Obama to extend benefits to gay federal workers

[defendandprotect]

Obama to extend benefits to gay federal workers


By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer Philip Elliott, Associated Press Writer – 3 mins ago
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama plans to extend health care and other benefits to the gay and lesbian partners of federal employees. White House officials say Obama plans to announce decision on Wednesday in the Oval Office. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the president had not yet made the announcement.

The move would give partners of federal employees access to health care and financial benefits such as relocation fees for moves. Officials say Obama would detail more details of t
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090617/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_gay_benefits

[WeDidIt]

1. It's a baby step in the right direction

The question now is, will he follow up with some real movements towards equal rights for GLBT people?

[defendandprotect]

14. I think this is a sign you scared him re $$$$$....but not enough--!!! A hint to all of us--!!!!

[FLAprogressive]

2. well that's just peachy. Is he still defending DOMA?

this is probably just to get those "homos" off his back and get them to vote for him again.

[Name removed]

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[FLAprogressive]

5. No, it's not the type of progress I envisioned. I didn't expect Obama's DOJ to DEFEND DADT and DOMA.

Big deal he's throwing a small bone to gays....to get us to shut up.

[Name removed]

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[FLAprogressive]

11. "as soon as possible" -- he could've chosen not to defend it.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

39. the DoJ is required to defend DOMA since its a law

and the target for the lawsuit was the government, so unless you want the DoJ to NOT do their duty then they have to defend it.

Also aside from Obama choosing some of those working there they are supposed to be autonomous from the WH aside from providing legal advice from time to time, sending briefs to the WH for approval is not one of the things they do nor should do(except in very special circumstances).

Obama himself has no real business telling the DoJ what to do or not do(its what bush did a lot and most on DU kept attacking him for since we didn't want him to politicize the DoJ), so unless you are of the view that its okay for Obama to interfere with and politicize DoJ cases then expect some cases like this to happen.(one of the reasons you did elect him was that we wanted things to return to how they should be correct? following the laws and rules of government)

While i might strongly dislike their line of defense(and I'm quite sure most of those defending this law dislikes it as well) i fully support them doing their job to the best of their ability since that quite honestly is their job(consider what might happen if lawyers started to be a lot more lazy and incomplete in doing the cases they were assigned because they decided they didn't like the case or possible just the person they defend)

[Forkboy]

6. You sound like you can't understand why gay people might feel that way.

Oh God....maybe Obama will prove to a good President for the Gay community after all: NIGHTMARE!!! What will you have to complain about then?!

And maybe he won't: NIGHTMARE!!! What group without equal rights will you continue to mock then?!

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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[Forkboy]

12. For someone who just arrived you seem to think you know many things about people here.

Let me guess, you've been lurking for ages....

Tell us more about us, sgolder.

[Deja Q]

13. Man, I wish everybody was this vitriolic when Wellstone was in office...

[Obamanaut]

3. Inasmuch as military members are federal employees, does this

change anything for them?

[katandmoon]

16. My guess is no. If you can't come out as being gay while in the military without being discharged

then you can't apply for benefits for your gay partner without being discharged, because that would identify you as gay.

[Obamanaut]

29. You're right of course. Somewhere in the back of my mind I was

hoping that this could be the start of something like "this is the way it is for ALL federal employess" rather than cherry picking just a few.

I guess it is then, as another post said, small steps.

[Forkboy]

7. A small, but good step.

:kick:

[stray cat]

8. All or nothing viewers will still see it as throwing them under the bus

but he is the first president to do it.

[liquid diamond]

15. He'll never do enough for some posters.

[Toasterlad]

18. And As Long As He Doesn't Take Away Any of YOUR Rights, You'll Still Kiss His Ass

How's about for every right WE get, you LOSE one? I wonder if you'd be such a smug asshole then?

[liquid diamond]

19. It must suck to be so full of anger and unable to appreciate one

small step forward for gay rights. Curse and scream away you sad little person.

[Toasterlad]

20. Must Be Nice Not to Have Anything to Be Angry About.

But I guess you can't really put yourself in my place, because you're too much of privileged asshole.

[donheld]

25. How dare you

Don't tell us to go away. Even Dr Dean said what they did was way out of line.

[QC]

26. One of my socks is missing. I wonder where it might be. n/t

[cali]

32. oh screw that. I'm not gay and I see this as a tossed bone

yeah, it's a positive, but it hardly erases the ugly DOMA brief.

[liquid diamond]

34. At least you are showing some gratitude. Thanks.

[donheld]

24. Did he equate your marriage to incest?

[Mari333]

17. he still has a longgg way to go

a long way. a very long way.

[David Zephyr]

21. Hillary Clinton Did This for All State Dept. Employees BEFORE Obama did.

Hillary has more courage than Obama (My Fierce Advocate) does on GLBT issues.

I'm not impressed.

If this is how he responds to what his Justice Department has done to the Supreme Court, what he has done in allowing the dismissal of GLBT soldiers from the Armed Forces when he could put a hold on that horrible crime, his coddling homophobic bigots and giving them places of honor...then this is very little.

Not impressed. One bit.

[liquid diamond]

22. If Obama pulled a magic wand out of his ass and vanquished

DADT and DOMA tomorrow, you'd find some other reason to complain. Social change doesn't work that quickly by the way.

[David Zephyr]

23. Excuses.

Blah, blah, blah.

[Toasterlad]

33. Ah, Again With the Magic Wand Argument. You Obamabots Just Keep Using the Same Material, Don't You?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5808563

[kevinbgoode]

36. Well, it sure didn't take very long to establish GOP social change

by PASSING DOMA, did it?

This government can work awfully quickly when it comes to finding new ways to persecute a group of American citizens.

[magellan]

27. I smiled a little when KO announced this tonite, thinking of the freep heads exploding

...at that moment.

I take this as a positive gesture from Obama -- while trying not to let the word "appeasement" creep into my head.

My expectations are low at the moment. Hoping for strong follow-through.

[JustinL]

28. Good for him. This is a step in the right direction.

Hopefully he'll also use the opportunity to denounce the DOMA brief or, even better, use his stop-loss authority to halt discharges under DADT.

[FreeState]

30. What % of the gay population work for the federal government?

This is a slap in the face to those of us who are demanding equality for all. Yes it's a very very small step in the right direction but it's one that should have taken place January 21st . It's not enough and it's too late.

[JustinL]

31. yes, it is almost 5 months overdue

The more I think about it, the more I wonder how long it would have taken him to do this were it not for the recent uproar over the DOMA brief and the threatened loss of precious fundraising dollars.

[Horse with no Name]

35. Your statement is incorrect

Your article stated "
The move would give partners of federal employees access to health care and financial benefits "

when the same link says
"But health care benefits — the ultimate goal for many gay activists — remained forbidden by Congress."

[earth mom]

37. This is nothing but crumbs.

Let them eat cake. :thumbsdown:

[LAGC]

38. As Rachel Maddow said...

"The seats in second-class just got a few bigger and a little more comfy."