Yet again, we are faced with action by this Administration that stands in stark contrast to the campaign rhetoric and lofty speeches about equality that continue to be served up as progress to our community. We’d like to say we’re still hoping in the change promised to us two years ago, but that hope is fading away quickly — particularly when the lives and livelihoods of our brothers and sisters are on the line.
—Robin McGehee, director of GETEqual, is not, shall we say, terribly impressed with DoJ’s decision to appeal the DADT ruling. Meanwhile a “person in the government knowledgeable about the administration’s discussions” says the White House did weigh in on DoJ’s handling of the case because Obama’s White House lawyers “did not want to seek a court order that would temporarily suspend the judge’s ruling.”
AndrewW
Well maybe you shouldn’t have been pissing all over Obama and the Democrats these last 9 months. It is childish and irritating. You’ve made the LGBT community the radical fringe of the Democratic party and helped Republicans in the process. How smart.
The Plan had been to wait until after the mid-terms for DOJ to file an appeal. After you useless stunts in Miami he probably said fu*k and told DOJ file it now. I hope people remember your carnivalesque “cries for attention” after November 2nd.
I hope you and your juvenile organization runs out of money, before we run out of friends.
JuicyBoots
@AndrewW
GetEqual is simply doing and fighting for what is necessary for us to gain equal rights. This complacent attitude you and the HRC holds has done absolutely nothing for us. if you want to sit back and watch nothing get done fast, fine. just don’t s@!# on the only people who are fighting for your rights.
Soupy
Please don’t allow this to persuade anyone to vote republican out of anger.
SpiffyShindigs
As much as Obama isn’t doing the right thing, the GOP WOULD DO SO MUCH WORSE.
I don’t like this, but we need to keep the GOP out of office, because they will be even worse for us.
Kevin White
@AndrewW: I agree. Robin McGehee has just damaged our friendships while making $100,000 a year and traveling around. I think the Miami action was the last straw. I could see Obama on Air Force One saying “fuck the gays.”
If Robin wants to raise more money she should ask republicans – they owe – she has been helping them all year.
Giovannidude
I voted for Obama, and I have to say I think he has been a big disappointment. But Democrats in the Senate deserve maybe even more blame. I don’t always agree with Andrew Sullivan, but tonight on CNN he said the Democrats don’t have two balls between them all.
John
Don’t forget the Log Cabin Republicans are the ones doing all the work right now. Do thank any politicians, thank the persistence of lawyers. Why get partisan on an issue?
AndrewWNeedleDick
AndrewW has not once offered any solutions, but he seems to have all the answers.
He claims he is rich and has figured out the master plan to winning our rights, yet the needledick won’t even come out from his anonymous mask?
His smug, uneducated, jealous, pitiful, childish rants are becoming comical.
If he spent half the time DOING something instead of lurking on blogs all day long while the rest of us are working he might win the hearts and minds of folks and actually be taken seriously.
Instead he is laughed at as a childish, low-esteem troll.
We’ll pray for you honey.
Get out, get some sun, breath some fresh air—maybe find a partner so you dont have to sit in front of your computer all day trying to make others as miserable as you are.
Pat Conroy
As a registerd independent in DC I told my friends time and time again that Obama was not the second coming as most gay lemmings believed. We’ve had 2 years of proof – time to send a message with he our wallets and the voting lever.
JumpingUp
Pat Conroy : I voted for Obama (I’m Independent, but thought it was time to give the Dems a chance), but I knew he was just a politician. You’re right about “gay lemmings.” When Obama won some of them threw enthusiastic house parties and posted them on blogs. How embarrassing.
Ian
I’m not rich by any means, but I sent a little $$$ to GetEQUAL and felt the better for it. At least I feel that they are DOING something other than the HRC who seem to only be interested in maintaining their DC contacts for their fancy luncheons that get NOTHING done. I’d like EQUAL rights at some point in THIS lifetime. Get mad, get organized, & demand to GetEQUAL!
Charles NY
I agree with AndrewW – this is the result of GetATTENTION pissing on Democrats. Robin McGehee is an ego maniac.
the crustybastard
In better news, the rolling roadblock known as Blanche Lincoln is down an insurmountable 20%, and in desperation has called in Bubba to stump for her.
Perhaps it’s premature to salute the outgoing Senator Lincoln, but frankly I cannot resist.
[img]http://planetshhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/fuckyou.jpg[/img]
jeff r
Rachel Maddow provided some very viable and compelling precedents for the Obama Administration not appealing the decision. Obviously the current Administration has more pressing concerns.
As far as the insipid criticisms regarding “pissing on the Democrats,etc.,” our community has been pissed on, shat on, beaten, belittled, bullied, discriminated against, maimed, murdered and most importantly denied our Constitutional Rights for years so BFD!!!
I would, however, plead with everyone in our community to vote and vote Democratic since the alternative is even worse. Many Democrats do not deserve our votes but we have to vote out of self-protection. The lesser of two evils. Then we can use the following interim until 2012 to settle a few scores (broken promises, etc.) with our “allies.” Best, Jeff R
tinkerbell
I shall now officially say it: Barack Obama is IN NO WAY my president. As much as it pains me, I hope the Democrats get trounced in this election. My life will be absolutely the same in the Christofascist RepublicoTeaBagger regime as it has been with these bunch of Democratico liars.
Barack Obama is a bold-faced liar, no more, no less. I shall never again lift a voice or a finger to defend or support Obama, his administration or any of the members of the Democratic party. I’m done.
GaryG
I wanted Hillary.
Ted B. (Charging Rhino)
“Hi there, fella. Nice set of matching bus-tire tracks you have. With fierce advocates like yours, who needs the Republicans.”
Ran
What do people think would happen with the pending election if the administration did not make an appearance to repeal or stay DOMA and DADT? You can be sure the over political situation would be very different right now and not necessarily in our favor. Republican’s are going to fight us much more.
I wish GetEQUAL would also focus on the senators who are really not supporting us at all so that we could have the 60 votes to pass the Defense bill and repeal DADT. We have the Democrats so, why are they not working on the Republican’s. And, why are they not working to present the Republican’s bad positions to help keep them down? They seem to be a hitting stick focused only on the President. I feel they should do more with others.
Mike
Hey everyone, make a phat donation to get equal or McGehee will come back to California and bug us again. We don’t want her!
Chad
First Robin McGehee puts out a $500 reward for AndrewW’s personal information, not she blocks his comments. All he asked her is how are her tactics helpful. I don’t think she ever answered it.
I guess I don’t know why they have been protesting Obama, either. He’s the best we’ve got. Now anyway. Or he was. Now what? I think we have to work with as many people as we can, but I don’t think we have anyone left. Obama isn’t going to touch us and we don’t want republicans touching us.
I guess if you’re not gay and you have been watching this unfold – we protest everyone. We don’t have a team anymore. Or friends.
Casey
F*** you Obama.
F*** you Democrats
F*** you HRC
I’m voting Green from now on.
The ‘lesser of 2 evils’ no longer cuts it with me.
Cape Cod, Please
@Chad: AndrewW is a Unitarian Universalist Minister outside of Boston. I think he used to be an activist but he inherited a bunch of money. I went to a meeting he had in Boston about winning LGBT equality last year. He had a video and powerpoint and attorneys. Some of the people at the meeting were activists and kept asking him for money. I think most of what he is doing has to do with avoiding politics.
Anyways, I don’t now why Robin posted a reward for his personal information. I think a lot of people kinda know him in Boston. Has Robin posted reward money for other people?
Herbert Wassinger
NOBAMA!!! I wish I had voted for Hillary. 🙁
Daniel
If the Obama Administration wishes to get rid of the policy, why appeal this verdict? And, for that matter, why appeal the pro-LGBT marriage rulings in Massachusetts and California?
You’ll find one explanation here.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/10/13/92357/007
“The short version,” says the author (“no apologist for Obama”), “is that the US legal system often works in ways that are deeply counter-intuitive. We should not only expect that these cases will be appealed, we should desire that they are. The sky is not falling. We are not doomed. Do not panic about these (or similar) appeals. That’s how the US legal system works. It’s long and slow sometimes, but taking shortcuts isn’t how to win the day.”
Daniel
To those who are always having a hissy fit over Obama, try to remember some of these accomplishments-
Health Care Reform:
1. Coverage can’t be denied to children with pre-existing conditions.
2. Adults up to age 26 can stay on their parents’ health plans.
3. Free preventive care.
4. Rescinding coverage is now illegal.
5. Eliminating lifetime limits on insurance coverage.
6. Restricting annual limits on insurance coverage.
7. More options to appeal coverage decisions.
8. $5 billion in immediate federal support to affordable Coverage for the Uninsured with Pre-existing Conditions.
9. $10 billion investment in Community Health Centers.
10. Create immediate access to re-insurance for employer health plans providing coverage for early retirees.
11. Made an $80 billion deal with the pharmaceutical industry to contribute to cut prescription drug costs for the nation’s seniors reduce the size of the “donut hole” in the Medicare (Part D) Drug Benefit.
Economy:
1. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has worked. The Economy Has Been Growing – take a look at the graph of GDP growth between 2007 thru 2010.
2. US auto industry rescue plan — Detroit making profits again and at least 1 million jobs saved.
3. Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 that extended Unemployment benefits up to 20 weeks and more.
4. Provided $14.7 billion in small business loans increasing minority access to capital.
5. The $26 billion aid to states package preventing large-scale layoffs of teachers and public employees.
Banking and Financial Reform:
1. Signed a sweeping bank-reform bill (the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) into law.
2. Managed the $700 Billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) that Banks have repaid 75% of TARP funds, bringing the cost down to $89B as of June 2010.
3. Cut Salaries For 65 Bailout Executives.
4. Closed offshore tax safe havens, tax credit loopholes on companies that use the tax laws to ship American Jobs oversees. HR 4213.
5. Signed into law the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act to fight fraud in the use of TARP and recovery funds, and to increase accountability for corporate and mortgage frauds.
6. Signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act.
Education:
1. Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 that increased the amount of federal Pell Grant awards and enabled the stripping of banks privileges as intermediaries for student loan servicing.
2. Created the Race to the Top Fund, a $4.35 billion program to reward States that submit the best proposals for change.
3. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, funded over$100 Billion for reforms to strengthen Elementary and Secondary education, early learning programs, college affordability and improve access to higher education, and to close the achievement gap.
Jobs:
1. The $787 billion economic stimulus package has created or saved nearly 2 million jobs slowing the bleeding.
2. Jobs for Main Street Act (2010)injected $27.5 Billion for Highways, $8.4 Billion for Transit into the country’s transportation system to create jobs and spur economic activity.
3. A $33 Billion Jobs Package that will allow Small businesses to get $5,000 tax credit for new hires.
4. A $26 billion State Aid Package Jobs Bill saving 300,000 teachers and public workers jobs from unemployment.
5. The Auto bailout saved 1 million jobs.
Green Energy:
1. Implemented renewable fuels mandate of 36 billion gallons by 2022, four times what we currently consume.
2. Automakers will be required to meet a fleet-wide average of New Gas Mileage Standards at 35.5 MPH by 2016.
3. A $60 billion investment in renewable and clean energy.
Housing:
1. $275 billion dollar housing plan – $75 billion dollars to prevent at-risk mortgage debtors already fallen victim to foreclosures and $200 billion to bring about confidence to offer affordable mortgages and to stability the housing market.
2. Established “Opening Doors” to end the homelessness of 640,000 men, women, and children in the United States in 10 years.
3. Provided $510 Million for the rehabilitation of Native American housing.
4. Provided $2 billion for Neighborhood Stabilization Program to rehab, resell, or demolish in order to stabilize neighborhoods.
5. Provided $5 billion for Weatherization Assistance Program for low income families to weatherize 1 million homes per year for the next decade.
6. Provided grants to encourage states and localities to take the first steps in implementing new building codes that prioritize energy efficiency.
Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security:
1. giving $250 economic stimulus check to 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients in 2009.
2. Cutting prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients by 50% and began eliminating the plan’s gap (“donut hole”) in coverage.
3. Passing as part of H.R.3962 (Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010) a $6.4 billion measure reversing a 21 percent cut in physician payments that would have started a flood of rejections by some doctors of seniors covered by Medicare.
4. Expanded eligibility for Medicaid to all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($14,400 per year for an individual).
Military Veterans and Families:
1. Implemented a strategic planto increase the hiring of Veterans and Military spouses throughout the Federal civil service.
2. Provided for the expenses of families of to be at Dover AFB when fallen soldiers arrive.
3. Passed the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 increasing the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.
4. Declared the end of the war in Iraqi bringing back nearly 100,000 U.S. troops home to their families.
5. Donated 250K of Nobel prize money to Fisher House, a group that helps provide housing for families of patients receiving medical care at military and Veterans Affairs medical centers.
LBGT:
1. Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
2. Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
3. Instructed HHS to require any hospital receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds (virtually all hospitals) to allow LGBT visitation rights.
4. Banned job discrimination based on gender identity throughout the Federal government (the nation’s largest employer).
5. Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act.
6. Extended the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover Gay employees taking unpaid leave to care for their children of same-sex partners.
7. Lifted the HIV Entry Ban.
8. Implemented HUD Policies that Would Ban Discrimination Based On Gender Identity.
Brutus
@John: No they aren’t. David Boies and Ted Olson, Martha Coakley, and GLAD are also doing work.
Brutus
@tinkerbell: “I shall never again lift a voice or a finger to defend or support Obama, his administration or any of the members of the Democratic party.”
Really? Not even the ones who have consistently backed LGBT legislation?
Brutus
So her complaint boils down to “they should have waited a couple of weeks?”
Look, I don’t want the liberal version of George W. Bush, which is apparently what most people here want. I don’t want ANY version of GWB. I want a President who manages the country and takes care of foreign affairs while CONGRESS decides what we’re going to do. There’s a lot of dead weight in Congress, and it needs to go. Get people to stop mindlessly throwing the lever for the incumbent. Get rid of the lax filibuster rule in the Senate that prevents the Democrats from getting anything done even with FIFTY NINE SEATS.
sweetdog
@Herbert Wassinger: You couldn’t have voted for Hillary. POTUS threw her under the bus just like he is doing to us now.
swarm
@Daniel #25 Sad you take the laundry list at face value. Do some actual research and understand the actual meanings. Or are you one of these people who have zero so you have nothing to lose when everyone else pays your way?
Just two examples:
1. Preventative care is NOT FREE. You must purchase it in your premium if you want it. Then you don’t pay a co-pay, hence the misnomer “free”. LOL I love my co-pay of a measly $10.00 versus paying the HIGHER PREMIUM.
2. “Saving” teachers and others from “unemployment”? That’s funny. My local newspaper bragged thanks to that money, the teachers wouldn’t have to give up RAISES. If LOCAL citizens took control of their local POLITICIANS there would be no need for some federal corrupt politicians to bullshit the citizens.
“Saved” is not a metric in any corporation, it’s Obamaspeak. My former company (Fortune 200) tried that once saying they had a “cost avoidance” and it was immediately struck from their bogus fantasy P&L.
And what you fail to understand about the world of business is, you can “give” all the money you want to hire people, buy stuff, take loans etc but NO BUSINESS is going to NEED that money if there are NO CUSTOMERS to increase their NEED for that money. Like opening up a lemonade stand in an empty field where passersby a mile away aren’t even thirsty. sigh.
Tony O
Robin McGehee is our MLK.
This note was beautifully written and powerful. After she gets us our equal rights, I think she will become President. She deserves our allegiance and money, she has given up everything to fight for us. Make a donation if you want your equality. Robin for President!
emb
To the apologists: The Republicans would be worse on GLBT issues? Really? How, exactly? They’d refuse to pass and inclusive ENDA? They’d defend and uphold DADT and DOMA? They’d refer to homosexuality as “a lifestyle choice?” They’d oppose same-sex marriage on personal religious grounds? Welcome to the Obama Administration, dearhearts.
Keep your pathetic laundry lists of policy tweaks, modest reforms, and baby-steps. The sad fact is we rallied behind and elected a lukewarm suit with minimal political skills, a lot of sound and fury signifying very little indeed, and frankly a likely one-termer whose spineless moderation and tepid convictions empowered and emboldened the far right.
Soupy
How can repugnicans be worse? Let’s see. They can start proposing deliberately anti-gay legislations. Ban gay marriage, ban gay adoption, not allow gays to teach, and all on a federal level.
Mark
@jeff r: It’s a sad commentary on America when instead of voting for someone, we’re actually voting against someone else by casting the vote.
Kent Peterson
@tinkerbell: Right on Tinkerbell.
Fuck Obama and his quislings. They talk out of both sides of their mouth. It really does not matter who is in power – we are fucked. Give your money to GETEQuAL and others who are in people’s faces and fighting the hard fight – not HRC.
I am moving to Europe as I am sick and tired of this shit. I feel sorry for all of you and wish you the best.
Kent Peterson
@Casey: Right on – I am voting GREEN also. I have had it with the lesser bullshit. Time to make the Democrats scared of gays like the NRA has done with the Repukelicans
Soupy
Unfortunately, the NRA is a much larger lobbying group. Therefore, more money, more power.
JumpingUp
Soupy: But that’s not going to happen. Things are changing. New young Republicans are coming in and it’s inevitable that they’ll be the gay-friendly ones. watch how everything changes over the next couple of years.
swarm
@29 Sweetdog “@Herbert Wassinger: You couldn’t have voted for Hillary. POTUS threw her under the bus just like he is doing to us now.”
Well it was actually the DNC who threw her under the bus and rigged the primary, but I get your point.
@27 Brutus Yes. All incumbents must go, even if you like them. Because they’ve been part of the corrupt machine, playing along. Participating in Pelosi, Reid and Obama’s strongarm tactics to pass his agenda without regard to the constituents desires in order to keep their jobs/standing with the machine. Not speaking truth to power. Standing by thinking “well they’ll get around to us eventually” or “the pubic wont notice”. Worse, yet LGBT is considered a weak demographic.
So when the POWER told them to STFU and vote- they did. While tolerating back room deals and dirty tricks. COMPLICIT.
They ALL must go. New talent must surface and be rewarded for at least WANTING to run for office. A difficult task when THE ENTIRE MACHINE is run by money. The UNIONS AND PACS must also GET THE MESSAGE. Because as long as we tolerate corruption and liars nothing is going to change, especially marriage equality.
LGBT’s power is banding together and coming OUT. A frightening thought for so many, but until everyone is in every heterosexual circle LGBT will continue to be some imaginary secret “thing”.
And it wouldn’t hurt to stop bashing out LGBT people like Adam Lambert, while “we’re” at it…one of the few courageous public figures who’s ~actually gay in the homophobic entertainment and media world who control everything you see and hear. No thanks to oh, Jonathan Capeheart for one. Who was on Morning Joe for what? YEARS? Before finally making one vague comment inferring he “might be” gay? HRMPH some Liberal. It does nobody any good living out in your little cirle then hiding it when you’re on TV every day.
greenmanTN
I’m really torn about what to do, how to proceed from here. I think much of my disappointment with Obama stems from his basic lack of understanding about LGBT people and issues, his inability to place gays in his otherwise comprehensive understanding of human rights and justice. He just doesn’t “get it” and that’s hard for ME to understand from such an obviously intelligent man and otherwise a stirring speaker about rights and community. I think Obama still sees GLBT people as “other” and sees his alleged “support” of the gay community as a political neccesity and an act of personal generosity, a gift he promises not because it’s the right thing to do, support that’s earned, owed, and justified, but because he’s being nice and grudgingly magnanimous. For Obama, god isn’t in the mix when it comes to gays, we aren’t part of the general fabric of humanity, and he took the earliest possible opportunity after his election, his Inauguration, to show gays just how much he valued their contribution to his victory. Since then his “fierce advocacy” has been shown time and time again to be a very weak tea.
Really, how hard is it to understand and speak convincingly about gay rights and justice, something Obama seems unable to do? What else do you need to know other than gay people have been part of the fabric of human history in every recorded civilization, that homosexuality is as much a part of the human experience as many other bland differences between people, like hair color or left-handedness? Obama “doesn’t think” people choose to be gay? The millions of personal testimonials and dozens of scientific studies aren’t enough for him to state that unequivocally? Well it’s certainly less a choice than ones religion, despite the rhetoric of the Religious Right, since we don’t go door to door prosletyzing for “converts.”
Because Obama’s support for the gay community has been so lukewarm, I’d like to do as the Bible advises for things that are neither hot nor cold and spit him out. But tepid and weak on gay issues as he is that might not be the wisest or best decision for the gay community. As the saying goes, we don’t want to cut off our nose to spite our face. Unfortunately the US has (for all intents and purposes) a two party political system and, as much as I don’t want them to feel they owns my vote or allegiance, the Democratic Party is clearly the better option for gay people at this time. As disappointed as I am with Obama’s paltry “support” and the political ham-handedness of Democrats in general even after they’ve been handed the reins of power, it can’t sanely be argued that the Republicans aren’t worse when it comes to gays. They dance to the tune of the Religious Right even if it’s just a cynical bid for votes and they do lots of damage in the process. So for the moment I’ll continue to do the same thing I’ve done EVERY time I’ve voted and hold my nose while making a mark next to few Ds, only because they’re marginally better than the Rs, once again voting against the other party far more than I’m voting FOR anyone. The Ds shouldbe forewarned though that I’m rapidly reaching the point where even that bit of political rationalization won’t be enough for me to vote for them.
Jenny
Is Robin McGehee running for President? I’d vote for her, she has done more than anyone this year to advance equal rights.
Get ACTIVE. Get EQUAL. GetINTHEIRFECES.
edfu
Dean/Grayson 2012!!!
Mark in Dallas
@Chad: Robin McGehee made a mistake offering reward money for Andrew. She is going to apologize on Monday. She made a mistake. Give her a break, she has been under a lot of stress negotiating with the President. I think she has Obama right where we want him – in her hands.
Doug Morrison
I’m simply not voting now! Fuck you Barack and the Democratic Party! I hope you get SWAMPED in this next election and then perhaps you’ll quit taking my vote and life for granted!!! Your not FIERCE your a FARCE and I’ve had enough of your treating me like a cheap unworthy WHORE!
GETting Equal
@Doug Morrison: You nailed it. hate the Democrats and don’t vote. We will get Republicans, but we will make our point – don’t mess with us.
We have put together some great protests for the new republican Congress. We are going to protest every day until the pass laws for us. They are already afraid.
Bill
@Jenny:
“Get ACTIVE. Get EQUAL. GetINTHEIRFECES.”
Yes on the first two.
Uh, no, on the third.
wompman
LOL @ # 36 Jumping Up: Really? New republicans coming up who are gay friendly? Like Sharron Angle? Perhaps Carl Palladino? Closet-cast Aaron Schrock? Thanks for the laugh.
Ian
@Bill: On the other hand, it’s been shown time and again that repubs tend to be hypocritical sexual deviants, so it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they were into skat! (lol)
Tell Robin
AndrewW is Dr. Andrew W. Bacevich, Boston University Professor of History.
Michael
What we should do:
– Don’t go Green. That’s a waste. Instead, consider the Dem party to be two parties. One stands with us, the other lies to us and then betrays us when they no longer need us. Actively support the former and seek to destroy the latter. Fight Back NY is an example of this. They are not supporting Socialist Worker Party candidates for NY Senate; they are targeting the liars and making them pay while supporting genuinely supportive Dems. Over a few election cycles, this will have curative effect on those who casually lie about being our “fierce advocate”.
– Don’t abandon the GOP. For those of you who say that we have to support the Dems b/c the GOP is immeasurably worse, ask yourself whether this is a healthy position to be in. If we write off one of the two major parties, then our success will always depend entirely on Democratic dominance, and whenever that is lost, our goals will go into a deep freeze. We need to at least try to make our position more like it is in Rhode Island. In that state, the race for governor is neck-and-neck b/t a Democrat and a liberal Republican running as an independent. No matter who wins, we will get a marriage supporter and almost certainly win marriage equality in 2011. That no-lose situation should be our goal generally.
– Replace HRC with a real lobbying org. We can’t rely only rabble rousing protesters. There is nothing wrong with an insider approach, consisting of lobbying and fundraising. The only problem is that HRC fails at this. No other group brings in so much money and accomplishes so little. Eliminate them. They are damaged goods. Replace them with a skilled, experienced lobbying team with real access in the Capitol and in the White House and with a track record of effectiveness. Change the lobbying team as is necessary to reflect the need to lobby Dems or the GOP, which is what every interest group in DC does. (Only at HRC do the same “players” remain year after year, regardless of who controls the Congress and the White House.) Pay these people very well, but expect results in return.
Soupy
We all know that the largest repugnican voting block is senior white men. They are terrified of being outnumbered and will only vote for a candidate that promises a return to earlier days. It’s a party based on nostalgia.
ron
@Soupy: They want it to be 1958 with Ike in the White House…..The Republican Party is based on lies, fear, and bigotry of every kind. Aside from one niece and myself, my entire family is Republican!!
Mike
@Tony O: Oh PLEASE, if I get to have a divorce, leave my kids and get a nearly 6 figure income like her… SIGN ME UP!
Rebecca
@Mike: F You Mike. If you are too stupid to know Robin is our savior, I can’t help you. Nobody can help you. Just surrender fool and leave Robin McGreedy alone.
reason
@Kent Peterson: Typical, denounce and sprint for the hills. Don’t let the door hit you on your way out, and remember to renounce your citizenship before you go if you have one.
reason
When election time starts rolling around queerty’s true colors start bleeding off the pages. What else would you expect from people lost deep in a log cabin.
jason
Obama has been a huge disappointment from day one. Where is his so-called “fierce advocacy”? I don’t see it. He’s running away from us. You can tell by the look on his face. This is a man with a thin skin, and no sense of honor.
Melanie Nathan
@Kevin White: What a load of nonsense if you are on Airforce one with Andrew W. then your ridiculous speculation may be worth a cent or 2!
Melanie Nathan
@Daniel: What are the accomplishments worth if they are going to spend this next entire Congressional period TRYING, albeit not successful, to rollback everything!