I hope Jared Polis pulls out of the DNC fundraiser and such a move would be a significant symbolic gesture. Barney Frank is a turncoat and Tammy Baldwin's reaction to the DOMA briefing was similarly, and disappointingly so, lame (was she fearing the hairdryer treatment from ueber-bully Rahm Emmanuel?).

Tonight's signing amounts to little more than crumbs from Obama's plate. Proper damage limitation looks different: sack Tony West and Walter Simpson from the DOJ, make a public apology to the community, tell Congress that the Hates Crimes Bill better be passed by end of August or else, do not file further defenses of DOMA in the GLAAD case and other lawsuits and commit to a timescale for repealing DADT before the midterm elections in Nov 2010.

This is the very reason why a fair number of our LGBT brothers and sisters are already saying that they will not be voting for Obama in 2012 if he is to run again.  I have been one of his supporters who initially said to be patient.  We all knew of the mess he inherited.  I was one of the supporters who, although very offended by the choice, understood that President Obama was looking to "bring everyone to the table" when he invited Warren to deliver the invocation.  I am one of those supporters that gets and appreciates that President Obama is a pragmatist.  However, patience is not infinite, and my patience is now starting to run out.   

from Americablog:

" Is Obama giving federal agencies a right they already have? by John Aravosis (DC) on 6/17/2009 02:59:00 PM UPDATE: The answer is "yes." I just asked OPM Director John Berry, on a White House media conference call, whether in fact federal agencies already have the right to give these benefits to gay employees. The answer, "yes." So what's new about tonight? Obama is going to "tell" the agencies to give the benefits - as if any agency in the Obama administration would dare tell a gay employee no to a request for time off to attend their partner's funeral?
__________

We all now know that President Obama this evening will give some federal agencies the right to give some federal employees some benefits at some time in the future. The problem, as one reader writes, is that federal agencies already have that right, and in fact, are already providing the benefits. So what is President Obama actually giving us?Regarding your latest post of the WH Fact Sheet -- here are some important facts that your readers may care to know.

The para (below) regarding "new" benefits available to domestic partners -- these benefits have been available for YEARS !!!!

For civil service employees, domestic partners of federal employees can be added to the long-term care insurance program; supervisors can also be required to allow employees to use their sick leave to take care of domestic partners and non-biological, non-adopted children.

Nothing new here.

1) See the OPM website which permits long term care to be extended "Qualified Relatives" that includes: QUALIFIED RELATIVE- The term ‘qualified relative' means each of the following:
The spouse of an individual described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4).
A parent, stepparent, or parent-in-law of an individual described in paragraph (1) or (3).
A child (including an adopted child, a stepchild, or, to the extent the Office of Personnel Management by regulation provides, a foster child) of an individual described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4), if such child is at least 18 years of age.
An individual having such other relationship to an individual described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) as the Office may by regulation prescribe.2) During the Clinton administration -- guidance was requested about whether sick leave could be used to take care of same-sex partners and/children. The answer came back that a federal employee could use their sick leave to take care of, attend doctor appointments, or even attend funerals for anyone who had the "close approximation of family". This was a guidance memo -- not policy -- but it has been available since the mid 1990's. The reason I know this is that I have worked for a DOD Agency for 23 years and even DOD allowed me to take sick leave to care for my partner and my non-bio child.

What a bunch of nothing.

Lisa Polyak
Baltimore, MD"

Somebody put Robert Gibbs out of his misery..

"TAPPER: Does the president stand by the legal brief that the Justice Department filed last week that argued in favor the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act?

GIBBS: Well, as you know, that the Justice Department is charged with upholding the law of the land, even though the president believes that that law should be repealed.

TAPPER: I understand that, but a lot of legal experts say that the brief didn't have to be as comprehensive and make all the arguments that it made, such as comparing same-sex unions to incestuous ones, in one controversial paragraph...

GIBBS: Well...

TAPPER: ...that's upset a lot of the president's supporters. Does the president stand by the content, the arguments made in that brief?

GIBBS: Well, again, it's the president's Justice Department. And, again, we have the role of upholding the law of the land while the president has stated and will work with Congress to change that law."

What a pile of bunk!  I just watched his signing statement.  He said the memorandum only applied to the Executive Department and the State Department and that he was "asking" other agency heads to look at what other benefits they could apply.  This memo is a crock and Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin should be ashamed to have been present at the signing.  Thanks for nothing Mr. President.

It's hurtful and unjustified that the bill which would add hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientaton has stalled until August and that the federal benefits that President Obama has promised to sign until tommorrow will very possibly be little. In addition, it's definitely unjustified that the very important bill has been stalled, even when it came under the Travel Promotion Act. President Obama must promise an advancement for LGBT rights, not small moves.

This is why I voted Nator. You want a real fun thing to watch? Here is Bill Maher ripping on the Fundies and democrats.

http://www.365gay.com/living/rachelwatch-revolutionary-geeks/

Enjoy

At this point, the Hate Crimes bill won't be enough. The coward isn't doing ANYTHING new for the LGBT community. This memorandum can and WILL be overturned when he is ousted in 2012. The hole that he has dug for himself is so damned deep (with the LGBT community) I have the feeling there won't be any climbing out of it.

What has he done to urge Congress to repeal DADT - there is nearly 70% support for the repeal. If he isn't willing to use any political capital on this, what is he willing to use it on?

I saw a poll today showing that support for him has fallen 5% (now at 56%) in a WSJ/NBC poll. Granted I'm sure that not the entire 5% of that backward slide isn't all of the LGBT community, but it is very possible that the LGBT community could be a pretty good chunck within that 5%.

Lets face it, the man is screwing up, especially on this issue!

This comment under SF article says it all for me too:

"I suspect Obama's waiting for his second term to tackle this when he has nothing to lose. The gay community, however, is organizing a march on Washington and not going to wait -- and rightly so. This is affecting real people's lives on a daily basis -- gay people, their friends, their families (including their children), and their coworkers. It's time for the U.S. to start acting with the values of equality and justice for all that it claims to hold so dear, but that it proves itself to be a hypocrite spouting empty words with once again."

....and the best thing he could do, in order to deflect it from the public sphere is to take it 'apolitical' and for ALL 50 States and for Patriotism.......and issue his Executive Order to HALT DADT expulsions on July 4th this year.  Then let that all shake out down through all military families...

I'm also one of those who worked for Obama (after Hillary dropped out), but, I'm very disappointed. I understand he's got a lot on his plate, but the wording of that hateful brief is insulting to us! There's no justification that makes that o.k. in my book. I'll probably vote libertarian next time, unless he starts doing the right thing.

I am frustrated that the country can't move forward quicker on equal rights for gays, but I am afraid that there is only so much that the president is going to be able to accomplish on this matter without wrecking other important agendas and changes that need to be made for the benefit of all Americans, including the LGBT community.

I believe handling the foreign policy, health care and financial reforms have to be handled first. Once the LGBT community does have all of their rights protected, they will want to partake in these same reforms (i.e. medical benefits etc...)

The LGBT community does need to keep the pressure up using all legal means on all fronts at the municipal, state, and local level. The most comprehensive reform on these issues is more readily available in the legislature and the courts (i.e. keep filing the legal challenges and keep on state and federal legislative bodies).

At this time, I don't think that this is a betrayal by president Obama...of course, I could change my mind on this (I did about Clinton). I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for awhile longer.

I understand that my position might be easier for me as I am not gay and don't have the personal emotional connection as many gay couples who are experiencing emotional pain and frustration over this. I hope people don't allow those emotions to casue people to lose focus on the kinds of things that will ultimately bring about real and lasting change on this issue.

There is nothing in DOMA about domestic partners.  DOMA only applies to the term marriage.  So, any level of government can grant rights to domestic partners.  This applies to the Memo President Obama signed last week allowing some benefits to partners of Federal employees, but not other benefits.  The President cited in his statements before signing, DOMA prevented granting full benefits -- but it only prevents full benefits from being extended to MARRIED same-sex couples, not domestic partners.  If President Obama really wanted to help us, he could start with realizing there is a loophole in DOMA.   

Please read DOMA closely and see if you agree with what I found.  I would like to be treated as an equal citizen under the law.