Balls of the Day

More like this, please!It’s ridiculous when I hear Obama supporters say they might not vote for him in 2012 if he doesn’t shape up. Millions of Clinton supporters also said they wouldn’t vote for him but then did enthusiastically only a few months later. I wouldn’t put too much stock in the liberal critics. They may complain but they’re still on our side. They also need to be reminded that Obama is the best friend gays have ever had in the White house. Would anyone prefer Bush, or McCain, or god forbid Sarah Palin?

I don’t understand why Obama in his fourth year in office, with the economy completely rejuvenated, the troops pulled out of Iraq and Afghanistan, with North Korea and Iran stabilized, prosecutions for terror suspects completed, violence from right-wing extremist subsided, and health care provided for all Americans, hasn’t made gay rights his top priority.

Last night while he was signing the memo on benefits for same sex couples the Congress woman he addressed who was later on Rachel’s show stated she had not introduced any bills in the House about DOMA or DADT. WHY? Rachel never asked either, yet they all, including Rachel scream and yell at the president constantly about not keeping his promise. What about her keeping her commitment to herself and to others in the LGBT community? Doesn’t she as a Gay Congress person have a responsibility too?Why is no one holding her feet to the fire? Why isn’t the HRC and Joe Solomanese on TeeVee railing against her and Barney Frank?

I was asking the same question Annette.For some reason everyone thinks that the president can repeal laws with an executive order.HE CAN’TThis is the job of congress to correct. No one else can, except SCOTUS (don’t hold your breath).

Rachel once did a bit on her show about the SchoolHouse Rock. For those of you who are not old enough to remember, these cartoon vignettes on ABC did musical numbers about how laws are made in CONGRESS where they write the bills so, she of all people should know that the President does not write the bills…HE SIGNS THEM INTO LAW! Just chill out guys. The President has to prioritize his agenda and righ now, it has to be healthcare.

I mostly agree, except I do think that Obama could do a teensy bit more to use that bully pulpit that comes with the presidency, and perhaps be a more forceful advocate of getting rid of DOMA and DADT, even if he’s not the one who can actually do it. I think it’s his overall silence, and almost perceived apathy to gay rights right now, that has so many of us frustrated.

After watching and listening to Obama for more than 2 years and having read his books, there are some things about him that I will never believe in a million years. One example is this DOMA defense where it is being claimed that he compared gays or gay marriage to incest and pedophilia. And it was beyond disappointing and infuriating that his supporters would believe that. The fact that Rachel Maddow and KO buy into that misconception shocks me as well. You would think these two would have provided the same analysis that you provided here.

Thanks, Git and Annette. I was beginning to feel like a heel when I heard gay rights activists say, “Why do we have to wait at the back of the line?” because I feel the same way. No one is mentioning that fact that there’s been no Congressional leadership on this issue. There are so many things on President Obama’s plate and yet this is supposed to take precedence?DOMA cannot be changed by the President. DADT can just as easily be undone by the next president if an executive order can be repealed by the stroke of a pen. And where is Congress? Not one Congressman or Senator other than Ellen Tauscher has submitted any legislation for gay rights. Why is this laid at Obama’s feet?I was stunned to see Olbermann attack the President last night regarding this very issue and asking why the DoJ defended DOMA. BECAUSE IT’S THEIR JOB! It may not have been the right lawyer and a crude and disgusting defense but they have to defend it just the same. Do you this administration to ignore the laws they don’t agree with like the Bush administration did?! I was dumbfounded.BTW, here’s the Schoolhouse Rock video: I’m Just a Bill

That should have read “Do you want this administration to ignore laws…”

Leeman67, I don’t think it’s politically smart nor fair in general for the President to become the face of the gay rights movement when other minorities in this country feel they are suffering even more. Blacks, women, illegal immigrants, the poor they all want Obama to be their spokesman and I am almost sure that there would be a back lash if it appeared that Obama was showing preference to one group over another. If the LGBT community doesn’t want to listen to people who are saying be patient, why should other groups wait their turn?Obama is a politician not an activist. His idea of being a “fierce” advocate is working behind the scenes, taking care of details to make sure the bills for DADT or DOMA sticks like Gorilla Glue. An activist’s idea of “fierce” involves hundreds/thousands of people, signs, speeches and a megaphone. You are not going to get that from Obama.

Complaining complainers love to complain.If the president did just write an order over it, then everyone on the middle and right would say he is overstepping his bounds.If congress changes it, no one can say shit.

DADT is a law. It has to be repealed before Obama can change the policy.The congress passed DADT into law in order to prevent Clinton from changing the policy to allow gays to serve openly.If Obama issues an executive order saying to ignore DADT he will be in violation of law.We don’t need any more ignoring og laws.THE LAW IS BAD. CHANGE THE LAW. LAWS MAY NOT BE IGNORED.Bitching at Obama about this is a waste of time.PLEASE BITCH AT CONGRESS ABOUT THIS. THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN FIX THE DOMA AND DADT PROBLEM.

Law Dork 2.0 (lawdork.wordpress.com) has a really excellent analysis about the ridiculousness of the incest/pedophilia meme. For one thing, I believe the only underage person referred to is 16. For another, the brief refers to them (as far as I can tell, I’m not a lawyer) in terms of the legality of these marriages in some places and not others–NOT in terms of their moral equality.Now, is it possible that they could have found better examples, given the inflammatory history of those type of comparisons in the past? Certainly it’s probable. But to act as though the Obama DOJ said gays are pedophiles is just ignorant. Barney Frank said it best: ““I made the mistake of relying on other people’s oral descriptions to me of what had been in the brief, rather than reading it first.”

Also, check out Barney Frank’s press release that was published yesterday.He basically backs off from his original stance. He admits the brief wasn’t that bad. He also admits it’s not the White House’s actually viewpoint on gay marriage.http://www.house.gov/frank/pressreleases/2009/06-17-09-doma.html

It’s the fine balancing act that Obama has to perform that is getting everyone all squirrely. Do too much and it derails the focus needed for anything else on his already full plate, don’t do enough and he becomes the poster boy for all the activists, crusaders and whiners who want their agenda taken care of YESTERDAY!Obama understands the need to repeal DOMA and DADT. I really never had a doubt about that. Obama is also playing in a different playground where the neighborhood bullies aren’t ready to give up the swing set or the monkey bars. Congress is all to happy letting Obama get the rap because it shifts the focus from their inactivity and insensitivity to the matter. DOMA is a clear example of that. I think he will be reviewing the matter of DOMA much more closely seeing as to how that began a slow downward spiral with a significant core of his supporters.Let’s be patient people. Like the strategic thinker he is, he will ration the change in slow methodical steps that will not make him lose control of the balancing act. Spinning plates people, spinning plates. He loses control of one and they all come down.Let’s put the gonad pinch on our Congressmen/women. Let them take some of the heat for a change.

Hey y’all… check this shit out. Senatoresque™ Gillibrand is saying she wants to develop support for a DADT repeal law… She’s even doing photo ops with Lt. Dan Choi, the guy who came out on Rachel Maddow and got tossed from the army. Hopefully she’s serious.