Well who didn’t see this one coming? Continuing to fend off criticism that he’s abandoned the gay community, President Obama is rumored to be making his second stab at reaffirming his position as a “fierce advocate” for us. And what might that be? Nominating openly gay William White, currently the president of New York’s Intrepid aircraft carrier museum, “to a civilian Pentagon post that would make him the highest-ranking openly gay person in the department.”
White, who was rumored last year to be a possible Navy secretary candidate, is said to be up for the post of deputy chief management officer for the Pentagon, “a Senate-confirmed position created last year by Congress to help with management of the sprawling Defense Department. If confirmed, he likely would face questions during a Senate confirmation hearing over how his nomination would square with the military’s policies on gays — though as a civilian position, he would not run afoul of the policy.”
And that would be, well, very nice indeed. It’d also be one more example of the White House’s orchestrated plan to curry favor among the gays (and the media covering the tension) without actually doing anything for gay people.
There have also been rumors Obama would nominate an openly gay person for an ambassador post. Same thing there: Headline-grabbing move that actually does squat for the millions of gays still paying taxes but still unable to share health care with their partners, still getting kicked out of the military, still unable to keep their foreign spouse in the U.S., and still seen as second class.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Cam
Just like the Clinton Admin. Appoint a few openly gay people to non substantive jobs and not do anything for our civil rights. gee, thanks. This appointment is great for this guy, not really sure how it changes anything for the rest of us….the Defense department still kicks out gay service members etc…
Orpheus_lost
Obama had his chance to impress us with a GLBT cabinet choice back when he named his original nominees. Instead we got a load of what the Obama fluffers call “the smartest mutherfuckers in the room” – you know, the people who were so smart they gave trillions to the megabanks without the slightest oversight, took single-payer health care off the table and decided to accelerate the devastation of our environment with relaxed rules on strip mining, the hunting of wolves and taking polar bears off the endangered list.
At this point, we need a Hell of a lot more than symbolic gestures – we need real action. I will settle for nothing less than Obama’s (not some underling’s) active participation in repealing DADT and DOMA. Anything less will never be enough after the insults he has callously thrown our way.
Richard in DC
I for one can’t stand the idea of somebody getting high praise for appointing an openly gay person, or a person of any minority status to a post simply for diversity’s sake or for political gain. I want my president to appoint people to top positions because they are the absolute best person for that particular post; I don’t care if they are a white male, or a martian.
Further, previous comments are correct, these appointments do nothing for LGBT people across the country with regard to equal treatment under the law.
J. Clarence
An ambassador post. Nice, though where that person could go would be limited since so many places in the world considers homosexuality a crime.
I heard about William White getting the Secretary of the Navy post last year, but the President decided not to. This second tier post would have come across much better politically if they administration hadn’t f*cked so badly since taking office.
It’s like beating up your boyfriend and buying him candy afterwards, and expecting everything to be square. Nice try.
If anything, hopefully this will advance DADT on the Congressional side more quickly.
Billy
Wow we will be up to 2 office managers.
michael @ leonardmatlovich.com
As long as the President continues to DEFEND the discharges of gay people in court using the same homohating language that the creators of DADT used….
As long as gay people continue to be discharged day after day after day—250 and counting….
As long as he inexplicably and inexcusably, stubbornly and shamelessly, refuses to use his Congressionally-mandated power to stop discharges NOW…
then I do not give a red, white, and blue flying fuck how many gay people or which gay people he appoints to the Pentagon or anywhere else.
William White is the same man who was being supported by some, including pro-gay rights NY Cong. Jerrold Nadler and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Hugh Shelton, who has said that DADT is working, to become Obama’s Secretary of the Navy. He has a stunning resume as a fundraiser for humanitarian causes and is very popular with some in the military.
Let’s imagine that his specific assignment would be, in Obama’s latest careful and curious phrasing, “ending the existing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security,” or metaphorically, “to find a way to end the existing policy of stabbing gay servicemembers in the back.”
As long as the President allows those attacks to continue when he could stop them instantly with the stroke of a pen, as long as he continues to justify those attacks in court, as long as the bodies keep stacking up, he deserves no hosannas, no statues built to him, for simply proposing that they end another way in the bloody by-and-by.
No more patience! No more forgiveness! No more money to Obama’s DNC!
IN MEMORIAM
LEONARD MATLOVICH
JULY 6, 1943 — JUNE 22, 1988
“When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.”
NEVER FORGET
[img]http://15.media.tumblr.com/hCydJPNAnmafn4vrh5DTZRYso1_500.jpg[/img]
SM
How many MILLIONS of gay people are there in the United States? There are not MILLIONS of gay people fighting for their rights publically so don’t expect Obama to make it a pressing matter.
Civil Rights are EARNED they are not flipping benefits gotten by bitching, moaning and making a donation to the DNC.
The people in Iran want CHANGE and they make the gay equality movement in America look like a JOKE and they don’t have the resources you do. Hell they are out there DYING for their rights.
Captain Freedom
@michael @ leonardmatlovich.com: DAMN RIGHT!
Let’s keep the outrage going. Today it was announced that Obama’s fundraiser he is holding is expected to raise ONLY THREE MILLION! That’s nothing!!!! Meanwhile Newt Gingrich, a disgraced former speaker held a fundraiser that raised $14M.
When the President of the United States fails to raise $3M at a major fundraiser in DC that is very very very telling. This is what happens when he does not stand up for the rights of our community and panders to the Christian Race Federation of the South.
SM
@Captain Freedom:
Instead of donating to the fundraiser there should be thousands of democrats and gay people outside demonstrating in a productive way. Discharged military people protesting and speaking, hope that happens.
InExile
@michael @ leonardmatlovich.com: I wrote letters to both of my Senators and my Congressman today similar to this:
Dear Congressman,
I am writing you today because I am concerned about the current lack of action on the part of our legislative branch and our executive branch on issues that directly affect the lives of gay couples.
Our President promised to work with congress on a range of issues like repeal of DOMA, DADT, ENDA, Hate Crimes, and enacting Civil Unions with full federal benefits. I write you today because I know our President can not achieve movement on these issues alone. I am asking you as a life long democrat who has always volunteered to elect democrats and contributed to democrats to please help get these very important issues moving legislatively.
In tough times like these gay couples are also struggling to keep their heads above water but the difference is they are doing so without the same rights and benefits as heterosexual couples. My life waits in limbo until the Uniting American families Act passed or until the Defense of Marriage Act is repealed.
I, my friends, and my family will no longer be donating money or assisting in helping democrats be elected to office until legislation is written and passed to stop discrimination against gay couples.
Respectfully,
InExile
michael @ leonardmatlovich.com
@InExile: BRAVO!
@SM: “thousands of democrats and gay people outside demonstrating” AMEN!
@Captain Freedom: AND AMEN AGAIN!
andy_d
To hell with “the highest-ranking openly gay person in the department.” Obama needs to sign a stop loss order – but then I AM preaching to the choir here . . .
rick
great headline. making amends my ass. this has been in the pipeline for ages.
Captain Freedom
Besides, he looks like Rick Santorum with white hair… Obama isn’t helping himself out much.
schlukitz
This is pure, fucking bullshit!!! Mor scraps from the banquet table.
What the fuck do we have to do before this dumb cluck gets it?
InExile
@schlukitz: Oh, they get it! They just have not begun to feel the HEAT yet!