Barack Obama, Gay Rights Groups Struggle Over Democratic Platform

Barack Obama, Gay Rights Groups Struggle Over Democratic Platform

Obama Lauds LGBT Achievements at HRC Dinnder

Obama Lauds LGBT Achievements at HRC Dinner

Obama's Remarks at 15th Annual HRC Dinner

With a lot of pressure and push from LGBT activists, President Obama did deliver on overturning Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but still refuses to support marriage equality (publicly), though that may change if he wins re-election since the only reason he could be holding back on endorsing gay marriage is to get re-elected.  He promised to work to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages even in states where they are legalized.

Now that the diversion of DADT is out of the way, the real fight for LGBT equality should focus on marriage equality and finally passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Obama: It Gets Better Message

President Obama contributes a video to gay teens as part of the "It Get's Better" project

Judge Ends "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Judge Orders "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Injunction

A federal judge has issued a worldwide injunction stopping enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, ending the military's 17-year-old ban on openly gay troops.

The Dept. of Justice is not required to appeal the decision but is expected to do so.

In related news, the Dept. of Justice is Appealing Rulings Against DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act)

The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday defended the federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman by appealing two rulings in Massachusetts by a judge who called the law unconstitutional for denying federal benefits to gay married couples.

How ironic that the administration of the candidate who promised to repeal DADT and DOMA is now defending them, while conservative Republicans are winning court cases to overturn them!

Will Obama's Paralysis on Gay Rights Issues Worsen the Enthusiasm Gap in November? | News & Politics | AlterNet

Will Obama's Paralysis on Gay Rights Issues Worsen the Enthusiasm Gap in November? | News & Politics | AlterNet

While Log Cabin Republicans and more prominent conservative Republicans are pushing to end DADT, and support marriage equality, the Obama administration is defending DADT in court and Obama continues to oppose gay marriage (publicly) and now is to the right of many conservatives!

The recent court decision declaring DADT unconstitutional gives the Democrats and Obama a perfect opening to end DADT, and a vote is scheduled. It may be the last chance for the Obama administration to accomplish anything for LGBT civil rights.

Washington Blade: Reid to Schedule DADT Vote Next Week

The Fall of Obama and the Democratic Party

Just a few years ago, when the Democrats took control of Congress in the last years of the worst Presidential administration in modern U.S. History, things looked so good for the Democrats. The they won the White House and a young, charismatic African-American Democratic President brought hope and change... and then.. they blew it!

If ever there was a time for a great progressive/left awakening and a political realignment from the failed policies of Ronald Reagan, George Bush and yes, Bill Clinton, it was now. Capitalism was in its biggest crisis since the Great Depression--we were in another depression! Thirty Years of Reaganomics and "free trade" (NAFTA, etc.) had lead the country off the cliff--deregulation led to economic disaster and the collapse of the banking system. The auto industry was on the verge of bankruptcy. The gap between the rich and poor continued to grow. Good paying American jobs were moved overseas, and wages declined.

Instead of taking this historic opportunity to change course and put government on the side of workers and labor to rebuild the middle class, the Obama administration continued to policies of George W. Bush to bail out the banksters who caused the economic disaster, then bailed out the failing auto industry, and continued the Bush administration's lenient regulation of the oil industry and then the BP oil disaster hit and demonstrated the complete failure of capitalism and the criminal activities of the oil companies, and instead of challenging the corporate ruling elite, the Obama administration sided over and over again with Wall Street and the corporate rich.

We needed at least another FDR to stand up to the corporate aristocracy and put workers back to work with massive public investments, instead we got a watered down package of tax cuts and far too little public investment to create jobs. Instead of a single-payer national healthcare system, or even the choice of a public option to private insurance, we got a watered down health insurance industry friendly expansion of private insurance, and a mandate for strugging workers and families to buy private insurance. Even with all these concessions to capitalism and the corporate elites, Obama was still labelled a "socialist" by the right-wing media.

So now we face the inevitable defeat of Obama and the Democratic Party in November 2010. While the Republicans played their hand well, blocking every progressive legislation and even opposing moderate and conservative policies they supported in the past, Obama and the Democrats failed to use all the power they had to push back against the corporate backed right-wing regressive forces and push a progressive agenda. Obama was NOT a FDR, he wasn't even a good Jimmy Carter. He stayed on the sidelines as Congress made a mess out of healthcare and financial regulation reform. He did not lead. Obama shares much of the blame for the defeat of Democrats in November.

Maybe if the Republicans take control of Congress and push their radical, right-wing, anti-labor, pro-business agenda, the American progressive/left will rise up as the right-wing Tea Party has and change the direction of the Democratic Party, or even better, begin organizing a post-Democratic Party socialist/labor party.

Rob Kall lays it out on OdEd News
The Democrats are going to lose big in November, possibly really big.
It's probably too late to do anything about it.
Here's a partial list of the guilty parties who caused the Democratic party to fail:
Who To Blame When Dems Loose Big in November

Another interesting article by Cenk Uygur comparing Obama to Ronald Reagan:
Who is More Conservative: Ronald Reagan or Barack Obama?

Obama, White House Celebrate Pride | News | Advocate.com

Obama, White House Celebrate Pride | News | Advocate.com

Which Side Are You On? Populists vs. Corporatists

It's time President Obama, the Democrats, and the American people choose between populism and corporatism. There is a class struggle between the corporate rich and "the people" (workers, poor, etc.) Unfortunately, the Obama administration and the Democratic Party can't seem to make a decision on which side to fight for.

The Democratic Party establishment, including Bill Clinton and the Obama administration, tried to STOP progressive candidates from challenging their established (corporate) Democratic candidates in primaries last week. Bill Clinton himself tried to persuade Joe Sestak not to run against former Republican Arlene Specter in PA, and campaigned for corporate whore Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas.

President Obama refuses to take a hard stand against BP in the Gulf, or STOP oil drilling off the coast, to placate "moderate" Republicans and Democrats, just as he refused to push for single-payer health insurance.

With the threat of another recessionary dip in the economy, Obama refuses to push for a bold progressive economic agenda, and is caving in to the "deficit hawks" who want to slash government spending and are pushing for cutting Social Security and Medicare.

When will Obama and the Democrats learn how to fight for workers? Will they side with workers ("the people") against the corporate elites? Not likely, since the Democratic Party, including Obama, are in bed with the corporate elites as much as the Republican Party.

Obama Needs to Decide Which Side He is On: Corporatist or Populist

Robert Reich: Why We're Falling into a Double Dip-Recession

Long-Term Unemployed Now 46% of Unemployed (Highest on Record!)

Obama Warns of Massive Layoffs of Teachers, Police & Firefighters (Congress refuses to Act)

The Do Nothing 44th President

Queers are Getting Pissed!

After all the hope and campaign promises by Obama to stand up for LGBT equality and overturn DADT, DOMA and pass ENDA, the reality is sinking in that Obama and the Democrats are not in a hurry to do anything substantive for the gay community, at least not this year. The Obama administration has turned changing the DADT policy over to the military. ENDA is stalled and does not have enough votes with gender identity included. If Democrats loose lots of seats in Congress in November as expected, there may not be another chance to move on LGBT issues for a long time.

But queers are getting pissed and fired up. A new LGBT activist group, GetEqual, is lighting fire under some asses in D.C. They have staged several highly publicized protests this week on DADT and ENDA:

GetEqual Disrupts House Education and Labor Committee on ENDA

Six Service Members from GetQual Hancuff themselves to White House Fence

(Protest Coverage Cut Short by Park Police)

Gay Protesters Interrupt Obama Speech on DADT

Here's Why: Barney Frank Says Obama Not Pushing DADT Repeal This Year, Frustrated with Obama's Lack of Support

After calling for the repeal of DADT in his SOTU speech, Obama now appears to want to wait until 2011:
Gibbs-DADT on Hold Until 2011

Obama and the Democrats are missing an historic opportunity to pass meaningful legislation for LGBT civil rights, and they may suffer in the elections from lack of LGBT support!

Obama vs. FDR: Obama Doesn't Get it!

From my other blog, Memphis Socialists



In response to President Obama telling Business Week that he doesn't begrudge the excessive CEO pay and bonuses o Wall Street, several progressive commentators and bloggers have been in disbelief that Obama still does not seem to understand the magnitude of the disgust the American workers feel toward the capitalist class in the United States. In fact, Obama and the Democratic Party have been trying to win more support from the Wall Street business class that created the Great Recession. While the "leaders" and funders of the Democratic Party have been focusing on saving capitalism and the corporate elite, workers on main streets are desperately looking for a populist movement to support and fight back!

Paul Krugman, Oh.My.God Obama Clueless

Simon Johnson, Obama Still Doesn't Get It

Is Obama Committing Political Suicide? Calls Obscene Wall Street Bonuses Part of the "Free Market System"

Obama Bows to the Whinning of the Rich

What Does Obama Stand For?

Is Obama Trying to Dismantle Roosevelt's New Deal?

Thom Hartmann, Obama vs. FDR

FDR's Madison Square Garden Speech (Oct. 31, 1936)

Obama's SOTU

With his healthcare reform in shambles and the big defeat of Democrats losing Ted Kennedy's Massachusetts senate seat, President Obama is expected to switch gears in his Wed. State of the Union speech and try to appeal to middle class working folks and independents by proposing a three year spending freeze on non-discretionary spending (except of course military and "homeland security," and Veteran's programs).

The spending freeze is getting a cold shoulder from the right and the left. Conservatives will argue it doesn't go far enough--they want big cuts in Social Security and entitlements. (A special deficit task force is being floated by conservatives for the purpose of forcing cuts in SS and medicare.) Progressives don't support it because the lessons of the 1930s during the Great Depression is that you do NOT cut government spending during an economic depression. Hoover did it (and helped create the Great Depression) and FDR did it again in 1937 and prolonged the depression. Obama, like FDR, is giving in to the deficit hawks too soon.

Perhaps one good thing to come out of the SOTU speech will be to finally call for an end to the military's anti-gay Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. The Hillis reporting that the White House has asked the top Senate Democrat on military affairs to postpone announcing a hearing that would explore repealing the controversial law that bans openly gay people from serving in the military.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was expected to have Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen testify before his committee on recent calls to end the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

The hearing had been expected at the end of January. Now the target date is expected to be Feb. 11, a source said.
Levin was told to hold off on announcing the hearing until after the president’s address Wednesday, according to a Senate aide. Levin was also told that Obama will address the issue of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” in his speech on Wednesday, but Levin does not know what’s in the speech.

A source familiar with some details of the initial draft of the State of the Union said it would address the repeal of the controversial law. Obama has made it his campaign promise to repeal the Clinton-era law.

UPDATE: I thought the SOTU speech was very good, even though Obama's policy proposals don't go nearly far enough, especially "health insurance reform," but it was like his campaign speeches and he gave a good sermon to Congress and poked a few republicans (and the Supreme Court) in the eye--with a big smile. Only a brief mention of gays rights, another call to end Clinton's anti-gay DADT military policy, but its not like to get passed, nor is any real healthcare reform.

No mention of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act or repeal the "Defense of Marriage Act." ENDA should be a higher priority than repealing DADT.

Republicans looked like goons, as usual, not even applauding to make the big banks pay back the money we loaned them to save their asses. How can the Republican Party be taken seriously as a "populist" party??

Robert Scheer: The Sorry State of Our Union

The Big Sell Out

Obama's Big Sell Out

In “Obama’s Big Sellout”, Matt Taibbi argues that President Obama has packed his economic team with Wall Street insiders intent on turning the bailout into an all-out giveaway. Rather than keeping his progressive campaign advisers on board, Taibbi says Obama gave key economic positions in the White House to the very people who caused the economic crisis in the first place. Taibbi also points to the ties Obama’s appointees have to one main in particular: Bob Rubin, the former Goldman Sachs co-chairman who served as Treasury secretary under Bill Clinton.

Video: Matt Taibbi On Obama's Economy

Obama's War

Protest Obama's War
Rethink Afghanistan

UPDATE:
Malalai Joya, A Troop Surge Can Only Magnify the Crime Against Afghanistan

Michael Moore, An Open Letter to President Obama on Afghanistan

Obama Lays Out Afghanistan War Plan

Obama Speaks Out Against Anti-Gay Referenda

White House Says NO to Anti-Gay Referenda

The Obama administration has finally spoken out against the anti-gay referenda in Maine and Washington.

In response to an inquiry from The Advocate, the White House sent the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s position on same-sex relationship recognition voter referenda in Maine and Washington.

“The President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same-sex couples, and as he said at the Human Rights Campaign dinner, he believes ‘strongly in stopping laws designed to take rights away.’ Also at the dinner, he said he supports, ‘ensuring that committed gay couples have the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country.’"

Hopefully this will help with the campaigns in Maine and Washington, but why didn't Obama speak out on Maine and Washington in his "big gay speech" to the HRC?

Obama Speaks, Gays March!

This weekend gay activists are marching on Washington to pressure Obama and Congress to ACT on legislation to support equal rights for LGBT people. The National Equality March is being organized by gay activist/Harvey Milk friend Cleve Jones.

The march underscores some divisions within the LGBT community between grassroots activists who are impatient with Obama and Democrats in Congress, and beltway politicans, like Barney Frank, and gay lobby groups like HRC:

Gay Rep. Barney Frank Says the March is a waste of time

HRC says gays should be more patient and give Obama and the Democrats more time--until 2017!?
(This is one reason I don't give any money to HRC, Joe Solmonese is the most over-paid "gay executive" in the country. I urge progressives to support the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force instead!)

On the eve of the March, President Obama will be giving a "Big Gay Speech" to the HRC. What should/will he say?

Can Obama win over the gay community?

I agree with Barney Frank that marching on Washington D.C. is NOT enough, we've done it before. We have to get more politically active at the grassroots level and put more pressure on our elected officials, HOWEVER, the organizers of the NEM are trying to energize the LGBT community to do just that--and send a wake up call to Obama and Congress, so I support it.
We cannot wait until 2012 or 2017! Democrats will probably loose Congress in 2010. and we can't count on Obama being re-elected in 2012. We have to ACT NOW!

UPDATE: Obama Pledges to End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" at HRC Dinner/Fundraiser A repeat of his campaign promises, no mention of Main or Washington where marriage equality is being fought for. Like a true liberal, Obama says he is for "equal rights" for gays, but NOT marriage equality!

AmericaBlog: Obama's big speech--Heard It All Before!

Obama's Comeback?

Obama to Congresss: "The Time for Bickering is Over"

Obama took off the kid gloves and came out swinging in his address to Congress Wed. He laid out a progressive vision on healthcare, though fell short of demanding a public healthcare program as most progressives had hoped.

Alternet: This Was the Obama We've Been Waiting For

Perhaps the most telling point in the address was when Rep. Joe Wilson (S.C.) interrupted Obama's speech when he rebuked the lie that the healthcare plan would cover "illegal" immigrants. Wilson yelled "You Lie," to the astonishment of the whole country. Turns out Joe Wilson is a LIAR

Reactions to the Speech

Rachel Maddow: President Offered Full, Formal Defense of Liberalism

Obama vs. Progressives

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Markos Moulitas Warns Obama: "Public Option is Our Waterloo"
Progressives are not happy with Obama, and Wednesday night could be the end of their precarious marriage:

Bill Moyers: Mr. President, We Need a Fighter!
Mr. President, It's Time to Fight!

Obama Losing the Left: U.S. Progressives Have Lost Faith in His Commitment to Change

Obama Advisor/Gay Activist: Losing Patience with Obama

David Sarota: Progressives Pay the Price for Confusing a Party with a Movement
Glenn Beck, Obama's White House and the Progressive Movement

Help for Obama's Speech to Congress--The Speech He SHOULD Give
Katrina Vanden Heuvel: Obama Must Reclaim the Debate

Paul Krugman: Hoping for Audacity

Obama's Speech Wed. will determine whether he will be a great leader or another failure.

Liberals Revolt Over Public Option

Finally, Liberal Democrats Revolt Over Public Option

Health Care Concession Riles Left

Without Public Option, There is No Reform!

Obama Picks Fight With Left on Health Reform

White House Appears Ready to Drop Public Option

William Greider, Is Obama Squandering Our Best Chance for Better Health Care?

Obama/Democrats Cave In to Right-Wing Protests

Turns out Obama is NOT a socialist after all, hell he ain't even a LIBERAL!

White House Ready to Drop "Public Option"

The Democratic Party has been bought off by the Insurance Companies, and the rest of the "health care" industry. They killed the most popular, most efficient and in Obama's own words, the ONLY way to get UNIVERSAL health care (Single-Payer, Medicare for ALL), and now they are dropping the watered-down "Public Option"..

Sebelius: Public Option "Not Essential Element"

Sen. Conrad (D-N.D.): Public Option "Wasted Effort"


Maybe now the LEFT will start protesting at some townhall meetings!

Hint: Socialist Party USA

Obama/Democrats Sell Out to Health Care Industry

I am now officially DISGUSTED with Obama and the Democratic Party. According to the NYT, the Obama administration and the Democrats in the Senate have cut deals with the insurance, drug companies and hospital industries to (a) not push single-payer public health care (b) minimize the costs of their companies for “health insurance reform” in exchange for their support (including and ad campaign supporting the final bill, which will NOT even have a “public option”).

The RIGHT has picked up what many of us fawning over Obama missed in his townhall meeting—Obama is now campaigning AGAINST a single-payer universal health care plan (contradicting his own past statements, including his last press conference where he ADMITTED that only a single-payer plan could provide UNIVERSAL coverage.) Obama is now using the right-wing talking points against a single-payer plan. The “public Option” is not going to be in the final bill, it is already being cut out in the Senate, because of the deals being made behind the scene with the insurance companies. WE’VE BEEN SOLD OUT. This is what happens when Democrats, who claim to support progressive values like universal healthcare, do NOT stand for those principles, and cave in to corporate interests for campaign donations.

Read and weep:

NYT: Obama is Taking Active Role in Talks on Health Care

Robert Reich: How the White House's Deal With Big Pharma Undermines Democracy

Democrats in Pay for Play Deal with PhARMA

Huffington Post: Internal Memo Confirms Big Giveaways in White House Deal with Big Pharma

Change We Can Believe In?