Obama to Reaffirm His Support for Gay Rights

Source: Washington Post

President Obama will tout the imminent passage of long-delayed hate crime legislation when he addresses the nation's largest gay rights group on Saturday, as he seeks to allay concerns among some in the community that he is moving too slowly to prove his commitment to their cause.

The House of Representatives on Thursday aproved a bill that would broaden the current definition of federal hate crimes to include attacks based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Final action in the Senate is expected next week.

Similar legislation languished for years under the weight of veto threats from former President George W. Bush and Republican opposition in the Congress. But Obama has said he will eagerly sign the bill that has become a centerpiece of the gay civil rights agenda.

"The president has articulated unwavering support for it and a desire to sign it," said Melody Barnes, the president's top domestic policy adviser. "This is all part of a theme of steady, forward progress on issues that have been supported by the community."


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/10/AR2009101000627.html?hpid=topnews

:sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm:


Unfortunately, there are a few on DU who would say that - sans the sarcasm. That's their problem.

Oh, I see somebody beat me with a post already.

Someone else to ignore. Yay.

:popcorn:

Poor choice of words if you ask me.

Unfortunately the haters will try to pee on this too....

with "hating" is not very productive, clifford.

There are people who hate the Prez on this board and you fucking well know it.

Wanting him to hurry the fuck up with DADT or the right to marry is NOT what I'm talking about.

:eyes:

if you bring "haters" into the discussion, no one is going to assume you mean random people who criticize Obama for reasons unrelated to his progress on gay rights.

There is real, legitimate anger and concern over the lack of progress and leadership, so far, regarding the entire penumbra of issues that make up this movement. The word "haters" should have no place, within the context of that discussion.

and then go out of their way to use anything - including human rights issues like DADT and marriage equality to bash the prez.

An you are smart enough to know there are people on these boards who have and will continue to do just that.

They are 'concerned' with gay rights only insofar as it allows them to attack the president for things he might or might now be doing........

It creates enough chaos around any given point to obfuscate the very real concerns and issues that people have with vituperative garbage that those with an axe to grind - any axe - are wielding.

Don't broad brush everyone with that same accusation and then back track when called on it.

That's just a recipe for a flame war.

putz.

I'm wondering where the broad brush occurred, and where I backtracked.

:shrug:

Yes I know, calling me names is so much simpler.

But maybe look at your posts the way another person would, someone without your preconceptions.

OR continue to call me names as I care.

so what.

:thumbsup:

Some localities cite that as a "barrier" to adequately investigating hate crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It's only $5 million, but it helps address that situation head on.

I am pro gay rights ...but

Obama has totally misled us in every single policy we expected change. I dont believe him

Not in any order of priority:

1. Tax cuts for Seniors making less than $50,000 a year.

2. Don't ask, don't tell not being punted.

3. Not getting Gitmo closed.

4. Feeble efforts on climate change. He has done a few things in the U.S., but they pale in comparison to the problem and the leadership the U.S. could show. Terrible failure.

5. Continuing torture.

6. Continuing invasion of citizens' civil liberties.

7. Continuing trashing the Constitution with those signing exclusions or whatever they're called.

8. Not moving aggressively to level the playing field for the U.S. worker by putting financial leveling measures in place so it isn't cheaper for companies to have stuff made by poorly paid, no benefits, no environmental controls workers overseas. The middle class and blue collar classes are dying economically because of this. The country is going off a cliff.

9. Not standing up for the public option for healthcare.

10. Not winding down Iraq.

11. Not realizing that Afghanistan is a quagmire in the making that will continue the policy of wars bankrupting the U.S. with trillion dollar a year costs.

12. I'm sure there are more things which I will think of once I click on post message.

1) He has not formally endorsed Patrick Murphy's bill HR 1283 to repeal DADT, despite many requests that he do so. A formal endorsement which would give it major momentum.

2) When asked about civil gay marriage by the media, he continues to conflate his supposed "religious beliefs" with the question of marriage equality. "My religious beliefs tell me marriage is between a man and a woman" is not an appropriate response to a question about CIVIL marriage equality. It confuses the vast middle who do not understand that if civil marriage was fully legal nationwide, CHURCHES could continue to refuse to marry gay couple, should they so choose. It is an answer that a religious rightwinger would give, not a putatively liberal Democratic President.

3) Not one major (cabinet, SC Justice) appointment to an openly gay individual. Lots of minor appointments, for which I give him credit, but no breakthrough first. Hopefully, that is yet to come.

been posting little valueless jibes at the Prez for a couple of weeks now.

I agree with you COMPLETELY on his repeated wrapping marriage with religious belief. it's a horseshit argument as far as civil rights are concerned and he is smart enough to know better.

If the church doesn't want to marry teh gay, fine, but the church should then stay the fuck away from the justice of the peace.

as smart enough does.

equal and worthy of protection - only then will we see protections in the workplace, full adoption rights, rights to be open in the military, and everything in between, and right down to not having to watch Bill Maher/Jay Leno/Conan O'Brien do political satire, then immediately spew an anti-gay stereotypical "joke", because it won't be condoned and people will boo. Only when a president presses for full rights does all the big things start to change and we see the little things improve over time - for that -

I say THANK YOU, Barack Obama!

some people.

he has to endorse gay marriage as a civil right. if he doesnt, he is feeding the hate.

Pity.

There's a difference between repealing laws that shouldn't have been enacted in the first place and making sure that all citizens of the US have the same equal, human rights. But it's a pity that some of "us" want discrimination to end.

biting off the president's head whenever he takes a small step toward equality. I'm so tired of hearing people scream, "That's not enough!" Obama has done a hell of a lot more for gays than W and Clinton. Perspective. Give it a try.

everyone should be able to drink from the same fountain, kiddo.

NT!

I most certainly will be supporting my congressional democrats in 2010 and 2012, I really don't know if I can say as much for my democratic president.

and yet, DADT still exists - despite his very specific promise to end same. Talk talk talk, and no action. Sigh