President Obama Is Not On Our Side

[shirtlifterbear]

President Obama Is Not On Our Side.

President Obama's Department of Justice is defending the anti-gay Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy in court after a federal judge found it unconstitutional (*1) and is in the process of deciding whether to defend the policy again in the most recent decision against it. (*2)

President Obama's Department of Justice is defending in three cases the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act in court after two separate federal judges found it unconstitutional. (*3, *4)

The day a federal judge declared California's anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional, President Obama's White House released a statement reiterating the President's opposition to gay marriage. (*5)

He took the Gay community's money and votes, and made impassioned speeches about being the community's fierce advocate. (*6)

I've been disappointed to find that President Obama works actively against our community. That is simply documented fact. As it stands right now, I am not voting for his re-election in 2012.

I am truly sad that this has happened, and I know it's got to be agonizing to admit for those in the Gay community who supported him that he isn't at all who they thought he was. Face it: he's ordered the Department of Justice to appeal every decision in our favor. That is 'fierce advocacy' all right, FOR THE OTHER SIDE.

The truth is:

"President Obama Is Not On Our Side."

Sources:

*1 http://www.scribd.com/doc/29167760/Dept-of-Justice-Defends-Don-t-Ask-Don-t-Tell-policy. "Dept. of Justice Defends Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy."

*2 http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/09/23/DOJ_Counters_Log_Cabin_to_Keep_DADT/ "DOJ to Judge: Keep Enforcing DADT"

*3 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/12/obama-defends-antigay-def_n_214764.html "Obama Admin Moves To Dismiss Defense Of Marriage Act Challenge."

*4 http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/doj_files_appeal_defending_doma.php "the U.S. Department of Justice this afternoon filed notices of appeal in two cases striking down the federal definition of marriage, contained in the Defense of Marriage Act, as unconstitutional."

*5 http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/08/04/White_House_Statement_Prop_8/. David Axelrod, Senior Advisor to the President:“The President has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because it is divisive and discriminatory. He will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans. The president does oppose same-sex marriage but he supports equality for gay and lesbian couples."

*6 http://gay.americablog.com/2010/09/getequals-broken-promises-lgbt-remix.html "GetEQUAL's 'Broken Promises LGBT Remix, Vol. 1'"

Comments

[entropic-system.livejournal.com]

And it's getting a lot harder to defend him. I keep thinking he's planning long-term, but he keeps prolonging the agony.

For the DADT thing, I know the military is working on an in-depth study on what the impacts would be if gays were allowed to serve openly. The Log Cabin Republicans jumped this, but I think it's what Obama's waiting for (at least, I hope it is).

If the military supports a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and it hits Congress, the Republicans can't really oppose it or they're opposing the military. If Obama's smart, though, he just won't challenge the ruling and let it stand.

For the others? I want to believe it's Obama playing politics, trying to keep the Rightards from getting too fired up in an election year, but it would be nice if he had a backbone.

...Or at least alleviated some of my own doubts about where he stands on this issue.

[playmoby.livejournal.com]

I think it's quite hard to have to try to please everyone... Im not defending him, i am just stating this fact..... and believe me, it is harder and harder to support him as time goes by.

But it's better than the alternative. Cheney and Palin? I shiver at the thought.

[entropic-system.livejournal.com]

And the second point's a good one, too. I'd rather have Obama, who's at least pretending to like the Gay, rather than Palin and her kind who openly preach bigotry and intolerance.

Still, it would be nice to not have to choose between complacency and bigotry.

[fj.livejournal.com]

We still should hold their feet to the fir and demand excellence. Always. Loudly.

[zbear20.livejournal.com]

I hate the "better than the alternative" argument. Bill Clinton was the one who signed both DADT and DOMA, and we still supported the Democrats because "it's better than the alternative". We voted for Obama even though he was against gay marriage because of his religious beliefs". He had a majority and could have pushed through causes that were important to us, but it was always "I've got the war, the economy, the health plan on my plate. Have patience, we'll get to it". If the Democrats lose the majority in November it's not going to happen, but even if they keep it, I still have no faith that it will happen. I've voted in every election since I was 18, and that was in 1969, and almost always it was for a Democrat. While I've considered sitting it out before because of the way I'm ignored and used and thrown aside by my party I really can't think of a reson to go out and vote for the Democrats this year, and if that's the case, I'm not going to vote at all.

[pectopah.livejournal.com]

Obama told Diane Sawyer early in his administration that he would rather be remembered as a "really good one-term president" than as a "mediocre two-term president". Sadly, only the second half of the first statement may come true. Even more sadly, post-Obama it will probably get worse before it gets better.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

My hope is that he gets a super-close victory that is within the margin of error of all the gay voters, who then MARCH ON WASHINGTON to demand he stand up and be the man we thought he was, rather than the man actively working against us that he has become.

Truefact!

[holy13nation.livejournal.com]

Don't Join, Don't Fight.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I always thought that "I'm gay, why on Earth would I want to wear camo beige, it's so unflattering?!"

But the RIGHT to serve is way more important!

[wescobear.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I have to agree with you. If there is any viable Democratic candidate running against Obama in 2012, I will vote for him/her in the primary. If the presidential election comes down to Obama against a Republican, I'll reluctantly vote for Obama.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

I want a Democratic primary challenger in 2012 who's main single issue is Gay Civil Rights so that, like Ross Perot and the deficit, the candidates HAVE to address it.

Gavin Newsome 2012!

[tehjakers.livejournal.com]

With everything that's going on, I don't know who to vote for, or what to do anymore.

I am literally confused.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

Why can't he just do what's right?

It's not a mystery what that is, so just fucking DO IT.

"Hi, I hate you people, but here's your rights. It's the right thing to do."

[fearless-son.livejournal.com]

I am just confused as to why the administration would even take such a tack. It is not like any of Obama's opposition would change its mind about him based on any of this, one way or the other. And he does not strike me as having any particular personal driving reason to resist queer issues. Blocking pro-queer legislation is not a rallying point for his voting block like it would be in the case of a Republican candidate, so he has no particular political pressure to do so. The most politically advantageous thing that his administration could do is simply take a "hands off" approach and let the legislature bang out any issues and then just sign off on them assuming it already passed through the regular channels.

So... why?

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

Bigotry?

[joe-bearnickel.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to have Obama, yes he hasn't lived up to all his campaign promises, but really, has any president done that in the past few years.

We could have had the alternative, The Crypt keeper and Caribou Barbee.
Yeah our country would have been in much better shape with them in office...not.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

Didn't praise the Ancient One and His Mama Grizzly Minion, did I?

I just can't stand the thought that he looked us in the eye, and lied with a straight face.

"I will help you."

Riiiiiight.

[kyra-neko-rei.livejournal.com]

Methinks the man is actively trying to be a one-term president.

The president does oppose same-sex marriage but he supports equality for gay and lesbian couples."

In other news, I love half a dozen but I can't stand six.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

"Hi! I know your money and votes got me elected, but really, I don't have to do a damn thing to help you because what are you going to do, vote for the Half-Term Governor? RIGHT."

Grrrrrrr

[putzmeisterbear.livejournal.com]

If it comes down to Obama over what ever right wing whack-job gets nominated for 2012 I of course will vote for the Democrat. Considering how little has been done for the gay community on a national level I had low expectations on what Obama could do for us. Especially considering the huge amount of fixes that needed to be made at election time, I didn't think our rights would be his first priority. But defending DOMA and DADT is inexcusable. He doesn't care about gay equality at all.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

He doesn't care about gay equality at all.

He sure doesn't.

Or worse, he does, but not in the way we would hope.

I am embarrassed to be a Democrat right now if this is our leadership.

PS Palin is awful, as are the other GOP alternatives. I am certainly not voting for the Half-Term Governor of Alaska if that's what it comes down to in November 2012. BUT I am not doing a FUCKING thing to get him elected unless there is real change in his bigoted position.

[goreyboy.livejournal.com]

The DofJ has to appeal.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

No, they don't.

Every single President since Kennedy has chosen to order the DoJ not to appeal in a number of cases, both Democrat and Republican.

That's Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, GHW Bush, Clinton, and GW Bush.

If Obama was our "fierce advocate" he would use the decision for cover and let it ride. "The courts have declared this policy unconstitutional and I agree. No appeal. Congratulations to the Gay community for this victory I had nothing to do with."

[jeremytblack.livejournal.com]

I will vote for him in 2012 just like I voted for him in 2008: With the full knowledge that he is not on our side. Every time I brought up all the NEON SIGNS going off from him and his campaign that he was not on our side during the campaign, oh the onslaught of unicorns and rainbow responses that came back at me. The anti-gay preacher he had "open" for him during the summer of 2007 was the first FLASHING NEON SIGN, but there were many, many more after that. It really should be no surprise.

The alternative is worse for all of us, worse for the country, worse for the world. So I'll vote for him.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

I want a Democratic Primary challenger who is utterly gay civil rights, so that Obama has to take up the awkward but appropriate mantle that Johnson did: "Bigot who signs Civil Rights Law."

Gavin Newsome 2012!

[thornyc.livejournal.com]

We're being played. Still / yet / again. I'm expecting an 11th-hour action shortly before the 2012 election, which will make me feel even more cynical towards him, the Democratic party, and all politicians.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

I want you to be right, and I agree TOTALLY about the cynicism, dammit!

I feel like Homer Simpson hitting the TV: "Be better!"

[thisiserika.livejournal.com]

I'm so sick of watching people, including the man who I thought was MY president, hide behind their religious beliefs in order to be a bigot.

No, fuck you. You're a bigot. When you're telling someone that they are lesser than someone else IN ANY WAY FOR ANY REASON, that is bigotry, it is wrong, and it shouldn't be tolerated. Now stop hiding behind god.

FUCK I hate that shit. It's enough to make me not want to vote. But in times like these, I think to myself what Dan Savage has said many times. We're winning. Times may seem grim, but we are steadily gaining ground.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

We are gaining ground. I just hate the idea that he sought me out, looked me in the eye, told me he loved me, and then FUCKED ME OVER REPEATEDLY.

[kitkats99.livejournal.com]

My mind is boggled that anybody believed that anything would be done about gay rights by Obama to begin with. I dont care what he said. People will say anything to get elected; much like the the high school kid who swears when he becomes student body president that the water fountains will be filled with coca-cola and the cafeteria will serve nothing but candy. Obama is the lesser of 2 evils, and everybody knows it, and sadly, thats all we've been able to base our votes on for the past few elections. Obama may not be doing anything to get us more rights, but at least he isnt helicoptering around and shooting us down with rifles like Palin probably would be doing.

[shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com]

This is true.

I think that what I don't like is being seduced, and then abandoned.