OBAMA SILENT ON GAY ISSUES
American president Barack Obama is being put under pressure to engage in discussion about the issue of gay marriage. Obama has been silent throughout the legalisations of gay marriage in several US states, including Iowa.
“We’ve elected probably the most pro-gay president in history; he’s very good on the issues but he is not good on gay marriage,” Steven Elmendorf, a gay Democratic lobbyist told the New York Times. “From the gay community’s perspective, he and a lot of other elected officials are wrong on this. My view is that over time, they’re going to realise they’re wrong and they’re going to change.”
Obama has said that he opposes same-sex marriage as a Christian but describes himself as a “fierce advocate of equality” for gay men and lesbians and support same-sex civil unions. He recently urged Congress to pass a hate crimes bill, a high priority for gay groups, and promised to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy as one of his key campaign promises.
However, in addition to his silence on gay marriage, the President has also been criticised for not moving quickly enough on his promise to end the ban on gays and lesbians serving in the military.
“Everybody knows the Democrats are for equality for the gays. The Republicans have spent a gazillion dollars telling everybody that for the past 18 years or so. So when a Democrat back tracks and falls all over himself to answer a ‘gay’ question, it shows fear. It shows dishonesty. And nobody’s buying it,” said Huffington Post blogger Lane Hudson.
….. Of course he’d remain silent. He’s just like any other gutless politician who backs away from gay issues for fear of losing the bigot vote.
Time heals everything…. For Pete’s sake give the oke a chance! Impatient people!
The poor man has to contend with the American economy and if it falls apart gay, straight, bi, whatever aren’t going to be complaining about their rights to a man who’s trying his best to keep it from doing just that! Personally if I were a down and out gay American I wouldn’t care about getting married or being discriminated against if I couldn’t afford to feed myself or my family… Come on guys get real, the man has 4 – 8 years to advance on Human Rights, if it gets to the middle of his term and he’s still silent then yes it would be worrying. No use complaining when the alternative party refuses to consider everyones rights at all… Have a little faith and a whole lotta patience!
….. OOoh, did someone forget to take their chill pill this morning?
He made certain promises and has yet to fulfill them. Whether he has got four years, eight years or infinity it’s his silence (and lack of action) that makes one assume he is very much afraid to tackle the more controversial issues of his country. Granted the economic crises and job losses are important but that is no excuse as to why he can’t just take five or ten minutes to lay out any future plans he has in mind. Silence equates to cowardice.
If he still has certain promises to fulfill that doesn’t make him a coward, he just hasn’t got there yet.
Considering how the American Government works Obama can’t just stand up and discuss his plans without passing them through Congress and become legislation first. For example when he was Senator of Illinois representing a district in Chicago he sponsored legislation of anti-discrimination. More then likely it is the legalities slowing him down.
The next thing on the national agenda is the U.S Supreme Court nomination which is an important step to civil liberties…
In his speech Obama says “Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.” Probably an indication that he knows he will face criticism for the tedious job he has that won’t be done expediently.