Can You Be A Homophobe And Still Call Yourself A Democrat?

I'm guessing that most people interested in this kind of thing have already read the NY Times story by Jackie Calmes, Obama Won't Order Ban On Gay Bias By Employers... or at least some good commentary on it.

President Obama disappointed and vexed gay supporters on Wednesday with his decision, conveyed to activists by a senior adviser, not to sign an executive order banning discrimination by employers with federal contracts.

The executive order, which activists said had support from the Labor and Justice Departments, would have applied to gay, bisexual and transgender people working for or seeking employment from federal contractors. Current law does not protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and legislation to do so, which Mr. Obama endorses, lacks sufficient votes in Congress.

“While it is not our usual practice to discuss executive orders that may or may not be under consideration, we do not expect that an executive order on L.G.B.T. nondiscrimination for federal contractors will be issued at this time,” said an administration official who would speak about the controversy only if provided anonymity. “We support legislation that has been introduced and we will continue to work with Congressional sponsors to build support for it.”

That stance departs from the White House’s prominent “we can’t wait” campaign: Since last fall, Mr. Obama has signed executive orders on a variety of issues, arguing that “we can’t wait” for legislation that Republicans in Congress refuse to let pass.

By not acting on the employment nondiscrimination order, Mr. Obama has newly angered a gay constituency that has been a source of campaign cash and that had been willing to overlook his failure so far to endorse same-sex marriage, given his actions on its other priorities, like repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy against openly gay service members.

Joe Solmonese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign and one of the gay-rights activists who attended a White House meeting on Wednesday called by Valerie Jarrett, one of Mr. Obama’s closest advisers, said afterward: “We are extremely disappointed with this decision and will continue to advocate for an executive order from the president. The unfortunate truth is that hard-working Americans can be fired simply for being gay or transgender.”

Obama press spokesperson, Jay Carney was left-- as you can see in the video above-- tap dancing for almost 8 minutes. Painful. Obama's record on gay rights is hardly homophobic; nor is it courageous. That's why it's so important for progressives to not just settle next time we have a chance to help nominate a president. Real change is uncomfortable-- especially for careerist politicians and centrists. If the Democratic Party is going to be a vehicle for that kind of change, we simply have to hold them accountable and force them to embrace decisions that move the ball forward. Otherwise, they'll always be about playing it safe and putting their own careers first. Obama and his team are counting on us not being suicidal enough to do anything that would jeopardize his reelection in the face of Mitt Romney. That's always been how he played progressive communities. But that doesn't make us powerless to act on our own issues.

We've talked about the importance of defeating Amendment One in North Carolina before. Obama has rallied to our cries for help as has the North Carolina Democratic Party and almost every Democratic elected official in the state (as well as some Republicans). But notice I said "almost" every Democrat. Congressman Heath Shuler, who is transitioning from being one of the most reactionary and bigoted Blue Dogs in Congress to being a corrupt K Street lobbyist, supports Amendment One. But he isn't running again. The primary in NC-11 in the westernmost part of the state pits a dedicated grassroots activist and equal rights supporter, Cecil Bothwell, against Shuler's chief-of-staff, Hayden Rogers, who was recruited by Steve Israel, chair of the DCCC, and who is being heavily pushed by DC Democrats.

Rogers likes to tell audiences he's not a carbon copy of the bigoted Shuler. But he is. Democrats tend to like to keep their religious beliefs private when it comes to partisan politics. But not Rogers.

“I am a Christian, and my family and I attend Little Brasstown Baptist Church,” he said. “My faith is very important to me, and the values it has taught me inform the decisions I make. I do firmly believe in the freedom of religion and the right of all Americans to worship in a manner of their own choosing.”

Rogers said he is against abortion and supports Amendment One.

And the Democratic Party Establishment in DC is supporting him against a far more popular Democratic officeholder who adamantly supports women's Choice and opposes homophobia in all forms. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is Obama's handpicked chair of the DNC. Here's a couple of tweets from yesterday:


Many of us, especially in swing states, feel we can't risk a Romney win by lashing out at Obama over this kind of crap. But Hayden Rogers? You can help Cecil Bothwell win that primary next month right here on the Blue America main page. Not sure if you can afford it? Watch this; maybe you can't afford not to lend a hand. And there is no such thing as a contribution being too small.