Where's the beef?

Posted by: Susan | Oct 5, 2009 10:45:37 PM

Exactly right, David. If this is just another "safe" occasion on which Obama will say a few pretty words about how much he supports us and our concerns, but those pretty words never make it all the way into concrete action, it won't be enough. We all know already that the president can make great speeches. It's the follow-through we're not seeing.

Posted by: Michael | Oct 5, 2009 11:03:26 PM

I do have mixed feelings about Andrew most of the time, but with this post, he's said it all. And he has said it well: "So spare us the schmoozing and the sweet-talking and do it. Until then, Mr president, why don't you have a nice steaming cup of shut-the-fuck-up?"

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/10/obama-will-attend-hrc-dinner.html

Posted by: John02657 | Oct 6, 2009 1:38:05 AM

Sometimes I think Obama was really running for First Preacher. He's not waving the Born Again flag quite like Jimmy Carter once did, but anyone who defends denying Americans a CIVIL right by invoking "God is in the mix" or tells reporters for the media organ of one of the most gay-oppressing denominations in the world that he "struggles" with balancing his "faith" and, again, our CIVIL rights, is NOT an agent of change but an agent of orthodoxy.

Other times, I think he was running for Original Oratory Champion at some pseudo progressive version of Boys State. He certainly thinks he won, though he's rated too highly by contrast to the mentally challenged, speech challenged George Bush fils. There is a direct correlation between how great a speaker people think he is and how little they've been exposed to ACTUAL great orators of the past. While no FDR or Churchill, whatever else good or bad one can say about him, Bill Clinton was a natural orator while Obama is more a teleprompter reader, often revealing his natural weaknesses by throwing away some of its best text through poor delivery. Time again you can see and hear him backing away from the killer punch line even when it's been written for him.

And, no I have not forgotten, nor forgiven, that he won most of his most fervent gay backing simply by dropping the G-word to those too starved to hear it during the Bush Reich or too ignorant to know that the first person to most advance the concept that we were Americans, too, was another black man entirely: Jesse Jackson in 1984.

Time and time again, gay media, particularly blogs, rhapsodized about how Obama spoke of "gay rights" when that was RARELY true except in response to questions. His self-initiated remarks were almost universally soley in the context of tolerating or not blaming us. The word "rights" is almost never there, though multitudes "heard" it.

One would have thought by this June that if not the "leaders" then the "leading indicators" in the community would have had their ears unstopped and their eyes opened. Yet the very momentum of anger that frightened the White House into throwing together the "Stonewall celebration" at the last minute was almost totally narcotized by his, yet again, just sprinkling a bunch of pretty words on them like so much multicolored sugar granules on cupcakes. There was icing but there was no cake.

Now, clearly fearing being further damaged by the NEM the next day, he's climbing down off his cloud long enough to work the lavendar crowd again. Maybe he'll actually bring with him a long overdue savory morsel, but my bet is that the evening will primarily end with his recipe for dessert: Pie In The Sky.

Posted by: Michael@LeonardMatlovich.com | Oct 6, 2009 2:03:27 AM

How do you know a politician is screwing us over?

The HRC invites him or her to be keynote speaker at their dinner.

Posted by: libhomo | Oct 6, 2009 11:05:12 PM

Okay Michael, and all the other angry people who have left comments on this article, allow me to make a friendly suggestion. May I? First, allow me to urge you to invest in several books of stamps, stationery, some letters and a fountain pen. Second, in the time that it took you to think up these comments and write them, maybe, just maybe you could do something constructive with that time. An example would be to hand-write a letter to urge the repeal of DATD. Michael, since you spend so much time on the computer, you could look up the co-sponsors of US Rep. Patrick Murphy's bill to repeal DADT and see who needs to become a co-sponsor and write them letters. You could find out the Legislative Assistant for Military Affairs and write them a letter urging them to end the DADT policy. If you are a veteran, you could talk about your own military service, or bring up the late USAF Sergeant Lenonard Matlovich, and the fact that he was a Vietnam Veteran. I also urge you to write to the DOD, i.e. Secretary Robert Gates and JCS Chair Admiral Michael Mullen and others. You could write respectful letters to veterans organizations like the American Legion, Veterans for Foreign Wars and AMVETS. Urge them to support the repeal of DADT. NO....what am I saying? It is SO much easier to vent your anger at a convenient scapegoat like President Barack Obama and put all the blame on him for DADT than it is to actually do some work and shed some sweat and do something constructive!! I am so sorry, keep up the moaning and groaning and doom and gloom. I am sure it is movivating so many people to act. Yes, continue with the callous and angry rhetoric!!! Why maybe we in the LGBT community should team up with the birthers and teabaggers and other right-wing crazies since we all share a common enemy. I am sure they would welcome us with open arms. Furthermore, we should all make sure that President Obama isn't reelected in 2012 since he has let us down so horribly. Maybe we should support Sarah Palin for Prez. Yes, she would be with us all the way!! She would get rid of DADT her first day in office. NOT!!! In all seriousness, how about shedding the whining!!! It has gone from being really old to being absolutely distastful!!!!!

Posted by: Dino | Oct 7, 2009 12:22:23 AM

My goodness... The President gives a speech at a fundraising dinner... How revolutionary!

Posted by: Lonnie | Oct 7, 2009 1:25:05 AM

My goodness... The President gives a speech at a fundraising dinner... How revolutionary!

Posted by: Lonnie | Oct 7, 2009 1:25:06 AM

Well, I hope "Don't ask don't tell" are mentioned at the dinner and also "LGBTQ marriage-equality" in all 50 states not just Maine. Washington State needs Obamas help too!

Posted by: Ronnie/Seattle | Oct 7, 2009 1:50:22 AM

Just wondering if its a good idea for Obama to say anything about Maine. He tried to get Patterson to not run in NY and looked at that mess. The theme seemed to be to butt out of NY politics. I know this is different but just wondering if saying something could backfire like in NY.

Posted by: Rich | Oct 7, 2009 10:18:15 AM

@Dino: First, where does one go to buy some letters?

Second, perhaps it escaped your notice, but since 2001 all postal mail sent to any member of Congress or anybody in the federal government has to be sent through a clearinghouse for screening--which means that it takes at least a couple of weeks, if not longer, to reach its intended recipient. Writing a letter by hand is actually LESS efficient and LESS effective for getting in touch with someone in the government than sitting down at the computer and typing out an e-mail.

There are currently 176 co-sponsors on H.R. 1283, and yet the bill still conveniently sits locked away in a committee where it will never see the light of day. Meanwhile, the members of the House of Representatives seem to have little better to do with their time than to debate what to name post offices in Back-of-Buttfuck, Idaho, granting posthumous citizenship to Casimir Pulaski, and recognizing the "tremendous contribution" made to American life and culture by country music and declaring it to be a "uniquely American art form."

Perhaps, instead of rushing to the defense of the president every time someone dares to suggest that he might not be able to walk and chew gum at the same time (never mind walking on water) and suggesting that anyone who isn't constantly 100% enthusiastic about everything he does, you might consider taking Andrew Sullivan's advice and having a nice steaming cup of shut the fuck up?

Posted by: Michael | Oct 7, 2009 8:47:55 PM

Michael,

Thanks for your response. Yes, I know that HR 1283 has little chance of passing the house, and even if it did much less of passing the Senate. There is always hope however to write, make phone calls, email, fax etc., etc. It is a LOT better than bellyaching and projecting a lot of doom and gloom!!! I am not "rushing" to the defense of President Obama blindly, and as for "walking on water" that is exactly my point. He is not a savior. He can only do so much. Call me a naive moron if you will (and I am sure that you will) but I really believe that his heart is in the right place. Yes I like a hot steaming cup of coffee every morning, but as for the quote by Andrew Sullivan, I have a right to express MY opinion and you have a right to yours, and I wouldn't tell you to shut the f..k up, so you should'nt do the same!!!!

Posted by: Dino | Oct 7, 2009 11:40:57 PM