Robinson: When Will Obama Stand Tall for Gays?

[snowdays]

I stand with Robertson. No more excuses--its past time to spend that political capital on this "matter of fundamental human and civil rights".




http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/07/AR2009050703055.html

MIA On Gay Marriage
<**front page headline: Robinson: When Will Obama Stand Tall for Gays? >

By Eugene Robinson
Friday, May 8, 2009

.............Obama sensibly advocates the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." He should press the case by publicly reminding opponents of letting gays serve openly in the military that their arguments -- it would hurt morale, damage cohesion and readiness, discourage reenlistment -- are often the same, almost word for word, as the arguments made 60 years ago against racial integration in the armed forces. It was bigotry then, and it's bigotry now.

Obama should also make the obvious case that forcibly discharging capable, fully trained servicemen and servicewomen for being gay, at a time when our overstretched military is fighting two big wars, can only be described as insane.

What the president shouldn't do is stay away from the marriage debate on the grounds that it's not a matter for the federal government. For one thing, he's on record as favoring repeal of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act -- a law that blocked federal recognition of same-sex marriages and relieved states of any obligation to recognize out-of-state gay marriages.

Does Obama's stance in favor of repeal mean that he believes the federal government should recognize same-sex marriages? Does he also believe that, say, the state of Alabama should recognize a gay marriage performed in Iowa? If so, what is the practical difference between this position and just saying in plain language that gay marriages ought to be legal and recognized in all 50 states?

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/07/AR2009050703055.html

[SemiCharmedQuark]

1. I *adore* Eugene Robinson.

K&R

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

8. I do, too! He's a thoughtful genius!! n/t

[jgraz]

10. The guy is a fucking national treasure

I rarely go all fan-boy for journalists, but Gene is amazing.

[TTUBatfan2008]

2. Agreed...

time to make a stand.

[ej510]

3. This needs to happen even though it is already happening.

In the next ten years or earlier gay marriage will no longer be an issue with the majority of Americans.

[TTUBatfan2008]

6. I think it's around 60% of 18-35 year olds are in favor of it...

And that number will only go up as younger generations get older. Once the 5-8 year olds of today reach 18 and some of the 35 year olds of today move on out of that demographic, then suddenly you've got the people in their 20's like me who are in their 30's and supporting it. It's simply evolution at work. But we need the politicians to stand up and reflect the evolution of society.

[snowdays]

4. past time. He needs to lead on this.

[Ocracoker16]

5. Obama should move beyond rhetoric and take action on marriage equality

This is what Eugene Robinson's article is about. Robinson provides examples of statements Obama has made about gay equality. Robinson feels that Obama has shyed away from his rhetoric. Robinson argues that Obama seems unwilling to take action to ensure equality in America. Instead, he hides behind this idea that states should be the judges of whether same-sex marriage is legally recognized. He has not put much energy into repealing the don't ask, don't tell policy of our military. Robinson gives a few examples of policy issues that he thinks are complex and could be interpreted in many different ways. However, he feels that over time gay equality has evolved from having many gray areas to being more black and white. He thinks that since the tide has changed so much in this country Obama has no excuse to not take direct action regarding these issues.

[ruggerson]

7. When your own staunch supporter in the press like Gene Robinson

gives you a wakeup call...

[snowdays]

9. I wonder if the alarm clock was loud enough??

[jenmito]

11. "Error: you can only recommend threads which were started in the past 24 hours"

He REALLY should just sign an executive order overturning DADT. Israel has gay people serving openly as does England. Why can't WE? He should also praise the states that allow gay marriage instead of having no comment or restating his position.