Fallen Idol: Why I won't automatically vote Obama in 2012

[FreeState]

Yeah to the group! Now lets get the activism started! Here is what was just posted on Bilerico:

http://www.bilerico.com/2009/07/fallen_idol_why_i_wont_automatically_vote_obama_in.php

I love Barak Obama. When I saw that 2004 DNC keynote, I didn't see a local politician but a President. I sat there leaning forward on my ripped vinyl college-apartment couch--eyes wide in amazement like Coco Peru--I knew he'd be a Kennedy. I fell for him immediately, my Congressional Crush! I worked hard to get him elected in 2008 and with hundreds of other overjoyed youth, rioted in the streets of Champaign, IL on election night! Even my Republican father wept with joy the night that Obama won. It was the culmination of all my hopes.

But I'm not going to vote for him in 2012.

That is unless he keeps his promises. Upon his election, Obama put forth an 8 point LGBT Civil Rights agenda which included the following:

LGBT-inclusive Hate Crimes Statute
Employment Non-Descrimination Act
Civil Unions
DOMA Repeal
End DADT
Expansion of Adoption Rights
Promote AIDS Prevention
Microbicides Development Act


To this day--7 months in--the agenda is stalled. Apparently, they left it stuck on the fridge in Chicago. We've gotten 'relocation benefits' for Federal employees, and maybe a lift of the HIV travel ban. However, there was that horrible DOJ DOMA brief. Maybe, like law expert blogger Chris Geidner says, the White House is obligated to file the brief in favor, but that language was unforgivable. Though he didn't write it--nor even read it--at one time, someone else who sat in that chair at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. set out a plaque on his desk saying "The Buck Stops Here." Every American should still reasonably expect that.

snip....

We can help President Obama with ENDA, DOMA-repeal and Hate Crimes by contacting our elected officials at house.gov and senate.gov. Hound them until you know what they're voting, and make sure they vote right!

Mr. President, I urge you to keep your promises, and to make real the American Dream for millions of Americans and their loved ones who want to believe in you!

I agree with this - in-fact I have committed to calling and writing a letter (not email) to my House members and Senators once a week until they act.

[Ohio Joe]

1. I usually send email but I like your idea better

I will also commit to sending a letter a week to all of my house and senate members. If anyone else wants to but needs addresses, you can look here:

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

[mitchtv]

2. I just got my monthly appeal from Tim Kaine

I got this from DU and PHB

Heres a good letter in the comments to send:

Dear DCCC

I truly "support" Democrats being elected in 2010 and 2012. I am a "fierce advocate" of the Democratic Party after all. I know that I have promised you my support over the past few decades and have done my best to follow through.

Even now I am "working towards" a financial donation to the Party. I do have to ask for your "patience" though, because as a gay man, my family and I are still second class citizens and are having to funnel our resources towards causes that protect and honor our basic civil rights. "We have a lot on our plate."

We are "proceeding" towards lifting the denial of funds to the DCCC and are "developing a strategy" that will get us there by the end of Obama's time at the White House. As a matter of fact, my family has planned several "meetings" to discuss these very important donations and will be sending out a press release shortly to announce our "cocktail party" celebrating Democracy.

Thanks for understanding. And hang in there!

Sincerely,

XXX

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x141899



*changed the DCC to DNC

[HillWilliam]

5. Priceless. I'm so lifting and using the hell out of that letter.

I will support my Rep (Brad Miller) because he has supported us; I'll give directly again. The rest of them? Not so much. I've emptied my pockets and piggy banks for Democratic candidates for over 30 years, pounded the streets, knocked on doors, sent letters... the works. The whole time, when it came to MY rights and MY recognition, it was always "next session" and "if we take this up now, we'll lose the next race" and "it's too soon". The whole sad litany.

The remainder of my hair that didn't turn loose has turned grey in the meantime. They can kiss my arse. I've invested in them for decades. Now they can at least recognize and work for me.

Indeed, my next move is "under consideration", "in conference", and "will be made with utmost deliberation".

[ccharles000]

3. I will vote for him

he is way better than any repug

[WillParkinson]

4. If he is the nominee I will vote for him, but...

I will not work for him or endorse him. If he cannot follow through on any of his promises I will look at other options.

He may eventually end up getting my vote, but he will not automatically get my support.

[FreeState]

6. While hes better than any republican we need to pressure him to do what is right

traditionally in the US that includes placing alternatives on the ballot in the primary. Unless Obama becomes very unpopular in the next two years that will not work as a method to get him moving on his promises. As democrats were stuck because we cant allow the other side to take power - however I think its vital that we put pressure on Obama to make sure he moves on the issues he promised.

What do you think would be the best possible way in making sure that Obama acts on his promises listed in the article?

[Dawgs]

7. Has Obama done anything to suggest he's not following through on these promises?

And, why is it suggested that the agenda is stalled? I thought he was working with Congress and others to tackle these issues.

Am I wrong?

[LeftyMom]

11. The not following through part kind of gave it away to me.

There are Dem majorities in both houses of Congress and the polling is in favor on most issues of equal rights except marriage. If he wanted a bill repealing DADT, for example, he could have had one on his desk within days of asking.

[tbyg52]

12. Well, he didn't do what he easily could have done, all by himself,

regarding DADT.

[ThomCat]

13. In addition to what the others have said

I'll add that the agenda is stalled because Obama's staff keep saying that there is no timetable for anything. Nothing is in the works for the short term. Nothing is started for the long term. Nothing is planned yet or even in serious discussion for work by the end his term in office. It's all just "well, we'd like this to happen, but we'll see."

That's not the same as doing anything, or making anything happen. That's stalling and hoping people won't notice. All we are seeing is that moving us closer to equal rights is not on Obama's real agenda of things he actually doing, and he's not putting it on that agenda.

[readmoreoften]

8. I won't vote for him even if he does throw us a bone in 2011. Which he probably won't.

There are about 50 reasons other than LGBT issues that I won't vote for him: mountain-top removal, charter schools, office of faith-based initiatives, NAFTA reversal, Afghanistan surge, Pakistan bombings, threatening junior congresspersons (with Clinton) to fund the Afpak wars, putting his college buddies in office, Monsanto Vilsack, Larry Summers' appointment, Goldman Sachs lobbyists in the WH, the bailout, cowardice on health care--refusal to push public option, the whole "Obama Administration/Washington Post" lobbyists pay-for-access journalism schtick, the expansion of Bagram, allowing Bagram to stay open while pretending he's ending torture, support of Graham-Lieberman and the suppression of Abu Ghraib images, support of Lieberman in general, his use of paramilitary groups in Israel, his continued use of JSOC (Cheney's assassination team), the appointment of JSOC's McChrystal, protection of Bush/Cheney from war crimes, failure to repeal Glass-Steagall Act, expansion of bases/embassies in Peshawar Pakistan and Islamabad, ties to CFR... am I at 50 yet?

No. I'm not: support of Uribe, the whole "Obama doesn't support the use of contractors" thing being complete bullshit, appointing friends of war crime thug Agim Ceku, support for Mubarak, the FDA "pus-man"... failure of leadership in Iraq Well I can stop there.

I voted for him in 2008 solely because I wanted to see the first African-American president in office. I think that's important. I also thought it was important to see if he'd stand by even some of his rhetoric. I'm shocked at how unapologetically awful he's been. I will in no way support this loopy cavalcade of depravity because some guy has a "d" in front of his name.

Other than a few green jobs initiatives (undermined by the removal of 500 mountains) and a redesigned website, it's like having a good-looking Republican for president who happens to have Che Guevara as a speech writer and Access Hollywood as his marketing team.

[mitchtv]

9. You forgot Ken Salazar

and the wolves

[cboy4]

10. Save me a seat in the back!

[ThomCat]

14. Wow!

:applause:

That says it better than any other post I've seen so far. :)

[tekisui]

15. When you put it that way.

:wow: I had a list running through my head, but haven't seen it all out on the page. A lot of disappointments and frustrations.