Homophobe coach asked to serve on Obama's 'Faith Council'

Here we go again.

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by: Karen in Kalifornia @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 15:58:29 PM CDT

Once a christian bigot, always a christian bigot

Especially if there's perceived political capital to be gained from it.

God save ornery old queens! - kevinchi

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by: Keori @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 16:01:39 PM CDT

His Serene and Christian Majesty, Barack I,

is sure running true to form.

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

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by: QScribe @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 17:32:56 PM CDT

Not surprising

I don't regret voting for Obama since the other guy was worse. Nevertheless, I am completely discouraged. I don't see any chance of getting ENDA or a repeal of DADT or DOMA. These things are just not priorities and may never be with this president. A superstitious batsh*t "faith council" has no place in a modern, western democracy. I guess we have a choice between a party that takes us for granted and a party that wants us dead. It's depressing.

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by: CarbonGirl @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 21:39:02 PM CDT

That seals it for me.

  Fuck Obama and his faith.  As far as I am concerned he can go screw himself.  Do not ask me for a dime or to make a phone call to support his re-election in 2012.  

 He has lost me and my families support with this move.  He can take his bible and shove it right up his ass.

If I make sense? it was quite by accident.

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by: HappyCat @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 21:40:42 PM CDT

Signed, sealed, delivered into the hands of our enemies

Me too, HappyCat. I hate it but I can't claim to really be surprised.

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by: lupita.n @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 22:14:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Not to worry kitty

he'll throw us a bone in 2010, probably the repeal of DADT, and our community will rally to his side. Well, not all of our community. I'm tired of being played by Democrats. They can no longer count on my vote. I'll vote green or indie before I will pull the lever for the current 'leader'.

If the party was fearful of more of us doing that, they would find their spine and do the right things for us. They don't and they won't as they believe that we, per Donna Brazile, "have no place else to go." Until we show them that they cannot just count on our votes, they will continue to treat us shabbily.

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by: meileen @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 16:01:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

As a football fan

I've always hated the Indianapolis Colts and their Goober-looking QB Peyton Fu***ing Manning who's could never beat the Florida Gators as a college QB at Tennessee and who whined for days about that damned Heisman Trophy that rightfully went to Michigan's All-Everything Charles Woodson...

Oops, wrong board for that...

Why is Barry coonin' for these folks?  

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by: kevinchi @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 22:20:45 PM CDT

Because, outside of GLBT circles

Dungy is well respected. I know people who are supportive of equal rights for GLBTs who jump up defending Dungy, whenever his views on marriage are brought up. Who even defend Dungy when his ties to Focus on the Family and Dobson are brought up.

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by: rfloh @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 01:23:25 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Something tells me

I am so gonna LUV football season this year with you around to gab with, kevinchi!

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Click here for DADT photobook

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by: Louise @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 08:59:29 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh, yeah, as I said

never a Colts fan anyway.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 09:07:19 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

No one more surprised

than me when Little Eli stopped getting scared, started to step up to the pocket and WIN.

I'm still pinching myself over SB LXII. Had to have been dreaming that, especially the catch.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

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by: Louise @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 09:12:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Eli doesn't hold a candle

to Tom Brady, though. I can think of a few things that I'd like to hold on Tom Brady but that might make Gisele mad.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 09:20:24 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

For me

it's Tiki Barber- YUM. Nice eye candy. Years ago, Emmitt Smith...

But I just can't watch him (Tiki) on "Today"; Meredith is painfully bad and Ann Curry's poorly faked concern make me want to retch.

Brady is the better QB, no doubt. But he also expected to win and have the perfect season to cap his amazing streak of records- the loss just goes to show that the unexpected can always happen.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

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by: Louise @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 09:29:18 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well. if T.O. wasn't SUCH a drama queen

I'd roll with him. All that 'tude is a turnoff.

I wonder if Rick Bayless has had any more of those Troy Aikman speculations...

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 09:35:12 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh well

My expectations haven't changed, but they weren't really that high to begin with. Unfortunately, considering who the opposing candidate is likely to be in four years, not voting is, personally, not an option.

I am the lizard queen!

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by: RainbowPhoenix @ Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 23:13:46 PM CDT

My letter to the DNC and all others,

  involved in the Democratic Party,

 The DNC contact information

To whom it may concern,
 I am writing to inform you that I will not be supporting any Democratic Candidate again.  My family and I are very disappointed with the actions of President Obama regarding his continued invitations and appointment of Homophobic individuals to important places in his administration.  

 As a LGBT citizen, his choice of having Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church do the invocation was quite painful for me to see.  I was upset with the choice of Donnie McClurkin during the campaign.  Now seeing Homophobe Tony Dungy asked to serve on his Faith Council is the last straw.

 President Obama has already backed away from his campaign promise of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell and he doesn't appear to be moving on any other campaign promises he has made regarding equality on LGBT issues.

 Even more of a disappointment is how he is dealing with the past administration regarding war crimes and torture.  I believe President Obama's refusal to have the Justice  Department investigate and prosecute those who are found to be involved with torture is a black eye on the face of America.  America is letting criminals get away with crimes because they were in positions of power.  Following and abiding by the rule of law and standing for people's rights made this country great.  Now we are no better than other countries that continuously violate human rights.

Sincerely, former Democratic supporter and voter,

If I make sense? it was quite by accident.

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by: HappyCat @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 00:06:47 AM CDT

Sent it to a few more while I am at it,

Moveon    http://pol.moveon.org/feedback...

DCCC  http://www.dccc.org/page/s/con...

Here is a laugh, this is the reply I got after sending my letter to the DCCC.

Thank you for contacting the DCCC. We value your feedback because we know that together America can do better. With your help, we are confident we can maintain a Democratic Majority and get America moving forward again.
Sincerely,
The DCCC Action Center

Senator Mark Udall,

Thank you! Your message has been sent.

Senator Michael Bennett

Mr. Bennett's page gives you information on how to Fax an appointment with him.  So later I will Fax him a meeting request.

If I make sense? it was quite by accident.

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by: HappyCat @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 00:31:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Here is a crock of shit,

  Surfing around the DNC website, you will find Agenda at the top and then Civil Right,

Reclaiming Our Civil Rights & Liberties
We believe in the essential American ideal that we are not constrained by the circumstances of birth but can make of our lives what we will.

Unfortunately, for too many, that ideal is not a reality. We have more work to do. Democrats will fight to end discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and disability in every corner of our country, because that's the America we believe in.

We all have to do our part to lift up this country, and that means changing hearts and changing minds, and making sure that every American is treated equally under the law. We will restore professionalism over partisanship at the Department of Justice, and staff the civil rights division with civil rights lawyers, not ideologues. We will restore vigorous federal enforcement of civil rights laws in order to provide every American an equal chance at employment, housing, health, contracts, and pay. We are committed to banning racial, ethnic, and religious profiling and requiring federal, state, and local enforcement agencies to take steps to eliminate the practice.

Maybe someone needs to remind President Obama, or, the DNC needs to change its web page.  This reeminds me too much of HRC.

If I make sense? it was quite by accident.

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by: HappyCat @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 00:39:40 AM CDT

Media stunt

The only reason he was selected was due to his being a (former) high visibility NFL coach.

I think the Obama handlers are trying to court lunkheads who think professional (hell, any kind of) football is a religion.

My two pennies.

Denabeth

Cisgender. Because "Genetic" (or non) is so 2006.

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by: Denabeth @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 02:37:45 AM CDT

Well, I wouldn't go THAT far

but football has long been the most important part of MY Sundays! ;)

Had Obama selected Coach Madden, maybe.

Or better yet, gone with The Tuna...

Hmm. Hard call.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

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by: Louise @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 09:09:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

NOT THE TUNA!

I can't stand Bill Parcells!

I'm a Saturday and Sunday guy, I loves me some college football. Though Madden seems like he's gay friendly.

And as much as my Maize and Blue blood boils at this thought, I'll take USC's Pete Carroll as the LGBT friendly coach.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 09:17:35 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

To be expected

One of the areas where I differed from Obama (and much of political leadership - Dem and GOP) is putting religious organizations in such positions of power and influence over government policy.  
The Office of Faith-based, blah,blah was set up to curry favor with evangelical leaders by funneling money to them without the need for oversight and clear separation of religious and social service activities.  
Obama indicated he planned to continue and expand this Office - given that many religious organizations teach discrimination against homosexuals - who do we think is going to be filling these positions except folks like Dungy?

When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. ~ Sinclair Lewis

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by: CParis @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 06:50:52 AM CDT

Is anyone really surprised? Obama's been showing his true colors for a while.

I did not vote for Obama because while he was better than McCain, there were candidates that reflected my views better.

I think people who believed his campaign rhetoric more than his background are disappointed.  Once he secured the necessary delegates in the primary to beat Clinton, he began moving away from the positions that excited people in the first place.

While it's no shock Obama is not being the "fierce advocate" for LGBTs he said he was, I am equally troubled by his support for warrantless wiretapping and seizures, spending billions of tax dollars supporting big business while trying to break unions, and the apparent deal he cut to shield Bush from prosecution.  

Be better, not bitter!

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by: Anthony in Nashville @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 10:00:11 AM CDT

Frankly Anthony, I am surprised

at the extent to which Obama is kowtowing to the church without criticizing the church at the same time. That is what he always did here in Chicago. And these are the same type of church folks that said that he was a whiteman in blackface and an "uppity n****r" here in Chicago.

Barry's having an identity crisis or something.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 10:15:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

could be that he really wants that validation as a "real black man"

I do not want to go off-topic into the identity issues of some mixed-race people but I see his actions dating back to joining Wright's church and putting McClurkin on the campaign trail as attempts to "connect with his blackness."

Be better, not bitter!

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by: Anthony in Nashville @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 10:50:12 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Not so much Wright's church

but the McClurkin business, you are dead on.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 11:02:50 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Random Philosophical Musings

Dungy's absolutely off the mark in his position on GLBT rights... but that doesn't necessarily mean he's unable to make positive contributions to government or society in other spheres.  We should especially note the title of the organization to which he was appointed: "Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships".  If Dungy had been appointed to a Commission on Marriage, or a Commission on Civil Legislation, we'd be right to scream bloody murder and feel betrayed by Obama.  But if this Advisory Council's title is accurate, it sounds as if it's an umbrella organization to coordinate private community and charitable activities with the participation of religious individuals and organizations.

And, I'm sorry, but that sort of organization isn't a bad idea.  For all the destruction that religion has wrought (and it has!!), it's also motivated some individuals positively, e.g. toward strong civic involvement.  (I delivered some pizzas last night to the surgical nursing station at the local hospital - all the way in the back of the building - and the long walk through that gleaming, modern edifice gave me time to reflect that this center for healing was built and operated entirely with Catholic (Franciscan) non-profit dollars.  I disagree strongly with much of the doctrine in my former religion, but I can't deny that their hospital has done one hell of a lot of good for the Twin Cities...)

So for me, the question is a little more nuanced.  How do we keep "in the social fold" people, like fundamentalist Christians, with whom we strongly disagree?  How do we accommodate and encourage their contributions in some spheres of society, while at the same time keeping their hands off the private rights of those with whom they disagree (ourselves, among others)?

I'm just concerned that we avoid doing to others the sort of thing that the minions of James Dobson might do to an LGBT or Q person appointed to, say, a community youth development council (i.e., "ZOMG one particular dimension of this person happens to be disagreeable to us, so we have to keep them away from any kind of community or political involvement whatsoever!")  Like any principle, the no-harm / non-interference principle (which we often invoke, expressly or by implication, in pursuing our freedom to live our sexual and gender dimensions as they naturally are) is inequitable unless it's consistently applied to "cut both ways".

At its broadest, what this really presents is just a subset of the single great social question: how do we achieve coexistence without falling into either of the ends of the sociopolitical spectrum?  How do we "get along" without falling victim to tyranny and conformism on the one end (Dungy-like hateful views combined with Hitler-level aspirations to power)... OR atomization and solipsism on the other (never interacting with anyone with whom we disagree, to the point where we all stay hermetically sealed in our apartments and our souls)?

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by: CubPaws2008 @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 15:00:59 PM CDT

OK, how about appointing

the guy, Cizik (?), or others that have somewhat moderate views as opposed to raging homophobes like Dungy.

Not that I like the idea of a faith based anything, I really don't.

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by: kevinchi @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 15:10:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

If Obama's picks are so awful . . .

then why this?

"The first 15 members of the office's advisory council, announced in February, included one openly gay man, Fred Davie of the New York-based Public/Private Ventures."

(From the Advocate's article on Dungy's appointment).

Sorry, I know this goes against the woe-is-us victimhood meme and the-blame-those-mean-ol-Democrats-for-everything-and-anything philosophy. Guess it's just easier to hyperventilate and focus on the Dungys and the Warrens, and  ignore any data points that contradict the party line.

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by: mitch wood @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 15:47:13 PM CDT

The problem

is that these bigots are being legitimized. The two viewpoints are not equal, yet they're being treated as if they are. I do agree that we should pay more notice to when Obama appoints someone on our side, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't call bullshit when he appoints someone like Dungy.

I am the lizard queen!

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by: RainbowPhoenix @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 16:09:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Bingo

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by: Karen in Kalifornia @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 16:30:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

And another 'bingo' from me.

There's a great reverend in SF, Cecil Williams. He runs a non-denominational church, feeds the homeless, betters the community by organizing volunteers to paint HUD housing, and on and on. They guy is the real deal. He is the type of religious leader that should be heading the faith based initiative crap, if indeed we need to have such a bullsh*t association. Which we don't. It offers potential for groups that don't like us (and others) the use of funds to keep us (and others) down. If they don't have to pay for upgrading the church, those funds can be used to fight for or against ballot initiatives. This whole thing stinks to high heaven;)

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by: meileen @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 16:45:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Not sure what you mean.

Does "contradict the party line" refer to the Democrats doing things that go against their own platform? Or are you someone who just believes because you were told to?

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by: meileen @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 16:51:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The "half-empty" party line

Meileen,

I apologize for the apparent ambiguity in referring to a "party line." What I was attempting to describe is the seemingly knee-jerk instinct of some to excoriate Obama (or Democrats) for anything, anyone, any statement that doesn't live up to their exacting standards of LGBT-supportive rectitude, or that doesn't get them everything they want immediately.

For the record, I share others' wariness and suspicions about "faith-based" government programs and doubt if this council is really necessary, worthwhile, or even constitutional. I do not endorse the views of Tony Dungy, nor do I believe Dungy is a good choice for this board. And when Rick Warren's highly visible role in the inauguration was announced, I wrote the transition team to protest his selection.

But to use this who-cares appointment to accuse Obama of "showing his true colors?" to rage "fuck Obama and his faith", to insultingly psychoanalyze each appointment through the prism of whether Obama is seeking validation as a "real black man"? Please! It's the mirror image of Freepers, and just as tiresome and mean-spirited.

I don't know what has caused it--the past eight years' wandering in the political wilderness or the (admittedly) difficult task of getting the Democrats to show initiative in passing our legislative priorities--but the level of fury and outright hatred leveled at Obama, at Democrats, indeed at anyone who might see a glass as half-full instead of as dry as in W's administration, is troubling to me, as it does nothing to advance our community's political progress; divides the progressive movement; and alienates potential allies.

Why must we reject anything that remotely hints of compromise, and suicidally insist on a "99 and 44/100ths pure" strategy that makes the perfect the enemy of the good? The party line of constant dissatisfaction and complete disappointment, and the repeated threats to take one's marbles and go home to pout will only ensure our community's continued marginalization and ineffectiveness.

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by: mitch wood @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 19:24:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Token Appointments Don't Justify Discriminatory Policy

Even George Bush appointed a few openly gay people to commissions, ambassadorships and sub-sub-sub cabinet positions. That doesn't excuse the outrageously homophobic positions he took in office. Like Clinton years before, Obama has appointed a higher number of gay people to commissions and sub-sub cabinet positions than Bush did. This is not a surprise because lgbt voters are more than 10% of all registered Democratic party voters and a significant percentage of the population. But having 1 of 15 slots on a commission designed to funnel money to religious groups does not change the dubious nature of the commission's mission or the fact that Obama has done everything to reaffirm support for the "religiosity = a legitimate reason for homophobia" meme and nothing to reduce it. This includes his own paltry excuse for moving from approving of equal marriage rights for gay people when he was a Senator to his opposition to marriage equality now. The sad fact is that the administration, Congress and the party generally are not advancing any issues that are of specific importance to and would make great differences in the lives of lgbt Americans, including repeal of DADT and DOMA, enaction of relationship recognition of some sort, passage of ENDA, the Matthew Shepard Act and so on. They take gay votes for granted and see our rights as, at best, of secondary concern. And I can't imagine, Mitch, you'd be mocking a "woe is us" stance if the appointee to a Commission espoused jaw-droppingly racist, sexist, anti-ethnic or other xenophobic or nativistic views. You, like others, treat homophobic prattle as if it were legitimate discourse.

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by: David Goroff @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 18:16:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Great response David.

I just watched as our Democratic senate majority here in HI let die a bill that would have allowed civil unions. Not gay marriage, but the same civil unions that Obama supports. They had 18 of 25 votes of support going in this year, and we thought we had this one nailed. For some strange reason, they placed a major homophobe on the judiciary committee and the bill deadlocked there. The majority party could have pulled the bill out (as they did with an assisted suicide bill back in 2002), but the party couldn't find its spine against the religious right spewing hatred and cheering in the gallery. Only 6 senators had the cajones to stand up for what their own party has in its platform.

And sad to say, I do believe Obama will and is selling us down the proverbial river. Yeah, maybe in 2011 or so he will push to repeal DADT, but that will be just to get our folks rallied around him again. They use us, and will continue to until we let them know by our votes that we CAN vote elsewhere and NOT vote Repub.  

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by: meileen @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 20:35:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Already

Okay, we're not even a hundred days in, and already I'm reading "I've now lost all hope that Obama will be any kind of friend to GLBT Americans." Really?

Let's show a little political maturity here.

First, it should also be noted that in addition to chosing this unfortunate homophobe, Obama has also appointed Fred Davie, an openly-gay black man, to the same policy board. Obama has shown he invites everyone to the table, and if we can manage to act grown-up enough, hopefully Rahm Emmanuel will keep taking HRC's calls when the real battles happen for our rights.

Secondly, in addition to watching all Obama's opening moves, we should be working hard WITH OUR OWN CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES to get pro-LGBT legislation on Obama's desk before we start hurling out the baby and bathwater.

By all means, we should hold Obama to his supportive statements of LGBT issues, and the DNC to its platformed promises. If you don't like what he appoints or does or says, when you're finished registering your criticism here, by all means contact the administration via email (www.whitehouse.gov/contact) or phone message (202) 456-1414. How about we flex our political muscle instead of giving up so quickly?

Isn't it a tad early to throw up our hands and... then do what? Complain for the next three years and wonder why we aren't achieving anything?

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by: AndyNiable @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 21:44:41 PM CDT