That's it! ...

[1StrongBlackMan]

I'll never again vote for that lying liar (President) Obama again.

How dare he lie to the American people and pretend he did not support Same Sex Marriage (even though he is on record supporting it years before he ran for office).

Did winning the Presidency really mean that much to him?

[NYC_SKP]

1. His actions over his terms have spoken volumes, yet some are deaf by choice...

Or blinded by their ignorance.

Am I right?

In my opinion, he's done more than any other president to promote the cause of marriage equality.

In citing religious reservations, he played a safe zone AND shed some light on the hypocrisy of that POV.

His statement spoke respectfully to the protection of religious points of view even as he framed the discussion in a way that prepared the nation for the actions he would take to affirmatively ensure equality.

I've gone as far as to suggest that he strategically brought Rick Warren into the light to, in the end, disinfect the bigotry.

I don't think that's a stretch, whatsover.

Excellent post, Recommended.

[steve2470]

4. +1 nt

[padfun]

2. This is snark. right?

I mean, now days, it is really hard to tell.

[steve2470]

5. yep, not his usual posting style, snark it be nt

[steve2470]

3. What so many here at DU and elsewhere don't understand about the GAME of politics is this....

Try running for President, and give your blunt honest opinion about everything. Just try it, see what happens. Yes, the third party candidates and "fringe candidates" can do it, with ease, because, let's be real, they have ZERO chance of winning, so why the hell not tell the truth all the time ?

You will offend and/or enrage a bloc or blocs of voters, who will then organize to come out AGAINST you. Their votes, in addition to the hard-core Republican vote (or Democratic if you are a Republican candidate) will ensure your defeat. If you think every candidate for President since George Washington has been 100% honest, open and transparent in their campaign statements, I don't know what to tell you.

Is it morally correct that, imho, this is the state of American politics ? No. Am I recommending that all Democratic candidates (or Republican, for that matter) lie their asses off at every possible moment ? No. What I AM saying, is, just use your instincts for who the candidate is.

President Obama was universes better than both Romney and McCain, or any Republican for that matter. Call me cynical or *gasp* realpolitik , this is the political world in which we live. It SUCKS, but there it is.

If someone disagrees with me, fine. I'm not going to argue or debate this.

ETA: By the way, I liked your post, 1SBM!

[Duppers]

6. I agree

Well put, sir.

[steve2470]

9. thanks :) nt

[freshwest]

12. Well, I think one must also consider that he takes the job seriously to represent all Americans.

Whether we like them or not. Which is what we really want, and he has extended the 'all Americans' to new heights in this country for the public to accept or reject. I've never seen any president as inclusive as Obama. It makes me sleep better at night.

[steve2470]

16. I agree, he is more inclusive than any previous President, including the "progressive God" FDR....

ESPECIALLY the progressive God FDR (i.e, no anti-lynching act, the forced encampment of Japanese-Americans).

With gay rights, I think the President has "played it safe" in the past. I think he's a cautious man by nature, so this doesn't surprise me in the least. The President also knows that, whether we like them or agree with them, he is the President of some very deeply religious people in this country, who do vote in very large percentages. With hindsight being 20/20, I don't think he needed to play it safe, but gay marriage (and expanded gay civil rights) is sweeping across the country. Gay marriage in ALABAMA ? To me, that was IMPOSSIBLE to even think of even a year ago.

He also mentioned non-believers in an Inauguration address I think ? That's VERY damn inclusive, coming from our past history!

[1StrongBlackMan]

13. Heck ...

Try running for President, and give your blunt honest opinion about everything.

Try living in real life and give your blunt honest opinion about everything! I have said before, it seems that a prerequisite for internet posting is that one must suspend reality/ignore ones real life experience, in favor of the uncompromising, "What I would do."

[steve2470]

17. excellent point nt

[Number23]

7. Axelrod's comments surprised precisely NO ONE with a lick of sense or judgement

It has always been apparent that Obama supported same sex marriage and gay rights.

And Axelrod's comments that he told Obama to keep all of that quiet because so many blacks were opposed to gay rights is just completely offensive. All he did was cater to and expand a racist stereotype of black people for political gain. And of course, Obama was the one who got saddled with the perception by a few (who probably have some deep racial issues of their own) that he was a bigot when it was really apparent that he wasn't.

[steve2470]

8. that's sad about what Axelrod did, that point blew right past me

That's why this group is good for me, it opens my eyes to things I normally miss. If President Obama had come out strongly for gay marriage and gay rights in 2008 and later years, I'm not sure he would have lost either election.

[Number23]

11. And that's EXACTLY what I think as well, steve

If President Obama had come out strongly for gay marriage and gay rights in 2008 and later years, I'm not sure he would have lost either election.

I'm almost positive it would not have cost him a thing.

[1StrongBlackMan]

18. Could that be because those Black folks cited to ...

were members of the Black clergy ... that had preached/exhibited homophobic stuff (right before and after their gay Choir Director lead the choir in a rousing version of "Precious Lord", featuring the not so closeted tenor section ... the gay is the worst kept "secret" in the Black church) and even then, none of them talked about NOT supporting candidate Obama (after they got Hillary out of their system.

[Number23]

21. The only people who think that the black church speaks for all or most black people

are white pollsters and the black church, including that tenor section.

[JustAnotherGen]

24. +10000000000000000

Seriously. I'm kind of upset that Tuesday Afternoon deleted an OP back here - I thought it was an excellent topic to take a look at. I weighed in on that thread . . .

I don't believe that the "black church" is the political powerhouse it once was.

I think those of us who are spiritual/religious - put faith in one bucket - policy in another.

Now I'm a UU in a diverse congregation - and the UU Church has been far ahead of others in being welcoming and affirming. I grew up in the Baptist church. At one point my father wanted to be a Minister. Yet - I grew up in a home where the "other F word" would get my mouth wiped with a dish rag.

I think that split from the Church as political center has been going on since the 1970's.

[randys1]

28. They are good at spreading that lie though, white people are dumb about non white

communities in the first place, tell us that you guys are all against Gays and most of us are just going to assume it is so.


I think President Obama could have been pro gay marriage all the way without it harming him and I also think he could have pushed a public option, ultimately Universal Healthcare, but he calculated that he couldnt.

Maybe not, too. Maybe Hillary can do it now or Liz or Bernie.

I think the inevitable is Universal and soon, what Obama did accomplish with ACA, given everything we know and he dealt with, is nothing short of a miracle

Yes Joe, it was a Big Fucking Deal...

[1StrongBlackMan]

15. Well ...

I can think of one DUer, in particular, that was "fooled" ... and loudly, so.

[Number23]

20. Oh me too, man! Hell, MORE than one!

Wonder what John Aravosis thinks about all of this?

[Control-Z]

10. I doubt that it changed anyone's vote at the time.

It would, I'm sad to believe, have lost him a few had he not made the statement "at that that time". He knew what he was doing. I love that about him!

I wish we could vote for him again!

[freshwest]

14. I'll never vote for him again, more the pity. I started missing him right after he won in 2012.

Americans won't learn what a great chance they had for these years to move us forward. At this time, the world is galloping headlong back into feudalism. Of a kind the world has never known. He is one of the last true believers in US.

[sheshe2]

19. President Obama Plays the Long Game

It's true that President Obama might have a new lightness in his step. But that could just as well be because he's finally off for a much-needed vacation in Hawaii with his family. Anyone who has really watched this President operate knows that he plays the long game. Here's how Michelle Obama described that back in 2011.

Here's the thing about my husband: even in the toughest moments, when it seems like all is lost, Barack Obama never loses sight of the end goal. He never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise, even if it comes from some of his best supporters. He just keeps moving forward.

And in those moments when we're all sweating it, when we're worried that the bill won't pass or the negotiation will fall through, Barack always reminds me that we're playing a long game here. He reminds me that change is slow — it doesn't happen overnight.

If we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight and doing what we know is right, then eventually we will get there.

We always have.

http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/12/president-obama-plays-long-game.html

We are playing the long game here and we are playing for keeps.

Lol~ Love your new writing style 1SBM!!!

[blkmusclmachine]

22. Obama's 2009 DOJ brief defaming gay Americans still stands.

[Behind the Aegis]

23. It's easy to be caviler when it is not your rights.

I understand the game of politics, but what I don't appreciate is my rights being used as a trinket. Are you gay? Do you wonder if (or when) your marriage will end because of some bigots and their voting rights? It was just this past October that I was allowed to legally marry the man I have been with for 13 years. If he were to get another job or be transferred, there is a chance it could be to state where we would go from "married" to "cohabitating." I don't think that is very funny.

I get the frustration at people making this out to be some deception by the president, but the mocking is at our expense.

[JustAnotherGen]

25. I agree with this

Ive got to find the thread that triggered this.

I DID see a thread somewhere yesterday where David Duke was quoted re: the Congress man who was a devotee of his beliefs that adhered to those beliefs - yet had to hide it in order to win an election.

The only difference is one held back his beliefs to help others - one held back his beliefs to hurt others.

Can we condemn the Duke Devotee for sneaking in and not understand those who condemn Obama for sneaking in something good?

The difference is the average progressive/liberal sees the good in extending marriage equality to all and can throw up a little in thir mouth at Axelrod's comments. The average "Duke Type" is high fiving and dreaming of the day where we are ALL forcibly removed from their presence. They don't realize they are pawns. They think at minimum they are Rooks.

[Behind the Aegis]

26. I see the difference too.

"The only difference is one held back his beliefs to help others - one held back his beliefs to hurt others."

I agree. However, it doesn't mean it doesn't smart. It is made even worse when the reasons take precedence over our equality and is used as a 'joke.'

"Can we condemn the Duke Devotee for sneaking in and not understand those who condemn Obama for sneaking in something good?"

Of course. You and I both know, when they have one of us (our respective groups) in their sights (sometimes literally), they usually have others who are going to be targeted as well.

I remember being elated at the election of the first African-American president, and then slapped in the face as prop 8 passed. It was made even worse when we (GLBT) expressed our disappointment/outrage and so-called progressives mocked us with jaunts of "didn't get your pony...boohoo."

I see this "new" info as a "duh!" moment, but some of the reactions feel like more salt on the wound. "You need to patient!" "Would you rather McCain/Romney have been the president?" These were all things said to us. Translation: Your equality is not important enough.

[randys1]

29. Agreed...Even the most well meaning white guy can be insensitive to the civil rights of a Black

person and even the most well meaning pro Gay person can be insensitive to the civil rights of a Gay person.

I wish he hadnt done it, but he did.

I still like the guy.

Even though at the end of the day I am not sold on the idea that any politician at that level of the game cares that much about me, but I like him.

[Number23]

30. And that's where my initial comment came in, frustration that Obama's advisors took such

an important, fundamental American right and used it for political leverage while supporting racist stereotypes as a by product.

I am not naïve. I know that politicians play with people's rights and livelihoods like they're footballs twice a second of every day in politics. But the idea that Obama's advisors were so willing to deny people their rights while catering to a racist ideal is beyond disturbing. That's shameful anytime but it makes it particularly so when we're talking about the first black president that was supposed to "transcend race."

It was obvious to me and a whoooooole lot of other people that Obama was fully supportive of gay rights but his advisors advised him against giving Americans their rights allegedly because another group of Americans, black people, "were opposed". I think it's entirely appropriate to be disturbed by both of those things.

[steve2470]

33. I understand your feelings, I do

If I was LGBT, I would feel exactly the same. I think the President got very bad advice from Axelrod. He should have just stated his real feelings/opinion and won the elections. BTW, my comment was not aimed at LGBT, more of a frustrated rant in general. Sorry if I offended.

[Behind the Aegis]

34. To be honest, my comment wasn't really about the President.

I understand the nature of politics, including the sacrificial lamb/scapegoat/wedge issues and how they are used or not. What I find offensive is those who mock, in this case, GLBT people while trying to defend, in this case, Obama. I was not offended by anything you wrote. We are good!

[HoosierRadical]

27. You do know that he will never run for office again

so your proclamation is pointless. Of course he was for marriage equality, it should be no surprised that he made a political calculation.

[Jamaal510]

31. At this rate,

his chances are shot at a 3rd term and possibly even becoming Emperor of America.

[kwassa]

32. and I thought Emperor was in the cards.