A piece in the Huffington Post rambles on about the supposed manner in which Barack Obama's relationship with the LGBT community has thawed in time to help Obama's 2012 re-election bid. But have things really thawed? Or has Obama simple won back the good graces of self-anointed "leaders" of the community - many of whom at times seem more interested in being on the Washington, D.C., and other top tier cities' cocktail party circuit list than going to the mat for our rights. I will admit that I continue to be a skeptic of Obama's good intentions towards the LGBT community. Yes, he's done more that a GOP president would have done, but too often he has refused to exercise leadership. Richard Socarides, president of Equality Matters, is quoted as saying:*
"I think that people always took the president at his word that the commitments he made in the 2008 campaign were heartfelt and that he meant them,"
*
I'm not overly comfortable with that assessment. Frankly, the only thing I feel confident in saying is that Obama was "heartfelt" about was wanting the LGBT vote - and, of course, our money. No doubt there will be those who condemn my cynicism, but Obama's refusal to put his private beliefs aside on the issue of gay marriage and many of the inconsistencies of his supposed support leave me questioning what the man really believes. Here are highlights from Huffington Post and the quotes of representatives of Gay, Inc.:
*
WASHINGTON -- The relationship between President Barack Obama and gay rights advocates appears to be thawing after two years of mutual distrust, in which each side was more likely to assail the other's motivations than find room for collaboration.
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On Monday, the president's reelection campaign formally announced that he would attend a high-profile LGBT gala in New York City on June 23. The event is set to be emceed by Neil Patrick Harris. It will also feature former Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Penn.), chief sponsor of the Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal legislation, as well as Joel Burns, the Fort Worth council member whose emotional plea to stop anti-gay bullying helped make the "It Gets Better" series viral. The event is expected to raise a nice chunk of change for the Obama Victory Fund 2012.
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[E]ven jaded gay rights activists seem eager to find more amicable ground with the administration. "I think that people always took the president at his word that the commitments he made in the 2008 campaign were heartfelt and that he meant them," said Richard Socarides, president of Equality Matters who does not count himself among the jaded.
*
Deal-sealing would be a boon to the President's reelection campaign, which has strategically eyed gay rights advocates as lucrative sources of campaign funds. . . . Obama has managed to shore up his position in large part through incremental action, behind-the-scenes maneuvering and subtle winks and signals.
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[I]nstrumental in earning LGBT support was Obama's decision to instruct his Justice Department to stop defending the constitutionality of a controversial provision of the Defense of Marriage Act in courts. "It was something only he could do, and it sent a strong message," said Steve Elmendorf, a prominent Democratic strategist and gay rights advocate. "It signaled that he is moving on marriage."
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Still, Elmendorf said, Obama is "not where he needs to be on marriage. The energy in the community is obviously focused on marriage right now, but they also realize it is a state issue and there is nothing immediate Obama can do so long as John Boehner is Speaker."
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There will be some concerned with LGBT issues who, out of apathy or disappointment, simply sit out the 2012 cycle. But the majority are expect to overcome their grievances. "If you look at [Monday's] Republican presidential debate, any one of those people are very scary for gay Americans," said Socarides.
*
Once again, we will be supporting the candidate who is "less scary" and be expected to throw our money at that candidate like Pavlov's dog.
"I think that people always took the president at his word that the commitments he made in the 2008 campaign were heartfelt and that he meant them,"
*
I'm not overly comfortable with that assessment. Frankly, the only thing I feel confident in saying is that Obama was "heartfelt" about was wanting the LGBT vote - and, of course, our money. No doubt there will be those who condemn my cynicism, but Obama's refusal to put his private beliefs aside on the issue of gay marriage and many of the inconsistencies of his supposed support leave me questioning what the man really believes. Here are highlights from Huffington Post and the quotes of representatives of Gay, Inc.:
*
WASHINGTON -- The relationship between President Barack Obama and gay rights advocates appears to be thawing after two years of mutual distrust, in which each side was more likely to assail the other's motivations than find room for collaboration.
*
On Monday, the president's reelection campaign formally announced that he would attend a high-profile LGBT gala in New York City on June 23. The event is set to be emceed by Neil Patrick Harris. It will also feature former Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Penn.), chief sponsor of the Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal legislation, as well as Joel Burns, the Fort Worth council member whose emotional plea to stop anti-gay bullying helped make the "It Gets Better" series viral. The event is expected to raise a nice chunk of change for the Obama Victory Fund 2012.
*
[E]ven jaded gay rights activists seem eager to find more amicable ground with the administration. "I think that people always took the president at his word that the commitments he made in the 2008 campaign were heartfelt and that he meant them," said Richard Socarides, president of Equality Matters who does not count himself among the jaded.
*
Deal-sealing would be a boon to the President's reelection campaign, which has strategically eyed gay rights advocates as lucrative sources of campaign funds. . . . Obama has managed to shore up his position in large part through incremental action, behind-the-scenes maneuvering and subtle winks and signals.
*
[I]nstrumental in earning LGBT support was Obama's decision to instruct his Justice Department to stop defending the constitutionality of a controversial provision of the Defense of Marriage Act in courts. "It was something only he could do, and it sent a strong message," said Steve Elmendorf, a prominent Democratic strategist and gay rights advocate. "It signaled that he is moving on marriage."
*
Still, Elmendorf said, Obama is "not where he needs to be on marriage. The energy in the community is obviously focused on marriage right now, but they also realize it is a state issue and there is nothing immediate Obama can do so long as John Boehner is Speaker."
*
There will be some concerned with LGBT issues who, out of apathy or disappointment, simply sit out the 2012 cycle. But the majority are expect to overcome their grievances. "If you look at [Monday's] Republican presidential debate, any one of those people are very scary for gay Americans," said Socarides.
*
Once again, we will be supporting the candidate who is "less scary" and be expected to throw our money at that candidate like Pavlov's dog.
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