Saturday, October 10, 2009
Politics / Homo Obama's Speech at HRC Dinner
Posted by Dan Savage on Sat, Oct 10, 2009 at 6:20 PM
My reaction: a friend has been sending me ecstatic emails about the speech. I just watched it—the speech is every bit as good as the ones candidate Obama gave, as the performance candidate Obama delivered at the HRC/Logo Democratic Primary Debate, as the open letter to the LGBT community that candidate Obama released before last November's election. Imagine all the wonderful things this guy is going to accomplish if he ever actually gets elected president. In other words: sorry, folks, nothing new to see here. Pledges, promises, excuses. Lip service. Other reactions...
Barack Obama just promised us that if he becomes president, he's going to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, the Defense of Marriage Act, and get ENDA passed. It was a bit surreal. I'm sitting at a fundraiser for the Non on 1 effort in Maine (that Obama didn't even bother to mention), and we were all just speechless (actually, hardly speechless - and I thought yelling at the TV was long since over). Obama repeated his campaign promises. That was it.What's particularly disturbing is how President Obama contradicts himself, and his own administration, when talking to a gay crowd. The president claimed that he's for treating gay couples just like married couples. Then why is he against letting gay couples marry? The president claimed that it doesn't matter if we're at war and working on health care and lots of other important issues, we must forget ahead on gay civil rights. Then why is Obama's own administration putting out the talking point that they can't move ahead on gay rights until the wars are over, until health care is over, until Obama has less on his plate? Even General Jones last week said we can't do DADT because we're at war in Iraq and Afghanistan. But President Obama claimed today that precisely because we're at war it is important to lift the ban now.
Huh?
Sullivan live-bloggin' it:
This is bullshit.... Again, more of a campaign speech. I've called on Congress to repeal DOMA. Does he think we're fools? He has done nothing to advance this.... His major achievement - the one thing he has actually done—is invite gay families to the Easter egg-roll.... More campaign boilerplate. This speech could have been made—and was made—a year ago.
Andy at Towleroad:
Obama also did not directly reference Question 1 in Maine or Referendum 71 in Washington state, two ballot measures that would remove rights from LGBT citizens on either coast, but offered broader promises to fight against the lies and divisiveness of foes of equality, suggesting that religion-based bigotry has no place in the national debate.
Here's part one of video (via Towleroad).
Part two after the jump.
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3
At this point the soaring rhetoric-
which starkly contrasts what
actually has(n't) been done-
is just insulting.
You gays have been had.
(Even the troll could have told you Hillary would have been a better choice....)
which starkly contrasts what
actually has(n't) been done-
is just insulting.
You gays have been had.
(Even the troll could have told you Hillary would have been a better choice....)
5
look. obama is a pol. so he's doing the political calculus just like clinton or any of them would do; the expected loss in congressional seats attributable to ending dadt outweighs taking action at this time; he will point to the hate crimes law and that will get him thru the 2010 elections.
he's a pol, not a unicorn, we should all get it that they are all pols and in the end it's up to us to make change happen. the scary thing is people get to vote in places like arkansas. look at blanche lincoln. democratic senator in state mccain won by twenty points.
it's up to us and our leaders to create the conditions where someone like that can vote to end dadt or vote for public option, and then not be beaten in the next election.
stop hoping for one magic superleader to magically relieve us of the burden of making social change happen.
it takes many mlks and then an lbj.
it takes the leaders and it also takes us, working it every day, every way, and esp. convincing our cousins and friends out in the blue doggy states.
we don't ever win just by convincing our own urban hipsters in the liberal bubbles on the coast.
he's a pol, not a unicorn, we should all get it that they are all pols and in the end it's up to us to make change happen. the scary thing is people get to vote in places like arkansas. look at blanche lincoln. democratic senator in state mccain won by twenty points.
it's up to us and our leaders to create the conditions where someone like that can vote to end dadt or vote for public option, and then not be beaten in the next election.
stop hoping for one magic superleader to magically relieve us of the burden of making social change happen.
it takes many mlks and then an lbj.
it takes the leaders and it also takes us, working it every day, every way, and esp. convincing our cousins and friends out in the blue doggy states.
we don't ever win just by convincing our own urban hipsters in the liberal bubbles on the coast.
6
But... there's Bill Clinton's example from 1993 to make us all a'feared! If he actually DID anything, the right wing might be NASTY to him!
Not like now, when they're just comparing him to Hitler, accusing, him of planning mass euthanasia of old people, and making barely-veiled calls for revolution and assassination. You know - REALLY nasty.
Not like now, when they're just comparing him to Hitler, accusing, him of planning mass euthanasia of old people, and making barely-veiled calls for revolution and assassination. You know - REALLY nasty.
7
We're on a cruise, people.
Big ship, thousands of us.
Obama is the captain.
Alas, things are tense...
we're in freezing Northern waters,
it's inky dark out.
The ship is headed strait for a huge iceberg.
At full speed.
The rudder is stuck.
There are only lifeboats for a tenth of us.
(the big donors)
The waters are shark infested.
Also a Zodiac full of terrorist has pulled along side the ship.
They have weapons of painful lingering mass destruction.
(real ones. really. for sure...)
Also the Cruise Line is on the verge of bankruptcy.
We have faith in Obama.
(He came highly recommended...)
But we can see the disaster looming closer and closer.
We are pulling for Obama.
Some of us saying a little prayer silently.
Obama is in the pilot house.
Struggling with the rudder.
It may be responding a little?
He is giving orders to deal with the terrorist.
We may just make it, after all...
Suddenly a piercing wailing shriek cuts the air.
It is the most annoying grating whining ever heard.
The kind that makes you want to rip your own ears off your head.
It gets louder.
Someone is banging on the door of the pilot house.
Obama is distracted.
The iceberg looms...
The terrorists are scrambling up the ship's sides...
It seem that a little boy got jello instead of pudding.
Green jello.
Not chocolate pudding.
He's not happy.
And he wants his pudding.
now.
From his behavior we would guess he is two
but he looks older.
(much older)
Nothing will shut him up.
Obama promises him there will be gallons of pudding just as soon as he is done with what he is doing now.
chocolate pudding.
even whipped cream.
But the little boy wants his pudding.
NOW.
More...
Big ship, thousands of us.
Obama is the captain.
Alas, things are tense...
we're in freezing Northern waters,
it's inky dark out.
The ship is headed strait for a huge iceberg.
At full speed.
The rudder is stuck.
There are only lifeboats for a tenth of us.
(the big donors)
The waters are shark infested.
Also a Zodiac full of terrorist has pulled along side the ship.
They have weapons of painful lingering mass destruction.
(real ones. really. for sure...)
Also the Cruise Line is on the verge of bankruptcy.
We have faith in Obama.
(He came highly recommended...)
But we can see the disaster looming closer and closer.
We are pulling for Obama.
Some of us saying a little prayer silently.
Obama is in the pilot house.
Struggling with the rudder.
It may be responding a little?
He is giving orders to deal with the terrorist.
We may just make it, after all...
Suddenly a piercing wailing shriek cuts the air.
It is the most annoying grating whining ever heard.
The kind that makes you want to rip your own ears off your head.
It gets louder.
Someone is banging on the door of the pilot house.
Obama is distracted.
The iceberg looms...
The terrorists are scrambling up the ship's sides...
It seem that a little boy got jello instead of pudding.
Green jello.
Not chocolate pudding.
He's not happy.
And he wants his pudding.
now.
From his behavior we would guess he is two
but he looks older.
(much older)
Nothing will shut him up.
Obama promises him there will be gallons of pudding just as soon as he is done with what he is doing now.
chocolate pudding.
even whipped cream.
But the little boy wants his pudding.
NOW.
9
It amazes me that anyone can write such bad poetry and with the same pen suggest one American should settle for Jell-O while other Americans get Pudding! I want pudding!
10
So in the first vid at 7:45 could this be something to use in an ad in Washington or Maine?
"You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman."
"You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman."
11
That's the finest post I've read in years. I'm feeling misty and yet acutely awake, startled, dazed. WHO ARE YOU 'no one should have to settle for jello. ever'?
13
I"m not particularly interested if Obama thinks my relationships are "real" and "admirable". I am concerned with whether I am treated equally under the law.
14
I am sick of your LIP SERVICE and Obama Bashing - You are not adding anything positive to the LGBT cause - because all you do is whine! You better cross the street if we are on the same sidewalk you fucken ass wipe Savage you KKK white elitist fag! -- yours Truly - DEADLEE www.deadlee.com
15
Oh they'll get nasty with him whether he does anything or not. Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck are all going to pull this video footage out whenever they want to send the extremists into a tizzy.
Bill Clinton got heckled not that long ago at a talk by someone who wanted to know why he DADT'ed and DOMA'd on us. He said it was because we didn't get him enough support in the Congress-he tried to introduce the legislation to lift the ban, but Congress wasn't having it.
Well, if we just sit on our asses and don't put some pressure on our legislators, the same thing'll happen again. Ask yourselves this: What if the Murphy Bill or Gillibrand's Bill die on the Senate or House floor? What if the Matt Sheppard Act doesn't pass in the Senate? What if ENDA dies on the Senate floor? Harry Reed (D-NV), the weak-kneed Senate Majority leader said he could not find a single sponsor for a bill to repeal DOMA. There is a very distinct possibility that none of these bills will even get to Obama's desk.
Now, I'll grant you that he hasn' gone in front of Congress and asked them to send him bills on any of this. Had he, things might be moving along a lot faster than they are. Harry Reed himself is a pretty weak leader-he's got a 60-seat majority, something the GOP did not have when it was ramming through all of Bush's legislation. But he can't find one sponsor out of all 100 of them-not even from the pro-GLBT Senators like Franken or Gillibrand? Its a little hard to believe.
But this situation is not dissimilar to what Martin Luther King had to deal with to get the Civil Rights Act passed. LBJ tried to put him off and tell him, "Oh, I support you 100%, but I've got too much on my plate right now, why don't you come back in a few more years, or at least wait till after the election?". MLK wouldn't let him off that easy. he went down to Selma and risked getting killed from thrown bricks and debris, knowing that the TV stations would put images of that snarling mob up on every TV in America, forcing people to face up to what they'd rather ignore.
Now, Cleve Jones has organized this march, and its a start. However, this can't turn into yet another Gay Pride rally where we all turn up for one day and then go home and forget about it. We have to provide the leadership both Obama and Reed aren't going to provide. Much like MLK, we have to motivate people to call their legislators and demand that they do something. This means we have to take some risks, dangerous ones like what the civil rights marchers faced. These days, in this segmented media world, where everyone gets their news from just one or maybe two stations that narrowcast to their specific political views, its harder to break through than it was for MLK. We're going to have to at least be as persistent as he was, probably moreso. We're going to ahve to be creative, and we're going to have to be bold. We need leadership, real leadership.
One thing I've noticed about other communities that had to break through is they have and have had actual leaders, people they could point to and say, "That person represents us" The labor movement had Bill Haywood and Joe Hill. Women has Susan B Anthony. Hispanic farm workers had Ceasar Chaves. Black people have had everybody from WEB Dubois to Marcus Garvey to MLK and Malcom X to Huey Newton to Jesse Jackson to Barack Obama. All the4se groups had spokespeople.
Who speaks for us? Who speaks for the GLBT community? I don't mean faceless organizations or groups. I mean, is there one face you can point to and say, This person is a prominent leader in the GLBT community?
Harvey Milk is dead. We need someone who can speak for us today, one of the living. Dan, are you listening?
More...
Bill Clinton got heckled not that long ago at a talk by someone who wanted to know why he DADT'ed and DOMA'd on us. He said it was because we didn't get him enough support in the Congress-he tried to introduce the legislation to lift the ban, but Congress wasn't having it.
Well, if we just sit on our asses and don't put some pressure on our legislators, the same thing'll happen again. Ask yourselves this: What if the Murphy Bill or Gillibrand's Bill die on the Senate or House floor? What if the Matt Sheppard Act doesn't pass in the Senate? What if ENDA dies on the Senate floor? Harry Reed (D-NV), the weak-kneed Senate Majority leader said he could not find a single sponsor for a bill to repeal DOMA. There is a very distinct possibility that none of these bills will even get to Obama's desk.
Now, I'll grant you that he hasn' gone in front of Congress and asked them to send him bills on any of this. Had he, things might be moving along a lot faster than they are. Harry Reed himself is a pretty weak leader-he's got a 60-seat majority, something the GOP did not have when it was ramming through all of Bush's legislation. But he can't find one sponsor out of all 100 of them-not even from the pro-GLBT Senators like Franken or Gillibrand? Its a little hard to believe.
But this situation is not dissimilar to what Martin Luther King had to deal with to get the Civil Rights Act passed. LBJ tried to put him off and tell him, "Oh, I support you 100%, but I've got too much on my plate right now, why don't you come back in a few more years, or at least wait till after the election?". MLK wouldn't let him off that easy. he went down to Selma and risked getting killed from thrown bricks and debris, knowing that the TV stations would put images of that snarling mob up on every TV in America, forcing people to face up to what they'd rather ignore.
Now, Cleve Jones has organized this march, and its a start. However, this can't turn into yet another Gay Pride rally where we all turn up for one day and then go home and forget about it. We have to provide the leadership both Obama and Reed aren't going to provide. Much like MLK, we have to motivate people to call their legislators and demand that they do something. This means we have to take some risks, dangerous ones like what the civil rights marchers faced. These days, in this segmented media world, where everyone gets their news from just one or maybe two stations that narrowcast to their specific political views, its harder to break through than it was for MLK. We're going to have to at least be as persistent as he was, probably moreso. We're going to ahve to be creative, and we're going to have to be bold. We need leadership, real leadership.
One thing I've noticed about other communities that had to break through is they have and have had actual leaders, people they could point to and say, "That person represents us" The labor movement had Bill Haywood and Joe Hill. Women has Susan B Anthony. Hispanic farm workers had Ceasar Chaves. Black people have had everybody from WEB Dubois to Marcus Garvey to MLK and Malcom X to Huey Newton to Jesse Jackson to Barack Obama. All the4se groups had spokespeople.
Who speaks for us? Who speaks for the GLBT community? I don't mean faceless organizations or groups. I mean, is there one face you can point to and say, This person is a prominent leader in the GLBT community?
Harvey Milk is dead. We need someone who can speak for us today, one of the living. Dan, are you listening?
16
I watched the speech and generally agree it was a superb speech, but it lacked the specifics we are yearning for. When will the military policies change? And though he did certainly give the impression he supports gay rights and he's certainly convinced HRC that's the case with their leader saying they're working with the administration weekly and daily - OK, doing what?
I supported President Obama in the primaries (voted for him in NYC) and the general election, with vote and dollars. I've got about 6 months worth of patience left before the election cycle begins and we become invisible again. If Don't Ask, Don't Tell isn't changed by the mid-term election, I'm afraid he's going to lose me too.
I supported President Obama in the primaries (voted for him in NYC) and the general election, with vote and dollars. I've got about 6 months worth of patience left before the election cycle begins and we become invisible again. If Don't Ask, Don't Tell isn't changed by the mid-term election, I'm afraid he's going to lose me too.
17
I AM FURIOUS BY OBAMAS USUAL THROW THE FAGS UNDER THE BUS TALK BUT AT LEAST I CAN LAUGH AT DAN OBAMA SAVAGE AND HOW HE HAS BEEN TAKEN FOR A RIDE NOW HE AND HIS R PLACE MAFIA ARE UNDER THE SAME BUS AS US REAL FAGGOTS QUEERS DYKES AND TRANS FOLK HOW DOES IT FEEL SAVAGE HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR PRETTY BOYS TAKING IT NOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT HOMOPHOBIA IS EVERYWHERE BE IT VASHON OR WASHINGTON DC WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME FREIGHT TRAIN TO THE CAMPS AND YOUR PRECIOUS OBAMA IS THE ENGINEER.
19
So, it appears that Obama isn't prepared to risk his broader first and second term agendas for a fast repeal of DATD and DOMA.
My interpretation of this speech is that he's thinking ahead to 2012, and he has calculated that taking on these issues now will lose him some moderate voters and possibly that election. At the same time, he is counting on gay-friendly voters to rally around him because the alternative will be much worse, and more importantly, because it will be understood that as a second term president, he can take on controversial issues such as this because he isn't beholden to the same political pressures that he is now. He's a smart guy, with smart advisers - they've got to be thinking these things through.
Is he being too timid? Maybe, maybe not, no one really fucking knows. However, here's what we do know. The downside of inaction is that we'll have to wait another 3 years for these measure to go away. However, the potential downside of action is that Republicans will resume gang raping our country in 2012, and they will certainly roll back any gay rights Obama managed to win in his single term.
I guess you all don't really believe in this guy. I do.
My interpretation of this speech is that he's thinking ahead to 2012, and he has calculated that taking on these issues now will lose him some moderate voters and possibly that election. At the same time, he is counting on gay-friendly voters to rally around him because the alternative will be much worse, and more importantly, because it will be understood that as a second term president, he can take on controversial issues such as this because he isn't beholden to the same political pressures that he is now. He's a smart guy, with smart advisers - they've got to be thinking these things through.
Is he being too timid? Maybe, maybe not, no one really fucking knows. However, here's what we do know. The downside of inaction is that we'll have to wait another 3 years for these measure to go away. However, the potential downside of action is that Republicans will resume gang raping our country in 2012, and they will certainly roll back any gay rights Obama managed to win in his single term.
I guess you all don't really believe in this guy. I do.
20
Focusing back on Ref. 71...it can't be very helpful that Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival is running this commercial on Husky Football Games:
http://threedollarbillcinema.org/09/trai…
http://threedollarbillcinema.org/09/trai…
21
i only want to hear the speech he makes after he does something..and until then i'm not listening to anymore speechifying on the subject.
period
period
22
BTW - I spend a lot of time posting comments here. I guess I've assumed that y'all at The Stranger actually read and value at least some of them. It suddenly occurred to me that perhaps you don't, in which case, what the fuck am I doing?
Would be nice to know either way.
Would be nice to know either way.
23
Now that's a post that has substance. It tells us what we need to do and that we need to do it ourselves. We all knew that in the end it was going to be us.
24
@22 Fortunately for the world, we don't have to tolerate your bullshit. By the way, everyone knows that people with PHD's are just pussies who aren't smart enough to become real doctors.
25
OMG Timothy is right. I can't believe a commercial with gay people is running during a HUSKIES game. That is just too much. It's like one of those awful gay pride parades - those people don't represent normal homosexuals like me. Or Timothy for that matter.... Timothy, are you single?
26
@ 14 - There's a point when it stops being whining and crosses into outrage. That point has passed. I never thought I would be this pissed off at a Democratic administration. Yes, it's over this one issue, and yes, the plate, oh God, the plate!
I'd be more forgiving if it weren't for that piece of shit briefing the Justice Dept gave in defending DOMA. That told me all I need to know about the Obama admin's level of commitment to LGBT equality. (You NEVER would have heard shit like that from the Clinton admin Justice Dept)
And this after he said in the campaign that these things (repeal of DOMA & DADT, etc.) would get done political reality be damned. And I don't see that happening right now.
Obama still has a chance to make me and millions of other GLBT folks happy campers, but he's gonna have to earn it.
I'd be more forgiving if it weren't for that piece of shit briefing the Justice Dept gave in defending DOMA. That told me all I need to know about the Obama admin's level of commitment to LGBT equality. (You NEVER would have heard shit like that from the Clinton admin Justice Dept)
And this after he said in the campaign that these things (repeal of DOMA & DADT, etc.) would get done political reality be damned. And I don't see that happening right now.
Obama still has a chance to make me and millions of other GLBT folks happy campers, but he's gonna have to earn it.
28
Ah.....the more I learn, the more I see the why gay americans seeks/gets sanctuary here in Sweden.
29
I agree with @5 here. I'm fully supportive of equality on these issues, and I would have ecstatic to hear Obama announce that DADT is ending this Monday, and a little disappointed that he didn't say that.
As for giving a shout out to Ref 71 here and Prop 1 in Maine, on the one hand it's disappointing, but on the other hand, had he given the shout out, it may have actually been counterproductive. It may have mobilized a lot more anti-gay money to pour into these campaigns than it would otherwise. Face it, there are a lot of anti-gay people out there with a lot of anti-gay money to spend. Obama, if not a polarizing figure per se, is a polarizing subject for the right (and, in some cases, for the left), and if he explicitly attached his name to Ref 71 or Prop 1, he might actually submarine them by bringing the attention of people who will try to sink those efforts just to give him a political black eye.
I says: keep up the political pressure. Keep up the criticism, and the marching and the whatnot. His administration's got a lot of issues to deal with: wars, healthcare, etc. If you don't keep squeaking, you won't get any oil. But, before you become completely cynical, remember that Obama is a politician, not a messiah- if he doesn't think it politically expedient to prioritize your issue appropriately, then it's up to you to make it politically expedient.
As for giving a shout out to Ref 71 here and Prop 1 in Maine, on the one hand it's disappointing, but on the other hand, had he given the shout out, it may have actually been counterproductive. It may have mobilized a lot more anti-gay money to pour into these campaigns than it would otherwise. Face it, there are a lot of anti-gay people out there with a lot of anti-gay money to spend. Obama, if not a polarizing figure per se, is a polarizing subject for the right (and, in some cases, for the left), and if he explicitly attached his name to Ref 71 or Prop 1, he might actually submarine them by bringing the attention of people who will try to sink those efforts just to give him a political black eye.
I says: keep up the political pressure. Keep up the criticism, and the marching and the whatnot. His administration's got a lot of issues to deal with: wars, healthcare, etc. If you don't keep squeaking, you won't get any oil. But, before you become completely cynical, remember that Obama is a politician, not a messiah- if he doesn't think it politically expedient to prioritize your issue appropriately, then it's up to you to make it politically expedient.
30
You people are the reason the Repubs may get back in next year, and Mallahan and Hutchison this year. You're fair weather friends. Ooh, he didn't address my issue in the first six months I'm dropping him! We're on the verge of collapse, sliding down to 3rd world country status. I think there are more important issues now.
31
The real insult of this speech is that it shows that Obama knows damn well the problems we face. And he still refuses to lift a finger. He knows what the right thing to do is, but he refuses to do it.
It's getting to the point where I actually prefer the outright hatred of the Republicans. At least they're more honest about the issue than these two-faced Democrats.
It's getting to the point where I actually prefer the outright hatred of the Republicans. At least they're more honest about the issue than these two-faced Democrats.
32
@30 Right...because standing by Clinton and sticking with him for 8 years accomplished so much. Like DADT (including yours truly kicked out of the Army after 5 1/2 years of service), DOMA and all this other crap.
33
It's interesting; the reporting through bbcnews.com and edge news is decidedly pro-Obama on this. As are other places I have looked. They are all sounding the DADT is Ending alarm.
Words are great, they can inspire and motivate change. But we have come to a point where the words are a broken record which need to be supported by action.
Words are great, they can inspire and motivate change. But we have come to a point where the words are a broken record which need to be supported by action.
34
How about them Huskies!
How come nothing about their great game?
Oops, forgot.
It's The Stranger.
How come nothing about their great game?
Oops, forgot.
It's The Stranger.
36
I'm here in DC for the March and the hotel bar put on the speech on so everyone in the restaurant could listen. There was applause and cheers throughout! And I'm thinking: Really? Sounds like same-old, same-old to me. Everyone here is really fired up for the cause, though. It feels good.
39
"It's getting to the point where I actually prefer the outright hatred of the Republicans. At least they're more honest about the issue than these two-faced Democrats."
I agree. That is why I am registering as a Republican, and intend to vote a straight Republican ticket from now on. I want anti-gay bigotry codified, not just tacit. I prefer actual oppression to inaction. We didn't get what we wanted immediately, so let's get what we don't want eventually.
VOTE REPUBLICAN IN '10!!!!!!!
I agree. That is why I am registering as a Republican, and intend to vote a straight Republican ticket from now on. I want anti-gay bigotry codified, not just tacit. I prefer actual oppression to inaction. We didn't get what we wanted immediately, so let's get what we don't want eventually.
VOTE REPUBLICAN IN '10!!!!!!!
40
Good Gawd. Give Obama time already!!!
Do want him to try to early, and flub it like Clinton? Or after he makes a decision about Afghanistan he will have a more reasonable chance of success in hacking away at DADT.
Do want him to try to early, and flub it like Clinton? Or after he makes a decision about Afghanistan he will have a more reasonable chance of success in hacking away at DADT.
41
Let's all revisit Memory Lane from Primaries '08:
NYT:
Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama have been in a running feud arising from her suggestion at Saturday’s debate that he was raising “false hope.”
Mr. Obama responded that Mr. Kennedy did not decide going to the moon was a false hope and that Martin Luther King, Jr. did not see ending segregation as such.
“Dr. King’s dream began to be realized when President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act,” Mrs. Clinton said when asked about Mr. Obama’s rejoinder by Fox’s Major Garrett after her speech in Dover. “It took a president to get it done.”
The Obama campaign declined to comment on either of those remarks.
NYT:
Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama have been in a running feud arising from her suggestion at Saturday’s debate that he was raising “false hope.”
Mr. Obama responded that Mr. Kennedy did not decide going to the moon was a false hope and that Martin Luther King, Jr. did not see ending segregation as such.
“Dr. King’s dream began to be realized when President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act,” Mrs. Clinton said when asked about Mr. Obama’s rejoinder by Fox’s Major Garrett after her speech in Dover. “It took a president to get it done.”
The Obama campaign declined to comment on either of those remarks.
42
As a wonk and activist for the repeal of DADT, I see last night’s speech as a huge deal. The phrase “the bully pulpit” just means his ability to generate news coverage and to move the national debate by giving a speech.
Where he speaks matters. The President has a very busy schedule, and choosing this event over the other 500 invitations he had sends a signal. Isn’t this the first time a sitting President has addressed a gay rights group? That’s a big deal right there. All the DC mandarins, executive and legislative, are now on notice that gay rights are on the President’s agenda. Not after 2012, but in his first term.
And what did he say? For the first time, he said that his administration will repeal DADT. This is not a campaign promise, not a message relayed through a press secretary, this is a policy announcement made directly by the President of the United States. I know it may not sound like much of a distinction, but in the Washington DC language of politics and diplomacy, fine distinctions matter. The Pentagon is already working on repeal - this makes them move faster. Harry Reid was asking for Presidential pressure on the issue - now he has it. And I predict a flood of media attention - front page articles, editorials, op-eds, and TV talking heads - motivating constituents to contact their Congresscritter, and hastening repeal.
As activists, it’s our job to say “not enough!” and to keep pressing onward toward full equality. This doesn’t mean we have to be negative. I see this speech as an opportunity to make headlines, and as a weapon to use in lobbying. Do I wish he’d said more? Yes. Will I continue to force the issue? Yes, and in doing so I’m grateful for the help Obama gave us last night.
Where he speaks matters. The President has a very busy schedule, and choosing this event over the other 500 invitations he had sends a signal. Isn’t this the first time a sitting President has addressed a gay rights group? That’s a big deal right there. All the DC mandarins, executive and legislative, are now on notice that gay rights are on the President’s agenda. Not after 2012, but in his first term.
And what did he say? For the first time, he said that his administration will repeal DADT. This is not a campaign promise, not a message relayed through a press secretary, this is a policy announcement made directly by the President of the United States. I know it may not sound like much of a distinction, but in the Washington DC language of politics and diplomacy, fine distinctions matter. The Pentagon is already working on repeal - this makes them move faster. Harry Reid was asking for Presidential pressure on the issue - now he has it. And I predict a flood of media attention - front page articles, editorials, op-eds, and TV talking heads - motivating constituents to contact their Congresscritter, and hastening repeal.
As activists, it’s our job to say “not enough!” and to keep pressing onward toward full equality. This doesn’t mean we have to be negative. I see this speech as an opportunity to make headlines, and as a weapon to use in lobbying. Do I wish he’d said more? Yes. Will I continue to force the issue? Yes, and in doing so I’m grateful for the help Obama gave us last night.
43
All you idiots who are defending Obama INSTEAD of demanding equality are pathetic. There is a right wing to this movement and there is a left wing. The left wing fights for lgbt equality. The right wing makes excuses for homophobic politicians NOT to fight for equality.
45
43
don't blame this on 'right' wingers.
we may be bigots but we won't cop to being craven groveling self-loathing clueless morons...
don't blame this on 'right' wingers.
we may be bigots but we won't cop to being craven groveling self-loathing clueless morons...
46
@42
yeah.
Huge Deal.
you are so precious,
you optimistic faggots...
Praise the Maker!
Obama is bringing the power of his
'Bullshit Pulpit' to help teh gays...
V I C T O R Y is Ours!!
btw- I am a Nigerian prince and need a little help with a banking issue. Can you be a pal?
yeah.
Huge Deal.
you are so precious,
you optimistic faggots...
Praise the Maker!
Obama is bringing the power of his
'Bullshit Pulpit' to help teh gays...
V I C T O R Y is Ours!!
btw- I am a Nigerian prince and need a little help with a banking issue. Can you be a pal?
47
39
you think you are being sophisticatedly sarcastic but you should give it some thought-
Gays are like the blacks, giving all your votes to Democraps who respond by taking you for granted and repeatedly screwing you over. Maybe you like that. But you should consider the advice momma gave you when you were just a little faggot new to the scene- no one will buy the cow when they can get the milk for free. (what? your momma never told you that?! that explains a lot...)
Vote Republican.
Donate to Republicans.
Make sure the Democraps know it.
Make the Democraps fight for your vote.
Make them fight to keep your vote.
The worst thing that could come of it is you might spend a little time on the winning side ...
you think you are being sophisticatedly sarcastic but you should give it some thought-
Gays are like the blacks, giving all your votes to Democraps who respond by taking you for granted and repeatedly screwing you over. Maybe you like that. But you should consider the advice momma gave you when you were just a little faggot new to the scene- no one will buy the cow when they can get the milk for free. (what? your momma never told you that?! that explains a lot...)
Vote Republican.
Donate to Republicans.
Make sure the Democraps know it.
Make the Democraps fight for your vote.
Make them fight to keep your vote.
The worst thing that could come of it is you might spend a little time on the winning side ...
48
@35
Don't you ever ask yourself why you post comments here? You seem to have it figured out - I'd be curious to know your answer.
@27
Thanks, bro.
Don't you ever ask yourself why you post comments here? You seem to have it figured out - I'd be curious to know your answer.
@27
Thanks, bro.
49
SO YOU ALL KNOW
INSIDE SCOOP - THE PENTAGON IS IN THE PROCESS OF REVISING ALL THE CODES FOR THE REPEAL OF DON'T ASK - IT IS COMING - SOON.
INSIDE SCOOP - THE PENTAGON IS IN THE PROCESS OF REVISING ALL THE CODES FOR THE REPEAL OF DON'T ASK - IT IS COMING - SOON.
51
Don't Ask Don't Tell quote of the day:
"I think it has to be done in the right way, which is to get a buy-in from the military, which I think is now possible" - Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
So call me an idealistically over-optimistic faggot if you like (though I suggest you not say it in the wrong tone to my face), but the reality is that movement on this issue is becoming possible because of President Obama's commitment it.
"I think it has to be done in the right way, which is to get a buy-in from the military, which I think is now possible" - Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
So call me an idealistically over-optimistic faggot if you like (though I suggest you not say it in the wrong tone to my face), but the reality is that movement on this issue is becoming possible because of President Obama's commitment it.
52
47 IS RIGHT! SELF-ACTUALIZED FAIRIES LIKE S/HE HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT ABOUT THE OBAMA FRAUD AND ARE THE TRUE LEADERS NOT SO-CALLED LEADERS LIKE SAVAGE AND CO I THINK ITS TIME WE START OUR OWN SEX POSITIVE PARTY BASED ON THE IDEALS OF NON-JUDGMENTAL SEX FOR ALL GENDERS FUCK OBAMA AND FUCK SAVAGE ITS TIME FOR ALL PANSIES FAIRIES QUEERS DYKES TRANSFOLK AND BIPEOPLE TO UNITE AND TAKE BACK THE DIALOG!
53
I don't see why Obama feels the need to wait until his lame duck term. Bush pissed all over people and didn't give a shit whether or not it would cost him votes. I agree with Bill Maher: Obama needs to be more like Bush. Take on your opponents - votes be damned! There is always time to win people back because we Americans have short memories.
PS - Please people, don't say mean things about the way other posters's families look. It's so juvenile and not cool.
PS - Please people, don't say mean things about the way other posters's families look. It's so juvenile and not cool.
55
Why do people still pay attention to lousy conservative shills like Sully? He's overall a harmful douche, regardless of whether the stopped clock is right a few times a year.
56
One thing that stood out to me was that after the speech on CNN, You, Dan, were on a panel with another woman to discuss what Obama said. You brought up "Stop Loss" and the woman said something about "Top Gay Officials said 'no' to a Stop-Loss Order, you know that."
Could that be clarified a little? Who were the "Top Gay officials"? Why would they advocate against the Stop-Loss? Why would this woman say, "You know that, Dan." ?
Could that be clarified a little? Who were the "Top Gay officials"? Why would they advocate against the Stop-Loss? Why would this woman say, "You know that, Dan." ?
57
I saw this quote on gawker.com:
NBC News reporter John Harwood dropped this maybe bombshell:
Barack Obama is doing well with 90% or more of Democrats so the White House views this opposition as really part of the "internet left fringe" Lester. And for a sign of how seriously the White House does or doesn't take this opposition, one adviser told me today those bloggers need to take off their pajamas, get dressed and realize that governing a closely divided country is complicated and difficult.
58
An amazing speech from an amazing person. People must understand change cannot happen over night. There are real logistics that have to be worked out and planned. It's not like the flick of a switch. I feel change is coming and soon. We are very close and must keep our composure, our respect and honor for the process and others or it could all fall apart.
59
Hey, 20, thanks for keeping it real. Does anyone else realize that the queers are fucked no matter who we vote for? That the politicians have no real agenda to give us a damn thing but MORE oppression? Our liberation needs to be STEPPED UP. The community needs to MOBILIZE AND FIGHT. The civil rights movements and women's rights movement didn't gain anything from lobbying groups (like HRC) and politicians. Why do the queers think that WE can? As long as they profit off our oppression, they won't care. Now is the time to get out from in front of your computer screens, out of your offices, and into the street. When a hate crime is committed, a right denied, we MUST BASH BACK.
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