The White House continues to seem Hell bent on pissing off as many progressive and LGBT voters as possible. As Mediate notes, just a week after attacking the "professional left," the White House is now having a temper tantrum over gay bloggers who - heavens, how dare they - point out the disconnect between Barack Obama's campaign promises and his failure to shepherd through passage of legislation providing full equality and protections to LGBT Americans. Rather than look in the mirror and admit that they LIED to the LGBT community in an effort to pander for our votes and money, our spineless advocate in the White House would rather get all pissy and act like a peevish drag queen (no offense to drag queens intended) and act as if HE is the one who has been mistreated. John Aravosis, Pam Spaulding and many others - myself included - have been disgusted with the litany of broken campaign promises and many have joined in the "Don't Ask, Don't Give" campaign to shut down the LGBT ATM for Congressional Democratic Committees. First some highlights from Mediate:*
A week after Robert Gibbs went after the “professional left,” another White House official is allegedly airing his frustration with bloggers and this time it’s the LGBT blogosphere and their constant complaining about the Obama administration that is raising concern.
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According to John Aravosis at AmericaBlog, the White House’s point person to the LGBT community, Brian Bond, “expressed frustration at the often intense criticism levied, particularly by bloggers, against an administration that is ‘99 percent supportive of your issues.’” Bond allegedly made these comments at a meeting with state-level activists.
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The LGBT blogosphere, like progressive bloggers generally, has focused on the Obama administration failures and attempted to rally opposition to the White House. Anyone who sides with the administration– including the Human Rights Campaign and even Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.)–is given the same treatment. The larger question for LGBT bloggers, and the White House, is how much harm is there in complaining about activists.
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Personally, I am beyond fed up with Obama and the gutless leadership of the Congressional Democrats. NOTHING has been delivered on ENDA, DOMA repeal or DADT repeal. The Hate Crimes bill while nice does NOTHING to most LGBT Americans who are more worried about not being wrongfully fired or longing to have some kind of legal recognition afforded to their committed relationships. Never one to be caught with a lack of words, Pam Spaulding has some point on comments on the White House's cry baby behavior. Here are some highlights:
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I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist to see the point of view many of us hold - that promises were made, quite publicly to the community to both garner votes and generate cashflow, and now the bill has come due and we are seeing all sorts of shenanigans by those in charge. The delays and slow-go on DADT repeal that ends in a poor compromise and a freepable, embrarrassing "study"; inaction on ENDA, tossing the hot potato between the WH and Congress as to whose responsibility it is to take the lead; Gibbs having amnesia and feeble follow up skills at the podium. Come on. If you're 99% supportive, that is a helluva 1% left over.
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The bottom line is that I want my civil rights, and I see time and effort frittered away as it is treated like a political football -- we're Charlie Brown and Jim Messina et. al. are Lucy. It sure doesn't feel like 99% supportive if it's all theoretical, as we saw in that hilarious DNC video of Tim Kaine . . .
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One commenter, Lev Raphael, was quite spot on: "steps to promote" "beginning to address" - These are weaselly constructions. What's happened isn't insignificant, but why should, for instance, Federal workers have it better off than the rest of us? Why such baby steps? And the steps aren't what we were promised.
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His prologue also did not acknowledge the anger. It's not frustration. I'm frustrated if I have to reboot my computer. I'm frustrated if my dogs won't stop barking. I'm frustrated if I have a bad workout at the gym. I'm frustrated if I screwed up my DVR and didn't record the show I intended to.
I'm not frustrated about the lack of hard progress, I'm angry, disappointed, and disgusted. I think Obama is turning into Clinton. Promise, surface dazzle (at times), but no follow-through, and weak at the core. The very choice of the word "frustrated" by Kaine (or his writers), the way it's balanced with "some of you/some of you" as if we're split down the middle, all show they don't get it. Maybe they will when they don't get our votes?
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