much less bail them out of jail. They had "no powerful allies of any kind, no rights, no future." But they had something President Obama lacks: courage.

No president possesses that magic wand, but Obama’s inaction on gay civil rights is striking. So is his utterly uncharacteristic inarticulateness. The Justice Department brief defending DOMA has spoken louder for this president than any of his own words on the subject. Chrisler noted that he has given major speeches on race, on abortion and to the Muslim world. “People are waiting for that passionate speech from him on equal rights,” she said, “and the time is now.”

Action would be even better. It’s a press cliché that “gay supporters” are disappointed with Obama, but we should all be. Gay Americans aren’t just another political special interest group. They are Americans who are actively discriminated against by federal laws. If the president is to properly honor the memory of Stonewall, he should get up to speed on what happened there 40 years ago, when courageous kids who had nothing, not even a public acknowledgment of their existence, stood up to make history happen in the least likely of places.

Read the whole thing here.

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Comments (40) RSS

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blank12357 1
"utterly uncharacteristic inarticulateness"

heh
Posted by blank12357 on June 29, 2009 at 10:13 AM
2
Hey there Dan!

Yesterday was an amazing day. Here in San Francisco, we had hundreds of thousands of people, from all walks of life, and all hues on the spectrum of humanity come together and celebrate San Francisco's LGBT Community.

From celebrities gay and straight, like Cloris Leachman and Jai Rodriguez to powerful straight allies. Like the CEO of one America's largest companies, proudly standing with his LGBT employees, to political leaders from both sides of the ideological fence.

We saw the energy of our youth with Gay Straight Alliances, we saw the joy of our families with our kids, and our Elders with their incredible life stories. We saw the bravery of our soldiers as Lt. Daniel Choi and his fellow West Point "knights out" marched proudly up Market Street. We saw couples with shirts emblazoned with " One of 18,000" reminding us all that same Sex Marriages DO exist in America, if only for some.

People sang, danced, ate (and ate, and ate... "mmmm funnel cakes...*drool*"). People taught and people learned. We saw drag queens, muscle men, and over 200 women on motorcycles all reminding us that, despite the hateful bile,sprewed by the American Taliban, America is "E Pluribus Unum" Out of many, one.

I would hope that this is the message these "Leaders", take to President Obama. That if you are going to use ‘Hope’ as a campaign tool, you can’t ignore the expectations you created by doing so.

Keep up the great work!

Dave
San Francisco, CA
Posted by DaveinSF on June 29, 2009 at 10:15 AM
3
Hey there Dan!

Yesterday was an amazing day. Here in San Francisco, we had hundreds of thousands of people, from all walks of life, and all hues on the spectrum of humanity come together and celebrate San Francisco's LGBT Community.

From celebrities gay and straight, like Cloris Leachman and Jai Rodriguez to powerful straight allies. Like the CEO of one America's largest companies, proudly standing with his LGBT employees, to political leaders from both sides of the ideological fence.

We saw the energy of our youth with Gay Straight Alliances, we saw the joy of our families with our kids, and our Elders with their incredible life stories. We saw the bravery of our soldiers as Lt. Daniel Choi and his fellow West Point "knights out" marched proudly up Market Street. We saw couples with shirts emblazoned with " One of 18,000" reminding us all that same Sex Marriages DO exist in America, if only for some.

People sang, danced, ate (and ate, and ate... "mmmm funnel cakes...*drool*"). People taught and people learned. We saw drag queens, muscle men, and over 200 women on motorcycles all reminding us that, despite the hateful bile,sprewed by the American Taliban, America is "E Pluribus Unum" Out of many, one.

I would hope that this is the message these "Leaders", take to President Obama. That if you are going to use ‘Hope’ as a campaign tool, you can’t ignore the expectations you created by doing so.

Keep up the great work!

Dave
San Francisco, CA
Posted by DaveinSF on June 29, 2009 at 10:15 AM
4
Obama's statement during the signing:
"It’s a day that marks a historic step towards the changes we seek, but I think we all have to acknowledge this is only one step. Among the steps we have not yet taken is to repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. I believe it is discriminatory, I think it interferes with states’ rights, and we will work with Congress to overturn it.

We’ve got more work to do to ensure that goverment treats all of its citizens equally, to fight injustice and intolerance in all its forms, and to bring about that ‘more perfect union.’"

Yeah, it sure sounds like he's declaring Mission Accomplished right there.

Could you give yourself a Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack award for so thoroughly buying into Aravosis' alternate reality?
Posted by AnonymousCoward on June 29, 2009 at 10:16 AM
5
Maybe the Wizard can give Obama courage
Posted by ... and Dan a brain ... on June 29, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Keyboard Gat 6
Dan you've got me so fired up!!

When can we start using the N word
Posted by Keyboard Gat on June 29, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Carollani 7
I try not to read the comments when I go to comment, because most of them are stupid and contrary and inflammatory, but sometimes I slip. I regret that very much.
Posted by Carollani http://www.carollani.com/wordpress on June 29, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Confluence 8
Here's what I think is going on. He doesn't believe that the country as a whole (not just the young people - I'm talking *everybody*) are on board with the gay rights agenda at the moment. In his mind, if he were to go full force and support it now, going against the tide, he would flop and he'd never be able to live that failure down. As soon as he sees a huge groundswell coming from the people, through Congress, he'll totally go to bat. That's what I predict.

You could say that his behavior is not courageous/cowardly or you could instead say that he is a populist. Because that's exactly what he is.
Posted by Confluence on June 29, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Keyboard Gat 9
Carollani, you never have to read the comments, all you have to do is agree with and lick Dan's asshole, LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO you stupid yes-cunt-bitch
Posted by Keyboard Gat on June 29, 2009 at 10:27 AM
10
7 sorry
Posted by we can't help ourselves... on June 29, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Banna 11
What makes a King out of a slave?
Courage!
What makes the flag on the mast to wave?
Courage!
What makes the elephant charge his tusk, in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?
What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
Courage!
What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder?
Courage!
What makes the dawn come up like thunder?
Courage!
What makes the Hottentot so hot?
What puts the "ape" in apricot?
What have they got that I ain't got?

Courage!
Posted by Banna http://www.ucp.org on June 29, 2009 at 10:29 AM
12
7 doesn't come here to read "contradictory" or challenging thoughts, damnit! She comes here to hop on to whatever the perceived consensus might be
Posted by Oh thats right on June 29, 2009 at 10:30 AM
13
The Rich piece is okay. The dumb graphic that you got from Aravosis? Not so much, as Lawdork points out here. http://tr.im/q5oK

I'll say it again, Dan--you're way too intelligent to be relying on that guy for analysis, and when you continue to do so you're doing yourself and your readers a huge disservice. Our movement is stronger without lying.
Posted by Kevin Erickson on June 29, 2009 at 10:36 AM
14
Let Congress change what Congress passed
Prod Pelosi in the... gluteus maximus.
Posted by Euph O'Mism on June 29, 2009 at 10:37 AM
15
Obama Hates Fags
Posted by Fred Phelps on June 29, 2009 at 10:39 AM
16
A footnote: Over the weekend, I started to see on some of the gay blogs some ads from what was apparently the health insurance industry lobby showing Obama’s face on a dartboard, and linking to sites criticizing his public option health care plan.

This is exactly what I was afraid would happen with this out of control anti-Obama rhetoric coming from Americablog et al–-an attempt to drive a wedge between gays and the rest of Obama’s progressive agenda. Especially when LGBT folks have so much to gain from expanded access to health care.
Posted by Kevin Erickson on June 29, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Confluence 17
@13

I think he's too smart to rely on that guy for analysis too. But I'm starting to believe that Dan isn't as smart as I once thought he was. At least outside of the sex advice realm. He's still the best and brightest in the sex advice area though. Hands down.
Posted by Confluence on June 29, 2009 at 10:44 AM
information travels faster 18
Kevin: Dan Savage is in love with the false power that comes with being an information/opinion "gatekeeper". He's intoxicated by it and doesn't care about the bigger picture.

It's like he WANTS Obama to fail. He's the gay Rush Limbaugh
Posted by information travels faster on June 29, 2009 at 10:45 AM
kim in portland 19
I read the NYT opinion yesterday and found it thoughtful. I'm not impressed with Aravosis, and question his motives. Perhaps, I just don't like reading an article or opinion and being solicited for money. It's just like all those dang American Family Association and Illinois Family Value emails I get. They all remind of those Moral Majority letters asking for money, stirring the pot for financial gain.
Posted by kim in portland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPpCxY05dqs on June 29, 2009 at 10:51 AM
20
I love reading the SLOG comments, and there's usually at least one eyeball-rollingly retarded jackass troll comment, which just adds to the fun. But today -- holy crap! What, did summer camp let out and all the bored, pimply, pubescent trolls decide to descend on SLOG? Get off the computer and go swimming or something supervised. The grownups want to talk.
Posted by Sylvester on June 29, 2009 at 10:53 AM
21
This is what Obama's betrayal buys (from Meet the Press):

MR. GREGORY: Governor, do you think that family values, values generally is still a central pillar of what the Republican Party stands for?

GOV. ROMNEY: Absolutely. There's no question in my mind but that our...

MR. GREGORY: And do you think the public believes this after a string of personal failings that have happened to Democrats and certainly plenty of Republicans?

GOV. ROMNEY: I, I, I don't think there's any question but that we aspire to the highest standards of ethical conduct and that we aspire to values that'll make America stronger. There's no question. But the best think you can do for raising a child is to have a mom and dad love each other in a home. And, and to say that and to say we want to see marriage between men and women, that we want to see families raised with the benefit of people who are married, that's a, that's a very important part of our culture. It's part of what our, our parties believes. We believe in life. These features are important. And do we have people who don't live up to those standards? Absolutely. That's, that's going to be true. But not speaking about things that are important...

MR. GREGORY: Right.

GOV. ROMNEY: ...would be an enormous mistake.

MR. GREGORY: But are you sensitive at all to critics on the left who say, you know, Republicans are hypocrites when they go out there and talk about family values?

GOV. ROMNEY: You know, I'm always going to be sensitive to people who are attacking on one side or the other. But I'll tell you, I'd rather be talking about the truth and indicating that sometimes people fall short than not saying what's true. And what is true is that America is a stronger nation if we have a culture which includes the creation of families with moms and dads and marriage and sacrifice for the next generation.

SEN. GRAHAM: You know, and I don't believe Democrats are for dysfunctional families. We don't have any ownership. I think President Obama, quite frankly, has been one of the better role models in the entire country for the idea of being a good parent, a good father. So this idea that, that, that we're for good families and Democrats are silent's not true. I think we fail on both sides. But quite frankly, President Obama has done a lot of good in his--the way he carries himself and conducts himself in the area of family.

.... to be followed in the same breath by this:

SEN. GRAHAM: I can be a leader on an issue, quite frankly. I mean, the Republican Party has an opportunity now to get back in the game, and we appreciate the Democrats for making that possible. Without them we would be out of the game. If President Obama had went to the middle and did all the things he said he would do in the campaign, we'd probably be toast. But he has not. You know, I know bipartisanship when I see it. You pay a price for it. There has been no bipartisanship. The stimulus package was Karl Rove politics; pick a few Republicans off, call it bipartisan. The climate change bill was Tom DeLay banging heads and twisting arms to get one vote more than you needed. So there's really been no change in Washington and he missed the boat, and he's spending money that the next generation can never come up with and he's growing the government beyond most people's imagination. And we're back in the game because of their mistakes, but we need to do more than that.

...Taking the middle of the road only leads to being smushed by oncoming traffic.

More...
Posted by siirf on June 29, 2009 at 10:57 AM
22
20:

Dissent = troll

ok, got it thanks.
Posted by Notroll on June 29, 2009 at 10:57 AM
23
Here's the cool thing about the Rich article: it lays out a bunch of different explanations and rationales for the lack of progress on the LGBT front in these first 5 months. Good analysis requires that you allow for the possibility that people can have the same goals but disagreements about tactics, instead of jumping to "he hasn't done what we want yet so he must be a secret homophobe/he doesn't care about us."

But while it recognizes the difficult position that Obama is in, and provides some useful contextualizing information, it doesn't let him off the hook, and ends with an unambiguous call for him to make good on his promises. And it does so without lying about the DOJ's ability to decline to defend DOMA (or the wisdom of such an endeavor), without lying about that string cite being some sort of moral comparison to pedophilia or incest.

The most moving part of the Rich article was Jennifer Chrisler of the Family Equality Council showing Obama a picture of her 7-year old twins and appealing for equality on their behalf. This is the same Jennifer Chrisler that Aravosis ruthlessly attacked for daring to disagree with him about the wisdom of boycotting a white house event. http://lawdork.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/…
Posted by Kevin Erickson on June 29, 2009 at 11:09 AM
24
#16: That's exactly why the progressives should have been fighting for gay rights from the beginning, rather than asking the fags to shut up while they address more important things.
Posted by RDM on June 29, 2009 at 11:22 AM
25
W;HEN WILL GAYZ UNDERSTOOD THAT EVERY1 IZ DISCRIM'D BY US LAW AND EN4CEMENT???? ASK DEE BLAX OR DEE MEX OR DEE JEW OR DEE CATHOLIC OR DEE GAYZ? SORRY Y'ALL I WANTED TO MASH 4 U BUT DEN I WENT TO PRIDEZ AND YOU THINK UR HELLA SPECIAL AND WHITE STRAIGHT MALES CAN'T BE HAVEN UPPITY BROMOS. PS GAYS: PLZ LEARN TO DRESS URSELF. IT IS DOWNRITE EMBORRASSING TO LEARN THAT THE PEEPS WHO ARE AFFILIATED WIT KARL LAGERFELD AND DIVINE THINK KHAKI SHURTS AND SHORTS AND POLOZ AND UGLY DULLETS AND SHIT R KEWL. IT JUST PROVES THAT I WUZ RITE ALL ALONG.

IF U WANT RITES, STOP PROVING ME RITES!
Posted by LaRiiiiM0RrrHAwtiiii696969 on June 29, 2009 at 11:22 AM
26
23
yeah
I bawled my eyes out at that part
Posted by not really on June 29, 2009 at 11:25 AM
27
Please ban LaRiiiiM0RrrHAwtiiii696969 from making comments until he or she learns to turn off the caps lock.
Posted by RDM on June 29, 2009 at 11:26 AM
28
LOL HELLA FUNNEE THAT THE GAGGIEST FAGGIEST COMMENT ON HURR IS ALSO A DOUBLE POST.

TOOOOOOOOOOOOL!

DANG SAVAGE Y U GOTTA BE A HATER AND A PRICKLY CUNTBEAR?
Posted by LaRiiiiM0RrrHAwtiiii696969 on June 29, 2009 at 11:28 AM
29
sorry i unmashed 4 u? not as funnee now... ;(
Posted by LaRiiiiM0RrrHAwtiiii696969 on June 29, 2009 at 11:29 AM
30
I just emailed this to the White House and thought I would share:

I'm appalled. I know you're "busy" with the economy and healthcare and two wars and blah blah blah but that does explain your shocking lack of action on gay rights. To note, I am not gay, but that doesn't make me any less interested in this issue. Basically, I can't wrap my head around your seeming support of the DOMA brief, DADT and the fact that you can't agree with the Obama of the early 90s (you know the one who is on record for supporting gay marriage?). You're lucky you have so much charisma because you're gonna need in the next four years (possibly eight). I voted for you because of that charisma and the hope you represented. I won't next time. Don't worry, I hate the Republicans and would never vote for one. I just want you to know that you're an impressive fraud. I'll leave you with a quote from someone you also recently quoted:

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

-Martin Luther King Jr.

Chew on that the next time you're silent about equality.
Posted by alexmarple on June 29, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Will in Seattle 31
Courage?

I don't see you taking actions with 50 couples showing up every day for weeks on end with no stop politely but firmly insisting on their civil rights.

Until you do that, nothing will change.
Posted by Will in Seattle http://www.facebook.com/WillSeattle on June 29, 2009 at 11:42 AM
32
Get organized, do something.
If you're going to get rid of DOMA and DADT, it's going to happen with Obama. You're going to have to make him do it. It sure ain't going to happen the next time a Republican is in office.
Lyndon Johnson did not want to sign any civil rights legislation, nor did he particularly care for the civil right movement, BUT enough people made him take notice, that he had to do it.
Posted by speedreeder on June 29, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Keyboard Gat 33
Dan's too busy fucking other guys outside of his relationship to actually show up and demand "marriage" for him and one of his sex partners who interacts with his kid.
Posted by Keyboard Gat on June 29, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Enigma 34
@31 Yeah, the Civil Disobedience talked kinda died down didn't it? People just don't care to be active if they can't be organized by Dan? I don't understand people's reluctance to come forward and just do something.
I started Protest for Human Rights because it was something I could do. I can't be in DC every day, however much I want to, but I can help others get there. And I can profile the people who do want to stand, put out press releases and let the public know.
A few people have stepped forward, but not nearly like the response the CD post got. What are you waiting for?

protestforhumanrights.com
Posted by Enigma http://approvereferendum71.org/ on June 29, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Cato the Younger Younger 35
#33 is a troll right?
Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on June 29, 2009 at 1:35 PM
36
#35 is a moron right?
Posted by I See How This Works, Now... on June 29, 2009 at 1:50 PM
kresblamania 37
I don't understand what the big deal is about perceiving Obama to be homophobic. So what? Why do people need to come down so hard on those of us who hear him make silly arguments about state's rights and see him as not believing in our equality, our existence as normal people deserving of human rights? He exudes discomfort with LGBT. That's my perception. I really don't care if anyone disagrees. I expect it.

If there was a movement to return to slavery what kinds of statements would we hear from Obama? Would they be awkwardly delivered legalistic arguments? Or might they be unequivocal and impassioned statements about morality and equality?
Posted by kresblamania http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiI9Uc1uVtc on June 29, 2009 at 1:55 PM
38
Well, all you dumbshits totally ignored the fact that Obama went to a racist black-nationalist church, a church that gave notorious homophobe Louis Farrakhan a lifetime achievement award. You CHOSE to TOTALLY IGNORE stuff like that about Obama, and you also called anyone who pointed out the facts to you a "racist". You can all choke on Obama's dick for all care since you have proved yourself to be a bunch of starry-eyed pie-in-the-sky naive gullible idiots.
Posted by Barney Fag on June 29, 2009 at 2:18 PM
39
I read this on the Huffington Post. Maybe it's all lies, but maybe it wil turn out to be the case. But the noise and chatter is getting through. Keep up the noise.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/29…
Posted by speedreeder on June 29, 2009 at 5:48 PM
40
WHAT HATH THE HOUSE OF HOTTIE WROTE.

TROLLING IS WHALING AND WHALING IS HUNTING FAT GIRLS.

STOP MAKIN' IT SO EASY PUDGY TITS!
Posted by LaRiiiiM0RrrHAwtiiii696969 on June 29, 2009 at 11:30 PM

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