I first cast a vote in an election over 38 years ago and since that time I have, never ever failed to vote in any city, state or federal election. That track record may change on November 2, 2010, as I seriously consider not voting. Yes, that's right, I may not vote in the coming election. From conversations with others I am not the only one who is leaning toward staying home from the polls. The common statement I hear is that voting will "make no difference." Typically, the speakers making these remarks then launch into the debacle of the Democrats, who were given a mandate and commanding margin in both houses of Congress and control of the White House only to see it all pissed away. Obama blames the Congress; the House blames the Senate; and the Senate blames the White House and everyone else. No one takes responsibility either individually or on the part of the national Democrats as a whole.*
Candidly, I share the above sentiments of these individuals to some extent myself. My larger reason for staying home, however, if that is what I choose to do, is that I refuse to once again be played for a fool and a cretin by the Democrats. Yes, most say all the right words while campaigning but then deliver nothing once in office. As a community, LGBT Americans are rewarding the Democrats for their lies and betrayal if we yet again and again give them what they want - our money and votes - with no accountability demanded or consequences being inflicted for betrayal and broken promises. The message to the Democrats from the LGBT community is clear: you can lie with impunity, don't need to keep any of your campaign promises, and you don't need to deliver on anything because the idiot LGBT voters will still come out and vote for them no matter what. With this constant message being sent by the LGBT community to Democrats of all stripes, why on earth should the Democrats ever change? They are getting exactly what they want and do not need to do anything to get it. Indeed, at times I believe the Democrat goal is to keep LGBT citizens inferior indefinitely so that each campaign cycle the bogey man in the form of the GOP can be trotted yet again. Yes, the GOP may be worse, but then Democrats haven't done anything of substance for LGBT Americans either.
*My second reason for not voting relates to the recent wave of gay teen suicides. It's true that the Christian Right, Mormons and Roman Catholic Church bear the great responsibility for the unrelenting anti-gay message that forces youth to see suicide as their best solution - a point I reached myself twice in the past. But by failing to act to repeal DADT, enact ENDA and repeal DOMA the Democrats also bear responsibility. First and foremost among the Democrats sending out a message of hopelessness to LGBT youth is Barack Obama. Oh yes, he says nice things in pretty speeches, but if one follows his actions, it becomes clear that the pretty words mean NOTHING to him. Just as, in my opinion, LGBT lives and the careers of LGBT servicemembers mean NOTHING to Obama. And I suspect our gay youth are savvy enough to figure out that we are all being played. They realize that there is no guarantee that "it gets better." Their proof: the continuation of DADT and DOMA and the fact that ENDA has gone nowhere even in the Democrat controlled House of Representatives.
*
As for my open disgust with Obama, I believe that it is justified. Moreover, in my view, he IS part of the problem no matter what his apologists in Gay, Inc., may say. Let's look at his actions versus his disingenuous rhetoric - which I experienced first hand when he spoke in Virginia Beach in February 2008 - aimed at securing votes and money. First, during the campaign, who does Obama select for appearances at campaign functions? Anti-gay, ex-gay supporter Donnie McClurkin. And when confronted with McClurkin's anti-gay positions and slimy ex-gay past, what does he do? Obama keeps McClurkin on the program. Then lets move to the inauguration. Who does Obama select to deliver the invocation? Rick Warren, homophobe extraordinaire whose finger prints are all over anti-gay agendas in Africa and whose church website had anti-gay rhetoric all over it. Then, of course, we have the on going DOMA and DADT litigation. What do we see from Obama? A vigorous defense of the anti-gay policies and, based on the latest reports, and appeal of the DADT ruling and worldwide injunction against DADT discharges.
*Even as I write this post, Obama is promising that DADT "will end on my watch" yet he has ZERO ability to make that happen if he proceeds with an appeal of Judge Phillips rulings. There is ZERO guarantee that the Senate will ever repeal DADT. Likewise, given the Christian extremists among the conservative block on the Supreme Court, there is ZERO guarantee that DADT will not be upheld if the case makes it to the Supreme Court. Ditto for DOMA.
*
The sad truth is that the LGBT community is being played again. Obama believes that we are simpletons and fools and wants us out voting on November 2, 2010. My message to Obama and ALL Democrats: you want my vote, then ALL Democrats as a whole need to start delivering. I want to hold them jointly and severally responsible. I am over being played and cynically lied to.
3 comments:
Michael
I totally relate to your anger over our present social situation in Washington. Like you, I feel very used and abused. Promises have been broken or ignored. We have been denied our rights for way too long. It is time for real change, not empty promises.
Personally, I believe Our rights are inevitable. The minority is quickly becoming the majoity and I truly believe that like all other minorities in history, we will prevail in the end. The problem here is that you and I and I'm sure many others have run out of patience. it is also true that as a group, democrates and LGBT community have not gotten angry enough. Unfortunately, history has proven that it takes a revolution to create change. What do our marches really do? Have you ever thought about that?
We have to get permits and jump through hoops just to have a march. They are always on a Sunday so they do not disrupt weekly business. Who is in Washington on A Sunday? Certainly not congress. So when we march, our voices fall on deaf ears if any at all.
If we want change, we have to make change. Women had to do it for the right to cast a vote, blacks had to do it to have any kind of equal rights, as well as many other minority groups. They suffered for their rights to be granted, rights that should have been theirs to start with. I say We need to rise up and cause disruption of business as usual. We need to take to the streets and not be afraid of retaliation. We need representitives that are not afraid to lose it all for something they believe in just because it is the right thing to do. We need leaders that will ignore the money and power that is lavashed on them through lobbiest, someone that believes in integrity and is not afraid of what the media has to say about them. We need someone from the LGBT community that is informed and passionate about our plight as well as economics, healthcare, and other issues that are choking our nation to unconsiousness. I prepose that with as much passion and tenacity as you have, you should throw your hat in the mix and help create the change we are all desprately needing. Michael, I would respect and support you running for any office that would get you on the fast track to Washington so that we have a voice of integrity, A voice that is strong and unafraid of the good old boys.
In closing, as much as I agree with your frustration of our current system, I believe that non action is not the proper action to take. I will exercize my right vote, the right that women suffered for, so that I could have it, and though it is a far from perfect system, I will continue to try to change it in any small way that I can. Even if 90% of democrates have not been willing to step out of the box, I must still support the 10% that do in hopes that others will stand strong and prevail. I will fight for justice until injustice is no more.
Your friend
Gail Padon
Michael
I totally relate to your anger over our present social situation in Washington. Like you, I feel very used and abused. Promises have been broken or ignored. We have been denied our rights for way too long. It is time for real change, not empty promises.
Personally, I believe Our rights are inevitable. The minority is quickly becoming the majoity and I truly believe that like all other minorities in history, we will prevail in the end. The problem here is that you and I and I'm sure many others have run out of patience. it is also true that as a group, democrates and LGBT community have not gotten angry enough. Unfortunately, history has proven that it takes a revolution to create change. What do our marches really do? Have you ever thought about that?
We have to get permits and jump through hoops just to have a march. They are always on a Sunday so they do not disrupt weekly business. Who is in Washington on A Sunday? Certainly not congress. So when we march, our voices fall on deaf ears if any at all.
If we want change, we have to make change. Women had to do it for the right to cast a vote, blacks had to do it to have any kind of equal rights, as well as many other minority groups. They suffered for their rights to be granted, rights that should have been theirs to start with. I say We need to rise up and cause disruption of business as usual. We need to take to the streets and not be afraid of retaliation. We need representitives that are not afraid to lose it all for something they believe in just because it is the right thing to do. We need leaders that will ignore the money and power that is lavashed on them through lobbiest, someone that believes in integrity and is not afraid of what the media has to say about them. We need someone from the LGBT community that is informed and passionate about our plight as well as economics, healthcare, and other issues that are choking our nation to unconsiousness. I prepose that with as much passion and tenacity as you have, you should throw your hat in the mix and help create the change we are all desprately needing. Michael, I would respect and support you running for any office that would get you on the fast track to Washington so that we have a voice of integrity, A voice that is strong and unafraid of the good old boys.
In closing, as much as I agree with your frustration of our current system, I believe that non action is not the proper action to take. I will exercize my right vote, the right that women suffered for, so that I could have it, and though it is a far from perfect system, I will continue to try to change it in any small way that I can. Even if 90% of democrates have not been willing to step out of the box, I must still support the 10% that do in hopes that others will stand strong and prevail. I will fight for justice until injustice is no more.
Your friend
Gail Padon
Obama is not on the ballot here or there. Here we have a candidate for governor who earlier signed the law decriminalizing sodomy and who was attorney general refused to appeal Prop. 8 and a senator who signed a letter (with zero Republicans) asking Obama not to appeal the DADT case... and our usual plethora local and state proposition. Maybe there's no reason to vote there, but elsewhere there are reasons, and there's a presidential primary and election in 2012 in which you can vote against Obama (as I will, though certainly not for any forseeable Republican in the general election).
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