This is a really interesting exchange from today’s briefing with White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. As Andy said, The Washington Blade, Metro Weekly, and NBC “piled on,” asking Carney why Obama had rejected an executive order which would have prohibited federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT people. This is one of those “process” things. The Obama administration appears to believe that the best course to follow is one similar to their process with getting DADT repealed, building support to get ENDA passed. Others respond, “Yes, but wouldn’t this executive order help that process along?” It’s an interesting exchange, and it’s nice to see journalists pushing the administration on these things.
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Think Progress has this statement from Rep. Jeff Merkley, who supports the idea of an executive order, and who is a leading proponent of ENDA:
“I appreciate the President’s support for ENDA and will keep pushing for legislative action. However, an executive order would be a very constructive step forward and help build momentum to pass the bill,” he said. “It’s disappointing that the White House is passing on an opportunity to make immediate gains for equal opportunity in America.”
It’s going to be really interesting to see what happens after Obama wins re-election.
I’m sure it’s been said before, but any one who wouldn’t vote for Obama solely because he supported lgbt equality wouldn’t vote for him *anyway*. I wish he would stop pussyfooting around these equality issues and give us his total and full support on all of them.
Considering Obama and the Democratic congress managed to repeal DADT, I’m willing to trust his administration strategy on ENDA. Passing a law is more important than an executive order that could be undone by a President Romney in 10 months (Yikes! Can you imagine?).
[BTW, Jeff Merkley is my state's junior senator -- not representative.]
Norm,
The problem is DADT almost didn’t get repealed and was not because of the president. He did not want to bring the repeal when he did. That was done and forced by the House leadership. I wish people would get their facts straight. This administration has shown little political courage. I will give them credit where credit is do i.e. health visitation rights and not defending DOMA. But they have lacked a political backbone on EDNA and marriage equality. It’s interesting that the hate crime law covering sexual orientation has been in the books since 2009 and the first charges using it were filled yesterday. Over 2 and a half years!!!! Why???
Recorder guy RULES!!!
Tim, there is no other way to say this; You are being a child. That is not an attack…it is just an honest observation.
“I didn’t get everything I WANTED, WHEN I wanted it!” Whaaa!
Good lord, The straght facts are, he helped end DADT, and has been the most gay friendly and helpful president in history. Lets trust him and his team on their strategy. they have to get re-elected in NOV…remember? Or should he just stand up and do everything right and good now, have it used against him, lose in Nov. and leave us in the hands of the party whose platform makes it proudly plain that they are our sworn enemies?
Think.
Gary…sorry to say it, but I know a lot of people who are “on the fence” on Obama, and will vote for him DESPITE his gay affirming policies, and tell me so. BUT, if they feel their values/worldview are being disrespected, they WONT vote for him in Nov. It is going to be a close election, and he cannot afford to antagonize these fence sitters…and, he (I pray he is right) assumes our community is smart enough to see the politics of it and not demand everything now.
If he wins a second term, then, like all second term presidents, he can far, far more bold. And, I want to see him put some better justices on the Supreme Court, which will help us so much in the future. He cannot do that if not elected…and god help us if Romney is the one who picks them.
Gene,
Please there are no fence sitters who will jump to the other side because he comes out with an executive order or supports marriage equality. And if there are a few there are just as many who will jump to the other side of the fence. In the mean time my state is facing a referendum on marriage equality. We are currently losing but only by a few points. A third of the ovters in MD are African-American. The president is revered by large numbers in the AA community and him coming out and supporting marriage equality would most likely make the difference. So screw you and your name calling. I am pissed that my relationship of 24 years is still not recognized while the president plays f-cking politics. I am committed to vote for him but I am still pissed that he is a political coward on this.
Tim, truly…I know them…and they tell me that this is the birdge to far. You will vote for him, but there are others who will not. I also know more than a couple of gay and lesbian friends who say they wont vote for him unless he “does the right thing everytime” on our issues.
And I was not name calling…just an honest assessment. We HAVE to bite the bullit and accept he cannot be perfect on this. I am not talking about Maryland. I am talking about the general election, which he MUST (for our sake) win. My husband of 22 years and I are not recognized yet either I should add, and it pisses me off to. But we have to look at the long game…not the short term ones.
No fence here thanks. I would have liked to see single payer health coverage, but we are better off than we were if the SCOTUS doesn’t overturn. I would have liked to see a stimulus three times the size of the one we got — the economy would have made a full recovery — but he got what he could given the Republican resistance. I hoped for and got a repeal of DADT for the gay community and I certainly did not expect more than that — more than that would lead to a bloodbath this year in swing states.
I am what many would call a political junkie — although in my case it is not really an interest in politics parse — I am a committed Liberal and I believe in being informed if you are committed to anything. We have made strides, and they are the best strides we could have made under the circumstances. More would have led to wide spread Republican victories and a complete reversal of all gains.
If you doubt that the Republicans are that extreme and would act in that blatantly prejudicial a manner let me point you to a couple of recent incidents. The videos are not short, but they are extremely well documented, watch the ads, then grind your way through them, then tell me that you consider the party that gave us both of these attempts to overthrow the idea of democracy itself a viable alternative to the Democrats.
Kind thoughts,
Reyn
video links:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/46999907#46973330
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/46999907#46981474
Again Reyn I am not a fence sitter either. I am behind Obama in the election but it does not mean I will not call him out for political cowardice. I think the amount of fence sitters that would be swayed by Obama’s actions on GLBT issues are small and they will be a wash in the end. And I don’t believe for a second more gay rights would cause a bloodbath in swing states. Those states are way more worried about jobs and the economy. Why are supposed liberals so afraid to be on the right side.
@Tim W
And I think you are absolutely right to do so. On the other hand, I rather hope for a pleasant surprise after his reelection — and I am nearly certain that I will get one. ;-)
Kind thoughts
And if he doesn’t get elected it is all for naught. I am sick of supposed liberals not acting like liberals. That gay people are so easily thrown under the bus with a wink and the nod that you know how we really feel. They are so scared to be on the right side of history and we are supposed to sit back and wait. in the mean time there is a gay couple where one of the partners just died where there is no guarantee they will be able to make decisions on inherit their things. There are couples who the one partner doesn’t have health insurance because they don’t have a job. Somewhere there is someone getting fired because they are transgendered but screw them all because the president doesn’t have the balls to take a stand. You can call me a cry baby all you want but when real people are being hurt I speak up.
Here is some great info from interviews Michaelangelo Signarole did with people who actually met with the administration. It’s interesting that the one characterized some of their arguments as laughable. http://gay.americablog.com/2012/04/laughable-arguments-insider-game.html