Press Releases of Reps.Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis

...and NOT A PEEP.... from the Whitehouse.

Thanks for the support. Someone today said that this was prepared by a homophobic Mormon employee of DOJ.

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:11:19 PM CDT

Not just a Mormon

there's another DOJ appointee of Obama (Tony Ward?) who was a fundraiser for Obama. He had something to do with that court filing (his name is on it) He also seems to be a member of some sort of standing with the African Methodist Episocopal church (AME).

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:25:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Note: Mr. Ward was a TOP fundraiser

for the President.

---

by: bkmn @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:44:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think his name is Tony WEST

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

---

by: QScribe @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:56:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Call me ticked. As a constituient on her mailing list

I haven't received this yet!  And Jerilyn and I know each other, even.  

Just 20 minutes ago I left a message with her DC office asking where the "afternoon statement" was.

This says nothing, however.  An organized action in Madison may be in order.

---

by: aggieric @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:15:18 PM CDT

long email lists take time to send.

i wouldn't take delay in getting your email to mean anything at all.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

---

by: Lurleen @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:27:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Fair point, but...

They know me.  Tammy knows me, Jerilyn knows me, and I'm in a position to influence plenty of voters.

Maybe I'm just incensed because I think I'm more important that I really am. ;-)

---

by: aggieric @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:39:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Not a word about the extreme homobigotry

of that court motion. And that's why the gay community is angry, not so much that motion was filed.

At least she said something about Congress (sigh!)

That is so weak.

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:22:13 PM CDT

took the words right out of my mouth lol

---

by: deezero @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:23:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Weak

I'm sorry, but this is super WEAK!

---

by: deezero @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:22:17 PM CDT

Nor any mention about the DNC - Biden fundraiser

---

by: bkmn @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:23:04 PM CDT

Thanks for the support

from someone who obviously is close to this issue but this is more of the same,  words on a page.  Until action is taken, so what?

---

by: Wade, MD @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:23:48 PM CDT

An email I just shot off to Jerilyn

Jerilyn -

What does this even mean(?):

"Last week the Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of DOMA.  I was profoundly disappointed by this action, particularly coming from this administration.  I still take President Obama at his word that he is committed to the repeal of DOMA.  I also recognize that he cannot do it alone.  Congress has the responsibility on its shoulders to pass legislation that would give the opportunity to the President to keep his word and ensure that all married people, including those in same-sex marriages, enjoy the same rights under federal law."

I saw this first on Pam's House Blend.  As I'm sure you know, there is a lot of ruckus going on in the blogosphere regarding the upcoming DNC LGBT fundraiser and the DOJ DOMA brief; Pam, Markos, John Aravosis - many are expressing their anger.  I know that it's risky, but Tammy would make some increasingly powerful friends in the Blogosphere if she were to step down as a host of that fundraiser.

Eric

---

by: aggieric @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:24:59 PM CDT

Wow. What a snoozer of a comment.

We're angry, she's "profoundly disappointed." Woooow -- what a unpowerfully worded commentary on "this action."

But that said, I assume that since she didn't say anything about the fundraiser, she's still planning to go and raise some funds. That's the way to show profound disappointment Rep. Baldwin!

-----
~~Autumn~~

As if there were safety in stupidity alone.
--Henry David Thoreau

---

by: Autumn Sandeen @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:28:08 PM CDT

Where is ANY leadership from Dems on LGBT issues?

Tepid, timid, deferential, unarticulated.  
Sorry, Tammy, your press release is too polite (and it took a long time for you to react.)  You shouldn't be "profoundly disappointed", you really should be outraged.
I'm not giving a dime to any Dem. in the meantime.

---

by: Bob San Diego @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:32:50 PM CDT

underwhelming

Profoundly disappointed?  WTF?  Gee, way to make a difference there, Congresswoman.

---

by: BethanyAnne @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:33:46 PM CDT

it took 5 days

for her to generate this mayonnaise on white bread response?  WTF  Where's the beef????

---

by: timNC @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:39:53 PM CDT

Good for her

addressing the SEC.  That is where our economic meltdown started.  Maybe they will consider that same sex marriage will actually improve the economy according to the Congressional Budget Office.
 

Same-Sex Marriage is good for the economy.

---

by: CharlesMerrill @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:41:06 PM CDT

And the Democratic cognitive disonance continues

This press release says nothing whatsoever to address the fury that exists among LGBT Americans at the betrayal shown in that brief.

Is there no leadership among any of the Democratic politicians? They want to so desperately believe that Obama still supports the cause of gay rights. Wake up people! He has stabbed us in the back and twisted the knife several times for good measure.

I'm disgusted by the whole party and will now work to rid ourselves of this noxious two-party system.

---

by: rickwla @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:51:20 PM CDT

weak

I would have bought that change was coming last week.  I had my doubts but I was still willing to be patient.  No more.  And no word from Baldwin on the big dollar fundraiser?  

---

by: ChristopherM @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 19:52:18 PM CDT

Just announced OBAMA to sign

Hillary Clinton's request for Dom Partnership benefits to FED EMPLOYEES tomorrow!

But RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY is still BIGOTRY Obama. 

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:01:21 PM CDT

Fuck that weak shit!

and you would think that think that the goddamned President of the United States would have to use his employee as a damn beard.

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:10:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

ah, sorry

didn't realize someone already commented it.

by i agree with your first replier. WEAK. Obama is WEAK on gay issues -- and this does nothing to change that. He should be ashamed.

---

by: RyansTake @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:16:35 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

BONUS!!!!

DOMA prohibits providing benes to same sex partners...so the proclamation is mute.

---

by: bkmn @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:47:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The Head...

some of you know where I'm getting ready to go with that...

needs to make amends for the bigotry in that goddamned DOJ brief.

Goddamn, I just really got worked up!

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:12:16 PM CDT

the white house speaks... sort of

The President is going to announce, with a closed press pool, that federal partnership benefits will be granted for federal employees.

Ya, that totally makes up for comparing our relationships to incest.

NOT.

A day late and a dollar short.

Meanwhile, according to americablog, the Hate Crimes bill is already being shelved, to be 'maybe' taken up in August. Maybe. (and let's all remember, maybe = never.)

I am so disillusioned. I don't think I've ever been so cynical in my life. Screw the DNC and national democrats.  

---

by: RyansTake @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:15:28 PM CDT

a closed press pool?

if that isn't an admission of suckitude, i don't know what is.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

---

by: Lurleen @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:27:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ugh

Did she ask an aide to come up with a response that was as close to "no comment" as she could possibly get by with?

---

by: cbear @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:15:38 PM CDT

Does this strike anyone else as telling the lesbian to fall on a sword?

They announced federal employees who are LGBT will get healthcare benefits.
The PURELY POLITICAL stink on this action, after the DOMA brief, feels like I got spit on, then blown an air kiss.
I thought Obama was such a brilliant strategist, and this is like a checker move on a chess board.

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

---

by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:21:47 PM CDT

I posted Jared Polis' statement

as a diary.

Much better than this stinking pile of whatever the fuck this is.

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:31:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

No, Health Benefits are excluded

As are retirement benefits. Due to DOMA.

The President can give relocation benefits though. Taxable of course as a fringe benefit. That's basically it.

There is no situation so complex it can't get even worse

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by: ZoeB @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:38:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Pam, I think you're right

that a very noisy protest is in order if the dinner still happens.  Seems like a perfect event for Join the Impact, but something tells me it'll happen organically, "official" organizers or no.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

---

by: Lurleen @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:36:26 PM CDT

Hell yeah

Like I said this sound every bit like I with this dog would stop yapping type of shit. The President needs to make amends for the bigotry of that brief. Federal benefits for gay workers (he could have done that Jan. 21) is nice but you still need to own up to the wrong.

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by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:42:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Didn't see where you said that but damn right

This is pandering.

When can we cut to the chase here? Federal employees are as out as they can afford to be. Especially given the corruption in hiring and firing practices during the last 8 years--does anyone else remember the name Monica Goodling?--this may affect up to hundreds of families.

And besides, no, I'm not going to thank you for helping me up out of the gutter when you pushed me off the damn curb in the first place!


But wait, there's more!

---

by: PhoenixRising @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:01:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree re:protest

If there are those who can devote the time, $$$ to being at a June 25th protest, I say "go for it"!

But that said, it's easy to say when I'm a good long distance away. :(

 

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

---

by: Louise @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 04:48:23 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Great statement by Rep. Polis

Thank you, seriously

Now, where's Miss Barney's?

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by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:38:57 PM CDT

Damn good question

Has anyone seen one yet? Worthy of a stand alone post imo.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

---

by: Louise @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 04:49:23 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Perspective

"Profoundly disappointed" is what you feel when you discover all the ice cream is gone.

"Profoundly disappointed" is what you feel when you lose tickets to a favorite show.

And, apparently, "profoundly disappointed" is what you feel when you realize that the person for whom you are raising money has royally screwed your supporters.

...and you go anyway.

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by: sarasnavel @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:40:23 PM CDT

OBAMA to sign EXEC ORDER for ? Health Care (?Only) for DP's of Fed Employees

tomorrow.   ?? Even if it is against DOMA? Lots of questions about this. But it was 

sudden and happened right when it was reported that two big donors had withdrawn from the DNC DINNER.

So get your wallets out ... we can BUY OBAMA. 

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:45:48 PM CDT

Jared Polis scores

For getting right at the heart of what is wrong with the DOMA brief and that silence from this administration is unacceptable. Thanks, Jared. Guess he hasn't gotten the Hill Kool-Aid IV yet.

---

by: Pam Spaulding @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:46:55 PM CDT

SILENCE IS unacceptable.... crumbs

Like signing HILLARY's Federal Healt Benefit bill WILL NOT CUT IT. Please folks 

DO NOT GO TO THE WASHINGTON DINNER!  Even Better picket it. The time is now

or just join HRC and wait for the next GALA DINNER to Celebrate our "Accomplishments'. 

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:05:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Profoundly incestual, Ms. Baldwin?

Is that what you mean?

Do you mean profoundly sorry that you wish to drain the precious resources of the federal government (when serial married hetero couples leaving children left and right drain more resources without penalty)?

What is your profound disappointment going to result in, Congresswoman?

Are you going to continue to squeeze LGBTs for money or are you going to join them in the middle of the street outside the party next week and get arrested?

How disappointed are you?  

Are you really disappointed?

---

by: Patrick @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 20:51:30 PM CDT

You know, all these comments have raised my hopes

If there is not a big noisy fuss outside the dinner, I am going to be profoundly disappointed in you all.

I'm not disappointed by Obama in that I had very low expectations to begin with. But if all this talk about making anyone who attends the dinner walk a gauntlet of shame is just talk, I will be let down.

Let's have an online sign-making party in the chat room on Monday! That gives time for printing at home for those who can attend.

But wait, there's more!

---

by: PhoenixRising @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:05:25 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Remind me later, Phoenix

Give me a kick and I'll be sure to promote up, if you write a diary re:signs late Sunday/ early Monday...

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

---

by: Louise @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 04:51:24 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

A(greed)

This statement reads more like "I'm disappointed to hear that my assistant was disappointed to hear about your little problem."  

---

by: deezero @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:09:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Remember folks... its STONEWALL 2.0 TIME!!!

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:05:33 PM CDT

....we have not heard a peep that anyone in the Whitehouse is upset with the brief.

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:10:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

And Obama certainly hasn't taken any action to have it amended (or withdrawn)

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

---

by: QScribe @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 22:02:01 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

IMHO, The Fed Employee benefit package is

too little, too late. Throwing out a bone to placate the LGBT community over DOMA doesn't wash. It's not even confirmed yet if the Fed employee benefit is by Excutive Order or a simple Memorandum that can be reversed with the stroke of a pen by president #45. And how many people does this impact - a couple hundred at most? Sorry, ain't impressed. My wallet's still closed and my vote is off the table until I see something meaningful coming down the pike. And soon. I hope the DNC fundraiser is a total bomb and a call-to-political-arms. We've put up with enough.  

---

by: LaoTongZhi @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:18:22 PM CDT

HRC pulled out?

(no pun intended)
They did? really?

http://EQFL.org

---

by: banshiii @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:22:47 PM CDT

Chuck Todd on Rachel Maddow Tonight

With late-breaking details of the President's announced action tomorrow - don't let the media get this wrong; the White House is scared. Good, maybe now they'll wake up.

One piece of bad news is the confusion as to whether Obama will issue and Executive Order or a Memorandum. According to Todd, who admitted he was not completely sure, an EO can only be overturned by another EO, while a Memorandum by definition expires at the end of the current President's term. If it is a Memorandum, it is literally the weakest move he can make.

However, two key pieces of information, at least for me. The first is that Todd didn't have a lot of information - his sources were not clear and the news dropped very late without any heads up. If the White House had been planning an announcement tomorrow, they would have had basic details - like the Executive Order vs. Memorandum issue - already worked out and ready with talking points.

The second is that Todd admitted the White House is concerned at the growing anger regarding LGBT issues, especially the already-announced no-shows at the upcoming fundraiser. He came pretty close to acknowledging that this announcement is in direct response to our protests.

Now, it is far too little and too late. Had Clinton done this in 1994, it would have been revolutionary, but since then it really isn't - over half the Fortune 500 already offer the benefits, as do 92% of the employers rated by HRC. Had Obama done this in the first week, it would have been a clarion call of equality - now it is simply a pathetic bone thrown to stop a public relations disaster.

Well, I say YES! to Pam's suggestion of a big protest next week. I will certainly be there - work-related cocktail party that night be damned! This is not real progress on our issues, but it is a sign the White House isn't completely stone deaf. We need to keep agitating, and loudly.

Cries of "Shame!" to the attendees next Thursday sounds like a good idea - I've already sent a message to Mayor Fenty asking him to boycott.

---

by: CPT_Doom @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:22:49 PM CDT

Tammy don't stand too close to Obama

that fierce flu seems contagious

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

---

by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:23:27 PM CDT

maybe calling to cancel to the DNC fundraiser with the fierce flu would be amusing

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

---

by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:35:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

LATEST to jerilyn...Send one too.

.... a slap in the face... a PIE IN THE FACE... and not even invited to step on the bus.

Pres Obama will extend MOVING Cost Benefits for DOM PARTNERS... NOT HEALTH, NOT RETIREMENT,

certainly not MARRIAGE... and he keep firing SOLDIERS.

Please I hope TAMMY reconsiders that dinner.

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 21:46:55 PM CDT

WHo's who?

And nothing from Barney yet?!? I guess there is busy and there is "busy". But that don't make it right.

Always thinking about it...

---

by: kudo451 @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 22:12:58 PM CDT

I agree, Louise

The Time Is NOW!

---

by: avocado @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:22:27 PM CDT

Boo Your Reps at Pride

I am very dissapointed and I helped get Jared Polis elected.  I for one plan on Booing Jared Polis as a traitor to our community during Denver Pride, as far as I can tell he is doing nothing wil Obama compares our relationships to incest.  I will be sitting on my hands when it comes time for his releaction.  

---

by: jared7791 @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:44:28 PM CDT

Uh, leave Jared alone, please

this is a very strong and very specific statement of an elected representative's disappointment at the President of his own political Party. His letter includes the odious incest insults of the DOJ brief. Also he was the first elected official that spoke out about the death GLBTs in Iraq, even before Secretary Clinton.

Granted he has a ways to go, that takes some guts for a first term Congressman.

Lay off of Jared, please.

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:54:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Right- support those who support

There are plenty of others to boo.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

---

by: Louise @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 04:52:58 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

You know...

This doesn't affect me directly...

As a bisexual cisgendered man, yes it is entirely possible for me to enter into a cisgendered marriage with a woman.

The fact that the empty suits in DC can't manage to grok this fact is baffling to me.

I've been on this whirling ball of rock a grand total of 33 years, and the 2 best relationships I've been in were:

1) With a cisgendered man, with femme tendencies
and
2) With a transgendered woman, who had I not been so unsure of my own gender tendencies and sexual orientation, would have been my wife for the better part of ten years now, had I not been too immature to deal with my own prejudices.

So yeah, I could enter into a "str8" marriage with a cisgendered woman. Hell I could probably do it easy enough, but that's not the fucking point.  everybody deserves equality to find that person in their life that will make them happy, Gay, Straight, Lesbian, Transgendered, Transexual, or Genderqueer.  

Who the fuck are you, to tell me who the fuck I can love?

I know this may not be entirely germane to the original posting of the thread, but I'm getting tired of this shit.

I can't control who I love. And I made a mistake in my past (Melody, I really am sorry, it wasn't you) and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret my personal shortcomings.

Yes, I had a few drinks when I wrote this post, I might be a little drunk, and a little maudlin, but when I read this crap, it dregs up too many old memories.

And frankly, I really would wish I could quit beating myself up over these old memories...  

---

by: sfalken @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 01:21:55 AM CDT

Partisan vs Congressional

Representatives aren't  supposed to use their offices or staff for expressly political activity, and Tammy's always been careful with the division.

Her Congressional office properly commented on the lawsuit, but any comment on the fundraiser should come either from Tammy herself, out of the office, or her Campaign Committee.

---

by: Ben Masel @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 01:34:13 AM CDT

This has spun out of the control of the White House

completely. Even the new shiny toy that they are offering to quiet us has not distracted the community

Once again, we are controlling the news cycle, one again, the Obama press team cannot control the message

I tell you Chica that no greater abomination exists than women denying their spirit of sisterhood and instead becoming the oppressor. -Rebeca, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

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by: MauraHennessey @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 05:53:06 AM CDT

Has either Baldwin or Jared introduced a bill to repeal DOMA? Have I

missed something?

All well and good to call out the administration for not living up to their promises - but if it's going to take a Congressional repeal - then where's the Congress, especially the openly LGBT ones on this?

---

by: Scott_NC @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 07:17:49 AM CDT