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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPOWERFUL!!! IN OBAMA WE TRUST - For the first time in decades - The Advocate Endorses A Candidate
IN OBAMA WE TRUSTFor the first time in decades, The Advocate has a candidate it can endorse for president. That candidate is Barack Obama.
By saying aloud, I think same-sex couples should be able to get married, in a televised interview on ABC, he has sparked conversation domestically and internationally. While he is our president at home, globally hes an icon, a symbol of the promise of America, of the promise of equality. Obama may be the most prominent man on the planet ever, given the pervasiveness of modern media and his anomalous and historic nature as the first black American president; he is surely the single most recognizable head of state on the globe. By virtue of his unique position, his endorsement of marriage equality is not merely rhetoric. His words constitute action. On the very face of it, his statement is enormous, and has the power to move millions in a way that a statement from no other person could have. [...]
He has approached many of our challenges with intellect and foresight, though the long game was not often apparent to many, including this publication when we argued for a quicker pace for change. Obama deftly ended the militarys 17-year-long dont ask, dont tell policy, allowing enough military leaders to reject the policy before pushing for repeal so that there was little room for Republican opposition. He has directed the Justice Department to not defend aspects of the extraordinarily discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, calling it unconstitutional and urging its repeal. Now five federal judges have declared parts of DOMA unconstitutional.
And in every speech, at every opportunity, Obama describes LGBTs as his brothers and sisters, full members of our society. In college commencement addresses, in his address to the NAACP, in an It Gets Better video message to teenagers, at the National Prayer Breakfast, he has called for respect, dignity, and equality for LGBT people. At an address to the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2011 the president said, No country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere.
If we assume that words mean nothing, then weve forgotten the lesson of the damage done by a president who largely refused to utter the term AIDS during his administration, and how desperately we ached for him to acknowledge the humanity of those dying of the disease. [...]
We cannot expect any president to be the balm for all our ills, but Obama has demonstrated through word and deed that he is capable of understanding and tackling the issues, with foresight and intellect, that affect a minority population, particularly the last group of people its still legally permissible to deny rights to in the United States.
http://www.advocate.com/print-issue/current-issue/2012/07/06/obama-we-trust?page=0,0
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/06/1106900/-For-the-first-time-in-decades-The-Advocate-endorses-a-presidential-candidate-Barack-Obama
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)but Obama has demonstrated through word and deed that he is capable of understanding and tackling the issues, with foresight and intellect, that affect a minority population, particularly the last group of people its still legally permissible to deny rights to in the United States."
That idea can easily be repeated across a wide spectrum of issues.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,771 posts)Spazito
(50,566 posts)an important endorsement, imo.
MineralMan
(146,346 posts)Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)Maybe it wasn't a technical endorsement, but it certainly was a show of support.
nobodyspecial
(2,286 posts)is NOT remotely close to an endorsement. Time put Bush on the cover. Was that an endorsement or show of support? Was it when they put Obama on the cover. Magazines feature covers of newsmakers. That does not mean they support them.
Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)Are you too young to remember 2004? That cover was a HUGE deal at the time.
nobodyspecial
(2,286 posts)I disagreed with you and stated why. No name calling. No belittling. No sarcasm.
I have a degree in journalism so I might have some understanding of the difference between an endorsement and a cover story.
Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)So I know well the impact of a glowing cover story.
P.S. And with your degree... maybe you should read my full original post in which I clearly say, "Maybe it wasn't a technical endorsement, but it certainly was a show of support."
That is why I wondered about the venom.
mzmolly
(51,018 posts)as well.
Segami
(14,923 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)beyurslf
(6,755 posts)"If we assume that words mean nothing, then weve forgotten the lesson of the damage done by a president who largely refused to utter the term AIDS during his administration, and how desperately we ached for him to acknowledge the humanity of those dying of the disease."
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)President Obama is a man of conscience, character, and substance. I'm so happy that others see this.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
Raster
(20,998 posts)This is my President.
ailsagirl
(22,904 posts)The first of a myriad of endorsements!! The President (and, by extent, all sane, reality-based folks) will enjoy endorsements from respected newspapers, magazines, and highly-visible personages in this country!! Can't wait.
AynRandCollectedSS
(108 posts)SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
juajen
(8,515 posts)goclark
(30,404 posts)I love our President for all the reasons you have stated.
David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)n/t