Tough, but accurate, AP article on the ongoing problem between the Obama administration and the LGBT community. It's set against the backdrop of tonight's DNC fundraiser, which many leaders and gay donors are boycotting. Here's how it starts:
President Barack Obama promised gay and lesbian voters he would repeal a law banning their open service in the military, would do away with a federal marriage law and would champion their causes from the White House. In his first five months, he's taken incremental steps that have little real effect and left some people feeling betrayed.Yes, they are willing to take our money. What's sad is that some people are willing to give it.
But he's still willing to take money from a reliably Democratic constituency — he was sending Vice President Joe Biden to a Democratic National Committee fundraiser Thursday evening with gay and lesbian donors.
Some gay donors called for a boycott after Obama's Justice Department, in a court filing, compared gay marriages to incest.
"I don't think it's an appropriate time to be raising money. No one is happy now," said Richard Socarides, who advised former President Bill Clinton on gay issues and did not plan to attend the event. "On gay rights, the country is already in the age of Obama, but he's governing from the Clinton era."
Read the whole article. Seriously. This is how it ends:
The White House plans an East Room reception on Monday for gay and lesbian advocates to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Greenwich Village demonstrations at the Stonewall Tavern in New York City. The demonstrations are viewed as the start of the modern gay rights movement.It's up to the President to fix this now. He just has to keep his word. It is bad. It shouldn't get worse.
"Unless the president on Monday articulates a strong action plan, and is willing to do it with cameras rolling, it is going to go from bad to worse," said Socarides, the Clinton adviser.
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