Risky Move

[Riot]

Andrew Sullivan of The Daily Beast wrote a very moving column today. Andrew is gay, Republican, and voted for Obama 2008.

9 May 2012 09:06 PM
Andrew Sullivan, The Daily Dish

Obama Lets Go Of Fear

I do not know how orchestrated this was; and I do not know how calculated it is. What I know is that, absorbing the news, I was uncharacteristically at a loss for words for a while, didn't know what to write, and, like many Dish readers, there are tears in my eyes.

So let me simply say: I think of all the gay kids out there who now know they have their president on their side. I think of Maurice Sendak, who just died, whose decades-long relationship was never given the respect it deserved. I think of the centuries and decades in which gay people found it impossible to believe that marriage and inclusion in their own families was possible for them, so crushed were they by the weight of social and religious pressure.

I think of all those in the plague years shut out of hospital rooms, thrown out of apartments, written out of wills, treated like human garbage because they loved another human being. I think of Frank Kameny. I think of the gay parents who now feel their president is behind their sacrifices and their love for their children.

The interview changes no laws; it has no tangible effect. But it reaffirms for me the integrity of this man we are immensely lucky to have in the White House. Obama's journey on this has been like that of many other Americans, when faced with the actual reality of gay lives and gay relationships. Yes, there was politics in a lot of it. But not all of it. I was in the room long before the 2008 primaries when Obama spoke to the mother of a gay son about marriage equality. He said he was for equality, but not marriage. Five years later, he sees - as we all see - that you cannot have one without the other. But even then, you knew he saw that woman's son as his equal as a citizen. It was a moment - way off the record at the time - that clinched my support for him.

Today Obama did more than make a logical step. He let go of fear. He is clearly prepared to let the political chips fall as they may. That's why we elected him. That's the change we believed in. The contrast with a candidate who wants to abolish all rights for gay couples by amending the federal constitution, and who has donated to organizations that seek to "cure" gays, who bowed to pressure from bigots who demanded the head of a spokesman on foreign policy solely because he was gay: how much starker can it get?

My view politically is that this will help Obama. He will be looking to the future generations as his opponent panders to the past. The clearer the choice this year the likelier his victory. And after the darkness of last night, this feels like a widening dawn.

[Cannon Shell]

Anything to take focus off of the economy...

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Anything to take focus off of the economy...

yup!

[jms62]

In the next 6 months, Expect a large number of Terrorist plots thwarted and a number of alerts.. We have danced this dance before.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by jms62

In the next 6 months, Expect a large number of Terrorist plots thwarted and a number of alerts.. We have danced this dance before.

I would expect some pictures of Bin Laden's watery grave to appear as well.

[OldDog]

It is an erection year, after all.

[dellinger63]

Now I know why he and Michele are soooo in love.

Took her till 40 to be proud of her country and took him till his late 40's to evolve into his position on gay marriage. They are constantly evolving.

BTW It's the economy stupid!

But keep up the fine work like suing a AZ sheriff for doing your job!

[GenuineRisk]

Andrew Sullivan is a misogynistic a**hole. I used to be a daily reader, but finally gave up because I was tired of throwing things at the screen when he wrote something especially offensive.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

So, Obama comes out in favor of marriage equality. How long before Romney tries to take credit for that, too?

In all seriousness, it's nice, but it's just his personal opinion. Compared to what his Administration has done in actual policy towards equality for gay men and women, it's not that much. Which is to say, his Administration has done quite a lot so far- check it out:

http://www.equalitygiving.org/Accomp...-LGBT-Equality

Compare this with Clinton signing DOMA in the 1990's. It does indeed get better.

He'll be offering Travolta happy endings by November. It's part of the process of an ele...err evolving.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Riot

Andrew Sullivan of The Daily Beast wrote a very moving column today. Andrew is gay, Republican, and voted for Obama 2008.

That is all well and good, while there is no bad press to go along with this statement, based on his "beliefs", he will now spend eternity in Hell. For one extra term...

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop

That is all well and good, while there is no bad press to go along with this statement, based on his "beliefs", he will now spend eternity in Hell. For one extra term...

please tell me this is sarcasm.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Danzig

please tell me this is sarcasm.

Lets go with tongue-in-cheek.
These are certainly not my beliefs.
I would venture a guess that any Christian that does the things required to become President of the United States will burn in Hell for all eternity though.