Daily Archives: 12/22/2010

(Community Matters) Higher than 300 considered excellent; over 400 nearly unachievable. President Obama just scored a 714 in the lame duck

Hits: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell; START; Unemployment benefits/stimulus measures; Food Security; 9/11 First Responders. Misses: expiring wealthy tax cuts; DREAM Act

(Community Matters) from my friend Dio to Steven

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) from an Advocate interview of President Obama

On the question of marriage equality, the president said his “attitudes are evolving.”

“Like a lot of people, I’m wrestling with this,” he said. “I’ve wrestled with the fact that marriage traditionally has had a different connotation. But I also have a lot of very close friends who are married gay or lesbian couples.”

The president also signaled that he and his lawyers are reviewing “a range of options” when it comes to the administration’s responsibility to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in the courts, especially since repealing it over the next two years will be a nonstarter with a Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

“I have a whole bunch of really smart lawyers who are looking at a whole range of options. My preference wherever possible is to get things done legislatively,” Obama said, drawing a comparison with repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

“That may not be possible in DOMA’s case,” he added. “That’s something that I think we have to strategize on over the next several months.”

(Community Matters) This morning’s signing of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal was much more emotional than I even expected. Such a large crowd for the signing that they moved it to the Interior Department auditorium rather than the White House’s East Room. As Jamie Citron (DNC LGBT Director) said, it was like an LGBT Oscars – lots of LGBT celebrities – folks who fought long & hard on the hill and in the trenches for this. Hard to express my appreciation to President Obama for making this happen – it ushers in a new era of LGBT equality throughout the country. And, as four-star General & Afghan Commander Petreaus said, any service members who can’t conform to the law, who can’t serve alongside gays & lesbians without prejudice will have to leave the armed forces – though, fortunately, the armed forces survey found that this should be very few. Listen to the President’s remarks here

White House, DNC, HRC, SDLN, GetEqual, MoveOn.org, former & current service members and many others represented in full force. Many who deserve credit aren’t even with us to share in the celebration. I enjoyed reminiscing about Tom Henderson & Scott Hitt with Jerry Cade as we waited in the security line. I sat with Kathy Nelson and spoke with Joe Solmonese and Marty Rouse. Also visited with my good friend Paul Boskind who is on the SDLN board and soon to be on the HRC board. Having a late lunch with MoveOn.org’s Ilyse Hogue – there will definitely be champagne.

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