Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Homo What He Said 3
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 12:44 PM
President Obama standing on the sidelines in Maine and Washington was appalling. The failure of our national organizations and leaders to demand his involvement was equally appalling. The outrageous act of the Democratic National Committee sending an email into Maine asking Maine Democrats to call into "NEW JERSEY" instead of to support the fight against bigotry was unbelievable. No one gets to sit on the sidelines in an epic battle against apartheid and no one gets a free pass. If you want our support, you have to earn it. We are way beyond where we will accept a little bit in 2009, some in 2010 and maybe more in the second term. Does anyone think after yesterday election results and the upcoming 2010 election, Obama has the ability to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and "DOMA" next year? Does anyone really believe we haven't already missed a historic opportunity in the first 10 months of this year? Only a courageous fighting President and Congress can now help turn us this around and that we have not seen so far. Enough.
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1
There is a fine line between bi-partisan and spineless. They've obviously shown us they're the latter.
3
Mixner also blamed the result on "non-white" voters.
Maine is something like 97% white.
I don't disagree that the DNC should have taken a bigger role, but frankly, Obama's efforts in VA and NJ seem to have inspired more of the teabagger vote to come out than the the cool lefty progressive vote, and I don't see any evidence that further involvement from him personally would have helped in maine--his popularity isn't necessarily transferable.
Nate Silver essentially concurs. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/11/w…
Maine is something like 97% white.
I don't disagree that the DNC should have taken a bigger role, but frankly, Obama's efforts in VA and NJ seem to have inspired more of the teabagger vote to come out than the the cool lefty progressive vote, and I don't see any evidence that further involvement from him personally would have helped in maine--his popularity isn't necessarily transferable.
Nate Silver essentially concurs. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/11/w…
4
Obama's presence did a whole lot of nothing in the VA governor's race.
I completely understand LGBT frustration with the Obama administration, it's justified, but I don't see any clear evidence that his involvement would have helped in Maine. Unless you're just looking for a symbolic gesture?
I completely understand LGBT frustration with the Obama administration, it's justified, but I don't see any clear evidence that his involvement would have helped in Maine. Unless you're just looking for a symbolic gesture?
7
nothing like a good bitch slapping at the ballot box to get all the hysterical pissy queers screaming...
8
These were State issues guys. Obama also can't ditch DOMA, Congress has to. Now from what I understand he can flush "Don't Ask Don't Tell," so if you want to bust his chops over something lets work on that.
9
Obama pulled a step-back-wait-and-see move. It's like he quietly checked the pulse of the nation with Maine, to see if he has the political capital TO do something big on gay rights. Problem is, he now realizes he doesn't have the support of the majority of Americans. So he's gonna be veeeeeeery careful, even *more* careful now with his next move. He's gotta pick his battles very, very judiciously to keep his credibility with the majority of Americans.
10
you outspent the other side 2-1 in Maine and still lost.
And blame Obama?
The lesson Obama will take away is that public support for Gay Marriage is NOT there.
He will (not) act accordingly.
The "Missed Historic Opportunity" was for the Gays to win a state and show Obama that support DOES exist.
see how that works?
And blame Obama?
The lesson Obama will take away is that public support for Gay Marriage is NOT there.
He will (not) act accordingly.
The "Missed Historic Opportunity" was for the Gays to win a state and show Obama that support DOES exist.
see how that works?
11
10 ps
Do you really think Obama gives a shit about queer outrage and disapproval and disappointment by now?
After 10 months of constant bitching he is numb to that noise...
Do you really think Obama gives a shit about queer outrage and disapproval and disappointment by now?
After 10 months of constant bitching he is numb to that noise...
12
The DNC doesn't give a flying fuck. Since I donated to them last year (gobama), I got a survey from them last week asking me to rate issues on importance. Of 16 listed, LGBT rights was not listed. Education, race relations, fucking North Korea - but no gay rights. They don't care.
13
I haven't heard anything from Mixner in awhile. Good guy, good point. He was a friend of Clinton's, so he knows how we got DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell.
14
I've said it before on Slog and will say it again. I will NEVER vote for a Democrat on the national level again. Those votes of mine will go to the Green Party at this point.
God help you if Washington becomes a swing state.
God help you if Washington becomes a swing state.
15
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg…
Coming, January 2010.
This will be pretty interesting, and, hopefully, put an end to all this religious referendum bullshit once and for all.
Coming, January 2010.
This will be pretty interesting, and, hopefully, put an end to all this religious referendum bullshit once and for all.
16
the president has to lead, not bleed. gay marriage needs to marinate a few more years so otherwise rational old straight people get used to the idea - like 2014. that's the calculation in the white house i bet.
18
In ten years, gays will have the right to marry in all 50 states of the USA (or all that don't secede to found their own third world white trash nation). In the meantime, certainly hold Obama's feet to the fire, etc... but low information Americablog-esque hysteria doesn't help.
20
@8 has a good point, but I agree with schmacky on the win.
You want a win? concentrate on DADT and have him order the armed forces top brass to implement it in 72 hours.
Or resign.
It's one of the powers of the Commander in Chief - they serve at his pleasure, not the other way around. The only correct response to an order like that is "Sir! Yes Sir!"
You want a win? concentrate on DADT and have him order the armed forces top brass to implement it in 72 hours.
Or resign.
It's one of the powers of the Commander in Chief - they serve at his pleasure, not the other way around. The only correct response to an order like that is "Sir! Yes Sir!"
21
Obama has the inverse of the Midas touch right now -- book your tickets to the Chicago Olympics if you don't believe me.
22
Reality check: Obama is not going to rescue gay rights. Gay rights activists have to do that, by bending public opinion.
What you did by voting for Obama is ensure that the federal government wouldn't actively *oppose* your efforts, which is what would have happened if McCain had won.
What you did by voting for Obama is ensure that the federal government wouldn't actively *oppose* your efforts, which is what would have happened if McCain had won.
23
3.
Can you please show where he said this? I don't see it stated anywhere in the article.
Mixner also blamed the result on "non-white" voters.
Can you please show where he said this? I don't see it stated anywhere in the article.
24
So Obama might end up being more of a Franklin Pierce and less of an Abraham Lincon, or if you will a Dwight Eisenhower instead of a John Kennedy. It happens. I mean Pierce could have abolished slavery, Eisenhower could have created the Voting Rights Act, BUT THEY DIDN'T, on to the next Prez.
26
ok, here's my question: If we all do as Mixner says, who do we back? 14's suggestion? Create a microscopic 4th party? I'm sorry, but this is our system. Do we want to weaken the Democratic Party?
Sorry I don't have anything constructive to say, but these calls for dumping the Dems is understandable but misguided.
fuck
Sorry I don't have anything constructive to say, but these calls for dumping the Dems is understandable but misguided.
fuck
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