Ted Olson, better known as the devil, is now better than our president on gay marriage

[jefferson_dem]

Ted Olson, better known as the devil, is now better than our president on gay marriage
by John Aravosis (DC) on 5/26/2009 10:19:00 PM

Now I've seen everything.

Ted Olson. Also known as George Bush's Solicitor General. Also known as the guy who represented George Bush at the Supreme Court in the Bush v. Gore case. Also known as Mr. Burns. The man is pure evil. And he's now representing a gay couple in a legal challenge in federal court to overturn Prop 8.

Just called Joe. We're both speechless.

It's difficult to explain in words how much each of us loathes Ted Olson. Of course, not any more. But you get the picture. It doesn't get any more conservative and nasty than Ted Olson. And now he's supporting gay marriage. And not just supporting it, but putting his legal muscle behind it.

First off, thank you Mr. Olsen. Seriously. And to our readers, this just goes to show you that even I can be fooled into thinking that some people are too far gone. As I've written on this blog many a time: Don't write people off, and don't mock people who reach out to the enemy. You'd be surprised what sometimes happens when you treat even bad guys with a modicum of decency.

Secondly, Ted Freaking Olson is now better on gay marriage than our president - than most of our party. Well, to be fair, let me be precise - Ted Olsen is now better on gay marriage than our president claims publicly to be.

At what point will President Obama realize that the year is 2009 and not 1993? America has become accustomed, inured, and possibly even bored with all the gay rights victories of the past five years. They just don't care any more. And I mean that in a good way. Gay marriage is bursting across the land and the American people have shrugged. They just don't care. So why does our president? Why do he and his advisers seem to be treating gay people and their issues as, at best, an embarrassing inconvenience?

Some realpolitik Iago has our President's ear. He's clearly convinced Obama that gays are the third rail, to be avoided at all costs. It's unfortunate. Not only did Obama openly campaign as a friend to the gay community, and iterate numerous clear-cut promises to act on behalf of our civil rights, but forget the politics for a moment. We're talking about people's lives. We're talking about millions of Americans. We're talking about a President who claimed - pretended? - to care about us. Who claimed to be different.

Not looking so different any more.

http://www.americablog.com/2009/05/ted-olson-better-known-as-devil-is-now.html

[jody]

1. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. n/t

[billyoc]

2. Triangulation, red in tooth and claw.

[kwenu]

3. You so don't understand lawyers. Just because he takes on the case doesn't mean he personally

supports his clients views or actions.

[Clintonista2]

5. And apparently just because you campaign on certain promises

Doesn't mean you support them. Or are willing to abide by them.

[ruggerson]

6. Try again

Olson said he was contacted several months ago by representatives of an association called the American Foundation for Equal Rights about his willingness to represent the two couples named in the suit. “For a long time I’ve personally felt that we are doing a grave injustice for
people throughout this country by denying equality to gay and lesbian individuals,” Olson said in an interview with The Advocate. “The individuals that we represent and will be representing in this case feel they’re being denied their rights. And they’re entitled to have a court vindicate those rights."

[kwenu]

8. And your point is what?

Unless you tell me he is representing these individuals for free (pro bono)I would refer you back to my original statement.

[ruggerson]

10. my point is you couldn't be more wrong

the quote tells how he "personally" feels about the issue.

[kwenu]

11. Well, I would suggest...

that you consider that an attorney who has a professional duty to put his clients representation above his own interests would not say something that would be at odds with his client's case.

[nichomachus]

32. But he said in the interview that he does personally support it

[Spazito]

4. He's a lawyer who is simply practicing....

his "craft". He could be a rabid homophobe and still take the case providing it pays well.

He is scum, imo, and his taking this case does not change that.

[MarjorieG]

7. Ted Olson is for Ted. Obama is trying to extend more civil rights than ever before, while country

catches up. No way Obama doesn't understand the separate but equal fault lines.

He's picking his fights. After health care, it's climate change and job growth. This and DADT will come, after closing GITMO, etc.

[nichomachus]

12. Sorry, but Obama was MIA yesterday

He needed to say something to the GLBT community. He didn't need to reverse the ruling, trash the justices, or parse the ruling. He just needed to show the community that he was behind them. He hid out like Bush on 9-11. Even Arnlod came across as more supporting than Obama. Bastard!

[ClarkUSA]

13. He selected a SCOTUS nominee who's getting a thumbs-up by gay legal activists (quotes and link -->)

Sotomayor has also not ruled on any cases involving gay civil rights, but gay legal activists described her positively:

Long-time gay legal activist Paula Ettelbrick said she met Sotomayor in about 1991 when they both served on then-New York Governor Mario Cuomo's advisory committee on fighting bias.

"Nobody wanted to talk to the queer person at that time," said Ettelbrick, who represented Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. "She was the only one who made a point to come over and introduce herself. She was totally interested and supportive."

"From everything I know, Judge Sotomayor is an outstanding choice - fair and aware, open and judicious," said Evan Wolfson, head of the national Freedom to Marry organization. "I believe she has the demonstrated commitment to principles of equal protection and inclusion that defines a good nominee to the Supreme Court. In choosing Judge Sotomayor, the first Latino candidate for the Supreme Court, President Obama has made a strong and appealing nomination that should and will receive the support of those committed to equality for lesbians and gay men."

[nichomachus]

16. You're right -- I guess that must have exhausted him

[ClarkUSA]

17. All you do is complain. That obviously isn't exhausting you.

[nichomachus]

24. As the Supreme Court nomination showed

The squeaky wheel gets the Obama.

The Hispanic community kept the pressure on and made a lot of noise and he is appointing Hispanics right and left.

So, yes, I complain -- and I will continue to complain as long as Obama isn't living up to the promises he made to suck money and support out of me.

[HopeOverFear]

25. "he is appointing Hispanics right and left." He is?

Give examples.

[nichomachus]

29. For openers, two in the cabinet -- would have been three

except for Richardson's problems -- and his first Supreme Court pick.

But he couldn't take one minute out of his exhausting schedule yesterday to say something kind to the gays and lesbians who worked their asses off for him and got kicked in the teeth.

Even Arnold has something to say for crying out loud. But Obama -- went AWOL.

[redqueen]

52. Oh stop acting like it's such a big deal that Arnie commented...

he's governor of the state where this is an issue. Prop 8 = CA issue.

[Phx_Dem]

Delete dupe.

[Phx_Dem]

64. AWOL? For God's sake, it's a STATE issue until gets to the

the U.S. Supreme Court. Since when is it appropriate for the President to criticize a state Supreme Court decision? It's none of his fucking business what state Supreme Court rules. States have a right to make their own laws. It's up to the citizens of the state to challenge their sate laws in Federal court, which Bois and Olson are, apparently, planning to do very soon.

[ChiciB1]

14. Seems To Me He's Been MIA On Quite A Few Issues Lately!! Oh, Maybe

NOT MIA, but NOT doing what he campaigned on!!! Where DID that man go?? But the photo OPS are GREAT!

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. If only Hillary had won we'd live in a progressive wonderland right now!

As eight years of Clinton rule amply demonstrated. :eyes:

[nichomachus]

31. This is what happens when you have no choice but to vote for "least worst"

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

61. What in the world does Hillary Clinton have to do with this???

[HopeOverFear]

22. Bastard? Yeah ok.

[MarjorieG]

26. As ferevently as we belive, this isn't the only issue facing this country...

[Bluenorthwest]

27. Wow! Really? No kidding!

And here I thought this was the only issue facing the country! Thank God for people like you, correcting the short sighted fools of the world!

[nichomachus]

30. One freaking minute? Is that too fucking much to ask?

These are people who worked their asses off for him -- all he had to do was issue a goddam statement of support. It's not like they didn't know this was coming.

What did we get? Boilerplate much from Gibbs.

[ClarkUSA]

33. Even if he had, no doubt you'd have found something else to complain about today.

[nichomachus]

36. Whatever

But I will keep complaining until I see justice. Obama lied to us.

[rvablue]

38. How exactly did he lie. He always said he believes that marriage

was between a man and a woman and that he would stay out of it and leave it up to the states.

You may not like what he said, but he never lied.

[nichomachus]

39. Here

This is what he said on the campaign trail:

It’s wrong to have millions of Americans living as SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS in this nation. We can bring about real change for all LGBT Americans. I WILL NEVER COMPROMISE ON MY COMMITMENT TO EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL LGBT AMERICANS. I WILL USE THE BULLY PULPIT to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. I WILL PROVIDE THAT LEADERSHIP. Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans, gay and straight alike.


Where was his "bully pulpit" yesterday? Where was his "leadership?" He was AWOL. He left us twisting in the wind.

But, of course, he said all that when he was trying to get our money and our votes. Now, he's got them and he doesn't really give a shit.

[ClarkUSA]

42. Link?

[Forkboy]

43. ....

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/alexokrent/gGggJS

http://wonkette.com/362023/obama-writes-open-letter-to-americas-gays/

http://obama.groups.vox.com/library/post/6a00e398c4c4b0000400f48cfe53630001.html

http://www.gayandlesbianconnection.com/obamas-letter-to-the-lgbt-community/

Pick one, the links are everywhere.

[ClarkUSA]

49. He didn't lie; you're spinning what he said to rationalize your personal demands and complaints.

He provided leadership by standing against Prop 8. He even cut an ad way back when that Prop 8 foes inexplicably didn't use, according to Andrew Sullivan. Just because Pres. Obama didn't say anything yesterday to your ranting satisfaction amid doesn't change that fact.

[MarjorieG]

44. We are divided, it's m true. Obama promised a gazillion more civil rights until generosity reins.

I would hope people campaigned for more than a single issue, or at least fairness on the ones closest to them.

He never promised marriage.

[Honeycombe8]

9. Olson's just a hired gun. He's just doing what he's been paid to do.

He's been paid a lot of money is my guess. He may personally be totally opposed to what he's doing, but his job is to represent the interests of his clients.

Obama has no authority to file a lawsuit. He's the President.

Don't put too much stock in what a hired gun does. I work for a Democratic attorney who represents big corporations. Doesn't matter whether he approves of the way they conduct their business. He's hired to do a job. And he does a damn good job and gets paid a lot of money for it. Which allows him to make big political contributions (I hope).

[nichomachus]

15. I'm pretty sure we "hired" Obama to represent our interests

In fact, I remember what he said during his "job interview"

It’s wrong to have millions of Americans living as SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS in this nation. We can bring about real change for all LGBT Americans. I WILL NEVER COMPROMISE ON MY COMMITMENT TO EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL LGBT AMERICANS. I WILL USE THE BULLY PULPIT to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. I WILL PROVIDE THAT LEADERSHIP. Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans, gay and straight alike.

However, yesterday, he didn't show up for work. He didn't even call in.

[Bluenorthwest]

28. The fierce advocate

Silent in his bully pulpit, refusing to say even a word when he promised to never compromise. Refusing to provide the leadership he freely promised.

[HopeOverFear]

18. By that fucked up logic, Jewish lawyers who represent skinheads and neo-Nazis

Are for advancing the Aryan race. GTFOHWTBS

[alcibiades_mystery]

19. Ay yay yay

:eyes:

[blm]

21. I wouldn't doubt Olsen's doing it to sabotage the issue. Trust that evil fascist? NO WAY!

.

[Kaleva]

23. The lawyer who represented Bundy wasn't a serial killer

[MessiahRp]

34. That's a pretty piss poor argument...

The Conservative Movement has always been about looking out for their own political positions and never doing the right thing. In almost all of these cases, never would they compromise their beliefs, no matter how idiotic, to fight for the opposing view in a way that would create issues with their political positioning. That's what makes this so notable.

Of course defense attorneys do not always defend a client based on their own personal beliefs, but Olsen has long been noted for pushing his beliefs as part of his persona and this is counter to all of that.

Rp

[jefferson_dem]

35. Nonsense illogic.

That was a criminal case and Bundy (like anyone else accused of a felony offense) was deserving of adequate counsel. In this case, Olson has teamed up with others in initiating a civil lawsuit challenging government sanctioned inequality. Besides, if you look upthread, you will see that he has spoken out in support of marriage equality.

[Kaleva]

37. If he has spoken out in favor of marriage equality before...

then he's doing something he believes in and is not just a hired gun. I don't see the big deal in this as not everyone is formed from a neat, simple cookie cutter politically.

[nichomachus]

40. Don't forget, Obama was in favor of gay marriage too -- before he was against it

He was for it when he was running in a liberal Illinois and then turned against it when he needed to try to get votes from more bigoted communities.

Just like George HW Bush was pro-choice before he decided to run for president. Then, he magically became pro-life.

[snowdays]

41. And Obama was for single payer before he was against it. Now he

is in favor of the insurance industry continuing to give Dems campaign contributions-you know those Lobbyists he ralied against day after day on the stump!!!

[Cha]

45. Here you are ragging on President Obama

again..with your little lies and 1/2 truths while always building up Hillary.

The fucking primaries are over, snowdays.

[blm]

47. and always on issues HRC would be even further right than Obama. Funny stuff.

.

[redqueen]

50. When was he for single payer?

[Milo_Bloom]

46. I guess I am too much of a cynic

But, I think this is EXACTLY the case Ted Olsen wants to take to ensure the 18,000 marriages currently allowed are disallowed.

The CA Supreme Court created a ridiculously OBVIOUS equal protection problem. (Similarly situated people being treated differently). Basically, they weaseled out of the case by forcing it into the federal system by creating 2 classes of people (gay people who ARE married and those who cannot legally obtain the same).

Now, the likely result if you take this into the federal system is that the SC (at least in its current configuration with Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, Alito and Roberts) is that the solution won't be to INVALIDATE Prop 8, but instead to order the INVALIDATION the 18,000 marriages.

So, if I am Ted Olsen and I want to make a few hundred thousand dollars from people I don't like AND be fairly certain they are going to get screwed anyway, this is the perfect case to take.

But, then, like I said... I am a cynic

[blm]

48. I said pretty much the same....he'll sabotage the issue as best he can and THAT is his goal

It's like trusting Rove to manage a campaign for Barbara Boxer.

[redqueen]

51. Yep.

But c'mon... your logic is raining on the "He's better than Obama on gay marriage!" parade.

[RetroLounge]

53. Well, until he proves otherwise, he is better...

isn't that sad?

RL

[redqueen]

54. It's laughable.

You did read the post I was replying to, didn't you?

[RetroLounge]

55. Yes, and I read your unrelated snark after it.

While I do NOT trust Olsen one bit, fact is, until he proves otherwise, he appears better...

and until Obama proves he's not just full of campaign rhetoric, he's appears that he is not.

RL

[redqueen]

56. Key word: "appears".

But don't let me ruin the fun.

[RetroLounge]

58. You try to in every thread.

I appreciate your persistance...

:hi:

RL

[redqueen]

59. Just so long as I don't make you want to puke...

peace.

:hi:

[RetroLounge]

60. Nah, all done puking...

I prefer hugs...

:hug:

RL

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

62. Thanks for your avatar

:pals:

(glad to see you finally come out... hehehehehe)

This is Lostinva -- I just realized Haruka was logged in!!!!

[slackmaster]

57. The devil is my friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LclZ0GZtfA

[newinnm]

63. Just like any Lawyer

Ted Olson doesn't have to think the way his clients do or even agree with their position on the issue. All he or she has to do is vigorously advocate for their position. After my divorce was final I found out that my spouses attorney hated working with her because she was such a pain in the ass but he surely did his best to represent her.

Don't put too much into Ted Olson representations....


-nnnm