I'm so glad our Fierce Advocate took the time to fiercely advocate for us.

[FLAprogressive]

Without his advocacy, equal marriage in Maine would have never been possible.

Oh wait.

[Ms. Toad]

1. Although I agree that his fierce advocy is not so much

I wouldn't expect him to have been involved in state referenda.

[FLAprogressive]

2. if he wants to stay out of state affairs he can stay out of governor races as well

[Ms. Toad]

4. Slight difference - in that governor races have party affiliations.

He is, after all, dependent on party support to be where he is.

[FLAprogressive]

5. well maybe he needs to take a moral stand --- if he has the guts to do so.

[QC]

7. If he takes a stand on anything, he might offend a wingnut somewhere.

Can't risk that!

[Ms. Toad]

8. It would be nice, but I don't expect it.

What I DO expect is that he carry through on his campaign promises of ending DADT and repealing DOMA, and that he not showcase anti gay rights advocates at his inaugural event. Guess it's too late for that last one.

Make no mistake, I think his follow-through on gay rights is dismal, and I knew up front he wasn't emotionally where I wanted him to be - but at least formally he was no worse than any other democratic candidate in the primaries. I am disappointed that he has not lived up to his formal promises (and is acting a lot closer to where I knew his gut was). He responds when cornered, but not before. I find that deeply disappointing - and at times like a kick in my own gut. Sometimes, people can separate their private emotions from their public positions. On this issue he can't.

It is just that I never expected him to be involved in the Maine referendum.

[FLAprogressive]

9. Well I'm glad you still have hope for a DOMA/DADT repeal. I don't, I have to be quite honest.

There will be excuse making all around -- after all, they need us in 2012.

[Ms. Toad]

11. I don't know that I have hope - but I do expect

him to carry through on those specific promises, and I will be deeply disappointed if he doesn't. He made the promises, they were not general aspirational promises, and I expect him to carry through on those very specific promises. It is getting to the point, however, where I also expect to be disappointed.

[TokenQueer]

13. They need us in 2012 but will not get us....

...no gay votes, no gay dollars.

[imdjh]

18. And they'll say, "Who you gonna vote for? Republicans?" No, but I will abandon Obama.

Turn about is fair play.

[theHandpuppet]

10. He didn't need to be directly involved to send a message

That message of leadership could have taken the form of repealing DADT or DOMA.

[jonnyblitz]

12. pfffffft. he already did his photo op with Judy Shepard and

Betty Byrd. what MORE do you want, PONIES? :sarcasm:

[imdjh]

17. Gay rights have party affiliations, anti-gay is in the GOP platform.

[Ms. Toad]

19. Sad to break it to you, but there is no pro-marriage

platform in the democratic platform. Obama would be outside the democratic party platform to endorse retaining marriage - he's not in endorsing or working on behalf of democratic candidates.

(Not saying he shouldn't - or that I wouldn't have been pleased had he chosen to do so. His lack of support in Maine is just not one of the many disappointments I have in him with respect to this issue.)

[donco6]

3. But he did go to Europe to plug the 'lympics!

Whatdya want?

[sui generis]

6. baby steps. Yeah right.

That baby is sprinting a four minute mile, backwards.

Here's a fact: if you are against gay marriage and for civil unions, then you might have voted against us in Maine. How is that a baby step?

Marriage is NOT about love. It's about property, assets and shared fiscal responsibility. It allows you to define your family unit for purposes of medical care, insurance, and inheritance.

So you enlightened people of Maine who aren't "against the gays" but just trying to preserve marriage: fuck you for telling same gender couples in Maine that their parents or siblings have a greater right to challenge medical decisions, financial disposition, and beneficiary assignments in Maine than that person's life partner.

You're fucking sick in the head and don't deserve the privilege of being American.

And Obama. Fuck. You. You don't really believe in us, but unlike Tinkerbell, we're still here, and we're not going to fade away.

[stray cat]

14. Why haven't your advocates through the years done it nationwide yet -

[WillParkinson]

15. Which advocates would those be?

Just curious.

[detfrost1]

16. Enough of this.

Exactly.
However, I'm afraid the time has come to fight hate with more hate.