Can we now stop calling our president a BIGOT and a COWARD?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

Or, are we going to continue to move the goal posts? Just asking...

I am very proud of him. He is taking a very big political risk, but he is doing the RIGHT thing! Let's unite behind him and work our asses off for him and especially for congressional Democrats and their state/local counterparts!

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. That would be nice, but I fear it may be wishful thinking on your part?

However, I couldn't agree more!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

2. I hear ya, but we can't give up. Thanks for continuing to fight the good fight? :)

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. Pardon me if I don't sound optimistic. But one of the most vile threads was started last night.

Some of the things said about the president were revolting and stomach turning. Unsurprisingly, that thread has gone silent, with not a one coming back to retract their vicious statements. Quite frankly, I don't think these people are progressives. The progressives I know are nice people, and would never utter some of the filth I've seen posted here in the last couple of days. Never!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

8. I know. I saw that thread and tried to get it hidden, but I failed.

[liberalmuse]

12. I'm glad I didn't see that, BUT...

I suspect there are moles amongst us. They probably get 5 bucks for every nasty post they make. It's pretty pathetic. Free Republic is imploding - where else are they gonna go?

[dbackjon]

24. I started the thread. I am a second class citizen in the United States

I am gay
I am Progressive
I was part of the great gay purge of 2009
I am sick and tired of being a second class citizen.
I am tired of being told it is a state or religious issue.
I am a second class citizen
I do not enjoy all the rights that straight people enjoy
I will not rest until there is full equality
You can not be for full equality if you do not support a federal response.

[DCBob]

67. you will not make progress on any of those issues by trashing president obama.

that is guaranteed.

[dbackjon]

68. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE PROGRESS

If gay activists had not pressed on ALL OF THE ISSUES, nothing would have happened.

If we would have taken DU's advice and NOT ACTED UP, nothing would have changed.


So your statement is 100% false. The ONLY way to get this administration to do ANYTHING is to make them uncomfortable. That is what we have done.

[DCBob]

76. Wow... and putting it in all caps must really make them feel uncomfortable.

IMO, your strategy actually hurts the cause more than it helps. You are alienating your best allys and giving the enemy a wedge issue.

[dbackjon]

77. You can think that - but you would be wrong

It is only a wedge issue if the democrats do not fully embrace equality for all Americansl

[freshwest]

33. Remember the guy outed on DU2 by a pic on his photo server?

He had a meme generated icon that said, 'Make money online at home. Post on DU!' or something like that. We've heard the stories about this, too.

When I read people who would rather choke to death than admit about anything good about Obama, and attack anyone who would celebrate any progressive thing he's done, something is up. Because it's about getting it done, not a popularity contest.

I understand that some people live in areas where there is nothing but right wing spin on media, thus they have no other reference points. But yeah, some of them are getting paid to disrupt.

[Tarheel_Dem]

46. Perhaps you have that particular poster on Ignore. Like you, I wish I'd never seen it.

It would be naive for anyone think that elements from FR & other rightwing sites don't have a presence here. I hope that 5 bucks is worth it. However, the division can only work if we allow it.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. ETA: I tried to alert that thread again. I failed yet again! Can't understand why it is allowed to

stand.

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Unlike on DU.2, where mods always revisited a topic when getting more than one alert.

I think that there's only one chance here on DU.3. I've alerted a few times here and it appears that if an alert has already gone to a jury, if another member alerts, s/he only gets the results of the initial jury. That's been my impression, anyway.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

28. Yes, I think you're right. I immediately received an email with the same results, which I thought

was odd, but you explained that it is the results from the same jury.

[freshwest]

34. Did you think it fit TOS regarding depressing the vote for a Democrat?

Some things seem to be that way, but I generally don't alert. IDK if that would be considered trying to make a political point with an alert, which should not be done, one should reply in the thread. I saw a thread last night and just ended up trashing it when I saw it was going that way. Because I could see that no positive response would have an effect.

The only time I did alert was when an 1-post troll made gross, obscene comments to a member. The post was hidden and he was PPR'd.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

37. You're right. I ultimately ended up trashing the thread after I posted a comment that I KNEW

would be alerted and hidden. It served me no benefit. I should have just trashed the thread to ignore it. You're right.

[freshwest]

42. I just made a few positive comments, with links and all of that, but when people are on a roll,

They won't listen anyway. My replies were not going to get replies, so I deleted one and trashed the thread. I could see where it was going, so why bother. I don't get mad, just sad.

I didn't come to DU to hear hate, that's why I don't post on mixed boards with a lot of right wingers. Hate is only about hurting people, dragging them down. And that's a win for some. I don't need that level of talk.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

44. I need to remember that start exercising the "Ignore" and "Trash Thread" functions much more than I

do. Wasting time responding to ignorance and hate isn't doing too much for my blood pressure or my nerves.

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Obama was never a bigot or a coward before this announcement. That is an insult. He may not

agree with us but he has already done many things for the gay community don't forget that.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. I agree. There were people here on DU calling him a bigot and a coward outright.

I hope now that we can unite.

[southernyankeebelle]

21. Well I agree with you but they have to stop being silly and they have to realize that we

are a big tent. Not everyone in that tent is going to agree with each other. So all I want to say is every calm down.

[joshcryer]

43. I disagree, his position on gay marriage was cowardly, but from a political perspective...

...it was basically expected, imo.

I was shocked when I heard he'd come out in favor of it, then I saw the calculated "states rights" message he sent.

[southernyankeebelle]

56. sorry that doesn't make him a coward. It just makes him a man with a different opinion.

Since when does having an opinion make a person a coward.

[Capt. Obvious]

70. When that "different opinion" is used

to deny equal rights to people because he is watching polls.

That's cowardly.

And that different opinion is also a bigoted opinion.

[southernyankeebelle]

71. Hmmmm that is your opinion. LOL

[Capt. Obvious]

72. Opression is funny. LOL

[southernyankeebelle]

74. Some people can find humor even in the worse of things. That is the way some people cope.

No offense CPT.

[Warpy]

5. I didn't think he'd do this before the election

and I imagine he's sent a few of his campaign staff to bed with migraines and drunks to sleep off.

However, I'm delighted he did. Any differentiation between us and them is going to be useful and you know they are going to ramp up the poisonous rhetoric. That will hurt them, IMO.

[Lionessa]

6. Absolutely!

I may question his ultimate motives, but he has definitely shown to be brave and has renounced his last vestige of bigotry as some have called this.

[gateley]

7. Amen. Although there have been criticisms about this (not doing enough) already. It's aggravating.

One step at a time -- hell, with this, DADT repeal, we've come a LONG way. And we've just begun. I wish people would appreciate what he's done thus far.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

35. me too. Drives me nuts.

Especially pisses me off when people say hugely insulting things, antagonize fellow DUers for not seeing things as they do, and then, when proven wrong or when things change, never come back to acknowledge positive progress, admit error, etc.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

38. Case in point: "The president is a bigot...and anyone who doesn't agree is a bigot" thread is STILL

open! I ended up trashing the thread, but I am baffled as to why moderators have insisted that it remain open regardless of the hate speech and the divisiveness.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

57. I'm glad I haven't seen that...

and I'm not going to go looking for it. Yech! [url=http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/skype-emoticons.html][img][/img][/url]

[gateley]

49. They find MORE fault! Never appreciative for whatever progress has been made. Not good

enough.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

59. I agree....geez, I'm as instant gratification oriented

as the next American in the early part of the 21st century, but even I know that big change comes slowly, in bits and pieces. Systemic change is very very slow, UNFORTUNATELY. That's just a crappy fact.

Here we are seeing basically consistent, positive changes happening over the course of four years. That's pretty damn good!

[dbackjon]

60. Tell you what - you give up YOUR RIGHTS

Then come back and tell us we should be patient, and grateful for whatever crumbs get thrown our way.

Talk about a condesending attitude - it is attitudes like yours that make life difficult.

[gateley]

61. If only you knew how much I support this cause and care. But I can see why I may come across

as condescending, and I'm sorry for that because that's not how I feel in any way.

I feel heartbroken and angry that anybody, any group of people, has been discounted, demeaned, not treated with simple human respect. But it's not just this issue that I get frustrated about. It's the constant "he should have done more" when what he HAS done is moving us in the right direction. We'll get there!

We've ALL given up rights, and although it's frustrating that immediate and total measures aren't taken to rectify the wrong, I try to keep my eye on the big picture and the end result.

Frankly, I was surprised Obama made the announcement before the election. For whatever reasons, he did the right and good thing and he may pay for that. Can't he be appreciated for that?

We have to keep the Republicans out of the White House in order to keep on this same trajectory. I'm hoping that as soon as people realize this is NOT a threat to their "Christianity" or whatever the fuck they're flapping about, it will be easier to move this to a Federal level.

I think Obama made a move that might not be politically beneficial to him personally (and in turn, us) -- and for that I'm VERY appreciative and supportive and want to continue giving him that support so we can achieve more. Is that so difficult to understand?

Please don't think when we're critical of people complaining that he's not done enough, he's not done it right, that we don't care -- because we DO. Really.

[wendylaroux]

63. yeah,me too---nt

[liberalmuse]

9. I had no doubt he'd come around on this...

and that he'll come around on the medical marijuana issue - he might go further and advocate for the decriminalization, albeit regulation of pot. This man can be taught, and he is open-minded enough to do the right thing, eventually.

[great white snark]

11. I hope. Maybe the "no difference between him and Romney" can go the way of the dodo also.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

15. That's what I'm trying to tell people here. There is a clear difference and today's revelation

should make that difference very clear!

[ZombieHorde]

13. Perhaps after straight people stop telling gay people how to feel and talk. nt

[TriMera]

16. +1,000,000 n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. I'm a straight person. I am a black American woman. I fully support marriage equality! No one's

telling you to do shit. I'm asking if we can unite today and stop calling our president names?

You're free to do whatever you want.

[ZombieHorde]

22. "You're free to do whatever you want."

I just went outside while smoking a joint and some cops stopped me. I said, "Hey, Liberal_Stalwart71 just said I can do whatever I want."

They said, "Oh yea, well who is Liberal_Stalwart71?"

So I brought them inside and showed them your post giving me permission to do whatever I want.

Then they said, "Oh crap! I guess you can do whatever you want," and then they left.

I'm asking if we can unite today and stop calling our president names?

I am not particularly concerned about DUers calling President Obama names. I don't think the President will read those posts, and so his feelings are probably safe from the posts of oppressed people. However, oppressed people here on DU have, in my opinion, very legitimate reasons for hard feelings. I think the concern over "state rights" is very legitimate.

That said, personally, I am very excited about President Obama's announcement, and I ran and told my wife about it as soon as I heard the news.

And that said: http://www.democraticunderground.com/124084379

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

25. Look, Zombie, I'm on your side. I am a black American. I am a woman. I have a gay father who I love

dearly and am very proud of. I am on your side. Please stop this and let's celebrate today, then fight like hell for OUR side.

[ZombieHorde]

26. I am very happy that we are on the same side. nt

[FreeState]

29. +1 n/t

[treestar]

31. That sounds like you are saying when people stop arguing with you

Do straight people have to agree with everything you say on the subject? It's silly. Gay people disagree among themselves. People are individuals.

[ZombieHorde]

45. I actually love when people argue with me.

What I am trying to say is gay people are entitled to their feelings and telling them their feelings are not justified is going to cause some really hard feelings in an already oppressed group.

[Iggo]

17. We?

You and me?

If not, then who?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

19. Thanks for this!

[Kalidurga]

20. I am a bit surprised it took this long...

I thought after DADT was repealed a revelation was going to soon follow. It is only a logical conclusion and probably the real reason so many conservatives fought against the repeal of DADT they probably knew it was going to put the issue of gay marriage on the forefront it isn't an issue they want out there so much. Many people are seeing that it is only fair that gay people should be able to marry the person of their choice SC, notwithstanding.

Still I am never inclined to move the goal post I would rather put the ultimate goal out there and get as close to it as possible. Of course if the entirety of my goal is not realized, I am going to keep going. In this case, I am satisfied that the right thing is being done and it is enough.

[dbackjon]

23. So we should just call it good?

The goal posts have not moved.
Full and immediate equality for all is the goal.
Marriage equality in ALL STATES and the Federal Government is the goal
ENDA is the goal


Saying you support something, but will do nothing to achieve that, and it should be done by others is nice, but doesn't move the ball much.

[progress2k12nbynd]

30. Welcome to DU Mr. President. You'd now be within the Terms of Service!! Nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

39. LOL!! I'm humored by your attempt at humor! :)

[Fearless]

32. If he backs up his words with concrete meaningful action... then yes.

If they are just words... then no.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

41. Fair enough. I actually agree with you on this. But can you acknowledge this historic day at least?

[Fearless]

51. Of course!

Never before has a seated US President stated support for marriage equality.

[vaberella]

50. See...I think he has made concrete meaninful action on that front.

From my stand point he has made moves that does support this stance. He stopped defending Section 3 in DOMA. He went on to make sure same-sex couples can get medicaid. Did the same with military couples. I think there has been past action that does back up these words. Aside from his push to repeal DOMA from before he was even President.

These to me are representative of his word. Do I think there sure as hell has a lot more to be done?! Hell yeah and Obama has to push it over and over and over again. However, I think his past actions are undeniable and have been very helpful. Even saying this publicly and in an interview is seriously meaningful. No President before has done this. I don't think anyone here can say supporting marriage equality is a winning Presidential move considering the clowns we have running the House and idiots voting them in. But to me...even if this is seen as a make or break move politically---the issue is far more than political. I find that for so many of us in this nation it's personal. Well it sure as hell is for me.

[Fearless]

52. I do agree that stopping the US AG from enforcing Section 3 of DOMA

Was important. I also believe that there is important work yet to be done that he needs to be on the front page of. He is the leader of the Democratic Party and we need that leader to be vocal on repealing DOMA entirely, the passing of an ENDA and ERA, and leading the charge to overturn marriage discrimination in 30-odd states. Some will say that he will bring too much "negative attention" to the issue. But, IMHO frankly that's what we need. We need to shine the light on the filthy beliefs of some of this nation. We need to get them up and shouting at us, to show the rest of the reasonable people just how crazy they are!

[phleshdef]

62. He already did when his administration stopped defending DOMA.

[Fearless]

64. Only partially right and completely not my point.

He ordered the US AG to stop enforcing SECTION 3 of DOMA. Yes. The remainder is still in place.

Secondly, I said that to make this announcement meaningful, he needs to use it to propel further civil rights legislation for LGBTers in this nation. That statement has nothing to do with the past or any actions he may have or may not have taken. It has to do with the future. He needs to back up his words with actions. Because he said it, there is nothing left preventing him from fighting for equality for LGBT people in legal terms.

[backtomn]

36. Risk ????

What if he would have done this in 2009, when we controlled the House, Senate, and White House ?? What if he would have done it before the vote in NC (instead of cancelling his visit there on primary day) ?? I realize that this won't help him with some independents, blacks, and hispanics, but it will also help him with gay fundraisers, which bring in a ton of money. He has been underperforming in that area lately.

In the end, it really won't help much. Obama was saying that he still believes that this should be "up to the states"......and they have been banning gay marriage, in case people haven't noticed. This whole things only sounds great because we have lowered our expectations for this administration. We should expect more.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

40. O.K., let's see what happens, then. Maybe I'm wrong. But for now, I prefer to wait and see...

and celebrate!!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

47. What if? Every group under our big tent has asked that question about any number of issues.

Everyone seems to have expected this president to eradicate decades of bad law in the first 18 months of his first term.

"but it will also help him with gay fundraisers, which bring in a ton of money. He has been underperforming in that area lately."

The president warned us about "the cynics". I just didn't think he was talking about us.

[treestar]

55. What would have happened?

It was always going to be a state issue. There are some things that are state issues.

[politicasista]

48. Thank goodness for

music and reading non-political items.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

53. Sometimes that helps, too! As an avid music lover, I certainly need more of that. :)

[politicasista]

66. +1

[dennis4868]

54. ummmm

you got the wrong Website if you are looking to rally behind Obama...this place is very much anti-Obama (you see, he did not make 100% perfect change in the first 10 minutes of his presidency even though he had an opposition party blocking everything and spineless dems in congress not willing to take enough risks (i.e., closing Gittmo).

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

75. You and I are always on the same page! nt

[GeorgeGist]

58. Nice.

Just saying.

[cecilfirefox]

65. I got a nice serving of crow for the people who squalled up until this point! nt

[SidDithers]

69. DU rec...nt

Sid

[Nye Bevan]

73. I say "welcome aboard, Mr. President".

I have relentlessly criticized him for his political cowardice on this issue, and I am happy that he has finally done the right thing.