Tonight President Obama will appear before the legislative version of the Hatfields and McCoys, otherwise known as Congress, to deliver his next-to-last State of the Union address. With the clock ticking on his presidency, Obama has little time to accomplish any outstanding goals, and a year from now, both Republicans and Democrats will be so focused on the 2016 presidential election, that the time is even shorter than the calendar suggests.
So if Obama is going to do anything for the LGBT community, now’s the time to do it. Given what he has accomplished, though, it’s not a very long list. From the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to the executive order forbidding workplace discrimination, Obama has radically changed the landscape in which we live. Still, there’s plenty of room for more progress. Here are a five things that the President should make priorities in his remaining time in office.
Cement the permanence of marriage equality. True, the justices on Supreme Court will be the one’s deciding if there is a constitutional right to marriage equality. But as a constitutional law professor, Obama needs to keep making his opinion clear. More to the point, he needs to be explicit that there is no going back. All the rights that the federal government has conferred on married couples need to survive his presidency. No matter what the Supreme Court decides, Obama has to drive home the fact that marriage equality is here to stay.
Make LGBT rights an issue in international relations. Obama had some harsh words for the homophobia that Vladimir Putin unleashed in Russia. But, as a letter from activists in repressive regimes attests to, there’s plenty more that Obama could be doing about countries like Nigeria and Brunei. He could start with Cuba. Now that we have diplomatic relations with the country, Obama could signal that the U.S. is interested in an independent LGBT movement in Havana.
Elevate transgender issues. Obama could be the first president to mention transgender rights in a State of the Union address. More to the point, he could raise the country’s awareness. He’s already signed an executive order banning workplace discrimination against transgender employees who work for federal contractors. But that was done quietly. Now’s the time to draw attention to the issue and ensure that Obama’s fabled arc of justice includes transgender people.
Work with corporate America to put workplace protections in place. It’s clear right-wing Republicans in Congress will never allow the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to come to the House floor for a vote because it would pass. Obama did a partial end-run around Congress with his executive order. How about going one step further, to the executive suite? Obama could rally CEOs around corporate protections, making it clear that the Fortune 500 consider this a basic of doing business. That would put a lot of pressure on other CEOs. There’s no point in waiting for Congress to act, because it won’t, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other avenues to pursue.
Give one really big speech on LGBT rights. For someone known as President Eloquent, Obama has never really given LGBT rights the rhetorical due he has to other topics. Obama clearly has a vision for LGBT rights in America. While he’s still president, he should use the soap box to tell us what that is. It will set a standard for what America should expect and give other politicians a baseline against which they will be measured. We should be the beneficiary of his oratorical powers just once. A speech isn’t the same as an action, but the words may live on a long time after the fight is over.
Paul Nadolski
Could Obama actually do SOMETHING in his last two years? I voted for him twice but I have to say, I have been very disappointed. His accomplishments have been very little. Regardless of who the Democrats nominate in 2016 (but especially if it’s HRC), his abysmal record of accomplishment makes it very likely that our next President will be Republican.
Milk
With two years left , he should just go crazy. If nothing good come out of it, causing a couple of heart attack to those old white folks that cling to power would be nice.
tdx3fan
@Paul Nadolski: I know right. All he has managed to do in six years with a Congress that blocked him at every single turn is abolish DADT, establish a working healthcare system (which is not perfect but is still better than what we had before) and stop the deportations of gay foreign citizens. Sure wish he would do more, and its so completely his fault…
You do realize that the president has VERY little power when it comes to making laws, right?
BJ McFrisky
Errr, why didn’t he push ENDA through while he had a Democratic congress for six years?
Ladbrook
He could send Valerie Jarrett back to Chicago for starters. With her out of the way, the grownups in the White House can finally spend a bit of time with the man they are paid to advise… something very few ever get a chance to do.
With respect to LGBT rights abroad, he could stare into the cameras and strongly condemn Arab and African countries for treating LGBT people as if they were serial killers. (And this would include not just Iran, but “our friend” Saudi Arabia, as well.)
And finally, he could tell the world that the US is sick and tired of playing policeman in the Middle East. Sure, ISIS is a nasty piece of work, but if those oil-rich countries want to rid their region of these butchers, then they should partner up and do the job themselves.
polarisfashion
@BJ McFrisky: The Republicans in the Senate have filibustered pretty much every bill that was brought before them. Also Speaker Boehner kept refusing to bring things to a vote in the House. The Republicans have pretty much refused to work with the President on almost everything. Any sign of cooperation is considered a sign of weakness. The President has bent over backwards to try to work with the Republicans but they have become a party that can’t take yes for an answer.
onthemark
@BJ McFrisky: “Errr,” I agree with you about the inaction when he had a Democratic congress for TWO years (2009-2010), it was certainly annoying at the time but it’s interesting that you forgot the Republicans taking over the House in Nov. 2010.
Ronbo
If the Republicans blocked his every move, how did he manage to enact the Republican healthcare plan, instead of single-payer? How did he manage so many drone assassinations (including Americans) without due process? How did President Obama manage to increase spying on Americans? How did he manage to increase military spending? How was he able to prosecute more whistleblowers than all Republican administrations combined? Who remembers that it was VP Biden who forced President Obama’s hand on recognizing gays as equal? (there was a lot a waffling, you might recall)
The President puts on a good show for Democrats; but, his policy has been strictly Republican. If you can’t see that this was a dog-and-pony-show from the 1%, then you aren’t aware that they got almost all of the benefits from the “recovery”. Instead, we remain in the longest, most destructive labor depression the USA has ever experienced. http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS12300000
aliengod
You seriously think this list of five tasks are the most important world issues? What a joke! Fact is, Obama is one of the worst Presidents in US history. He has no respect for our Constitution and should have been voted out of office in 2012. These next two years can’t pass soon enough.
dhmonarch89
@BJ McFrisky: he didn’t have a Democratic Congress for 6 years- he had it for 2 years- he lost the House in 2010- Repubs will have control of it his last 6 years and now he’s lost the Senate- so they’ll have complete Congressional control the last 2 years….you need BOTH the House and the Senate to pass laws- and 60 in the Senate to avoid a filibuster- and Repubs have filibustered him more than any President in history
that said, he should have done something his first 2 years- I said so repeatedly, but people would scream at me, ‘He has too much on his plate right now…. he’ll get to it’ not thinking he’d lose the House/etc I guess they were thinking- once those tea party town halls flarred up in 2010, I knew the writing was oin the wall!
with regards to Queerty’s 5 wishes- NO CHANCE IN HELL!
BJ McFrisky
@polarisfashion:
@onthemark:
@dhmonarch89:
Okay, hair-splitters, then tell me why he didn’t do it in the TWO years he had a butt-kissing congress. (you really don’t have to embarrass yourselves with a reply, since it’s been obvious from Day One that Obama only “evolved” for reasons of political expediency)
Low Country Boy
@polarisfashion: I think you nailed it when you wrote, “Any sign of cooperation is considered a sign of weakness.” Unfortunately, that will not change anytime soon with the Tea Baggers and their “my way or the highway” mentality.
Low Country Boy
@BJ McFrisky: I don’t know — maybe it was an economy in shambles that he inherited, trying to get two wars under control that he didn’t start, a health care bill, the American automotive industry on the verge of collapse, etc?
Saint Law
@aliengod: You should never use the word ‘fact’ as you clearly don’t understand what it means.
I’ll help you here. The definition isn’t “Something I pulled out of my bum.”
tdx3fan
@BJ McFrisky: For starters, he only had a democratically controlled congress for TWO years. He decided to use that power to do something that benefited the ENTIRE population instead of just the select few and worked on healthcare (which, btw benefits gay couples much more than most straight couples because straight couples can easily share insurance if one works).
On top of that, there are many Democrats that do not support ENDA. I’m a life long Democrat and I’m not a fan of any non-discrimination laws at this point because I do not feel they are really needed.
If you live in a small town with no jobs that will hire and no houses that will house you then MOVE. The vast majority of companies and landlords will employ/rent to anyone regardless as long as you work hard and pay your rent.
Maude
aliengod, Your fact is indeed a fact! Don’t be intimidated by wise-asses like ‘Saint Law’ who seem always to respond to truths they disagree with, with name calling and demeaning attacks on the intellect of the truth tellers….all the while, embarrassing themselves with their openly denial of what is indeed FACT!
tdx3fan
@Ronbo: The healthcare plan was passed before 2010… back when the Congress was controlled by Democrats (just not with a filibuster proof majority). The reason that healthcare happened the way it did is because single payer was not supported by anyone moderate on either side of the aisle. You are literally talking about destroying the insurance business if you go that route.
The president is the overseer of the armed forces. He has the power to do anything he wants with them up to a six month period of time without congressional approval. After six months, war has to be declared (by Congress).
He also has powers over the “police force” AKA homeland security.
Obama did not increase military spending. He has no control what-so-freaking-ever over the budget and spending. That is entirely up to Congress… who, surprise, surprise… increased military spending. Considering a great deal of that spending went to things like improving the lives of troops… I completely support him not vetoing such a bill.
Which “whistle blowers” did he prosecute? Last I checked, Snowden never faced trial an Miss Manning got exactly what she deserved. You do not put the security of this nation at jeopardy just because you want to get famous. I really do not care what the United States government feels it needs to do to keep me safe and secure as long as I remain safe and secure.
You can make the claim about Biden, but you have NOTHING but circumstantial hearsay to back it up. Not that that should stop you, its quite obvious from the rest of this post you base everything on your own lack of information.
Obama’s policy has been strictly Republican… you mean like GWB who ran in 2004 on a ticket of of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage after trying unsuccessfully not once but twice to get Congress to push for such an amendment while the whole world was going to hell on his watch? Yeah, I totally see where you are coming from… /facepalm!
There is no facts or evidence that back up anything you just said. We are also coming out of the recession (it was never a depression… you need to get your facts straight).
The only dog and pony show is the one that you have conducted in your own head, but I bet you get mesmerized by blinking lights… maybe you should lay off the TLC.
tdx3fan
@aliengod: Mind supporting this with examples. If you even remotely try to claim executive orders as examples you already lost your argument.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/orders.php
Not only does the history of executive orders go all the way back to George Washington, Obama still has not passed Bush in the use of them.
tdx3fan
@BJ McFrisky: If you consider the most substantial reform of our health care insurance system ever in the history of the nation that added availability to cheap reliable insurance to millions of Americans and the end of DADT nothing then I really do not know what would have made you happy…. short of him turning the entire world into a three ring circus with him as ring master.
tdx3fan
@Low Country Boy: No, no, no! He was supposed to magically stop all of those things when he took the pledge to come into office. The moment afterwards, he was responsible for all of them! Don’t you understand the way the Republicans on this forum think?
polarisfashion
@Low Country Boy: Remember the fit the Republicans had when Governor Christie gave President Obama a tour of New Jersey to show how bad the damage from Hurricane Sandy was? They called him a RINO when he and the president said they would work together on getting disaster aid where it needed to go.
Ronbo
@tdx3fan: The President puts on a good show for Democrats; but, his policy has been strictly Republican.
Here is your wish come true.
http://boingboing.net/2013/04/08/obamas-regressive-record-mak.html
Just because you are good Democrat, doesn’t mean that all Democrats believe the same. Even the President admits that he is a 1980’s Republican. Are you going to argue with President Obama himself?
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/272957-obama-says-his-economic-policies-so-mainstream-hed-be-seen-as-moderate-republican-in-1980s#ixzz3A3DAUE7v
Notice that he calls himself a “moderate Republican” not even a Liberal Republican.
Ronbo
@tdx3fan: By the way, there was/is overwhelming support for Medicare with both the public and politicians. When liberals called for Medicare part E (for everyone) that would be truly single-payer; President Obama nixed the idea.
The support is there, the mechanism is there, but his Republican policy “demands” that instead, we mandate for-profit insurance. http://americablog.com/2013/10/original-1989-document-heritage-foundation-created-obamacares-individual-mandate.html
President Obama, as a candidate, championed the “public option”; but, later, as President, nixed it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_health_insurance_option
nocibur61739
I always find it funny when the trolls get called out, they never respond back. They just disappear. Why are they here anyways? Do they NOT have ANYONE in their life who can sit down and listen to their BS face-to-face? I guess not. This way they can spew their own hatred and just close the window. Cowards not able to socialize on any kind of level and hiding behind the curtains…SAD…
BJ McFrisky
@tdx3fan: “Cheap, reliable insurance”??? Are you Obama sycophants truly that naïve? Have you even been paying attention? Health insurance costs have skyrocketed, people are losing not only health insurance due to this law (despite his “If you like your insurance, you can keep your insurance” lie), people are losing their jobs because it’s now too expensive for employers to keep their employees on their insurance plans. But, the children in our society can now remain on their parents’ health insurance until they’re 26, so I suppose he did succeed in the liberal notion that people under 27 are helpless without government intervention. Bra-fucking-vo.
demented
Nah, he won’t do anything. He failed to do anything positive of significance on his own effort, so he’s basically coasting now because he knows that being the first black president is the only thing he’ll be remembered for.
dhmonarch89
@BJ McFrisky: ah…please read mine above, I DID address his first 2 years and said he wasted his/our best chance!!!
Curty
Although the President has been a big disappointment the last 4 years since gop took over the house. But he has done more for the glbt demographic than any President. He repealed dadt, has voice his support for marriage equality, he stopped defending doma long before the supreme court struck it down. He has routinely said he is against discrimination against glbt people. He can’t do everything. Congress has to act, individual states has to act to bring more protections for our community. He can’t do it alone, being President does not mean dictator.
menuga
@aliengod: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!
menuga
@dhmonarch89: so true!
menuga
@BJ McFrisky: BJ…..so appropriately named….you hear that on Faux? Can you PROVE ZONE OF THOE USSUES YOU BRIUGHT UP? Or just hear say from the corner store, while whittling and spitting.
Hermes
@Paul Nadolski: I have to disagree with your premise. The president inherited the worst economic situation inherited by any president except FDR. Let’s see what he’s done… oh, I know – start with list, fully cited so there can be no questions — look up any citations you want. President Obama is, factually, the most successful president of my lifetime, exceeding even President Clinton — and I say that without reservation. The only reason to think otherwise is frankly, being overexposed to, let’s call it what it is, propaganda. Take the list I link, go through it – find the various areas that interest you – look up the things he’s done – whether its gay rights, the economy, or nuclear non-proliferation. Link: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/02/15/a-long-list-of-president-obamas-accomplishments-with-citations/
Regards,
Hermes
Arconcyyon
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darian
@Maude: The problem with yours and aliengods definition of “facts” and “truths” is that there is little to no evidence behind them. Is he the best president ever? No. Could he be doing better job? Like everyone on this planet of coarse he can. Given the tools at his disposal I think he’s better than his predecessor hands down.
aliengod
@Arconcyyon: Very good points! Precisely what I was trying to say earlier. I especially like the part about “Obama Needs The White Hause Black Pinkk Sport NFL”.
spiritedrandy
I agree with the list.
I’d add one item: protecting LGBT youth. They suffer from bullying, reparative therapy, homelessness, mental illness/suicide, etc.
On marriage equality, I think the Supreme Court will solve the problem. But if not, a key step is to change statutes like social security and veterans benefits that key federal benefits to whether the state recognizes a marriage.
DuMaurier
@tdx3fan: I think Obama has done more than he’s given credit for, but of the three items on your list, two were passed by the Congress that “blocked him at every turn”.
jwtraveler
He’s saved me over $500 a month on health insurance. I’ll take it.
With the Republunatics in control of Congress, Obama will be lucky if he can pass gas in the next 2 years.
tomron
@BJ McFrisky: A Democratic Congress? In which country?
manjoguy
Obama needs to go back to law school and re-study the U.S. Constitution. He also needs to learn what a constitutional republic is. He should take one of those “courses” that immigrants take who want to become U.S. citizens so he’ll have an appreciation of love of country and respect for it.
jwtraveler
@manjoguy: Let’s see, he’s a graduate of Harvard Law School, where he was the editor of the Harvard Law Review and he was a professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School for 12 years before becoming a U.S. Senator and the President, but you seem to think you know better than he does. Just what are your credentials?
jwtraveler
@tomron: @BJ McFrisky: He had a Democratic Congress for his first 2 years in office, before the Republicans took the House in 2010.
jwtraveler
@demented: I’ll remember him for Obamacare, which has provided millions of Americans with affordable health insurance, unless the GOPhers succeed in taking it away from us.
Maude
@jwtraveler:
The insurance is affordable, but the deductible is outrageous, and by the time you want to use it, there will be no doctors accepting your type of insurance, or likely at least a very few a long distance from where you live.
Maude
@jwtraveler:
See my post to ‘jetaveler’ above.
It’s NOT AFFORDABLE!!when you need it, only when you don’t!!
Maude
@jwtraveler:
He is a liar. His so called credentials are impressive, but they don’t really tell about the man and his intentions. They only tell of his past accomplishments, which are in doubt.
He has not presented any verifiable documentation.
I had very high hopes for him coming in….not so much now that I ‘know’ him.
jwtraveler
@Maude: Are you actually using Obamacare? I am. It’s not perfect; it has problems, but it is far more affordable then any other insurance I could have gotten. Because of my low income, the deductible is reasonable as are the co-pays. Yes, I’ve had some trouble with providers, but I’ve managed to get the medical care I need and I’ve used a lot in the last several months. I’m very grateful that it came along when it did.
Remember that this is based on a plan that was devised by Romney in Massachusetts. Liberals wanted a single-payer plan (like every other industrialized country in the world), but had to compromise to the capitalists, who think EVERYTHING should be a commodity; to preserve the profits of the insurance companies and drug manufacturers. Most of the problems with Obamacare could be solved with a REAL national health care plan that prioritized the health of Americans over the profits of big corporations.
jwtraveler
@Maude: I suppose you’re one of those loonies who doesn’t believe he’s a U.S. citizen either.
Maude
@jwtraveler:
Close, but no cigar.
Whether or not he is a citizen, at this point, doesn’t interest me.
And if he lived up to his promise, I wouldn’t have cared.
But the guy is nothing more than a con-man, and I don’t like being conned.
Clark35
@demented: Very true. He’s not even black, he’s bi-racial or mixed race, or mulatto.