BREAKING: THE PRESIDENT ENDORSES MARRIAGE EQUALITY. Wow, looks like the "fierce advocate" finally remembered how the queers gave him their time, money, and votes four years ago. I linked to the Daily Kos post so you can see the syncophantic fanboys and girls talking about how fab our president is, etc. Well, it would have been nice if he said this, say, four years ago. Or how about a week ago? You know, before North Carolina decided to join their bigoted asshole neighbors to the south.
And this: President says he has concluded, personally that same sex couples should be allowed to marry. How nice that he's comfortable with it now.
So, why now? Is he so far ahead in the polls that his team thought he should throw a bone to the base? Or is the lack of enthusiasm around his re-election campaign stark enough that he needed to show his "liberal roots?" Personally, after watching him sit on his hands for four years, I would have preferred it if, instead, he told Eric Holder to start prosecuting some bankers or step aside. I'm over the kabuki, and having a civil rights matter as significant as the right to marry being used for political purposes offends me. Deeply.
I'm glad that Charlie Crist, Rick Perry and David Craig now know that the preznit thinks it's OK they're married.
Posted by: JDM | May 09, 2012 at 11:18 PM
He is a politician, and like all politicians thinks about the political impact of his words. And this doesn't change any policies.
That said, it is enormously inspirational, even life-changing, for millions of people that a sitting President has said this. Some may be cynical, or fault him for not measuring up to their criteria, but I'm glad he said it.
And contrast Obama with Romney, now revealed as a homophobic teen bully.
Posted by: MaximusNYC | May 10, 2012 at 01:49 PM
Sorry Max, I don't feel inspired and my life hasn't changed. Now getting the right to marry passed in 8 or 9 states? That is inspirational. Never thought I'd see that in my life time. I think this was a purely political move, which is why I am offended. The Clintons did the same fucking thing. Oh, and while Obama thinks it is ok notw for the gays to marry, he still will not sign an executive order banning workplace discrimination by federal contractors: http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/05/10/despite-marriage-equality-shift-obama-still-wont-sign-lgbt-anti-discrimination-executive-order/. I'm getting tired of this. I have put up with this shit for almost 30 years. It gets old. GMB
Posted by: gmb | May 10, 2012 at 08:15 PM
"I would have preferred it if, instead, he told Eric Holder to start prosecuting some bankers or step aside."
Really? Why can't he do both? One isn't predicated on the other.
As a gay man in a long term (18 year) relationship, I celebrate President Obama's announcement. He showed the leadership millions of gay and lesbian couples have been waiting for.
I'm offended you can't see this.
Posted by: Christopher di Spirito | May 14, 2012 at 09:00 AM
Leadership Christopher? Are you fucking kidding me? He promised to be a fierce advocate when he wanted our votes and then picked Rick Fucking Warren to give the invocation at his inaugural, after Warren worked to pass Prop 8. Leadership my ass. And yes, he could and should do both. So where are the DoJ's prosecutions? They will not happen under his administration. I grieve for the kids who will suffer the next time the banks decide to roll us. Thanks, Barack! GMB
Posted by: gmb | May 14, 2012 at 11:39 PM
GMB, I love you, but I think you have made up your mind to be offended by whatever Obama does or doesn't do.
Judging by the flood of posts I saw on Facebook in the days after Obama's statement, it has made a real difference to a lot of people. I don't worship the ground he walks on, but this, DADT, etc. represent real progress. And that is how progress has always happened -- bit by bit, in fits and starts, never as fast as it should.
I guess you can always take the glass-half-empty view. But this is still a pretty impressive list:
http://www.equalitygiving.org/Accomplishments-by-the-Administration-and-Congress-on-LGBT-Equality
I'm sure Firedoglake has compiled an equally long list of all the things they are angry at Obama about for _not_ doing on this front. That is their stock in trade.
Posted by: MaximusNYC | May 15, 2012 at 04:50 PM
Max: I know how you feel. Thing is, when I first started out, I did the activism thing and I've seen this before--but up close. It's not nice to be used for political purposes. It pushes all my wrong buttons. And I have focused on what he has said--in the past and now. I can't understand how a principled man can go from thinking same sex marriage is ok (when he was an Illinois state senator) to having some issues with gay marriage but not civil unions (when he first ran for pres) and back again. Real progress is the right to marry in New York, and Iowa, and Connecticut...etc. That impresses me. And while there was help, gay folks did that mostly on their own. Just saying. GMB
P.S. I don't read Firedoglake that often--I got the link somewhere. In fact, I removed them from my blog list a long time ago.
Posted by: gmb | May 15, 2012 at 08:33 PM