Did I Ever Tell You About the Tortoise and the Hare?
Andrew posted what I consider to be an uncharacteristically stark comment yesterday about Obama’s intention to go to a Human Rights Campaign fundraiser and his corresponding support for gay equality,
If Obama wants to support gay equality, he knows what to do. If Pelosi and Reid want to support gay equality, they know what to do. If HRC believes in gay equality, they also know what to do.
So spare us the schmoozing and the sweet-talking and do it. Until then, Mr president, why don’t you have a nice steaming cup of shut-the-fuck-up?
Whether you agree with Andrew or not, I think it is fairly evident that the above comment is “uncharacteristically stark” when compared to Andrew’s previous sanguine approach to Obama’s tactics,
In an ideal world, I’d favor a Sarkozy style carbon tax, an end to employer subsidies for health insurance, a swift departure from Afghanistan. I’d also like marriage equality in Alabama, an end to agricultural subsidies and a flat tax.
…
In this, the tone of his discourse is critical. He would lose it all if he followed MoDo’s advice. He needs to stay bipartisan, reasoned, and centrist to succeed. Despite the fulminations of an unhinged GOP, he is doing all of that.
Many of us supported him not to revive a right-left war, but to try to move past that divide. He has kept that promise. We need to reward him with our support.
No doubt, Andrew’s vehemence is born out of a combination of his well-documented disdain for HRC and the personal fashion in which this particular issue affects Andrew’s life. And, you know, I get Andrew’s frustration. From my own perspective, I continue to find the kind of discrimination that gay men and women experience in a variety of of foray as fundamentally mind boggling and incomprehensible.
But in this particular instance, I’m inclined to avoid frothing at the mouth and see this move by Obama for what it is: prioritizing. [Read more →]
October 6, 2009 31 Comments
