Time Is Running Out and Five Suggestions For Change
By David Mixner
Copyright By David Mixner
Jul 7 2010
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Even for the watered-down and questionably useful compromise on DADT, time is running out. Congress will come back in session and be on a fast track to recess as soon as possible in this volatile election year. With analysts like Charlie Cook predicting that the House of Representatives might go Republican, Democrats will be even more leery of taking on anything that smacks of risks. Once they adjourn for recess, my guess is that they will meet only briefly after Labor Day.
This much we know: ENDA is dead for this year and if you believe Congressman Jackie Spiers, it is dead for at least five years. The repeal of DOMA has seen almost no action. We were taken out of the healthcare legislation. Most likely we will be taken out of the Immigration Reform legislation in the name of 'a greater good.' DADT is increasingly looking grim with passage of even the compromise in question. The list of bad news can go on and on.
The only question that needs to be answered "Is this acceptable to us two years into the Obama term?" And if not, how do we change tactics or escalate our actions in order to not leave our freedom in the hands of those who have chosen not to battle for them? Here are some ideas to consider:
1. STOP ENABLING: Anyone who has been even near a recovery program knows that the worst action a friend can take to someone who can't seem to 'get it together' is to enable them by explaining away their actions. Tough love is required from the LGBT community toward the Democratic party. No more 'understanding' why they have put us on the back burner yet one more time. No more explaining by our national organizations why with 58 Democratic Senators, a Democratic House and a liberal Democratic President we have failed after all this time to move on the 'Big Three.' No more taking a tough line rhetorically and then telling them all is forgiven by giving them money, resources and praise. We have to stop giving them permission to hurt and disappoint us time and time again.
2. DEMAND STOP LOSS: The President has the power today to issue a 'stop-loss' order until a military report is issued and the process to officially end DADT is begun. After all, they all say it is a given that it is over so lets not destroy anyone else's lives or dreams because the political timing is not right.
3. JUSTICE AT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT: The Department of Justice has been a hostile place for the LGBT agenda. They have spent more time fighting our rights in court than defending them. While looking for ways to intervene in Arizona, they have not even attempted to be part of the Proposition 8 case. Surely, Attorney General Eric Holder can find ways to help with the vast organization he has at his disposal. His refusing to take a stand in Maine the week before the vote was unforgivable.
4. MAKE WAY FOR NEW WAYS: Clearly the 'pretty please lobbying' we have be doing is simply not working. Never will we have better margins in Congress than we have had the last two years and we are ending up with almost nothing. We need to embrace new groups, new ways, and new ideas. Failing institutions should be held accountable and those who are pushing for full equality should be celebrated and supported. Organizations like Get Equal and the new exciting Friend Factor offer alternative tactics to support our traditional ways of organizing and demanding full equality.
5. PRACTICE POLITICAL TOUGH LOVE: Every two years they throw the 'we are better than the other guys' and imply that if we don't support people in the Democratic party who haven't supported us then we will be the ones responsible for any conservative victory. Bull! It is their lack of courage, inability to lead and tepid inspiration that have created their own political fate. We must no longer support anyone who is not for full equality and that includes marriage equality. No longer support political committees that give money to those who vote against us. We must seek out those candidates who do support full equality (and there are a huge number these days) and give them our support. We also must be willing to support primaries in the future against those within the Democratic party who don't support us.
Freedom to Marry: Politico's Create Video's For Marriage Equality
By David Mixner
Copyright By David Mixner
Jul 9 2010
http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/07/freedom-to-marry-politicos-do-videos-for-marriage-equality.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29
Evan wolfson When young people ask me who influenced me the most to be so militant about marriage equality, I always quickly respond with the name Evan Wolfson. More than any other person in America, he was the pioneering voice on the importance of marriage equality. His organization "Freedom to Marry" has done the heavy lifting in many states toward victory. They have done the hard research, the education and been spectacular at communitions.
Now they have begun a top-notch project of creating videos of leading politicos from around America endorsing marriage equality and telling us why. The videos are an invaluable resource to use with other electeds who are sitting on the fence. One again, Freedom to Marry has given us an excellent tool to organize for marriage equality. Two of them are below but check out their youtube page to see the others.
The President, The Appeal And The 2010 Elections
By David Mixner
Copyright By David Mixner
Jul 12, 2010
http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/07/the-president-the-appeal-and-the-2010-elections.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29
After checking with several of my enlightened legal scholar friends, I can state very clearly that President Obama's Justice Department is not required to appeal the Massachusetts court decision last week regarding the ruled unconstitutionality of DOMA. There have been instances in the past where they have not appealed. Politico.com in an article cites a case in Washington, DC:
Some lawyers in the gay rights movement scoff at that. They note that from time to time, Justice has refused to stand behind laws under challenge as unconstitutional. For instance, in 2005, the Justice Department declined to defend a law barring the D.C. Metro transit system from accepting ads that promote legalizing marijuana.
The administration can just get rid of DOMA in one single decision by not appealing. No act of legislation is needed, the President can blame the courts if he wants to and we are one step closer to freedom. This is a brilliant no-brainer! Yet, so far, we haven't even received from the White House an acknowledgement that it was an important victory for LGBT freedom and the President hopes that the courts will continue to uphold our struggle. Nothing but silence from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
If the silence was just about one situation it would be more palatable but instead it is about everything concerning LGBT rights. No statement on the Log Cabin Republican suit concerning DADT. They refused to support or make a statement about the Proposition 8 case in California while at the same time they clearly rightfully got involved in Arizona with the immigration case to the point of suing the state. They sidestepped the Maine vote. When some key bloggers met with White House staff the reaction to the question on DADT is they are waiting for Congress. Anyone in the White House hear about leading Congress?
Most outrageously, this last week a disgusting, vile and inflammatory questionnaire was sent out to over 400,000 service members. This piece of anti-LGBT trash was an insult to this community of the highest level. Can you imagine if a questionnaire was sent out to all Christian soldiers asking them detailed questions about the Jewish faith and if they were comfortable serving with people who had not accepted Jesus into their lives? Allowing, in essence, a vote by born again's on Jewish people and if they should be allowed to serve. After all it be too upsetting for people of the Christian faith, Nothing cries out more for condemnation than this questionnaire and as usual there is nothing but total silence from this administration. Such a questionnaire would have never happened and didn't happen with President Truman!
Now over and over again I get emails saying my columns are a destructive force for urging people to boycott the Democrats this election. That because of my views, I would essentially be letting Neanderthal Republicans overtake both houses of Congress. First and foremost, it is not the LGBT community that has caused the problems for the Democrats in this election; it is their lack of strength, bold leadership and vision. If we lose in November it will because of their policies and not my desire to be a full American citizen. Don't you dare attempt to put their losses on my shoulders simply because I want to be a free man.
Second, we are not boycotting the Democrats. Our strategy is to be responsible and informed citizens in this election and support those that support us. We will endorse, contribute and work for the numerous candidates in the Democratic, Independent, Green and, yes, Republican parties who support full equality. And truthfully, the list of people that I can support is far greater than the amount of money I can contribute this election. However, we will no longer blindly support those committees, entities or candidates who are not engaged in our struggle for freedom. Really, this is not a hard concept to grasp.
We will be good citizens. We will vote. We will contribute. We will volunteer. But we will not pull the lever for any candidates who want us to wait interminably for our freedom while they remain stone silent for political safety sake. The Democratic party no longer has the power to blackmail us into supporting anti-LGBT candidates by blaming us for any possible defeat.
President Obama - don't repeal the Massachusetts decision; it is that simple. Speak out against the vile DADT questionnaire. Stop the outrageous briefs coming out of the Justice Department. Provide leadership for the repeal of DADT. Stand up for freedom - not just by your rousing words and stellar speeches - but by your actions.
Freedom wins over any political party.
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