and bends towards obfuscation and dissembling... i don't see how anyone can honestly claim that Obama supports gay rights after this. -------- Q I was glad to hear that you and your staff appreciate constructive feedback. THE PRESIDENT: Yes, that’s something we enjoy. (Laughter.) Q We’ve been more than willing to offer that. We’ve certainly been more than willing to offer that from AMERICAblog, particularly on issues related to the LGBT community, which, you know, there is a certain amount of disillusionment and disappointment in our community right now. And one of the things I’d like to ask you -- and I think it’s a simple yes or no question too -- is do you think that “don’t ask, don’t tell” is unconstitutional? THE PRESIDENT: It’s not a simple yes or no question, because I’m not sitting on the Supreme Court. And I’ve got to be careful, as President of the United States, to make sure that when I’m making pronouncements about laws that Congress passed I don’t do so just off the top of my head. I think that -- but here’s what I can say. I think “don’t ask, don’t tell” is wrong. I think it doesn’t serve our national security, which is why I want it overturned. I think that the best way to overturn it is for Congress to act. In theory, we should be able to get 60 votes out of the Senate. The House has already passed it. And I’ve gotten the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to say that they think this policy needs to be overturned -- something that’s unprecedented. And so my hope and expectation is, is that we get this law passed. It is not just harmful to the brave men and women who are serving, and in some cases have been discharged unjustly, but it doesn’t serve our interests -- and I speak as Commander-in-Chief on that issue. Let me go to the larger issue, though, Joe, about disillusionment and disappointment. I guess my attitude is that we have been as vocal, as supportive of the LGBT community as any President in history. I’ve appointed more openly gay people to more positions in this government than any President in history. We have moved forward on a whole range of issues that were directly under my control, including, for example, hospital visitation. On “don’t ask, don’t tell,” I have been as systematic and methodical in trying to move that agenda forward as I could be given my legal constraints, given that Congress had explicitly passed a law designed to tie my hands on the issue. And so, I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think that the disillusionment is justified. Now, I say that as somebody who appreciates that the LGBT community very legitimately feels these issues in very personal terms. So it’s not my place to counsel patience. One of my favorite pieces of literature is “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” and Dr. King had to battle people counseling patience and time. And he rightly said that time is neutral. And things don’t automatically get better unless people push to try to get things better. So I don’t begrudge the LGBT community pushing, but the flip side of it is that this notion somehow that this administration has been a source of disappointment to the LGBT community, as opposed to a stalwart ally of the LGBT community, I think is wrong. And: Q So I have another gay question. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: It’s okay, man. (Laughter.) Q And this one is on the issue of marriage. Since you’ve become President, a lot has changed. More states have passed marriage equality laws. This summer a federal judge declared DOMA unconstitutional in two different cases. A judge in San Francisco declared Prop 8 was unconstitutional. And I know during the campaign you often said you thought marriage was the union between a man and a woman, and there -- like I said, when you look at public opinion polling, it’s heading in the right direction. We’ve actually got Republicans like Ted Olson and even Ken Mehlman on our side now. So I just really want to know what is your position on same-sex marriage? THE PRESIDENT: Joe, I do not intend to make big news sitting here with the five of you, as wonderful as you guys are. (Laughter.) But I’ll say this -- Q I just want to say, I would be remiss if I didn’t ask you this question. THE PRESIDENT: Of course. Q People in our community are really desperate to know. THE PRESIDENT: I think it’s a fair question to ask. I think that -- I am a strong supporter of civil unions. As you say, I have been to this point unwilling to sign on to same-sex marriage primarily because of my understandings of the traditional definitions of marriage. But I also think you’re right that attitudes evolve, including mine. And I think that it is an issue that I wrestle with and think about because I have a whole host of friends who are in gay partnerships. I have staff members who are in committed, monogamous relationships, who are raising children, who are wonderful parents. And I care about them deeply. And so while I’m not prepared to reverse myself here, sitting in the Roosevelt Room at 3:30 in the afternoon, I think it’s fair to say that it’s something that I think a lot about. That’s probably the best you’ll do out of me today. (Laughter.) Q It is an important issue, and I think that -- THE PRESIDENT: I think it’s an entirely fair question to ask. Q And part of it is that you can’t be equal in this country if the very core of who you are as a person and the love -- the person you love is not -- if that relationship isn’t the same as everybody else’s, then we’re not equal. And I think that a lot of -- particularly in the wake of the California election on Prop 8, a lot of gay people realized we’re not equal. And I think that that’s -- that’s been part of the change in the -- THE PRESIDENT: Prop 8, which I opposed. Q Right. I remember you did. You sent the letter and that was great. I think that the level of intensity in the LGBT community changed after we lost rights in that election. And I think that’s a lot of where the community is right now. THE PRESIDENT: The one thing I will say today is I think it’s pretty clear where the trendlines are going. Q The arc of history. THE PRESIDENT: The arc of history. And: Q Well, can I ask you just about “don’t ask, don’t tell,” just following up? (Laughter.) I just want to follow up. Because you mentioned it - THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sure. Go ahead. Q Is there a strategy for the lame-duck session to -- THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Q -- and you’re going to be involved? THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Q Will Secretary Gates be involved? THE PRESIDENT: I’m not going to tip my hand now. But there is a strategy. Q Okay. THE PRESIDENT: And, look, as I said -- Q Can we call it a secret plan? (Laughter.) [Note: this wasn't me] THE PRESIDENT: I was very deliberate in working with the Pentagon so that I’ve got the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs being very clear about the need to end this policy. That is part of a strategy that I have been pursuing since I came into office. And my hope is that will culminate in getting this thing overturned before the end of the year. Now, as usual, I need 60 votes. So I think that, Joe, the folks that you need to be having a really good conversation with -- and I had that conversation with them directly yesterday, but you may have more influence than I do -- is making sure that all those Log Cabin Republicans who helped to finance this lawsuit and who feel about this issue so passionately are working the handful of Republicans that we need to get this thing done. Q Yes, I don’t have that relationship with them. (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: But, I mean, it’s just -- I don’t understand the logic of it. Q Nor do I. THE PRESIDENT: You’re financing a very successful, very effective legal strategy, and yet the only really thing you need to do is make sure that we get two to five Republican votes in the Senate. And I said directly to the Log Cabin Republican who was here yesterday, I said, that can’t be that hard. Get me those votes. Because what I do anticipate is that John McCain and maybe some others will filibuster this issue, and we’re going to have to have a cloture vote. If we can get through that cloture vote, this is done.
I'm not 100% pleased with Obama's LGBT stances, but at the end of the day, I'm not going to make the perfect the enemy of the good, either. <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/geyAFbSDPVk?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/geyAFbSDPVk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object> For example, could you ever imagine George Bush, John McCain, or god forbid– Sarah Palin, saying something like this?
I agree, especially after these responses: If only we could go back to the glory days for gay rights when your boy Bush was in the White House and trying to get a constitutional amendment passed to ban gays from ever marrying anywhere in the USA.
I'm not sure why anyone is responding to basso anymore. I'm more surprised that anyone is responding to him on this issue. basso doesn't even support gay rights. Obama hasn't done enough on the issue, but to date he has done more than any other President, so it's a step in the right direction, even though it's only a tiny one. basso wouldn't know this because he's shown that he truly doesn't care about gay rights. Anyone who claims that a President that supports a constitutional ban on gay rights is no different from a President who opposes such a ban, isn't serious about supporting gay rights. He doesn't appear to be serious about any real issue though, as his posts are usually inaccurate, and he's unable and unwilling to engage in discussion of the topics he brings up. Ignoring him seems like the best policy.
Sweet, Sweet basso. At the end of his life he'll be able to look back and say that "Yes. Yes I did try to spread hate, fear, doubt and division on a daily basis." What a great character.
correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Obama on record as saying he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman, but that the court should handle it through due process?
I think it’s pretty clear that Obama wrestles with these issues and that he sees the direction and future of equal rights for gays. And how anyone can read this interview and come away with the idea that Obama apposes gay rights is just crazy.
The difference is that one is for normal people and the other is for fa**ots and qu**rs. Just the way Jesus intended it when he wrote the Constitution. Amen.
This is SIGNATURE MATERIAL!! Nicely done- you nailed the homophobes, religious zealots, and Constitutionalists (or is it Constitutionalarians?) in one shot. Basso, get thee to a nunnery.
And yet... what has changed for gay rights during his watch? I can't really think of anything. DADT is still there, gay marriage still doesn't exist nationwide... I don't subscribe to the idea that Obama doesn't support gay rights because he obviously does, but talk is cheap: I want to see tangible, real results. I suppose I'm too impatient to wait for them.
Well for one thing, his administration has hired the most openly gay employees in history. He issued executive orders mandating that hospitals treat gay and lesbian couples the same as heterosexual ones He has expanded rights for gay couples who work in the federal government He signed the Matthew Sheppard expansion of the Hate Crimes bill just to name a few
why should we judge Obama, who has spoken out of both sides of his mouth on this issue, with a nudge here and a wink over there, by the standards of Bush, who was very clear about where he stood? Obama promised to do specific things- he hasn't. that is why the gay community is bent out of shape.
