The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld is our eyes and ears in the White House press briefing room; she sits in on what has to be an excruciating experience these days -- watching Robert Gibbs constantly dissemble and evade basic questions about WH policy re: LGBT issues. I nudged her today to see what nonsense eminated from the podium. Apparently he was asked about DADT twice and he delivered the non-answers you've come to expect and detest from the "straight-shooting" admin. From her report "White House Not Moving on DADT" --
When would the White House push Congress to repeal the policy? The answer from Gibbs:
"He does not think the policy is working in the national interests and is working with the Joint Chiefs, the Pentagon, and others to bring about a change in that policy."and...you've got to love this:
Another reporter noted that although Gibbs keeps saying the President is working for repeal, he had been told by staffers for the chair of the subcommittee (probably the military personnel subcommittee) that the House repeal bill isn't likely to come up for a vote until next year.The only way to go, folks. I guess he forgot about this."Sometimes the legislative process doesn't move that quickly," Gibbs responded.
The same Politics Daily reporter then puzzled at why the President wouldn't put a moratorium on discharges if he truly thinks the policy runs counter to national interests.
"The President and legal team here believe that in order to have a durable solution to this, legislation is the only way to go," Gibbs said.
Gah!
Look, everyone... Prop 8 and DADT have been trivialized into punchlines!!
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - The state budget may be severely overdrawn, but the California political A.T.M. seems to be working just fine.President Obama arrived at a back-to-back fund-raising dinner and concert on Wednesday night and raised $4 million for the Democratic National Committee. He basked in the glow of his Hollywood supporters and thanked them for making his candidacy possible.
"If it weren't for you," Mr. Obama told a celebrity-filled crowd gathered at The Beverly Hilton, "we would not be in the White House."
The California economy is bleak. The state budget is crisis. And Democrats are riled up over a Supreme Court ruling this week that upheld the ban on gay marriage.
The president did not dwell on those matters during his remarks here Wednesday evening on the only stop of his quick trip to California. He gave himself a strong grade for the opening stretch of his time in office.
"I would put these first four months up against any prior administration since F.D.R," Mr. Obama said. Later, he added: "I'm confident in the future, but I'm not yet content."
A gaggle of sign-waving protestors milled around outside The Beverly Hilton, the sprawling hotel on Wilshire Boulevard.
They must have caught the president's eye when he arrived at the hotel from an earlier stop in Las Vegas because he relayed one of their messages to the crowd.
"One of them said, "Obama keep your promise,' " the president said. "I thought that's fair. I don't know which promise he was talking about."
The people in the audience - who paid $30,400 per couple to attend - laughed as they ate a dinner of roasted tenderloin, grilled organic chicken and sun choke rosemary mashed potatoes.
"WHAT promise", you ask? Here's a hint, Mr. President:
Or even better, Mr. President- this from Dan Choi, who has more honor right now than you:
Nearly a hundred protesters assembled Wednesday outside the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, CA where President Obama hosted a Democratic Party fundraiser.Protest organizers called for Obama to repeal the government's "don't ask, don't tell" policy that exempts openly gay men and women from serving in the military.
Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point graduate and an Arabic translator, was discharged from the Army when he declared he was gay on national television. His conviction that the military's policy is "a deadly poison" inspired him to lead the protest on Wednesday.
"There is a message that I want to give to Obama," said Choi. "Stop forcing our soldiers to hide. Let them be free to serve."
Undeterred by Tuesday's decision by the California Supreme Court to uphold the ban on gay marriage passed by voters in November, Choi said to the crowd, "We can't wait for somebody else to give us rights.... if we want rights, we have to fight for it. We have to earn it."
Choi ended his speech the same way it began, chanting, "Love is worth it."
Mr. President, I thought your silence disgraceful- but your actual words are far worse, sir.
Hopefully your actual ACTIONS can help you redeem yourself. But right now, I'm not having alot of faith in that.
(h/t Blender k r)
On the eve of the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall, come join us in celebrating the achievements of the LGBT equality movement:
I'll Toast to That Thursday, June 25th, 2009 6:00pm Charles Froelick Gallery 817 SW 2nd Avenue $40 beforehand, $50 at the door (tickets available here)
Attire: pizazzulous
A special thank you to our sponsors: Organic Nation Spirits Don Spirits Devil's Food Catering Raptor Ridge
Music by: DJ Scotty D
Ticket price qualifies for the Oregon Political Tax Credit which means you can get every penny of your ticket price back at tax time! Click here for more information on the Oregon Political Tax Credit. Questions? Call 503/222.6151
Subscribe to Reader feed
Subscribe to daily Email
No comments:
Post a Comment