Gay Activists Heated Debate About Obama's Gay Rights Speech Pt 1

[democracy1st]

Run time: 06:48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXNMzuG4VqU   Posted on YouTube: October 11, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: October 11, 2009 By DU Member: democracy1st Views on DU: 528

 
Part 1Of 2| Gay Activists Heated Debate About President Obama's Gay Rights Speech To The Human Rights Campaign - Hilary Rosen, Dan Savage, Michelangelo Signorile, Lt Dan Choi Are Interviewed - 10/10/09


Gay Activists Heated Debate About Obama's Gay Rights Speech Pt 2


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxraByeDlHw




Chris Matthews Interviews Gay Rights Activists About Obama

MSNBC's Chris Matthews Interviews Gay Rights Activists Cleve Jones & Joe Solmonese About Obama's Commitment To The Gay Community - 10/09/09


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgwlfoI_TsU

[tomm2thumbs]

1. symbols are important and perhaps the one that stands out was indeed the Easter invitation by Obama

I do get the sense Obama is walking a line here but if there was one thing he could have put out there, be it a 6 month stop-loss or just specifically indicate that those who were booted by DADT would be reinstated in the bill he wants on his desk - whatever small symbol he could make, it would have been helpful. I thought his speech to the NAACP where he indicated support for 'our gay brothers and sisters'* was more powerful than the words he used at this HRC meeting. He was definitely more animated, but I sensed the words were not as strongly written.

In the end, everyone would have preferred a 10 word speech: 'We WILL end Don't Ask Don't Tell in 12 months.' But that would be impossible to guarantee, but I think it would have put the fire under the Congress to do it.

If this is actually inevitable, it's possible several Republicans will step up to the plate and take control over the lost momentum here, offer up a bill, embarrass the Democrats AND gain points with a large, disillusioned group, but we'll see if they are smart enough. Bob Barr would have no doubt done this if he were still in Congress.


* footnote: this was similar to his campaign speech to Ebenezer Baptist Church: ''If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King’s vision of a beloved community. We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them.''

[AlbertCat]

2. I love these back and forths

I like seeing the "patient" and the "impatient" on gay issues go back and forth. As opposed to the gays arguing with the "man on dog" fools. It shows that gays are not "all the same" and are really on the same page even if they disagree on procedure. It just makes it all look so adult and intelligent whereas the opposition screeching about pedophiles and necrophilia and bestiality just look like hysterical fools and uncomprehending bigots losing their grip even more than the teabaggers.

Debate and delay also makes it appear to be just and not like special interest bullying.... the only argument that has a whiff of legitimacy (albeit a false one) from the opposition.

It'll happen. Yes it shoulda happened decades ago, but it didn't. It will.