Obama Privately Meets With New Hampshire Freedom to Marry group

[babylonsister]

http://nh2008.blogspot.com/2007/12/obama-meets-with-nh-freedom-to-marry.html


Obama Privately Meets With New Hampshire Freedom to Marry group


After speaking before a crowd 8,500 people, Barack Obama privately met with 25 people from the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry group.

The group has previously met with Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards.

While Obama spoke on stage with Oprah the group was seated in an empty Sam Adams bar, where they were given position papers on gay and lesbian issues and a chart comparing all the candidates, both Democratic and Republican. The group was joined by a national Obama staffer and a New Hampshire staffer.

After the Obama/Oprah rally, the group was taken to a private room in the basement of the Verizon Wireless Arena. Within minutes a jacketless Obama arrived accompanied by two secret service members.

According to the notes of someone who was there, "He believed that couples in civil unions should have the same rights that heterosexual married couples have. He would not push for same-sex marriage because the country was not ready for it and that the issue would be the lightning rod (source's words) that Republicans would use to rally opposition to his campaign. Martin Luther King was attacked by some black people because he was not pushing for an end to miscegenation first. King felt that equal voting rights was more important and that he did not want an end to miscegenation to cause the defeat of the rest of the civil rights agenda."

Obama also told the group, "you guys have been supplanted by the Hispanics," by the Republicans as the new evil group.

[Colobo]

1. Gobama!

[flpoljunkie]

2. Very interesting. I think Obama's right about immigration being the R's wedge issue for '08.

[cuke]

3. So now Obama is comparing himself to Martin Luther King Jr

Too bad MLK never completely left the battlefeild the way Obama has done with equal rights for GLBT's. MLK focused on voting rights and Jim Crow laws to the exclusion of miscegenation. Obama is not focusing on any gay rights issue.

[ellacott]

5. Wow

[Windy]

6. Oh my god... you are pathetic!

You just don't stop with the childish comments do you. How about some intelligent commentary for once. Its ok to have a disagreement with a candidate, but you are consistently inflammatory! and I keep forgetting to block you... there...all done!

[ellacott]

9. They leave me speechless at times

All I can say is wow.

[NMMNG]

49. A. They weren't childish comments but rather pointed criticism

B. What is your idea of intellegent commentary? "GOBAMA"? That's the extent of many Obama supporters' contributions here.

[Windy]

7. miscegenation - for those who don't know...

The term "miscegenation" has been used to refer to interracial marriage and interracial sex, and more generally to the global process of racial admixture that has taken place since the Age of Discoveries, particularly through the European colonization of the Americas and the Atlantic slave trade. Historically the term has been used in the context of ethnocentric or racist attitudes and practices, such as the enactment of laws banning interracial marriage and sex, so-called anti-miscegenation laws. It is therefore a loaded word and is considered offensive by many.

[karynnj]

22. Here it is used properly though

and Obama was right - it was too loaded an issue in the early 1960s to touch. It was the wedge issue of its time and was used to fight any civil rights initiative.

[Dawgs]

8. Lame.

Obama is 100% correct on this issue.

I personally think that the GLBT community and the Democrats set back the gay marriage debate by not first concentrating on civil unions.

"Obama is not focusing on any gay rights issue."

Uh, the OP JUST said that he met with this group to tell them he would fight for civil unions. I'm amazed that hatred makes some people so blind.

[goclark]

10. He would never compare himself to MLK that was not his

message!

MLK had the strong support of millions of people around the world when he made his later speeches.

OBAMA does not have that kind of following! He is a NEW and BOLD young man that wants to make this world a better place "for EVERYONE."

MLK had the full force of years of injustice to his people
behind him and yet he still had to pick his battles and his words carefully.

Sen. Obama is comparing the situation to what King faced in getting some of his "equality" and "justice" issues to become reality! And still,we struggle.

You can either continue to beat him up or be willing, as this wonderful group did, to passionately express their views to him and to others.

As much as this issue is important, we need a Democrat in the WH. Be it Obama or someone else.

As an African American woman, and a supporter of GLBT issues,
I know the hurt that comes when "justice" is not served.

As my people continually say, " How Long, Not Long" as we struggle everyday to support the political party that we pray will help us.

It hurts to the core when politicians don't jump on "our" issues immediately.

I do understand.

However,I truly believe that Obama is in your corner. You can either continue to bash him and other DEMOCRATS or let John McCain and crew be the next residents in the WH.

[madrchsod]

12. "...yet he still had to pick his battles and his words carefully".

this was the case in chicago. he was not accepted into the black community as he was in the south. it`s a very interesting read on how chicago reacted to him and how he worked within the community. if obama is as intelligent as i think he may be, he has read the history of this battle martin had with the community in the south side of chicago.

[ellacott]

21. I remember him saying that Chicago was just as bad if not worse than the south n/t

[karynnj]

19. Did you miss that he was a CIVIL RIGHTS lawyer

and that he worked as a public advocate on Chicago's south side? He is not comparing himself to MLKjr, but is comparing the logic of fighting for gay rights - including civil unions with full rights, rather than demanding gay marriage - which likely will come in the future - acceptance is more correlated to age than anything else.

I haven't seen either HRC or John Edwards in the forefront here.

[babylonsister]

50. But notice how this is ignored? Selective attention on DU;

same as it ever was.

[mtnsnake]

39. They also failed miserably yesterday in SC when they tried making some comparisons to MLK

Sorry, but Oprah is no MLK. None of that crew are. Even the crowd didn't fall for it.

[MethuenProgressive]

4. Secretly, down in the fucking basement?

No photos? What's Obama afraid of?

[madrchsod]

11. i take it you do not know the difference between secret and private.

so what did hillary do this weekend?

[MethuenProgressive]

23. Hide 'the gays' in an empty bar with watchers, whisk them to the basement, out of sight...

..and make no public comment at all.
I *do* know the difference between private and secret.
The secret's been out on Obama ever since he climbed into bed with the bigot wing of his church.

[SoxFan]

34. Tell me again

What's Bill Richardson's position on gay marriage?

[MethuenProgressive]

38. You could've gone to a public meeting and asked him.

Bill Richardson, unlike your candidate, isn't afraid of meeting the LGBT community in public. Tell me again, why did your guy hide "the gays" in the basement?

An invitation from NH Freedom to Marry and Governor Richardson
Posted by admin under Politics & Opinions

Please join us in a conversation with Presidential candidate Governor Bill Richardson and members of New Hampshires LGBT community.

Sunday, September 2nd at 3:45 pm

The Concord Business Center, 124 Hall Street, Concord.

Drive into the Center, through the two buildings and immediately turn right. Enter through the glass door in the middle of the backside of the first building. Second floor. There will be signs and ample parking is available.

Governor Richardson is the first Presidential candidate to speak directly to NH LGBT community.

http://www.equalitypress.com/?p=136

[Apollo11]

13. I would like to see Obama make a public statement

Or maybe put something up on his website about exactly where he stands on LGBT rights and legalized civil unions.

Otherwise there is a danger he will be accused of pandering in private, sending different messages to different groups.

I think it's important that Obama should speak about this issue in public speeches and meetings.

Otherwise it looks like Obama is pursuing a policy of "Don't Ask - Don't Tell"

"Please don't ask me what my position on gay rights is, so I don't have to tell anyone about it."

[babylonsister]

14. I agree totally. nt

[MethuenProgressive]

17. Agreed, Apollo.

It's time for Obama to take his support for human* rights out of the closet.


*gay rights are human rights

[karynnj]

15. Very nice analogy with MLK jr

I think he found a better way to make the point that many of us, less eloquently, have tried to make. He really does have a point.

[BigDDem]

16. His buddy McClurkin will be pissed!

[Colobo]

18. Buddy?

[BigDDem]

24. Right.

[Dawgs]

28. First, he's not his buddy. Second, he disagrees with McClurkin.

And, I assume agrees with you.

What else you got?

[BigDDem]

32. Hey if BO wants to cozy up with homophobes, that's his choice

[Dawgs]

41. Well, he hasn't cozied up to any homophobes. Do you have any more lies that you want to spew?

He has come out with a position that supports civil unions; which, in his mind, is a path to marriage.

Do you disagree with that position?

[BigDDem]

43. If you dont think McClurkin is a homophobe

you are way out of touch with reality.

[Adelante]

20. Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards

Did they meet with the group on the town green or someplace?

[MethuenProgressive]

25. "Governor Richardson is the first Presidential candidate to speak directly to NH LGBT community."

An invitation from NH Freedom to Marry and Governor Richardson
Posted by admin under Politics & Opinions

Please join us in a conversation with Presidential candidate Governor Bill Richardson and members of New Hampshires LGBT community.

Sunday, September 2nd at 3:45 pm

The Concord Business Center, 124 Hall Street, Concord.

Drive into the Center, through the two buildings and immediately turn right. Enter through the glass door in the middle of the backside of the first building. Second floor. There will be signs and ample parking is available.

Governor Richardson is the first Presidential candidate to speak directly to NH LGBT community.

edit to add link:
http://www.equalitypress.com/?p=136

[BeyondGeography]

26. A pro-Richardson post from MP!

The ratio is still about 150 negative Obama posts to one pro-Richardson post, but I didn't want this modest effort to go unnoticed.

[MethuenProgressive]

29. Another personal attack from DU's thread-to-thread stalker.

:shrug:

[BeyondGeography]

30. Think we can see a whole pro-Richardson THREAD from you sometime this week?

Like how's Bill doing in Iowa? You say you are for him, it's crunch time, don't hold back. If Biden is the second-tier guy to watch now, isn't that the end of Richardson? Does Richardson hope NV will be some sort of firewall for him? Plenty of stuff for a supporter to talk about here.

As for the "stalking," it's more like quality control. I post positive news on my candidate all the time. I object to people who say they're for someone and spend 99% of their time trashing someone else. I'm sure I'm not alone in that respect.

[MethuenProgressive]

36. Why stalk me to continue picking fights? Just because I don't hate Hillary as much as you do?

You claim: "I object to people who say they're for someone and spend 99% of their time trashing someone else." You "object"? You think you're the "Quality Control" police? You're saying I'm not welcome here if I don't join you in your Obsessive Hatred of Hillary Clinton? You people who post nothing but one HillHate post after another all day every day are what is killing DU.

[BeyondGeography]

37. So how's Bill doing in Iowa?

[MethuenProgressive]

40. Answer my five questions. Here, or in the next thread you stalk me to.

edit: The 5 questions this person ducked:
Why stalk me to continue picking fights? Just because I don't hate Hillary as much as you do?
You claim: "I object to people who say they're for someone and spend 99% of their time trashing someone else." You "object"? You think you're the "Quality Control" police? You're saying I'm not welcome here if I don't join you in your Obsessive Hatred of Hillary Clinton?

[Adelante]

27. OMG " the middle of the backside of the first building"

I guess we can work with that :rofl:

[MethuenProgressive]

31. edit: To lighten up.

:I'madumbassattimes:

[Adelante]

33. Lighten up, for crissake

I didn't insinuate anything. I asked. Thank you for the response.

[tishaLA]

45. This is the same Bill Richardson, presumably,

Who appeared on Imus and used a disparaging Spanish term for gay folks. And the same Richardson, presumably, who thinks homosexuality is a choice.

[MethuenProgressive]

46. 1. I don't speak Spanish - and the clip has no comments. 2. He took questions in public, and spoke

honestly when he said 'I don't know' - perhaps knows now it's not a 'choice'? You could've asked him personally in NH when he attended a public meeting put on by the NH GLBT community. Or would you rather have an invitation only hidden from public view secret basement meeting with Obama?
If you'd like to know more about Bill on this issue of human rights:
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/lgbt
Bill Richardson:
Fighting for Equal Opportunity and Equal Rights for All Americans
Governor Bill Richardson has the strongest record of achievement of any Presidential candidate on civil rights issues and support for the LGBT community. He proudly stands for domestic partner rights and against discrimination of any kind. He believes all families deserve our respect no matter their race, creed or sexual orientation.

A Record of Accomplishment From Day One

In his very first legislative session after taking office in 2003 Governor Richardson fought for, passed and signed:

The first hate crimes law in New Mexico history.
Legislation extending civil rights protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
He issued an executive order to extend access to health insurance and benefits to the domestic partners of state employees.

Pushed for Domestic Partnerships in New Mexico

Earlier this year Governor Richardson called the New Mexico Legislature back into a special session to address this important issue. Unfortunately, it lost by one vote in the regular session. But Governor Richardson will bring this bill back in the 2008 session, and this time will get it passed. Additionally, with a coalition of advocates, he successfully warded off a DOMA in New Mexico – one of only a handful of states that does not have one.

A Track Record of Inclusion and Diversity

He has also appointed gay and lesbian individuals to important posts throughout his administration -- to Cabinet posts, Division Directors, and to powerful boards and commissions. He will do the same as President, leading an Administration that truly looks like America. In Fact, he has pledged that his Vice-President will be an integral member of the HIV/AIDS Commission.

An End to "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell"

And as President, he will continue to get things done. He will also end the military’s disastrous, disrespectful "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy. He voted against this as a Congressman and continues to oppose it today. It makes no sense to turn away and turn out well-qualified recruits, at a time when our country needs them most. There are currently an estimated 65,000 gay and lesbian soldiers serving in our military. They are no less patriotic and their lives and sacrifices are no less valuable because of their sexual orientation. Homosexuality is not immoral, asking someone to hide their identity and devaluing their sacrifice is.

A Commitment to Achieving Equal Rights Under the Law

Gay and lesbian families deserve respect, and as President, Bill Richardson will take a principled stand to fight for it. He strongly believes that we don’t need constitutional amendments designed to exclude supportive, devoted couples. We need to extend the rights due to all of us as Americans:

The right to visit a sick or dying partner in the hospital,
The right to make necessary legal and financial decisions when a partner can no longer do so,
The right to equal employment opportunity, and
The right to protection from violent prejudice.
A Pledge to Accomplish Full Equality for ALL Americans

As President, he will continue to fight for full and equal rights for all domestic partners, including gay and lesbian families.

Bill Richardson did all this in a "red state." With the right leadership, you can get these things done. He believes that by working together, we can accomplish the same on the national level. But before you cast your lot with any national candidate, you have to ask -- not just do they talk the talk -- but do they walk the walk? Can they get it done? As a Governor -- Bill Richardson gets things done.
----
If you follow the link, you'll find stuff like this:

Richardson works for gay votes
Bay Area Reporter | 06/28/2007

Democratic presidential contender Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico and a former U.S. ambassador and cabinet secretary, could be called the Rodney Dangerfield among the field of candidates vying for his party's nomination. No matter what he does, he can't seem to get much respect from the mainstream media following the race.
Take for instance coverage of last weekend's appearance at a gay Pride breakfast in San Francisco by Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, who is making his second attempt at the White House. Based on the coverage in the local daily press one would think she was the first person tied to a presidential campaign to make such an appearance.

Yet Richardson, and not his emissary, showed up at the Pride festival in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Saturday, June 2. Unlike Elizabeth Edwards, who went to an LGBT Democratic political club's private event where non-members had to pay $85 to get in, Richardson dropped by the Midwest city's public festival and met with attendees free of charge.
---
If GLBT issues are important to you tisha, I hope you look deeper than those two youtube clips to decide where Richardson stands.
Thanks for reading this far down!

[tishaLA]

48. One doesn't have to speak Spanish

to know the word "maricon"; unlike "joto," which means the same thing, "maricon" is well-known outside the Spanish speaking community--so much so that even Don Imus, hardly a poster child of multiculturalism, knows it.

I will also say that I don't see Gov Richardson's support for marriage equity; instead, he simply seems to support Domestic Partnership and some amorphous thing called "full and equal rights" for all domestic partners. But not, I'm guessing, marriage. What, even, of federal recognition of civil unions on things like tax returns?

To be fair, I don't think Gov Richardson is bad on LGBT issues; he is almost exactly where almost every other Democratic candidate is. I don't think calling LGBT people the Spanish equivalent of "faggot" one time makes him a homophobe. Nor do I think entertaining the idea that "homosexuality" is a matter of "choice" is a terrible thing, although one would think he'd have thought out a more comprehensive answer before he engaged in a debate about LGBT issues. But this weird carping about where candidates meet with whom almost forces one to look at the lapses of other candidates--and all other candidates have lapses--and form holistic judgments out of relatively worthless antidotes.

[hedgehog]

35. So which is better, to fight for civil unions and win, or to fight for

same sex "marriage" and go down in flames?

[Dawgs]

42. My position has always been, fight for civil unions to eventually get same sex marriage.

It sounds like Obama agrees.

[eyesroll]

44. It would be better to take "marriage" out of the scare quotes for one thing...n/t

[hedgehog]

47. I didn't mean to use the quotes as a scare marker, but to suggest that

perhaps it is time to get government out of the marriage business. Let government handle civil unions for EVERYONE, let the religious institutions handle marriage.