Andrew Sullivan: There have been many times over the past two years when I have whacked the Obama administration on their “fierce urgency of whenever” on gay equality … Here’s what they have done, and it ain’t nothing.
They have removed the ban on openly gay service members … Yes, Obama took his own sweet time …. What matters is: he got it done.
They ended the HIV travel ban …. it was repealed under Bush who admirably signed it into law. But Obama implemented it … Yes, it was a long, long time coming. But what matters is: he got it done.
They withdrew legal support for DOMA … this was in the presidential bound of authority. And Obama did the right thing in the end.
Some now want this president to be Andrew Cuomo … But the truth is that a governor is integral to this issue in a way a president can never be. Civil marriage has always been a state matter in the US. … by defending that norm, the Obama administration has a much stronger and more coherent case in knocking down DOMA than if it had echoed Clinton in declaring that the feds could dictate a national marriage strategy … Obama’s defense of federalism in this instance is not a regressive throw-back; it is a pragmatic strategy.
…Obama does not think of the presidency the way he thinks of a campaign. He knows he is president of all the people, including those who voted against him and those who conscientiously oppose marriage equality. He does not seek to divide as his predecessor did. By staying ever so slightly above on this issue, Obama is doing the right presidential thing – while presiding over what may well be the most seismic period for gay equality in history. I do not despise his restraint in his office. I wish more presidents exhibited it….
Full article here
Plenty of snark in the article – as usual from Sullivan – but he at least gives credit where it’s due. I’m guessing Choi and Co will now disown him. 😉
Thank you Loriah
The Obama Diary 
Sullivan will be called an “Obot” and they’ll rage at him.Oh the newest thing is Obama’s your “boyfriend” 🙄
Seriously, PBO should be nicknamed President Kick Ass. He nailed every single member of congress: dem or repug. ” Be here! One week you’re here, the next week you’re off. Be here. I’m here, dealing with the Greek crisis, Bin Laden.. be here.” Frickin awesome. Plus he started off by taking aim at congress: “these are the things my administration are doing to create jobs. These are the things congress could do but aren’t doing for jobs even though there is consensus between dems and repugs.” Libya is a just action, I met with every single member of congress about this, so whatever you’re hearing is a fuss, its just postering!!!!!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!! I love this fricking badass hottie!!!!!! Woooooooottttt!!!!!
ps- peace, I’m being forced to the gym 😦
see ya later Lisa 😉
i loved when he smacked down on how he should lead the talks. he recited all the meeting he held with the leaders and they still can’t lead.
I was so excited about this presser. He called them all out. PBO spoke the truth. Dems and repugs are more interested in politics and holding their seats than doing what is right. I am a lefty, so of course, I care about liberal issues, but I am so glad that he spoke to the dems and repugs and how they are playing political games when they should be governing.
He’s the man. Best presser ever.
We need the “Chill the F*ck Out. I got this” photo right ’bout now, lol.
That’s MY President!
The picture with egg in the face of kuchinich
Man, did he slam congress, so much so ken strictland if msnbc sounds foolish and out of touch sticking up for boner and congress!
Lol. His inner Truman! Awesome!
I have been around for awhile and I do not think I have ever seen the entire MSM, left, right, and center, go after the President to the degree that it is now being done. I do not understand the motivation, unless they believe it is way to gain ratings..
Let’s hope al sharpton gets a show on msnbc! He sticks up for the president always!
I think it’s because they probably make more money when Repugs are in office. It’s all about dollar bills for these people. From Hannity to Maddow to Blitzer to O’donnel. They’re all about lining their pockets, not informing the nation.
Bill, I totally agree with you, but Peter Jenning and The Chuckster seemed really happy with the way the president handled the presser.
Jovie, I had turn ole Ken off after a few statements. Another wind bag who thinks he is smarter than the president.
Yessssssssss, he dang sho slammed them, and make no mistake about It, It’s truth telling time now, and he did that. I love you President Obama, I simply love It 😀 😀
Civil marriage is a state affair, not federal. Have any of these people ever listened to the end of the wedding ceremony, when the officiant says “By the authority vested in me by (name of church if religious) AND the state of…….” That’s the way it works. The ceremony does not say the authority vested in me by the United States of America. People don’t LISTEN!!!
Breaking: 6th circuit rules affordable care act is constitutional:
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/06/29/257409/breaking-6th-circuit-upholds-constitutionality-of-affordable-care-act/
Shhh, don’t tell anyone!
Noted on one of the comments: “this court is made up of 19 Republican appointees versus 10 Democrat appointees.”
Jovie and Anonymous, this is great information to have.
to quote Sullivan : “…what close observers know about Obama is that he does not think of the presidency the way he thinks of a campaign. He knows he is president of all the people, including those who voted against him and those who conscientiously oppose marriage equality. He does not seek to divide as his predecessor did. By staying ever so slightly above on this issue, Obama is doing the right presidential thing – while presiding over what may well be the most seismic period for gay equality in history. I do not despise his restraint in his office. I wish more presidents exhibited it…. I try and emphasize this point over and over again whenever I write comments defending PBO.
to clarify, I, DTTM, emphasize this point, over and over to frustrati….Rachel should take note…
PBO has kicked the living daylights out of Congress’ ass folks. Excuse my language, but this press conference was a masterpiece. YOU GO PBO!!! 🙂
Fantabulous! 😀
Undefeated, and still the champ. Put the belt on him!
Don’t forget the swagger cape. LOL!
😆 😆 😆
a hour and 7min of upper clips.
I loved my kick ass president!!!! Am not watching the MSM so his words will stick
in my head, and not theirs. And it’s great 🙂
So Sullivan is speaking ‘truth’ today? These are the times when I pay attention and respect his presentation. I notice that he is also agreeing with the President that ‘we are the change we need’ – or, we need to do something for ourselves in that ‘grassrooty’ way instead of trying to dump perpetual blame on the president.
“One more thing. A civil rights movement does not get its legitimacy from any president. I repeat: he does not legitimize us; we legitimize him. As gays and lesbians, we should stop looking for saviors at the top and start looking for them within. We won this fight alongside our countless straight family members, friends, associates and fellow citizens. As long as Obama has done due diligence in the office he holds – and he has – he is not necessary to have as a Grand Marshall for our parade.” [A. Sullivan]
That last paragraph is golden.
It’s the absolute truth for those who will recognize it. The same goes for other groups. It is obvious that PBO wants change to happen from the ground up — that’s the only way we become invested, and the only way it lasts.
What he call them cause celebs Ha!
Sorry – don’t mean to spam, but I am reposting my rant from the Maddow thread here (sorry for the repeat if you read it just a few seconds ago…):
Warning: Princess Potty Mouth Alert (who, it turns out, is mostly just raising her voice today…..):
There is such a disconnect/confusion/insanity in this country regarding MARRIAGE, when it’s really very simple.
Legal marriage in the USA *IS* a CIVIL UNION. Meaning, it is a LEGAL CONTRACT between two people. You can have a “wedding” in a church, or as many weddings as you like in churches, however, there isn’t a church in the country that can LEGALLY MARRY ANYONE. Because religious weddings alone are ritualistic ceremonies for show only (and between you and whatever GOD(S) you worship.) However, the STATE GOVERNMENT (the only place where LEGAL marriages are recognized – which is WHY Obama has repeatedly said this is at the STATE LEVEL – because he knows the frakkin LAW and the US CONSTITUTION) does not recognize that aspect as being LEGAL in any way shape or form.
Go ahead: have a just a church wedding (if you can do it without them making you bring the license), then try to legally divorce someone and take whatever percentage of your partner’s estate that your state of residency states you can have. Oh, wait – you can’t – because YOU AREN’T LEGALLY MARRIED.
In order to make a marriage LEGAL, you must apply for a MARRIAGE LICENSE – usually at the County Clerk’s office – pay your STATE FEE, sign it in the presence of the clerk, get it stamped, then sign it again in the presence of someone who is LEGALLY APPOINTED BY THE STATE TO MARRY PEOPLE IN THAT STATE, who then also signs, and dates the document, THEN SEND IT IN TO YOUR STATE CAPITAL so they can file it and declare it LEGAL within a certain time frame (90 days in California), and issue you a STATE-ISSUED “CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE.” Then, and ONLY THEN, IS IT LEGAL.
WHICH MAKES MARRIAGE IN THE USA – STRICTLY A CIVIL UNION.
I mean, dictionaries are our FRIENDS:
CIVIL : of, relating to, or involving the general public, their activities, needs, or ways, or civic affairs as distinguished from special (as military or religious) affairs.
Now, if a state decides that they want to make people in a CIVIL UNION have different rights than people in MARRIAGES – then that is just absolutely beyond super-sized Neanderthal stupidity, unconstitutional, and can be fought, and proven that MARRIAGE IS A CIVIL FUCKING UNION (omg – that’s actually funny), and whomever decides they want to go down that road needs to be given a dictionary and removed from office.
But for the sake of all the gods everywhere, please STOP CONFUSING MARRIAGE WITH SOMETHING IT’S NOT. It IS a CIVIL UNION. Nothing MORE, and nothing LESS.
Obama is for CIVIL UNIONS, because THAT IS WHAT MARRIAGE IS IN THE USA. A LEGAL CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER PERSON.
If a church chooses to not marry any two people – SO FUCKING WHAT??? GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! Going down to your county clerk’s office and applying for a CIVIL marriage license, has ZERO to do with any CHURCH.
NEWS FLASH: NO ONE NEEDS A CHURCH TO GET MARRIED. How is this the best kept secret in America?
Yet, if you WANT to go have a church wedding, then knock yourself out. Want to belong to a “restricted” church who doesn’t allow gay-weddings? FINE. Go have fun in Bigotland™. No one is stopping you and your hatefest.
So maybe, just MAYBE, Rachel, Lt Dan, et al, need to get off the OBAMA HATE WAGON, and reframe the argument for the DictionaryPhobics, and English WORD definition challenged….
Princess Potty Mouth has spoken.
Thank you, Tally for posting this excellent rant again.