Obama is setting it up for full recognition of the Gay community?

Been gone a couple of days, but just reading the news of what will happen this afternoon in benefit extension to the gay community (which is long overdue by the way).. Is this classic Obama or not? He is dealing with established law in DOMA.. How to bring this to a boil in the congress and get it addressed.

Think about this for one minute..think about the implications of what is going to happen today. President Obama is going to make sure partners in the gay community have access to full health benefits. Now as far as I am reading this, it is NOT extended to unmarried partners in any other community.

Now this should start a uproar, that will either address that partners in the gay community need access to marriage to be legal partners, as those in all other communities are, or health benefits will be extended to all people who designate who a partner is sans marriage.

Now I may be reading this wrong, but that was my first assessment this AM. Input from those more knowledgeable in the area, much appreciated. Just don't call me names if I have it bass ackwards :hi:

Edit: It was reading about health benefits from CNN..
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama will sign a memorandum Wednesday granting health care and other benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, two senior administration officials said.

No health benefits, for starters...Not allowed under DOMA.

From the AP story:

President Barack Obama, whose gay and lesbian supporters have grown frustrated with his slow movement on their priorities, is extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees but stopping short of a guarantee of full health insurance, a White House official said.

especially in his push for health care reform.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

What benefits to federal employeeship are there besides health benefits?

Is he offering partners a discount at federal cafeterias?...

Wha'?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/16/obama.same.sex.benefits/index.html..

Does not include health benefits.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/us/politics/17gays.html?ref=your-money

it would really start shaking some apples off the tree. I guess we are in a big wait and see mode. Hope it is full health benefits.. fingers crossed!!

"President Obama will sign a presidential memorandum on Wednesday to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, administration officials said Tuesday evening, but he will stop short of pledging full health insurance coverage."

So... maybe I've just worked too many jobs with no benefits... but, err... what benefits are there, other than health benefits, to be had? Anyone? Anyone?... Bueller?...

HUGE benefit.. HUGE.. (I have had to take advantage of that more than once)

Those Federal Employees.... they get all the perks. Except health insurance for partners.

I take it all back now. Being able to use ... wait, so now same sex partners will be able to take time off work... to care for sick Federal Employees?... or now the Federal Employees can take time off for same sex partners... which they couldn't do before?... I guess I've just toiled in the gutters for too many years... I don't understand.

"updated 10:22 p.m. EDT, Tue June 16, 2009"

The health benefits part seems to have been re-thought. Apparently Federal employees get so many benefits though, that there are some left once you strip that out...

If he does anything good, he's taking half-measures for greedy fund-raising purposes.

This is the level of discourse we've come to on DU. Anything other than these two inter-related positions is evil, human-rights-denying, celebrity-worshiping, gay-bashing.

been disappointed recently. I understand that and I stand at your side. I ask that you be patient with me. I will fight for you but I need a little more time. Please give me that."

If he would just say that. It's really not asking for very much.

I think people are really picking and choosing. And anyway when he stated that and stated he is adamant about repealing DOMA and DADT----he's still not doing enough. I'm really getting sick and tired of people claiming they'd be satisfied with something he's actually already done. But because it's not done the way they want it or said in the words they want...they get pissed off. This is like that MacCaskill drama I believe...where she said Obama didn't follow procedure with firing someone...and what was it that bothered her, she didn't find his explanation for firing someone "satisfactory." :wtf: I don't know how many ways he needs to say it, but he has stated it often enough he's on the side of LGBT, people like to say otherwise.

brief. He shouldn't wiggle around this, couch it in code language. Come out and say it, for christ sake.

If the HRC, the most inside, mainstream, not into making enemies of Washington insiders organization around, is so upset that it is not going to that fundraiser, the Prez is not saying things clearly enough.

... that has led to this refrain of criticism.

The Obama administration will have to decide whether they are going to represent the GLBT community and its interests, or the center-right church going communities that aren't comfortable with "the Gay". Thus far it has seemed to be the latter that has been courted, while the former has seemed to be consciously ignored in order to not offend the latter. Political calculus has consequences.

Federal benefits except for healthcare?... what the hell is that?...

He's fighting the fight of his term with health care, but....he did do the same. People were asking him to lead on the issue until he did a presser. Now that Gay rights is the focal point he's going there next. So it does smack of the way he does thing. Chess move or not, but he's done this two-three times so far.

this AM and read there blips.

I know the health care issue isn't the only one. He sort of did this with the TARP money and with AIG. Huh...Meh, I like a smart President. ^_^ Good thinking on this.