Obama is Betraying LGBT Americans

As the prior post indicates, I am beyond over Barack Obama's lies and failures of leadership. Waiting for a consensus to somehow fall out of the sky is hardly leadership and it is certainly not the kind of president that Obama promised he would be if elected. For the LGBT community he may not be as objectionable as a McCain-Palin regime, but with "friends" like Obama we can count on being second class citizens for many years to come. Most outrageously, he is allowing Bush/Cheney holdovers to dictate policy rather than set the agenda himself - and that's assuming he's not tacitly backing the betrayal behind closed doors. I hate to say it, but I have come to the point where I believe nothing the man says. Bush may have been a cretin, but he told the truth as he saw it in his delusional alternate universe. Secretary of Defense Gates needs to be fired by Obama now. A timely post at Pam's House Blend rightfully takes Obama - AND Congressional Democrats, including Virginia Senator Jim Webb - to task. Here are some highlights:
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With today's official confirmation that Democrat Ike Skelton refuses to include "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal language in the House's Defense Authorization bill, and reports are coming that Democrat Sen. Ben Nelson too has joined Democrat Sen. Jim Webb, and Republican Scott Brown in ruling out repeal in 2010. Their reason? They are listening to Bush-appointee and Obama holdover, Democratic Administration Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' recommendation to not to attach repeal to the Senate version of the Defense Authorization Bill. To anyone playing close attention, repeal seems hopelessly handicapped in 2010.
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And mostly, by the White House's complete and total lack of leadership. Because of Gates' unprecedented presumption to set the legislative calendar for Congress, and Obama's total silence and disengagement on the issue, it is undeniably the Democrats who are destroying hope for repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for 2010.
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They are telling our community as they always have: to wait. Not acceptable.
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I say to President Obama, we voted for you. Not George W. Bush's Secretary of Defense. We were expecting Change. And we expect you to keep the promises you made to our community. And we expect you to lead the Democrats, as the leader of the party. Your complete and total lack of leadership on this issue is more than a disappointment, it is a betrayal. It's time for the gay community-for the leaders of our national organizations-to come together, in total unity, and say with one voice: "We'll vote for you later." Later. As in Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010.
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Until Democrats fear ticking off the LGBT community, they clearly will be feckless allies and fair weather friends who take us for granted and feel no inclination to reward us for our tireless devotion to keeping them in power.
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Well, let them look at the prospect of midterms 2010, without our resources. No LGBT votes. None of our feet on the ground knocking on doors. Our pocketbooks sealed tight. To be clear, I don't want the Republicans in charge of the Senate or the House anymore than anyone else. But it is the only stick we have in our arsenal to discipline the Democrats into doing what they promised, what is right. As the Courage Campaign noted today, the relationship has become hopelessly dysfunctional. They clearly need a spanking. It is no longer enough they be better than the GOP, they must actually be good.
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It's time (way past time, really) for Human Rights Campaign, and every major LGBT organization to let a message be known, Obama and the Democrats have a proposal on the table: "President Obama and Secretary Gates must come out and endorse repeal this year. The leader of the party must bring Democrats in line to deliver on the promises he and the party have made to our community for years. Or every major LGBT organization will recommend LGBT Americans stay home during the midterm elections.