My Obama/Warren Rant. One Gay Man's Perspective.

Political Tiger

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Dec-19-08 03:14 PM
Original message

My Obama/Warren Rant. One Gay Man's Perspective.

Obama didn't run as the LGBT candidate, but as the people's candidate, which includes lesbians and gays, but also right-wing bigots like Warren. Obama reached out to both spectrum's of the political field, because he believes, as I do, that if you want to change hearts and minds, reaching out to them instead of making them the mortal enemy is the better route to go.

With George W Bush it was black and white - either you are for us or you are against us - and how'd that work out? Not very well from what I can see. Bush divided the country and the world. On civil issues, like gay rights, Bush may gays and lesbians the enemy, the wedge issue. In fact, Dumbya was able to enjoy being a two term president largely by making gays and lesbians the enemy to "families" and "traditional values." He scared people, ie: "the gays are coming! the gays are coming!" He scared people into thinking those "San Francisco values" people are gonna come and make your little children watch gay porn in first grade. It worked. The evangelical hatemongers came out in droves for him. And the did so not because they cared about the economy, or the war...but because they were scared to death of "the gays."

A great man once said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." George W Bush used fear to divide and conquer. I am glad Obama has taken a different path.

While I am not happy or approving of Rick Warren being invited to give a prayer at Obama's inauguration, I refuse to let it ruin my day or dash my hopes for the future. I refuse to give Rick Warren and people like him that much power over my life.

I am a gay man. I am a proud gay man, and I an a strong gay man. I also think I'm pretty smart and a fair judge of character. I can usually tell when someone is bullshitting me. Obama reached out to me and asked for my vote. I gave it to him because I believe in his sincerity, and I believe he is intent on carrying through on his promises. Sure, I could be wrong, but inviting Rick Warren to give some silly prayer is not enough to destroy the hope I have.

I have been largely slammed and ridiculed by those who feel that I should be as angry as they are, and that because they believe Obama has "betrayed" us, or "dismissed" us, I should lose all hope for the future. So be it.

I do not feel betrayed and I will NOT lose my hope for the future! This may make me an outcast in my own community but of that I have no control.

When Obama is sworn in as the next President of the United States of America I will celebrate, and I will be proud!

I am not a "cultist" nor do I believe Obama is the "Messiah," two things I have been accused of right here on this board, which I find ironic considering that is the exact charge Reich-wingers leveled at all Democrats during the election....and still do by the way.

Call me naive, or stupid, if you must, but I have the same hope that I had when Bill Clinton was first elected president in 1992. Bill Clinton reached out to the LGBT community way back then, and as president he did at least try to implement positive changes for the LGBT community. Unfortunately, he wasn't very successful but at least he tried. And I have always admired him for trying. Did I feel "betrayed" over DADT and DOMA, yes, especially DOMA, but that didn't lead me to turn my back on Clinton.

Gay marriage is very important to most gay Americans, myself included, but for me, it's not the only issue that matters.

Also important to me is that gays and lesbians should have the right to adopt children, that gays and lesbians should be free from job discrimination, that hate crimes based on sexual orientation should be included in federal hate crimes laws, that HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and research should be fully supported by the federal government and that quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS should be available to everyone who needs them.

I want the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover domestic partners and their children and for the Social Security System to pay survivor benefits to the same‐sex partners of gay and lesbian people.

I want the INS to treat the relationships between opposite and same-sex couples in the same manner and see the Uniting American Families Act, which would enable an American citizen to petition for immigration sponsorship for a same-sex partner, passed.

I want to see the repeal of the "Donʹt Ask, Donʹt Tell" policy, and the "Defense of Marriage Act."

All of these things Obama supports. And that is why I have faith in Obama and hope for the future.

Rick Warren is not the only, or even the number one enemy of the gay community. By concentrating all our energy on him we lose sight of the big picture. We become distracted.

And by fighting with each other and blaming each other we become divided. When that happens, the Rick Warrens of the world win.

Thank you for hearing me out.