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November 24, 2008
The expectation lowering continues
Posted by: Chris
Are we already seeing Rahm Emanuel's fingerprints?
From the (anti-gay) Washington Times:
President-elect Barack Obama will not move for months, and perhaps not until 2010, to ask Congress to end the military's decades-old ban on open homosexuals in the ranks, two people who have advised the Obama transition team on this issue say.
Repealing the ban was an Obama campaign promise. However, Mr. Obama first wants to confer with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his new political appointees at the Pentagon to reach a consensus and then present legislation to Congress, the advisers said.
"I think 2009 is about foundation building and reaching consensus," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
What does it say about what lies ahead if Barack Obama's top staffer believes Bill Clinton's biggest mistake on gay issues was not throwing us under the bus but (once in a blue moon) supporting us?
And what does it say for our movement that its leaders often sound like White House flaks the way they make excuses for equality further delayed?
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Comments
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My expectations were low to start with. He's a politician. Politicians don't help others, they help themselves. As long as he doesn't end up taking rights away from us, as Clinton did and McCain hinted at doing if elected, my expectations will be met. Any movement at the federal level that does happen on his watch will be, as far as I'm concerned, just a bonus.
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All of you LGBT Americans who voted for Obama are soon going to be chanting Oh No He Didn't instead of Yes We Can!
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Well you guys remind me of ultra-right jingo and commedian Sean Hannity (whom I monitor from time to time just for laughs) --- he's declaring this the "Obama Depression" --- despite the fact that Barack will not take office for another two months. (L-O-L)
But no matter how you slice-it --- Bill Clinton's momentous political debacle of taking on the military establishment his first week in office is seared in the synapses of politicos (right and left) --- almost to the point of "third-rail" status (touch-it-and-you're-dead)
ANYWAY --- Kris et al --- I'll stand by my vote for Obama. What - do you think McCain was a better choice for gay rights??? I can't believe we're still beating this VERY dead horse!!
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Sadly, expecting politicians to lead on any issue thet has the potential potential to loose them votes. (yes,unfortunatly, there are a lot of homophobic's still out among the, often braindead, masses)
I'm confident though that Obama does represent the best chance of progress.
Why?
His huge popular support gives him options.
His intelligence.
His relativly young age.Let's hope I'm right. I deal with relationship issues on a daily basis and outdated attitudes are still causing enormous strees and grief.
Patience people, give him time to settle in :-)
The comments to this entry are closed.
Lucrece on Nov 25, 2008 3:27:17 AM:
What kills me is that, if he does act up on removing soldiers from Iraq, it will be the homosexuals who will have to return in anonymity.
I said it many times before, despite Allan's fervent fawning and Andoni's drooling-- even you are guilty, Chris-- that this man would begin to disappoint.
When he showed "moderation" by not throwing McClurkin off his concert, I would expect the same "moderation" (a.k.a. tepid,only verbalized, support) when it came to LGBT initiatives on a federal level.