Obama in Hot Seat Over Partner Benefits

[FreeState]

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid75170.asp

Obama in Hot Seat Over Partner Benefits
By Julie Bolcer

Two strongly worded court orders place President Obama in an awkward position on the issue of whether the government must provide health insurance benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, The New York Times reports.

In separate instances of employee grievance resolution, judges of the federal appeals court in California said that the same-sex partners of their employees were entitled to health benefits. This position challenges the federal Office of Personnel Management, which has directed insurers not to provide the benefits, citing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that defines the word "spouse" as a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.

Obama must decide whether to support the personnel office, and risk disappointing the liberal base that helped elect him, or support the judges, and court conservative anger at a time he needs them to help advance his daunting domestic agenda.

A White House spokesman declined to tell The New York Times how Obama would proceed if the judges tried to enforce the orders, although he did reiterate the president’s support for legislative repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.

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And here comes that bus I have a feeling... get ready to brush those tire marks off our bodies once again...

[FLAprogressive]

1. Now we wouldn't want to get those conservatives angry now...they came out for Obama in DROVES

:sarcasm:

[mitchtv]

5. We can depend on Rick Warren

to pray for us

[fed_up_mother]

2. How about we just legalize same sex marriage, and NO partner benefits.

Then if you want the damn benefits, get married.

Problem solved.

[mitchtv]

3. Here we go, wait for the cheerleaders

I have my fingers crossed , No more Mr Nice Gay . This will tell us all we need to know.

[FLAprogressive]

6. I'm sure if he takes the conservative side GD:P (aka GD:DLC) will tell us to get over it.

[FreeState]

8. One of these days the DLC will learn that you can not agree to disagree on civil rights

that or they will die out. The younger generations of Democrats will not stand for that one bit.

[mitchtv]

9. prepare for a swarm

Bzzzzzzzzzzzz

[FLAprogressive]

10. "equality will have to wait. We've got important things to do, like give more money to Wall Street."

[ThomCat]

13. I'm sure you're right.

:(

[MikeE]

4. I doubt the administration will challenge the court's decision

but you are correct that DOMA needs to be repealed. It was my understanding that currently the court decisions only impact the 9th's areas of CA, AK, HI, (and maybe a couple other states). That being said, the person who is nominated to be OPM's director is John Berry, an openly gay man, who will, I beleve, work hard for equality of benefits for the LGBT community. Still, until DOMA is relealed, there is only so much you can do. Of course there is also the bill put forth by Baldwin, so, we will have to see what happens.

[luvspeas]

11. I think you have a good take on things...

Obama's a lawyer, so he's going to approach it as such.

My understanding about same-sex marriage and its accompanying benefits is that it is just a matter of time. The law is crystal clear that denying marriage to same-sex couples is sexual discrimination and there is no two ways about it. Sooner or later it will work its way through the courts and it will be a done deal. They can stall, but eventually it will prevail.

[MikeE]

7. Here's another article about it too

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2009/3-13/news/national/14202.cfm

[queerart]

12. This Is Just Way To Controversial..... So Back Off!

Queers getting Health Benifits?


This puts Obama in a very "awkward position", and I for one don't appreciate the silly notions of these "activists Judges"......


Obama needs to spend his political capital on things that are not so "incendiary" in nature like:....




Lifting The Ban on Stem Cell Research.......

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20090309/hl_hsn/obamaliftsbanonstemcellresearch



Or giving "tax payers" money to International groups that perform abortions, or provide abortion information.....

and when addressing this topic he made his point quite eloquently.........

“For too long, international family planning assistance has been used as a political wedge issue, the subject of a back and forth debate that has served only to divide us,” Obama said in a statement released by the White House. “I have no desire to continue this stale and fruitless debate.”

http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2009/01/25/news/doc497ac9464e3a9038868230.txt




So Enough Already With Putting Obama In Hot Seat Over Idiotic Queer Benefits..... with all that "Fruity Queer Notion Shit Of, I'm Equal To You"... .so just shut the fuck up already, and quit asking for "special rights".....

[KitchenWitch]

14. Watch out for the GLBTIQ speed bumps ahead.

x(

[bluedawg12]

15. I would think the Court ruling would give him the cover to do the right thing.

[Runcible Spoon]

16. no shit

:wtf:

[Toasterlad]

17. Gee, I Wonder What He'll Do? Yes...Wonder....

[LostinVA]

18. Ah, I love the smell of diesel in the morning

Coach Dungy can provide him guidance.