NYT: Obama admin's (lame) fed partner benefits plan designed to stop DNC fundraiser disaster

Looks like Obama has found a picket line he's willing to cross

Not that I'm surprised, but really.  

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

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by: MileHighDawg @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 22:56:42 PM CDT

Picket Lines

Didn't he already do that when he went to a fundraiser in that hotel in California that is owned by a man who donated to the 'Yes on Prop 8'? I seem to remember he didn't mind crossing that line to get to his money.
Truth is that this administration will cross the line when it suits them, including Obama!

"You bit the hand Marty, you bit the hand!"

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by: mmmexperimental @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 00:22:49 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

And worse yet...

He reduced us to a punchline while we were out protesting. President Obama really needs to stop treating this like another "political chess game". If he wants our money in 2012, he needs to offer more than a symbolic gesture.

Want to save marriage equality in Maine? Ask me how! ;-)

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by: atdnext @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 01:08:03 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Clinton crossed that line

(and it was a literal picket line outside the Manchester Hyatt -- regarding both Prop 8 and the hotel's labor practices), and wouldn't even meet with the organizers or accept a petition.  Didn't think Obama was there, though.

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by: M @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:10:01 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

too late

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:01:08 PM CDT

No Health benefits?

What's the point?

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by: DaveO @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:05:24 PM CDT

Placating us.

That's the point... But it's NOT working! From now on, I'll be replying with this line whenever the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC ask me for money:

Unless and until Obama & the DNC leaders [and yes, that includes Reid & Pelosi] stop paying politics with our very lives, I will ONLY be giving to pro-equality Democrats and pro-equality campaigns (like WA Ref 71 & ME marriage equality).

Want to save marriage equality in Maine? Ask me how! ;-)

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by: atdnext @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:17:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Half Baked Benefits for Some while other get Deported

Not good enough.  Fake Benefits for some while others in the community are getting deported because they can't have their marrage recognized.  FAIL

I'm not a Federal Employee this does noting to appease my anger.  My relationship is not incest!!!!!!!!!!!!

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by: jared7791 @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:07:50 PM CDT

Pam, thanks for keeping the pressure on

the President.  I say that instead of donating to the DNC, we donate to Pam's House Blend.  Don't know what we'd do without it!

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by: exfundie @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:09:02 PM CDT

I second that emotion

Thank you so much for your hard work.  

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même merde.

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by: TechBear @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:44:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

when someone is trying to placate you

why can't they ever just give you what you asked for?  Is that too difficult>

Sign the excutive order to suspend DADT.
Get Hate Crimes Legislation passed like you just promised two days ago.
Fix the stupid DOMA brief
Fire the idiot Lawyer who wrote it

Then, when you finish with that, come out and explain just how WRONG you were when you said "God is in the mix of CIVIL marriage".  You taught constitutional law for gawd's sake.  What were you thinking?

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by: timNC @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:09:42 PM CDT

Yup

What we are asking for isn't unrealistic under the current political climate.  And I'm talking the climate of the citizens.  Our representatives are lazy cowards.

They're not even writing legislature.  Supposedly some people are "working on it."  Yeah well I'm working on getting my pet pigs to fly.  Let's see who finishes first.

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by: deezero @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:21:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Obama now owns DOMA.

His ineptitude to not pay attention to what his DOJ does and to blatantly break his "promises" now takes 50% of the DOMA burden off of Clinton's shoulders.  So lets rechristen Obama's Defense Of Marriage Act as ODOMA.  He owns it.  

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by: dstavro @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:11:14 PM CDT

While you're under there

do ya mind greasing the axel

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:13:25 PM CDT

I said this in my thread...

And I'll repeat it here:

Unless and until Obama & the DNC leaders stop paying politics with our very lives, I will ONLY be giving to pro-equality Democrats and pro-equality campaigns (like WA Ref 71 & ME marriage equality).

And btw, Pam, thanks for the shout-out.

Want to save marriage equality in Maine? Ask me how! ;-)

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by: atdnext @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:13:44 PM CDT

The DNC fundraiser should have KY as the party favor

you're gonna need it for 4 years

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:15:40 PM CDT

Lame Obama & administration is a severe understatement

Thanks Pam and all the blenders here for seeing reality in its face and acting accordingly.

As a commenter below stated, too late, and for what it is worth, way too little and now too late.

The DNC can go fuck themselves as they have made it extremely clear that they do not want us in this party.  I have never gone to parties where I knew that I was not wanted and this one is no different.

I tried to lie to myself thinking that supporting the Democrats was the best way to go.  I did have hope at one point but it is all but dead.  

Maybe it is better this way.  It is getting me up off my ass like never before and these asswipes have seen nothing yet.  No money, no time, no supportive words about this lame ass party ever again.

I am sure they will not lose any sleep or cry any tears at my or your departure.  However, one day, when they are no longer in power and looked upon for the bigots that they are they will feel remorse.  Not for what they did or did not do, but because their name and brand became tarnished in the books of history.

They had a great opportunity with the GLBTQ community and they more than squandered it.  They took the GLBTQ community for all of its hopes and dreams and stomped on them and laughed while they were doing it in the most contemptuous way.

They are the worst kind of sociopaths around.  No, forgiveness is not in the bag for them, nor would it do anygood to do so.  They will never wake up from their ego centric madness to even realize that they need forgiveness.  Maybe this is truely what is meant by the saying 'forgive them for they do not know what they do'?

Phew, I feel so much better now getting that off my chest. lol.

So gang, I believe it is time to forge ahead without these fair weathered jackasses called Obama et al.  Lets go folks. The sooner we get over them the sooner we can really start fighting for what is our god given rights.  Equality and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  

We don't really need them.  That we ever needed them wsa the illusion that I bought into my whole life.  (sort of like I thought I needed my lame ass homobigot biological family). I have finally seen the light.  We don't need them. Actually they need us and we will show them just how badly. (The momement when I finally left my biological family for good was the day that I started to bloom into the gay man that the gods wanted me to be). Somehow, I feel that this is no different.  

Thanks all for letting me rant.  Pam and others, keep it up and lets fight for our equality together and with friends who really give a shit.  

vanhattan

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by: vanhattan @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:31:22 PM CDT

My God!

This scheme is so insulting that it's worse than nothing!

It's only for their already privileged little club of Fed employees, not for the rest of us, and it won't include  health care or social security or apply to the Fed employees who do the MOST for this country, the military.

This isn't so much as tossing us a bone, it's more like pimp-slapping us AGAIN!

I'm counting the days until this one-termer is out of office.

And the Democrats in Congress are just as bad.

Screw this!  In un-registering to vote, apparently the only thing that's good for is getting you stuck on jury duty.

My 47 years as a Democrat end today!

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by: Storm @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:32:55 PM CDT

Not even crumbs

No insurance benefits.  No retirement.  No disability insurance.  Those federal employees can get married to a non-U.S. citizen overseas and still not be able to bring them home.

I read somewhere that perhaps job relocation assistance can be extended to these families, but if there are any other actual, tangible 'benefits' being extended I can't find 'em.

After the abomination of the DOJ filing last Friday, this gesture is simply pathetic.

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by: Technowitch @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:40:26 PM CDT

Relocation benefits may prove valuable...

...if all the LGBT employees of this administration use them to get the hell out.  Which I certainly hope they do.

I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.  -Archbishop Desmond Tutu

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:00:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

We need to thank Obama

...because we haven't been this active and aggressive against an elected official for quite some time.  

My prediction - this is going to be a long, hot summer.  But if we keep up the good work, DADT will be repealed or suspended by the end of summer and we will have a concrete plan in hand for the repeal of DOMA.

Obama said that we need to force him to do the right thing, and that is exactly what we are doing.  

But we have to nudge all of the Democrats.  

Remember, a clever queen always does better than a bitter queen.  

We got to be smart.  

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by: Gary SF @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:40:43 PM CDT

Don't get mad. Get even...

Or should I say get equal? Well OK, I'm still mad. However, I do think the silver lining here is that Obama's broken promises is forcing us to act. It's forcing us to make the Democrats act. It's forcing us to "be the ones we've been waiting for" and demanding that these lame-ass pols fulfill all those promises that have been adding up over the years.

Want to save marriage equality in Maine? Ask me how! ;-)

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by: atdnext @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 00:24:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

And...

And his timing on this has helped ensure that we recoil against it. Pride month? And on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall? And with the DOJ brief released on the 42nd anniversary of Loving vs. Virginia? And conveniently just before a big gay fundraiser?

What was that slogan from the presidential election again? Oh right: Fired up, ready to go!

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by: cbear @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 08:03:23 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Aha! This explains it!

Obama's secret plan for the LGBT community was to get us so pissed off at him that we'd hit him as hard as we can.  I know that sounds crazy, but it makes as much sense as anything else he's done.

I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.  -Archbishop Desmond Tutu

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:03:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I wouldn't put it past Obama, to be honest

After all, the professional gays would have said nothing; hell, they've said nothing all this time, it seems. Whereas this from us common, average, everyday folks, really.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 11:30:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

You know how outrageously stupid this is?

The WH admits in the NYT that it's doing this partner benefits thing to take the political heat off of them and the fundraiser -- it's not about "fierce advocacy" at all! What asshattery!

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by: Pam Spaulding @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:41:52 PM CDT

Miss Pam, if you only knew

what was going through my head right now. I gotta step away from the keyboard for a minute. The East Side of Detroit has arisen!

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by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:47:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

MY barometer....

In case you missed this, Kev, from my "biggest fan" who suddenly disappeared from behind the perpetual Obambot flamethrower after the DOJ brief bomb dropped Friday resurfaced and posted this in relation to the Fed benefits thingy:

"This move was already planned for June. But post-DOMA motion it's not gonna gain the White House much good will. And that's fine. Fuckups like the DOMA motion should have consequences."

Can you believe it???? Tho after a milder earlier dig today he denied that he was referring to Lord O himself.

Still, I guess even his ignorance isn't invincible after all.

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by: Michael Bedwell @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 01:14:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

yep, here is it

But administration officials said the timing of the announcement was intended to help contain the growing furor among gay rights groups. Several gay donors withdrew their sponsorship of a Democratic National Committee fund-raising event next week, where Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is scheduled to speak.

"fierce fundraisery" is more the title i think obama meant to anoint himself with.

Lurleen on Twitter

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by: Lurleen @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:55:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Good thing I was never a Democrat

or a Republican. Been an Independent ever since I was eligible to vote

I'm speechless! the sheer and stunningly unmitigated motherfucking goddamn gall of this president that he humiliated an entire community of (more or less) loyal American constiteuents using the power of his Justice Department and thought he could buy us off so fucking cheap.

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by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:44:40 PM CDT

are you upset

perchance?  (sorry, i just had to try channeling rep. baldwin.  how'd i do?)

Lurleen on Twitter

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by: Lurleen @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 23:49:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

yes, I'm upset

Lurleen. I don't think I'm going to get over this for awhile but here's the thing.

I work for an educational non-profit headed by a person who has been a "community organizer" for over 30 years; all in the Chicago area. In fact, this is the company laptop that I am typing all of this on.

In fact, there's a certain picture of Election Night in one of the major national papers that shows my boss in the front row right before the stage.

Think about that for a sec.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 00:02:16 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I can only imagine

the extra layers of betrayal you're feeling.  i'm sorry if my attempt at levity above was misplaced.  does your boss realize what's going on with obama?

here's what i think of this whole mess - obama wouldn't be doing these ultra stupid dodges if he didn't on some level either feel guilty or was afraid of losing major support (us and our allies).  he may not care about us, but he can't afford to look bad to the rest of his (formerly) adoring public.  this is good, because it means if he won't follow up on campaign promises like an honest player, we can at least shame him and congress into movement.  this is a good thing.  it sucks that he and congress are putting us through all this, but he has shown a weak point that we can use to our advantage.  his weakness is that, unlike bush, obama can't get away with brushing us off because of the expectations he created in the entire public.  we're on our way.  i wish obama was leading rather than being dragged along like a spoiled and stingy lying brat, but in any case we're moving forward.  i can feel it.

Lurleen on Twitter

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by: Lurleen @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 00:27:06 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I don't know how much

Oh, my boss knows, trust me. How much, I don't know

uh...of a direct line he has (nor do I want to know). I suspect that he talks to some pretty high level officials, though (I know one for sure), from the very little that I've gathered.

Eh, maybe I shouldn't have written that but...oh, well.

Two things here, though:

1) Every Administration starts out tripping up on issues. I can't remember an Administration that hasn't. So, that part of the pattern is there. (It just happens to be GLBT issues this time and things have gotten very, very ugly).

2) For me, I am worried a little about a homophobuc backlash from his core base of support, my other community. I've already received some of it online where I do interact with straights.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 00:43:49 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

You're always welcome in my family, Kev

There's a place setting for you at the table. Tonight is takeout. I know it's not the same as the family you grew up with, but we're nice, really we are.

God save ornery old queens! - kevinchi

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by: Keori @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 02:04:03 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yep...

A rough analogy would be like wrecking into someone's brand new Mercedes, destroying it completely, then tossing them a quarter while saying, "That should cover it!  Are we best buddies now?"  

Obama is making George W. Bush look like an honest and honorable man!  I hate to say it, but I'm missing the good old days under W!  -- We were making real PROGRESS back then.  

If you notice, ALL of Odoma's campaign promises came with asterisks, he's not honored ONE of them.  I got to hand it to him though, he's the smoothest liar I've ever seen -- does it right to your face without so much as batting an eye.

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by: Storm @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 00:01:15 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Or...

They promise to fix it, but really they just take it to the car wash, so now it's mangled and starting to rust where the metal is exposed...

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by: cbear @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 08:06:03 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Relocation costs is all that is included in this "benefit" plan?

You have GOT to be kidding me.  I am alarmed that FedGLOBE is conceding that this is all the Administration can do.  As I've written before here, my partner is a federal employee.  I cannot get on her health insurance. I've spent thousands on my own (sub-par) policy while in graduate school, making my student loan burden that much more heavy.

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by: Repeal8 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 00:19:55 AM CDT

Relocation costs is all that is included in this "benefit" plan?

The Office of Personnel Management, who regulate federal employee benefits, follow the DOMA in definition of family member and "spouse".  Most federal "civilian" agencies are regulated by the OPM (see Code of Federal Regulations, Title 5).  So no matter what Obama says or does, he cannot change Title 5, that has to be done by Congress.  He is bull-shitting the public and obviously doing a good job of it.

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.-- Thomas Jefferson

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by: Mykelb @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 21:47:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The best I can say about this

is to comment on Pam's remark that they seem to have gone so hamhanded after being so well-oiled in the campaign.

It's nice to see that the Obama Adminstration is so hamhanded about throwing constituencies under the bus. That could mean they lack practice at it, or are demonstrating guilt about it.

But it really is more than enough. I'm ready to work with and for the Obama Adminstration on issues we both support. But I'm looking for a primary challenger in 2012.

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by: boloboffin @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 00:29:57 AM CDT

I really, really, truly hope...

...that someday, one (or both) of President Obama's daughters comes out as lesbian, and brings her partner to meet Mom and Dad.

I would pay money to see him squirming.

Hate stops a beating heart.

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by: KarenS @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 00:35:33 AM CDT

No, Karen, don't wish that on Obama's daughters

Obama will simply pull an Alan Keyes - kick her out of the house and disown her.

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality. -- John F. Kennedy (inspired by Dante's Inferno)

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by: oldbrit @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 01:48:53 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ouch!

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by: Emproph @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 06:22:03 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Too late

They were already brainwashed by Reverand Wright.

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.-- Thomas Jefferson

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by: Mykelb @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 21:48:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

can we get ahold of Joe Solmonese

and waterboard him to make him tell us what the white house "secret plan" was that made him so happy?

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by: timNC @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 01:02:17 AM CDT

That's what I was thinking

Do you mean that possibly, just possibly, the "secret plan" was that there was no plan at all. WTF?! Yes, Joe Solomonese needs to answer some questions.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 01:26:21 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

No, but you can show up at the DNC Fundraiser Protest

and throw rotten fruit at him.

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.-- Thomas Jefferson

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by: Mykelb @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 21:49:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I need a break I'm sending my blood pressure off the charts

some f*cktard at Huffpo is a repig throwing on sly spelling of faggot with blank breaks so censor doesn't catch it and repeatedly making posts about GRID,,,,i'm definitely not in the mood tonight, and I'll hurt me more than them.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 01:13:39 AM CDT

back I worked off my aggresion writing Senators

here's my email to them:

Senator,

LGBTs as you may have noticed are as angry as I've seen them in a decade, that filthy hateful DOMA brief from Obama's Justice dept, isn't all that is fueling this OUTRAGE,
Either you become a sponsor or co-sponsor of repealing DADT, or don't expect one gay dime or one gay vote.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 02:19:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

And he STILL...

...hasn't addressed that goddamned DOMA brief.  If he wants this to cool off, he needs to repudiate that brief, withdraw it if that's still possible, and punish (preferably fire) everyone that allowed that brief to be filed in the first place.

Anything less and we should burn the place down.

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by: TomTallis @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 01:37:20 AM CDT

I'm not sure withdrawing it completely is a viable option

But he can certainly instruct the DOJ to amend it, eliminating the most horribly offensive language.  So far he has made no move to do that.  Josh Dubois wouldn't like it.

I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.  -Archbishop Desmond Tutu

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:28:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Exactly Right

Amended briefs get filed all the time. There is nothing stopping the DOJ from amending this brief.

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by: uh_huhh @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:06:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Good News!

The Washington Blade is going to be at the fundraiser to video the A-List closet-case, self-loathing, butt-boys for bigots donating their money to the Bigot-In-Chief and his partner in crime, the Demogogic National Crapheads.

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality. -- John F. Kennedy (inspired by Dante's Inferno)

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by: oldbrit @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 01:46:05 AM CDT

Good!

And any gay org that sends a representative doesn't get a dime from me ever again.

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by: cbear @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 08:11:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I can't make it to the DNC fundraiser to protest, but I hope everyone who can, does.

I can, however, start saving my money right now for the next big event or appearance by the DNC or the Liar-in-Chief and go to help protest there.

I can also do my best to help raise holy hell the next time and every time that contemptible fraud sets foot in my city.

And I can change my voter registration ASAP to Independent.  My parents are active lifelong liberal Democrats, so is my sibling, and so have I been.  For me, that ended tonight.  Barack Liar Obama actually made me change my party affiliation, and, in my house, that used to be unthinkable.

And I will do everything I can to make sure he isn't re-elected even if it means eight years (should we make it that long) of President Sarah Sociopath Palin.  At least when she's out to destroy you, she doesn't lie about it.  Enjoy the end of legal, safe abortions and the sale of contraceptives, straight people!  Hope you always wanted a large family!

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by: diablorobotico @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 02:04:06 AM CDT

It may happen before then

If Roe v Wade goes, perhaps on the orders of the Vatican to its majority on the Supreme Court, let's see how many straight sisters are satisfied with "Now, now dear. Don't be upset. Look at the bigger 'progressive' picture."

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by: figfest @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 03:31:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

And, whenever it happens, all those new post-Roe babies?

Don't look to us to adopt them, anymore, as we may be legally barred from doing so in, not just a couple, but every state in the Union.  President Palin will definitely see to that, but, the way he's going, Obama may yet beat her to the punch.

I'd suggest Arkansas start building more orphanges, but they're broke, aren't they?  Gee, maybe the bigots and the idiots should have thought this through a little more carefully.  Getting everything they think they want will destroy their lives, too.

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by: diablorobotico @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 12:05:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Please.

"Harry Reid finally caught on to this asshattery. The question, then, is how could this well-oiled political machine that we saw during the campaign, turn into a crew that is so ham-handed on our issues that they thought tossing out an inflammatory DOMA brief wasn't going to be like dropping an A-bomb on the community?"

For the love of all the Happy Dancing Gods.  Do NOT give Harry Reid a pass of any sort on this.  He deserves at least as much ire as Pres. Obama and Speaker of the House Pelosi do.

I really don't like Nancy Pelosi, and never will, but at least she has some semblance of convictions. Putting Harry Reid and integrity in the same phrase is much like the old feminist analogy about a fish needing a bicycle.

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by: sfalken @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 02:07:01 AM CDT

Unsubscribing clears out the cobwebs

I've even unsubscribed from fellow-travelling do-gooders like MoveOn and Democracy for America, telling them exactly why. I'm not going to be contribution-fodder and vote-fodder for these so-called "progressives" any more. I'm NOT a one-issue voter, but this betrayal is the last straw. Even Obama's lukewarmness was a lie.

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by: figfest @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 03:27:20 AM CDT

At Thinkprogress

there's a thread on the partner benefits move that has some real gems in its comments. It's one or two people for equality versus the rest of the "progressives." They really want us to sit quietly with our hands folded in the back of the bus.

I'm really surprised TP (with Amanda as the thread author) hasn't updated with a link to the Times article or to anything from the LGBT blogosphere.

One thing I'm letting my elected officials and the national orgs know is that if I'm forced to ride in the back of the bus (or am under its wheels), I'm sure as hell not paying full fare.

Call me single-issued if you want - and it seems neo-progressives (neoprogs?) consider ALL LGBT causes as a single issue, but I've seen enough results of polite gesturing to know that if we don't push determinedly, we don't move forward (squeaky wheel and the lube and all that).

Electricity's for light bulbs!

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by: n8nyc @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 05:55:04 AM CDT

damn that Times story

Does the NYTimes ever get it right beyond their food and wine section? From their coverage:

But President Obama and his advisers have been reluctant to wade deeply into divisive issues like overturning a ban on openly gay military members or extending benefits to partners of government employees, fearful that such moves could overtake the administration's broader agenda.

Q: How is letting us serve openly in the military divisive?

A: In any reality based frame it's not. See here, here, here, or here.

Electricity's for light bulbs!

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by: n8nyc @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 06:14:49 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

yep!

i'm on that thread!
when i brought up DOMA over the weekend there, they told me i "had my panties in a wad".
i'm glad to see that now there are others speakin' up!

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by: grover nerdkissed @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 07:16:20 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Obama wades into plenty of divisive issues.

In fact, every national issue is divisive.  NYT is making excuses for him, or at best repeating his excuses without analysis.

Lurleen on Twitter

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by: Lurleen @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:50:00 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

All I've Got To Say Is

PLEASE don't pussy out and work out some lame compromise that'll let the fundraiser go on as planned.  

Don't go crawling back after they've compared every gay couple to incest and pedophiles.  Make the dems crawl for once! LOL

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by: bluegrassfool @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 05:57:16 AM CDT

There was no need for an Obama plan on LGBT rights

because based upon our past track record, there was little risk in not having one. We have never made any kind of sustained protest to the White House over any of the repeated slights to us; we voted for him even after his God in the mixing bowl and after McClurkin.

We excused the choice of Rick Warren and the homophobes in his government.

Well, surprise. Obama unified us, finally.
He unified us against him and his casual diffidence towards us, his administration's arrogance in assuming that they could placate us after harming us, and the tolerance of homophobic ideas that pervades the administration.

Who needed a plan on gay rights? They were not going to enact them anyways, not til, possibly a second term.

Go team! We are the first group of Obama voters that I know of to stand up to him. Sadly, though, we are the only group of supperters who have needed to.


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 06:05:09 AM CDT

Also, we don't count

No, I really mean we don't count: http://www.examiner.com/x-11968-DC-LGBT-Community-Examiner~y2009m6d16-2010-US-Census-will-not-count-LGBT-unions

And even if we are as many as 10% of the population, his approval rating is high enough to take the hit.

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Claim to fame: Posted first PHB diary to be demoted

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by: cindik @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 06:11:55 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Us: we're not going to let you beat us anymore

Obama: What's for dinner?

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Claim to fame: Posted first PHB diary to be demoted

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by: cindik @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 06:14:31 AM CDT

Oh I'm Just Ever So Impressed

NOT!!!!!!!!!

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by: David Ehrenstein @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 07:29:24 AM CDT

Words fail me as to how insulting this is.

Christ, these freaking CRUMBS, given to us at the very last minute, to try to placate us will expire when Obama leaves office. And hell, this only covers federal employees. And certainly not military people, since they can't out themselves under DADT anyway.

Smarter minds than I will come up with action. I will promise that I'll be a part of that action. I've got to channel this constant anger and betrayal I have right now into something productive.

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by: Terry @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 07:32:36 AM CDT

Stop Gay Apartheid!

Compare and contrast: Slave rights and gay rights; the contrasts are easy, the comparisons are profound. Slaves could not get legally married either. They could not create and sign contracts, and what is marriage mostly (legally speaking) but a huge contract with thousands of rights and responsibilities. Navanethem Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights spoke there last year saying, "That just like apartheid laws that criminalized sexual relations between different races, laws against homosexuality are increasingly becoming recognized as anachronistic and inconsistent both with international law and with traditional values of dignity, inclusion, and respect for all." Apartheid: A system of laws applied to one category of citizens in order to isolate them and keep them from having privileges and opportunities given to all others. Stop gay apartheid.

From the Washington Post comments section for the article about this benefits plan, which is falsely reported as including health benefits btw.

"In order to maintain an untenable position, you have to be actively ignorant."  The Colbert Report

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by: Lev Raphael @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 07:33:12 AM CDT

I really like that analogy...

This is so good, I'm saving it to my computer for future blog debates ;-)

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by: obtusegoose @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:42:01 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well, besides the fact that slaves had absolutely NO RIGHTS!

I've seen this trash on queerty. If you want to completely piss off the black community compare the rights that "slaves" had to what gay people have today. This is a complete and total fail.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:48:55 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

apartheid on the other hand

is closer to being a correct analogy, though it would need to be tailored for the specific circumstances of the gay community.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:50:54 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

OK so who put us in the wayback machine?

Not only is the WH policy emanating out of the early 90s, but the atmosphere at all the so-called liberal blogs is also 20 years in the past.  It's mostly just queer voices and a few allies shouting into the void.  The ignorance is inexcusable.  These Democratic assholes are actually 'progressing' on this issue at less than half the pace of my 87yo conservative Catholic grandmother.

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by: Rev Jane Ignatowski @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 07:33:29 AM CDT

Remember that old man character Tim Conway did on "The Carol Burnett Show"?

That's the kind of "small steps" things like this farce today is. Hell, if we just sit back and let our "friends" in the Democratic Party do what we're doing right now, we'll be getting our equality sometime around the year 2057.

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by: Terry @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 07:39:51 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Mr.Tudball and Mrs. Wiggins

Everyone needs to laugh once in a while, just to catch their breath before continuing the fight....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

this is the old man you talk about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

The trollish sounding blogger formerly known as BURNSEY

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by: R.K. Wright @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:45:29 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lame?!

I wish that your point the WH political apparatus was true. I think the problem is that incrementalism is the standing order of the day. Incrementalism is a form of cowardice. Only that it were Adm Villeneuve's order we are subject to: "A captain whom is not under fire is not at his post"

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by: Robert M @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 08:18:42 AM CDT

Closing my wallet for good.

I pledge to the DNC:  No more of my money or vote for you.  I'd rather help elect a Republican (by my nonvote) who pretends to keep my taxes low and ignores me than a Democrat who pretends to help/respect me and only helps/respects himself.  LGBT is such a small minority of the population, though, that we need to ask our supporters to also close their wallets in order to really make an impact.  

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by: Narra @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 08:18:48 AM CDT

Thank you so much for your Stonewall gift, Mr. President.

Really, you shouldn't have.
http://mtmbloglife.wordpress.c...

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by: jarrettcr @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 08:58:18 AM CDT

How could it happen?

how could this well-oiled political machine that we saw during the campaign, turn into a crew that is so ham-handed on our issues that they thought tossing out an inflammatory DOMA brief wasn't going to be like dropping an A-bomb on the community?

It happened because, despite all his talk about "change," Obama stocked his administration with hidebound holdovers from the Clinton and Bush years, starting with Rahm, instead of true progressives.  (Of course, he's not a true progressive himself, which accounts for it.)

Plus of course, his kitchen cabinet of evangelical leaders.  Am I the only one who sees their hand in the language about incest and child rape?  I don't see how it could be much clearer that Obama is listening to them on LGBT issues, not the LGBT people who actually work for him.

I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.  -Archbishop Desmond Tutu

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by: QScribe @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:23:16 AM CDT

Good comment

About all I can muster for the time beingbut why would he listen to evangelicals about LGBT issues if this is about having a seat at the table? This is where Obama needs to be hit the hardes, I mean, he needs to be hit hard on quite a few thing (LGBT and non-LGBT related) but good Lord.

I mean, Rev. Wright's was a gay-friendly church. Not all churches in the black community are gay friendly? We do have different denominations, you know, Mr. President

Didn't he know that? He may not have known that. Which is sad.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:39:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Exactly

Don't want to be repetitive here but for those who missed it: In the FFRF (Freedom from Religion Foundation) June newsletter (page 11), it stated that "Pres. Obama is taking 'spiritual guidance' from 5 different pastors, whom he phones 'at moments of stress or when making big decisions' according to the British Telegraph.

Four of them oppose equal rights for gays, including some who believe gays can be cured of their 'sin' through prayer.  These pastors include: Bishop TD Jakes, Kirbyjon Caldwell, Joel Hunter and Jim Wallis".

Unless this changes, don't expect any movement on our rights from this administration.

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by: exfundie @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:14:20 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

If that is true,

then we should shut out the WH rhetoric and continue to lobby our Congress members.  They may pretend to be good religionists, but at least they don't call us pedophiles and compare our relationships to incest in the public forum.  Fuck the DNC, DSCC, DNCC and any other umbrella political organization.  Give your money only to those candidates who VOTE for equality (lip service is no longer required).

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.-- Thomas Jefferson

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by: Mykelb @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 22:12:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

How do we protest the fundraiser???

I live in D.C. and want to protest outside the June 26 fundraiser. I know it's at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in D.C., but I don't know anything else. Is someone organizing protests outside? I think we should have a picket line and make donors cross it.

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by: uh_huhh @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:33:43 AM CDT

just show up and be noisy

what more organization is needed?

Lurleen on Twitter

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by: Lurleen @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:54:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

No facebook page?

LOL, Lurleen, you're right, of course, except that it just isn't a proper protest without a facebook page!

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by: uh_huhh @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:09:57 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh, I like that

Everyone wears a huge pink triangle badge or armband, form the picket line, and force queer DNC bootlickers to cross it. The chant will be "SHAME. SHAME. SHAME."

God save ornery old queens! - kevinchi

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by: Keori @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 09:55:27 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Cannot find a quick link to the dinner..

Contact one of tne cancellees perhaps. Maybe HRC lists it. Joe loves to brag about his 'connections.'

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.

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by: Orion45 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:16:22 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

...also CALL THE HOTEL. and ask.

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.

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by: Orion45 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:16:50 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

BRING A SIGN "NO GAY APARTHEID"

and a bag of rotten fruit to throw at those who cross the picket line.

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.-- Thomas Jefferson

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by: Mykelb @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 22:14:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

So far these folks have cancelled...

The executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda Alan Van Capelle, has already cancelled his attendance (SHUT UP! I KNOW!) as has HRC's National Field Director Marty Rouse, former top Clinton aide Richard Socarides, Newsweek's "most powerful gay man in America" David Mixner AND TowleRoad's Andy Towle.

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.

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by: Orion45 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:15:20 AM CDT

and from James Withers (365).... what we all are thinking...

Ahhh, but no matter what you might think of the president, here is one thing you have to acknowledge when you tangle with him: he's a master at the political game. He offers a sop to the gay community, we get mad at said sop (as well we should), and those voters who are uneasy with gay and lesbian stuff  (unfortunately a majority) think Obama is one of them. Essentially it's addition by subtraction.

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.

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by: Orion45 @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:24:45 AM CDT

Exactly Orion45

Exactly! These photo ops in the coming days (with these pitiful crumbs) isn't for us. It's for them.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 10:47:09 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Shoe on other foot

I would LOVE to hear how Obama would feel (and how he  would react) if HE was prevented from seeing Michelle while she was dying, or if Sasha and Malia was taken away from him the day after Michelle died, or if he was kicked out of the house he built with Michelle and lived in for 30 years, or........

You know - the LEGAL CRIMES we experience due to LEGAL HATRED of OUR FAMILIES.

I know everyone thinks a tax revolt is crazy-talk, but I've yet to hear of ANY action that would get the full,  undivided attention of the federal government as quickly as a tax revolt.

Decades more of abuse? - OR - Stonewall.  Nationwide.  NOW!

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by: John Bisceglia @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 11:08:14 AM CDT

Mental Health would come under the auspices of health care

and we ain't gettin any.

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.-- Thomas Jefferson

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by: Mykelb @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 22:17:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The benefits?

Well judging from the text I read from the Obama DOJ, I am guessing the "benefits" will be a sliding scale discount at a local mental health professional to help us overcome our mental illness.

I mean it must be right? If we are looking at gays like it was the 1980s or before?

Cripes and I had such hopes for this guy, but I suspect in the end they may have been right, he really is President "Present" he can't make the big decisions, he just sidesteps.

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by: Codex @ Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 14:44:57 PM CDT