Chuck Todd keeps saying that Obama hasn't appointed any gay people to his cabinet. He's wrong.

[jenmito]

He's been saying that the people he talks to who are angry about Warren giving the invocation because Obama hasn't done ANYTHING for the gay community, and hasn't appointed any gay people to his cabinet. I just called MSNBC to tell him that Obama DID appoint a gay person to his cabinet-Nancy Sutley-to lead Obama's Environmental Council.

ETA-I now know it's not a cabinet position but it IS a senior role in Obama's administration.

[Unsane]

1. His goatee has a mind of its own.

[jenmito]

2. Well, it needs a better one.

[Pab Sungenis]

3. That's not a cabinet post.

If it doesn't start with "Secretary of" or end with "General" then it's not a cabinet post.

Obama has shafted gays, just like the Hillary supporters said he would. I apologize to all the Hillbots. You were right.

[Unsane]

6. Napolitano?

[Pab Sungenis]

8. Not gay.

Not every unmarried person is gay. But thanks to Rick Warren and people like him, every gay person except in two small states, is unmarried.

[MarkInCA]

15. And Charlie Crist n/t

[jenmito]

7. Oh. My bad. But it's still a senior role in his administration.

It's a much bigger deal than having Warren give the invocation.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[eyesroll]

5. Except that position is neither Cabinet nor Cabinet-level, unless Obama decides to elevate it.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/cabinet.html

[terrya]

39. Exactly

[last1standing]

9. Why do you keep calling this a cabinet level appointment when it's not?

If Obama appoints a cabinet member who is GLBT I will praise him for that, but this isn't a cabinet position.

[jenmito]

10. Because I thought it WAS. I now know it's not-but it's a hell of a lot more important than

someone who gives an invocation.

[last1standing]

13. The invocation is the beginning of the Obama presidency. The symbolism is tremendous.

Will President Obama open the next eight years under an invocation of hatred or will he renounce that and honestly support us with more than mere words and platitudes? Yes, it is good that he has appointed a member of the GLBT community to a senior post, but that will mean little if it is believed that hating gays is still OK. That is the message of Rick Warren.

[jenmito]

14. So you think Obama believes hating gay people is ok? I don't believe that

for a second. If you don't believe Obama in his positions that's on you. He has a record. I doubt allowing Warren to give the invocation changes his stances on the issues.

[dsc]

18. He can't think it is all that bad

If Rev Warren said of blacks, Jews, Arabs, or any other minority what he has said of gays he wouldn't be giving any prayer at any time at any Obama function. But if it is gays, well who really cares.

[jenmito]

19. You do NOT know that for a fact.

I think he very well WOULD have someone speak who said that of ANY of the groups you mentioned. You THINK he thinks "But if it is gays, well who really cares."

[dsc]

20. Oh please

If he said that interracial marriage was the equivalent of pedeophilia or bestiality he wouldn't be giving the prayer at any Obama function ever. It is nothing short of absurd to argue otherwise.

[jenmito]

21. I disagree. You do NOT know that. He has appointed people to his cabinet

who implied he's a "secret Muslim," who insulted his judgment, etc. He's truly someone who sees the good in people in order to get them on his side to work with them on those things they DO agree on like AIDS, global warming, helping those living in poverty, etc.

[last1standing]

24. Who has he appointed to his cabinet that has called him a secret Muslim?

I can't think of any, but please let me know.

[jenmito]

27. Hillary implied it with the "as far as I know" comment, not to mention the guy

on her team who implied he was a drug dealer.

[last1standing]

28. That is a very large leap of faith and always was.

I was no Hillary supporter but even I knew that she didn't mean to suggest that Obama was a secred Muslim. It was a slip of the tongue like Obama's "bitter" comment. It also does nothing to change the fact that his choice for the invocation is an incredible slap in the face to the GLBT community.

[jenmito]

30. It was clearly a calculated comment and NOT a slip of the tongue.

I just answered your question.

[last1standing]

33. Then was Obama's comment clearly calculated?

Or is cynicism a one way street?

[jenmito]

36. What comment?

[last1standing]

23. If that is true, why isn't Stormfront leading the parade?

Why isn't the KKK being represented?

There is a double standard here and it doesn't help for you to deny that.

[jenmito]

31. Because Stormfront has nothing in common with Obama as far as I know,

nor do they represent a large voting block.

[last1standing]

34. 25% polled said that race influenced their vote. That's a pretty large voting block.

And I thought Obama's desire was to bring people with divergent views together to find common ground. How can he know there's nothing in common if he doesn't give them a chance? Isn't that the argument you're using for Warren?

[jenmito]

37. Out of the 25% who said race influenced their vote, not all of them said it influenced them

negatively (to vote AGAINST Obama). No-that's NOT the argument I'm using for Warren, try as you may to make more and more outlandish arguments. Warren is well known for his "liberal" positions on climate change, poverty, AIDS, etc. There's common ground there.

[last1standing]

22. You're twisting this discussion into a strawman argument.

No I don't think Obama believes hating gay people is OK. I do believe, based on this and some other decisions he has made, that Obama does not fully understand the impact that the GLBT community will feel when he allows a gay hater to open up his presidency. His crime is not of malice but of ignorance.

I've posted another thread in which I've stated that compared to past presidents, Obama is likely to be the best for GLBT rights. That does not by any stretch mean that he will necessarily be good for GLBT rights. It is, sadly, a very low bar to get over.

[jenmito]

29. No I'm not.

There are people here calling Obama a bigot for letting Warren speak. And Obama clearly is NOT a bigot. Did you see THIS thread?: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7995450&mesg_id=7995450

[last1standing]

35. Yes you are because now you're trying to equate my statements with other posters beliefs.

Where have I called Obama a bigot? Where did I imply it? I have accused him of ignorance when it comes to the needs of the GLBT community but never bigotry.

[jenmito]

38. You can look at the same thread I posted to see Obama is NOT ignorant

to the needs of the GLBT community.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. That is not a cabinet position

[jenmito]

12. I am aware now.

[butterfly77]

16. Does he have to...

when did someone's sexual preference become a reason to appoint aomeone to a cabinet.Chuck Todd is trying to enflame the gay community. I have never heard of this when any other person was elected president repub or Dem. Thank you all for the flames...

[jenmito]

17. Of course he doesn't have to. But look at all the posters here who are just OUTRAGED

at the fact he chose Warren to give the invocation while ignoring the positions OBAMA holds on gay issues, not to mention his pick of Nancy Sutley to his admin. who is openly gay.

[last1standing]

26. Yes, his words are better than his actions, so far.

Let's see if that changes.

And thanks for trying to mock our anger over this with your comment of "OUTRAGE" in all caps. That really helps the discussion. :eyes:

[jenmito]

32. I disagree.

He not only chose an openly gay woman for a high position in his admin., he has long-held views on gay rights which he has acted on: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7995450&mesg_id=7995450

[last1standing]

25. You didn't hear outrage in the 50's when African Americans weren't appointed.

The times are changing and we demand to be represented. There would be outrage if Obama didn't choose any women, black or hispanic members to his cabinet. Why shouldn't there be outrage when he doesn't choose a member of the GLBT community. We are just as large as the black and hispanic communities so I would think there are people to choose from.

[butterfly77]

43. You are running this shit in the ground..

and turning more people against your cause. I know a lot of people who were agreeing with gays on a lot of issues who are now turned off...They say everytime something comes up gay people start a protest. I have gay family members and friends but, I believe in civil unions if it is about having legal rights it doesn't matter what it is called..We all know that gays are equal to everyone else just because some people hate gays doesn't mean all people do. I don't equate being gay with race because all gay people are of all races. Why should I care who someone fucks..(except for children)

[NorthCarolina]

40. Chuck Todd also keeps insisting America is a "Center-Right" nation

even though poll after poll (taken on actual issues, not simply on personal identification) clearly shows it to be a Center-Left nation. So my take is that he's pretty much mostly wrong on his facts.

[jenmito]

41. And MSNBC just announced that he's gonna be the new WH correspondent...

taking David Gregory's place. :eyes:

[NorthCarolina]

42. Well there you go...they share a common credibility so it was probably a no-brainer for NBC n/t