June 18, 2009 1:39 PM

Will The Gay Community Stand Behind Obama?

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Washington Unplugged
(CBS)
The gay community may turn its back on President Obama and the Democratic party if the president does not begin to follow through on some of his campaign promises to extend gay rights, some gay activists say.

"The community is at the point now where they feel like the Democratic party has turned their back on them, as if gays are some kind of political pariah," John Aravosis, a gay activist and blogger, said today on on CBSNews.com's daily politics Web show Washington Unplugged.

Mr. Obama on Wednesday signed a presidential memorandum granting some federal employee benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers. Aravosis said it was a "nice step," but did not resolve any of the issues the gay community cares about. Some are becoming increasingly worried, he said, about whether the president will actually address those issues, by urging Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) or allowing gays to openly serve in the military.

Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), one of three openly gay members of Congress, said on Washington Unplugged that those particular issues are "becoming even more critical as more and more states allow same-sex couples to marry."

He also said the president has not yet done enough for the gay community.

"I think the president can and should do more and use some political capital to show some moral leadership," Polis said.

Upon signing the memorandum, Mr. Obama said, "I believe (DOMA)'s discriminatory, I think it interferes with states' rights, and we will work with Congress to overturn it."

Still, "What he did last night is reiterated his campaign position, but he no longer is promising to act to do it," Aravosis said.

Aravosis has called for a boycott of a fundraiser tonight for the Democratic Congressional and Senatorial Committees. He said gay rights may have to "punish" the Democratic party in order to move forward its agenda.

"Our people tend to have a lot of money, (and) we vote 70 percent Democrat," Aravosis said, explaining the political weight behind the gay community.

Watch the full show below, which includes both complete interviews and video from a rally in New York in support of the protests going on right now in Iran:


Add a Comment See all 31 Comments
by mjvwsr June 19, 2009 9:56 AM EDT
"Will The Gay Community Stand Behind Obama?"

I'm sure he's hoping they do; but not too close.
Reply to this comment
by impeachbhb June 19, 2009 8:21 AM EDT
This is a bunch of uproar over nothing. Obama will keep every one of his campaign promises. The gay people just need to wait their turn. I think he will get to this right after he puts in place all of the benefits ACORN offered new voters during the campaign. A lot of them appear to be getting upset too.
Reply to this comment
by quapawsix June 19, 2009 8:15 AM EDT
sick
Reply to this comment
by joule18 June 19, 2009 5:32 AM EDT
Sorry, the links I provided apparently don't archive and a search is required, presumably by someone who knows how the sites I provided work.
Reply to this comment
by joule18 June 19, 2009 5:27 AM EDT
Someone I know was looking into some things regarding our POTUS. He discovered Obama resigned his bar membership in 2008 apparently because he misrepresented his prior identies.

GO TO: http://www.iardc.org/ldetail.asp?id=654751301

Also Michelle Obama is no longer a lawyer. She resigmed in 1993 in the midst of an iethical investigation.

GO TO: http://www.iardc.org/ldetail.asp?id=739489913

Two Harvard Law grads who are not now lawyers and who both resigned under clouds of ethical improperties.

Question: Why was this information not adequately vetted by the press in 2007-2008? Surely the issue of integrity needs to be raised.
To resign in the face of a bar investigation in Chicago, the last vestige of corrupt Democratic inner-city political machines, has to give one pause.
Reply to this comment
by uruk91501 June 19, 2009 12:20 AM EDT
Gays seem to be more obsessed about what Ms. California thinks about gay marriage. Funny thing is the people in L.A. found the truth about what white gays think about blacks and Hispanics. Racial slurs are funny with a lisp.
Reply to this comment
by bluegrass101-2009 June 18, 2009 11:57 PM EDT
I'm getting totally sick and tired of listening to the Gay's whining and sniveling. Just go away and do your thing, packing fudge or what ever>!!
Reply to this comment
by IrishWench01 June 18, 2009 9:19 PM EDT
What a bunch of pathetic spoiled whiney children! They can't have everything their way all at once so they will abandon their party. Apparently this was never about the values of the Democratic party, this was all about playing the party they thought would give them what he want. Wake up you self involved little people. I personally couldn't care less who you sleep with and who you marry. I even support your endeavors for equal rights. But let's try to remember that there are multiple crisis occuring right now and the country does not revolve around your particular brand of bliss. There are issues that affect the entire population right now and you certainly aren't doing anything for your cause by stomping your selfish feet in the midst of all this mayhem and demanding your way or you'll bail. My response to you is "Fine, then bail. See how far you get under Republican rule" Oh wait, maybe you will just start your own party. The Party of Gays and Lesbians. That way it can be officially - All About You.
Reply to this comment
by tautomer June 18, 2009 9:12 PM EDT
by black_howler June 18, 2009 3:25 PM PD Homosexuality is not a choice. Just like you don't choose the color of your skin, you cannot choose whom you are sexually attracted to. Virtually all major psychological and medical experts agree that sexual orientation is NOT a choice.
___________________________________________________________________

Neither is homicidal psychosis, but we don't go around championing the right the rights of serial killers. Just because something doesn't result from personal choice doesn't mean it's right.
Reply to this comment
by ikestarnes June 19, 2009 12:07 AM EDT
Well put.
by tautomer June 18, 2009 8:58 PM EDT
by gravyboat3000 June 18, 2009 4:51 PM PDT Yes, just like the, "Christians", who kill abortion Dr's and their staffs, or force them to shut down, forcing people out of work?
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First off, it is one's behavior that makes them a Christian, not the fact that they declare themselves as such (although I know you would dearly love to believe otherwise). Of course, no Christian would advocate such a thing.

Secondly, you could always consider these acts to be "late post-natal abortions" of the doctor, since you've always loved euphemisms, gravy.

I read an interesting statistic the other day that puts things in perspective. 45 million black kids have been aborted since Roe v Wade. That is roughly equal to the entire black population of the US. That's sobering.
Reply to this comment
by tautomer June 18, 2009 9:04 PM EDT
My typo that's not 45 million black kids that all kids,but equal to the entire black population. Abortion has it's place, but 45 million? Get serious.
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