Fierce Advocate - really? one more outraged Dem

[nadine_mn]

I wasn't going to weigh in on this because I know many of my points have probably been stated more vehemently and more eloquently by othe DUers.

But dammit, everytime I hear a clip of Obama stating that he has always been a "fierce advocate" for gays and lesbians, my blood pressure goes up and I need to breathe deep.

Because you know what, you can't be a "fierce advocate" if you openly discriminate against a group of people. And yes, saying that one is against gay marriage is discriminatory. It isn't a word choice= civil unions vs marriage, a lifestyle choice, or a social issue to disagree on. It is discrimination pure and simple. It's not even about being a homosexual or marriage.

It is about the Majority having a legal right to do X and a Minority being denied the same right.


Obama's statement:
"And that's how it should be, because that's what America is about," Obama said responding to a question at a news conference about his and Warren's differences on social issues. "That's part of the magic of this country is that we are diverse and noisy and opinionated."

Discrimination is not a social issue... it is a civil rights issue. It isn't open for 'dialogue' in my opinion, especially to a Constitutional law scholar.

And frankly, I don't give rats ass about who Bill Clinton or any other president had speak at his inauguration - I am talking about right now. After the travesty of Prop 8, this is a slap in the face to everyone, not just the GLBT community, although it is especially offensive to them.

The crap about uniting and reaching across the aisle... you know who Obama should be uniting and reaching across the aisle to? The GLBT community. Because they have suffered and continue to suffer hate and discrimination, and especially after Prop 8, now is the time to show that you are united behind the rights of all Americans.

The argument that it is only a 90 seconds - that is 90 seconds of worldwide attention to a man who preaches hate - yes hate. Likening gay marriage to incest or pedophilia is hate.

And Obama's comment about oh well we agree on issues like poverty and global warming... sorry not the same as denying an entire class of people the right that the majority enjoys.

Ok I am done for now - I just had to say it... I am pissed, though not surprised. A long time ago, during the primaries I stated I wasn't a big fan of Obama and I was accused of being racist. I quit coming to DU for awhile, until the nomination was final. I voted for Obama. But I couldn't campaign for him because of his remarks about not supporting gay marriage and the whole Donnie McClurkin thing.

As someone who went to law school and studied civil rights and that pesky Constitution, I expect someone like Obama, who studied the same stuff (and clearly scored better on his exams than I did) to know discrimination when it rears its ugly head. To know that civil unions for gays and marriage for heteros is not unlike separate but equal. And I don't care if you don't agree or don't like it or if your god says nooo its bad, discrimination is unconstitutional.

Flame away, I don't care because on this issue I am right.

[QC]

1. But he's given us so many pretty words!

Isn't that worth something?

[jonnyblitz]

2. you are right and Obama brazenly LIES when he claims he is

a "fierce advocate". I do believe he is a BIGOT when it comes to gays, no matter what weasle words he spews.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

3. You just can't see the big picture. It's all about post-partisanship

:sarcasm:

[lostnotforgotten]

4. I Agree With You - This Is A Black And White Issue - Subtlety And Shades Of Gray Thinking

Do not apply.

[readmoreoften]

5. Wise words, my friend. Wise words.

"The crap about uniting and reaching across the aisle... you know who Obama should be uniting and reaching across the aisle to? The GLBT community."

[EFerrari]

6. Yes, you are right.

:kick:

[enigmatic]

7. yep

There are people here that I'll never look at the same way at again after this.

[Carolann]

8. I'm so happy...

that someone has taken the time to say what I've been thinking all day. It is absolutely outrageous that Obama picked Warren to BLESS his inauguration...Warren, a man who makes HATE for a living; a man who preaches division every single day; a man who compares people who are not like him to pedophilia and incest...this is reaching across the aisle? Bullshit! Obama had a chance to pick any one of a thousand or more ministers in this country and he picked the most bigoted of them all to BLESS him and our country! I'm so damn mad I can't even see straight...how dare this man whom I gave money and time to because I believed that he cared about ALL people - how dare he pick someone who so totally represents HATRED - how dare he? Well, he's lost me...every dime, every minute, every thought will now be circling around Obama's betrayal of all he pretended to believe in...and I'm not gay either. I do, however, believe that ALL people are created equally both in God's eyes and in the eyes of our battered constitution...and I will NEVER stop fighting for the rights of ALL people to be treated equally! DAMN HIM!

[Juche]

9. Short of gay marriage, he is

I disagree with him on gay marriage, but short of gay marriage he is pretty progressive and the most progressive president we have ever had on gay rights issues.


http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Barack_Obama.htm#Civil_Rights


Gay Rights
# Opposes CA Prop. 8, one-man-one-woman marriage. (Jul 2008)
# Being gay or lesbian is not a choice. (Nov 2007)
# Decisions about marriage should be left to the states. (Oct 2007)
# Homosexuality no more immoral than heterosexuality. (Oct 2007)
# Ok to expose 6-year-olds to gay couples; they know already. (Sep 2007)
# Has any marriage broken up because two gays hold hands? (Aug 2007)
# We need strong civil unions, not just weak civil unions. (Aug 2007)
# Legal rights for gays are conferred by state, not by church. (Aug 2007)
# Disentangle gay rights from the word "marriage". (Aug 2007)
# Gay marriage is less important that equal gay rights. (Aug 2007)
# Gay rights movement is somewhat like civil rights movement. (Aug 2007)
# Let each denominations decide on recognizing gay marriage. (Jul 2007)
# Pass ENDA and expand hate crime legislation. (Mar 2007)


Voting Record

# Strengthen the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Aug 2007)
# Voted NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
# Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
# Ending racial profiling is part of fight for justice. (Jan 2001)
# Sponsored bill for special-needs evacuation plans. (Sep 2005)
# Sponsored bill for a Rosa Parks commemorative postage stamp. (Dec 2005)
# Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
# Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
# Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery. (Jun 2008)
# Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees. (Dec 2007)
# Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
# Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements. (Jan 2008
# Opposed 1996 Illinois DOMA bill. (Mar 2007)
# Supports health benefits for gay civil partners. (Oct 2006)
# Opposes gay marriage; supports civil union & gay equality. (Oct 2006)
# Marriage not a human right; non-discrimination is. (Oct 2004)
# Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws. (Jul 1998)

[Doughboy71]

10. K&R nt

[OneBlueSky]

11. if he is a fierce advocate, he can prove it TODAY . . .

the U.S. has just voted against a U.N. resolution that decriminalizes homosexuality . . . as President-Elect, and as one who is a "fierce advocate" for gay and lesbian rights, Obama should speak up loudly and clearly on this issue, and do it NOW . . . he should condemn the U.S. vote and promise that, when he takes office, this nation will join the rest of the civilized world in supporting this resolution wholeheartedly . . .

this is a great opportunity for Obama to demonstrate his support for gays and lesbians . . . he should not let it pass . . .