NO WE CAN’T!!!
On June 25th there is going to be a Democratic National Committee LGBT Leadership Council fund raising dinner at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC.
It will be featuring Vice President Joe Biden as the guest of honor… the prices run from $30,400 to $1,000 per seat.
Today on Politico, Ben Smith published an e-mail from the openly gay Treasurer of the DNC, Andrew Tobias, asking that we support this event and defending President Obama as a “President we can be proud of,” he even pointed out we got invited to the White House Easter Egg Roll and said it was wonderful press for all of us LGBT’s….
A President we can be Proud of?
During the last election Barack Obama promised us change we could believe in. He promised us hope. He promised to be a leader and to address the issues of the LGBT community. So we took to the streets and to the phones asking our families, friends and neighbors to support him, because he would be a leader who would not shy away from hard issues. And we sent him money… tons of it.
However, while Easter egg rolls are fun and human interest PR is good, they do not really provide us or families with much in the way of protections… And are not the change we thought we were being promised…. the change we paid for with our money and our work. So I think there is either some kind of reality disconnect going on here or Andrew Tobias has a mouse in his pocket if he thinks we LGBT’s can be proud of anything President Obama or the Democrats have done for the LGBT community so far.
Anyone remember Rick Warren at the inauguration? Anyone remember the discharge of Lt Dan Choi? Anyone remember the half-heart press release just hours before the vote on the Mathew Shepard hate crime law? Or the surreptitious write out of our issues from the White House web site? Or National Security Adviser James Jones saying he did not know if DADT would be repelled in our lifetime?
Anyone remember seeing the total lack of any real leadership from President Obama or the congressional democrats on any of the issues that affect our LGBT community or our daily lives whatsoever?
The Democrats and President Obama must think we don’t…. Because they are coming to us for money again and don’t seem to get it… what we see is while they like gay dollars and votes, they don’t really like to do much on gay issues.
I hope Vice President Biden enjoys eating alone, because here is what I have been doing all afternoon since I read Ben Smith’ article… I have been e-mailing and calling my friends and contacts, asking them to join me in calling for a boycott on this event or any future Democratic Party fund raising effort targeted to the LGBT community.
I have also been asking my friends to call the folks at the DNC and let them know that they have a lot of nerve to even think they are going to support them in any way till we start see some movement our issues… as so grandly promised in the last election.
And I am asking everyone in the LGBT community to let the DNC know… “NO WE CAN’T… till they can.”
DNC- 202-863-8000
877-336-7200
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Couldn’t agree more!
I agree and I posted a comment on Topix about a week ago stating this also. not another penney for anything untill i see action on DADT, DOMA and a few others.
Money – it is the only thing they understand.
No We Won’t!
Thanks for writing this awesome honest article! We need more people brave enough to speak up in our community like you!
You people are ridiculous. Obama has been in office for only four months and has made sweeping unprecedented progress on big issues that are embattling the entire country; are your heads in the sand? Have you forgotten the disastrous condition of our country thanks to the Bush administration? There are issues that must take precedent; the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. This niche thinking has allowed the opposition to put our issues on the front burner and exploit them for their gain. Thanks to the poorly conceived strategy of Elizabeth Birch and HRC, gay marriage became an issue owned by the Republicans, not by us. This foolish ‘I’m taking my toys and going home’ philosophy spewed by the author accomplishes nothing; actually it does do something. It weakens the solidarity of the party for change and gives our opposition power. Slowly and methodically is how we will get what we want. We tried it your way and the backlash is still rippling. If you think you can do so much better, run for office and let’s see how well you govern with your single issue platform. We are more than just gay; we are human beings with responsibilities to our fellow mankind. That is not going away. Stand for something, you fool.
I am standing for something… I am standing for no more Pink money till we see REAL progress… and I will be standing outside the Mandarin letting the DNC know this on the 25th…..
I have not forgotten the disastrous condition the country is in. I am living in it after all. I also can’t help but notice that one of the pressing issues is the war. Why Obama won’t do a stop loss so soldiers that are qualified to make a difference in that war is a concern to many Americans. Also, the economy is an issue. Why Obama won’t stop funding DADT is another huge concern to many Americans.
When life happens, like Arabic linguists coming out and then being fired, I expect Obama to do something. Like make a statement, reinforce his position to repeal. I’m not saying get the gay stuff done first. But I am saying stand strong and speak out when situations arise. Show us that you will indeed be a leader on our issues. Not just have stuff on the White House website that has already come down once and we had to fight just to keep it on there.
Not a good sign.
There are way more issues than just gay marriage. Here at Lezgetreal we care about all of them. One of the only benefits of this whole anti-gay marriage movement is that it gave me the incentive a very long time ago to educate myself in my rights and in the principals of the Constitution. I would love to hear your thoughts on another article I wrote recently here on LGR on the homeless being charged rent in NY.
We’re going to speak up on what we think needs to change in this country. LGR will never be a site that toes some party line. Left and right politics, I believe, are just two sides of the same coin. Who benefits the most from America being divided?
The title of the email was “progress — and frustration.” The first part was about progress on the dinner. The second part was about the frustration we all feel — me, too — across a lot of fronts. (The part about being “proud of” was in a general context — we don’t have to wince when this man represents us overseas, etc.)
And the overall point was to laud people like Richard Socarides and David Mixner and Raymond Buckley, who have been eloquent and forceful in expressing their frustration — while at the same time recognizing the value in supporting our dinner to raise funds for Organizing for America (the grassroots project of the DNC, designed to help the President move his agenda — which, right there for all to see one click from the White House home page, includes most of OUR agenda — http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/civil_rights/ ).
It’s easy to make fun of things out of context — and that’s fine. I know it comes from your passion for equality, which I share. But in the context of the email, that egg roll example actually made some sense (it gave us a terrific teachable moment on national nightly news), and the case I made for supporting Organizing for America — while not persuasive to you — was still, I think, a fair one.
We will miss you at the dinner. We will share your impatience for equality. We deserve it.
Andrew Tobias (writing as a private citizen — neither this nor the email you reference was “official” in any way)
Andrew you want more of my money I need to see more progress…. But I will be outside the Mandarin on the 25th… Letting my brothers and sisters know its time for us to stop paying for our second class citizenship.
And since I am used to getting table scraps from the Dems, I hope you will bring me a doggy bag and maybe we can talk.
Get a grip people. Rome wasn’t build in day and this country wasn’t torn apart by the Party of No overnight. This Admin doesn’t even have all of it’s players in place yet and they’ve run circles around Bu$hCo. in putting out the blazing infernos left behind.
Just having someone in office who is at least willing to admit “teh gays” exist already gives hope that things will move in a positive direction. Will everything on the Honey Do list get done? Probably not. But at least a more inclusive environment is being built.
BTW, this event is to honor the top GAY and LESBIAN Democratic donors/leaders (and the bottom ones too!) It isn’t to honor Obama and/or Biden. They have chosen to come lend their support to honor LGBT Democrats. What did Republikkkan’s ever offer?
What a change we can not only believe in but see with our very own eyes.
I agree 100%. How dare they ask us for more money before proving they deserve it. This is ridiculous. We are supposed to give them money because we got to go on an Easter egg hunt. Seriously. Obviously the DNC doesn’t respect us at all if they think they can ask us to give more money to people that are not producing results.
Guys, even in the UK our conversation in the local gay bar tonight was is this guy just another disappointment, if you dont mind an outsiders opinion he appears to be U turning so fast I’m amazed he can stand he must be so dizzy!!!
Andrew
Don’t you think they get enough of our undeserved money by keeping DOMA and DADT in place???
When I have the same rights for the taxes I pay then we might consider that we’ve made progress.
We shouldn’t have to be patient for TRUE equality.
The government has a deadline to get my tax money every year and the deadline has passed on our equal rights!
If you think I’m wrong, ask the 12,500 service members discharged by DADT if they should just keep being patient. Or the spouses paying estate taxes through the roof when their partner passes away. Should they just wait it out? What about the suicidal teens waiting for a glimmer of hope? Are you going to tell them to be patient???
Where is THEIR fundraiser?????????
Stevie THANK YOU from your input from the UK! We hope others from around the globe will speak in the conversation as well. Thank you again!
Andrew, weren’t there gay families at Bush’s Easter Egg roll too? This is getting ridiculous. We should all smile and nod along as we’re screwed over because of that “touching moment”?
I wanted Obama to bring change, I fought for him, I raised money for him, I voted for him, and I have a right to be dissapointed when he acts just like every other politician. I’m tired of being lied to! I’m tired of America torturing people, ripping apart the constitution, and treating the people of our community like second class citizens.
Change is only going to happen if we stand up and demand it. Peaceful protests, like this boycott, are exactly how REAL CHANGE happens in America.
If the Bush team reached out to invite 110 LGBT families for the Easter egg roll and got an adorable little girl on the national nightly TV news saying how lucky she was to have two moms, I missed it.
If Bush went on record committing to lift the ban on military service, I missed it.
If Bush had prominently on his White House web site the goals of expanding our anti-discrimination employment laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity, I missed it.
Likewise adoption.
Likewise repeal of DA/DT.
Likewise federal rights for gay couples — which as a practical matter would anyone to get hitched in Massachusetts or wherever and, returning home even to a non-marriage state, have all 1,138 federal rights and benefits (if that’s still the number) of marriage.
Yes, it’s been four months.
But realistically, as another poster noted, the Administration hasn’t even got much of its staff in place, or its ambassadors around the world. Our progress won’t happen as fast as we’d like.
If that leads you not to want to help fund, Organizing for America, the grassroots project that’s been set up within the DNC to help move the President’s agenda (which includes our agenda), so be it. You will always be welcome if and when you think the time is right.
But I think we kid ourselves if we think that failing to help fund OFA and move the President’s agenda will somehow advance our cause.
My own view is that we should continue to express our impatience (and push for full marriage equality, not just the federal rights by another name) . . . while at the same time supporting this amazing President in the achievement of his stated objectives.
I respect your right to a different view.
A.T.
Everyone makes choices….we all have to decide where and when we take a stand….one thing I know is that the DNC is organizing this to THANK donors…and many of you think that by deomonstrating you will somehow prove something…but, what? Choose to continue to support from within and you are characterized as a sell out…choose to protest and you are no less of a sell out because you can do your protesting in a more appropriate venue/time/occasion…no one really thinks that the outcome of protesting on that night will help our cause…but that does not seem to matter….it is about “winning”….gays in the Military – good win! Yeah, right! Gay marriage – good win…for Bush…..Boy Scouts – stupid from the get go!
How about we choose to continue to support from within, engage and debate with respect from within and without…some comments here are so angry – and quite frankly unnecccesarily mean that they diminish moral authority and miss the point! The point is that the a member of the Executive Branch wants to thank us – US…the Gay and Lesbian Community….this is an opportunity for us to show dignity and to accept the gratitude (Fox is going to love the pics of protesters!), and then, after the protests we are going to ask for more…even demand it!!!!!; but to insult the Vice President, DNC or the President???? Are you going to change anyone’s mind? I think that there was a time when we should have protested every Presidential speech – Bush 1, Reagan, W…I could go on….
But just as we want to be courted, we have to court….and his dancecard is pretty full….
There used to be a time in America when people disagreed, but they did not question one’s commitment to values, they did not get personal and they argued and tried to reconcile without this level of anger and personal attacks…we WILL disagree, but please try do so with civility…because you can throw around all these ‘threats’, but I still believe in the power of pursuation, the nobility of fair arguing and the fact that you will always have some who are cynical and THINK that by insulting they have won! Winning….what would that entail for Obama to do? DOMA repeal? – READ the polls, backlash is going to come to beworse than the current sitattion…DOMA will die in time…..or have Obama put through reforms on “don’t ask, don’t tell….” He is already suspect to the Military, but in time he may have the chance…and if he does not take it the…it is attack time…but Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is so discredited that it is only a matter of time….
For the first time in my life – and I am in my forties…I believe we have a shot at some real gains for G&L issues….we have got to look hard at what we do and how we do it, but there is REAL change possible….but sometimes when you push too hard the ramifications can be disasterous – the “Backlash” can be worse than the ‘win’ – look at Hardwick in the Supreme Court…and REALLY look at Gays in the Military….do we really want a repeat of that? The Gays in the Military was a complete and utter disaster that we pushed…and what did it get us?
You choose, you strive to be patient and you court your adversaries – hell, let’s face it: many Supremem Court scholars say that they feel the Roe decision should not have been decided by the Supreme Court, because the States were already well on their way to making abortion legal….but by pushing we have extended this fight…Abortion is just one example….does anyone REALLY think that Lincoln would have not compromised about slavery?…but as time went on he realized the moral imperative….Lincoln was a moderate who was often attacked for his short sighted reluctance to tackle the end of Slavery….his aides say that he carried a copy of the Amancipation Proclamation with him or on the top drawer of his desk at ready….but the political winds needed to be in his favor…..Politics is the art of the capturing the moment….not manipulating it (as Bush did)….
Obama can’t give us all he would like to – HE CAN’T take this on yet….he studied the mess that was the first year of the Clinton Adminstatation and he knows that it will be some time…
Leaders need time, legitamacy and discipline…..but what is undeniable with social matters is that support and trust are intregal. Many who write about their indignation have time to reconsider and I will also do the same; we all have a legitimate gripe with the lack of some issues, but Gays have been remarkably well represented in this administration….so, reearch and decide but do you have the discipline to compromise anger and indignation with a handshake and some trust…..this is not some hack, this president is not a slick politician…this is a thinker, a consensus builder…
Ask what YOU want….becuase if it ALL about Gay Rights….well, then NOTHING will change your mind…but if it is about a better America &B world, you need to consider supporting the DNC, Obama and Biden…..
When Reagan was President (one of the worst we have had) he always asked: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?”…..that was ALWAYS the WRONG question – it should have been: “are WE all better off than we were four years ago?”….This is about US…all of us…..so keep that in mind…because you KNOW that we have not had such a gay and lesbian friendly president EVER!…
……it can be about us, but it should be about everyone – just gays and lesbians alone can’t do this…..you choose your battles and I will choose mine….and I will choose my table at the Mandarin (which by the way is very good to the G&L community..and very open to the Gay and Lesbian Communities need for dignity and discretion) and I will bask in a night where I can honestly say NO WE CAN’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE THANKED…AND THANK BACK….
Good night my Brothers and Sisters……
Peace,
RJ
RJ… The DNC is organizing this event to get more money from our community… and for no other reason… it is naive of you to think otherwise.
and when that money stops… only then will the Dems see exactly why the need to finally address our issues with a little more gusto.
Listen to yourself: “they diminish moral authority!” That’s some hardcore language to use right there. I recall the religious right using it often against our community.
There has to be a balance people. You only receive what you have dished out. As Paula mentioned, we shouldn’t be giving up any more of our dollars to be second class citizens. Yes, it’s only been four months. Yes, the Obama Admin, is doing better than the previous admin (not that hard a feat when compared). Yes,there are other issues besides gay marriage.
Gay marriage may not be priority – BUT EQUALITY IS!!!!
Gay marriage may not be priority- BUT REPEALING DADT IS!!!!
Gay marriage may not be priority- BUT GAY MONEY IS??!!
We have already given far too much. We pay our taxes like American citizens, but have yet to be treated as such. There’s a war going on, and alot of us don’t agree with it. So when you have hard working, homosexuals who full on fit the criteria along with having a PASSION to fight, but instead get discharged
thats when WE have to ASK and YOU have to TELL!!! My point is that we are not good enough to get married in YOUR country, fight in YOUR war, marry in YOUR states, adopt in YOUR cities, visit loved ones in YOUR hospitals, or have YOUR respect. So why and how is OUR money good enough for YOUr hands?
*applause* Well put. Don’t let anyone convince you that shutting up and getting in line is the right thing to do. When something matters to you, and you don’t speak up, it eats you from the inside-out over time.
Sorry–I think we are shooting ourselves in the foot. Obama and Biden are the best hope we have of converting others to “our” side, ie., treating us as ALL should be treated in all aspects of American life. I won’t waste time here repeating the eloquence of others in this forum.
They’ve had only a few months, for Stonewall’s sake! Change takes time, and look at all the unexpected garbage they have had to deal with from the Republican administration before them.
I reserve ALL judgment for at least two full years! Please help them, not embarrass or hinder them, especially in front of the reactionary media.
Did you just make up a two year rule and ask us all to follow you on it? I don’t know if that is more immature or scary. You sound pretty well trained by that reactionary media, Art. These people do not need our money; they’ve got plenty. And Obama doesn’t support Gay Marriage, wake up.
Art,
In 1993 Clinton signed DADT… he said it would only be a while before he got it repealed … The just before the election in 1996 he signed DOMA… and made our lot even worse.
When are you going to learn… these guys wont do a thing for us… unless we push them
They’ve had a few months? Obama declared a holiday the first chance he got, closed Guantanamo… he could have easily shut down DADT and DOMA at the same instant.
I realize the dinner is for LGBT leadership in the DNC – yet what kind of faith do we have when you have Biden as your guest of honor??
On top of all of that – Obama won’t even look into the 350 billion dollars Bush withdrew from our government before he left office?
I am sorry if I am a little broke and jaded right now. Double expenses for half of the rights does that to people.
Marie Antoinette said: “Then let them eat cake.”
Now we’re being told “let them eat Easter Eggs.” And some people are actually EATING that up. *shivers*
I said that “I” was giving them 2 years to deal with ALL of the bullshit they’ve been handed–I believe that this is still a free country and YOU may decide as you wish. But then again, my “immaturity” has always been a hindrance in my quest for a happy and successful life! Please. Unfortunately, some here are too hard-headed and are themselves “reactionary” when free discourse is at hand.
Obama is not one of “these guys.” He may turn out to be, but he isn’t yet. Who sounds like Fox now?
I believe that .there has been a HUGE outpouring of funds and support to the DNC In fact, they plan to do one of these up in NYC now too….and they probably hope that you continue to take them on…because it has only benefitted them! My checkbook is out!
BTW–on the gay marriage issue: Perhaps we need to take a closer look at the book The Trouble with Normal by Michael Warner. Has marriage been all that successful for heteros??? Do gay people REALLY want to go THERE??? The first gay couple to marry in MA has already filed for or been granted a divorce. IF it’s equality and same treatment under the law, then change laws to give married AND unmarried people the same rights! But hey, if gays want to get married, I’m the last person to deny them the right they THINK will benefit them! That’s why I support that issue.
Yes i have heard all this before… we in the LGBT community have to support the Dems, because while they won’t lets us in the boat with them, they will, unlike the Republicans, at least let us hang on the side…. as long as we pay for that privilege.
This is not 1993, the Republican Party is a chaotic mess… now is the time for some leadership on our issues…. and our President needs to grow a set when it comes to the promises he made to us.
Thanks for continuing the conversation AT.
I see way too much similarity between this administration and the last. For me, this is not just about DADT or gay marriage. Even if I could give Obama the benefit of the doubt on this issue, I can’t support his stance on the Bush torture memos, keeping the option open to use torture, keeping the policy of rendition, keeping open black cia detention sites, Re-instating military tribunals, bailing out the thieves on wallstreet and watching millions of Americans lose everything, stacking his administration with Clintonites, “Photo Ops” scaring the crap out of my friends and family back home in NY, and the multitude of things that haven’t changed. They are lengthening our time in Iraq, doubling-down in Afghanistan, killing innocent Pakistanis with Predator drones, and I am also worried about possible connections between Obama and Monsanto.
Andrew, how can we possibly support these actions? Where is the change? Five days or five months, I won’t make excuses for these policies. Yes they were inherited from the Bush administration, but If I inherited a whip, would that mean I go around whipping people just because it was handed over to me?
Power in this country belongs to us, the people. Change comes from our actions. I lose sleep at night thinking about Americans killing and torturing people, its sick. I can’t stand that Obama isn’t bringing change. We weren’t all just part of some ad campaign when we all voted and rose up in one voice demanding change. We need it in this country. And I do mean need.
To me, there has been tremendous change — leaning TOWARD science instead of away from it, TOWARD the poor and middle class instead of the rich, TOWARD equal rights instead of away from them, TOWARD women’s rights instead of away from them, TOWARD environmental protection instead of away from it, TOWARD health insurance for kids instead of vetoing it, TOWARD listening to disparate views instead of shunning them, TOWARD world respect again instead of its alienation.
So to me, the country has been put back on track, having been disastrously derailed. Now we need to do all we can to get up a head of steam and move forward.
Thank you for all the ways I have no doubt you help with that effort.
A.T.
Andrew, what about the torture, and other things I mentioned? Are we supposed to turn a blind eye and be silent about that? Please, what do you think?
Under Bush, torture was used. Under Obama, it will not be. To me, that’s a big change.
On the additional photographs, his first instinct was to release them (the transparency principle) but he was persuaded (from what I see on the news) that this would needlessly inflame more hatred and recruit more young terrorists, very possibly leading to the loss of more lives. I think the line I heard someone use was, “He had a choice between angry ACLU members and dead Americans, so upon reflection, he chose the former” — something like that.
I certainly respect those who think he should have released the photos anyway. The view I do NOT much respect is that it’s an easy issue with a clear right answer. To me (an ACLU supporter), it’s a tough call, but he ultimately got it right.
We won’t agree on everything, but that’s life.
Over and out — and thanks for listening to my views, for whatever they may have been worth.
A.T.
Andrew…. you need to catch Rachel Maddow tonight… then tell me you are proud of our President’s efforts for us.
A decorated war hero… with 18 years of service to our nation is being kicked out of the Air Force by our President….
and for those of you who have not caught this go to…
http://lezgetreal.com/?p=13255
Change we can believe in? I don’t think so.
I’m not mad at Obama for not releasing photos, unfortunately some of them have been out for a long time anyway. Nothing matters but the fact that it happened. What I was referring to was the fact that Obama has not rescinded the use of “enhanced interrogation”, or rendition, or closed the black cia sites.
Now I feel like you’re just running around the issue, when I thought you were here being open and honest with people. I think you’re obviously an intelligent person, which is why I think you dodged the question for a second time. I don’t think you were too obtuse to understand what I was saying.
You need to step back this evening and really think about what the administration is doing, no matter what they are saying. You have to realize that you were just unable to deal with this question, and that there’s something wrong with that.