Will Obama do for Gay Rights what Johnson did for Civil Rights.

[edhopper]

In March of 1965 LBJ gave a speech in which he endorsed the ideals of the Civil Rights Movement.
In that speech he adopted the words one of the great hymns of the Movement:

But even if we pass this bill the battle will not be over. What happened in Selma is part of a far larger movement which reaches into every section and state of America. It is the effort of American Negroes to secure for themselves the full blessings of American life. Their cause must be our cause too. Because it's not just Negroes, but really it's all of us, who must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice.

And we shall overcome.

Will Obama do what is right and give his full support of the rights of all Americans as Johnson did?

To take a phrase from another hymn of the Movement:
"How long oh Lord, how long?"



Full Speech;
http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/johnson.htm

[LonePirate]

1. No. He has not shown the necessary courage and he has a steadfast opposition party, too.

[edhopper]

3. Seriously?

As opposed to the opposition to Civil Rights, even within his own Party?

Seriously?

[Occulus]

5. One of Obama's spokespeople said, I think last year, that Obama

favors leaving the issue to the states.

This, from a black man, in 2011.

Obama is not a friend to GLBTs.

[musical_soul]

20. He has to make sure he gets re-elected.

If he does get re-elected in November, there will be almost nothing stopping him from going after full civil rights for gays.

[XemaSab]

30. Except for, you know, the 2016 election and the 2020 election and the 2024 election...

n/t

[nevergiveup]

2. If Obama slaughters Romney in 2012

like Johnson slaughtered Goldwater in 1964 then it will happen. I don't think it has to be a slaughter either. A comfortable win will likely do. I believe Obama has it in him and I believe he will do it.

[cynatnite]

4. I agree. If he wins this election, he will throw his full support behind it. n/t

[LonePirate]

9. So his support is conditional upon the election? How reassuring to LGBT Americans!

[musical_soul]

21. What is he to do?

I hate to say this, but the center left is dominant over the left left. He *has* to get those votes. I know somebody who is all on board with democratic policies except gay marriage. You have to get that person's vote as well.

[LonePirate]

25. So LGBT Americans should be marginalized in favor of votes?

How about leading the way on what is right?

[cynatnite]

27. It's political expediancy...

I'm not saying it's right. It's not. He should be ahead of everyone else on this and lead the way, but I do understand why he hasn't came out in full support.

[cynatnite]

22. What good is it to the LGBT community if he loses this election? n/t

[Capt. Obvious]

23. Just like Clinton did after winning his second term

He was only "forced" to sign DOMA to win reelection. If he didn't sign it he would have lost 49 states to the Dole/Kemp juggernaut.

After that he was America's first GLBT president (or something like that).

[cynatnite]

24. That was a completely different time...

There is far more support for gay marriage now than there was then.

[Capt. Obvious]

26. How much support was there for the Civil Rights movement during LBJ's time?

He lost the south for a generation. That took courage.

I hope Obama does do this but I'll hold off on any predictions; even though there is more support so it makes no sense for Obama not to do it.

So if he does do what's right it will be a shame if it's because it polls well.

[MineralMan]

6. I think he will, if we can elect a Congress that will cooperate by

sending him legislation. A second term often accomplishes many things that were not accomplished in the first term. That's my hope, anyhow. Part of this will be up to all of us. We can do it, if we have the will to do it.

GOTV 2012!

[edhopper]

8. Whether he has the Congress that can do it or not

the right thing to do is come out and say it. LBJ did not support Civil Rights because it was doable, he did it because it was right.

[MineralMan]

10. I agree. He should make a declaration of his intent and dedication to

eliminating all discriminatory laws that block full equality for LGBT rights, as well as all other definable groups. Native Americans are another group that needs dedicated support.

Will he do this during the campaign? I don't know. Should he? I think he should, and don't think it would present any problems.

[edhopper]

12. I would understand

if he waited until after November. But I don't know if he will do it even then.

[MineralMan]

13. Well, I think that waiting until after the election is the current

thinking, but I think that's a mistake. They seem to be attempting to signal that intent, but without actually declaring it. A solid declaration right now would establish a commitment and gain more enthusiastic support from Democrats who are strong supporters of LGBT rights, including marriage equality. As it stands now, those people will probably vote for the President, but not engage in as much serious campaigning and GOTV efforts.

Besides, it's the right thing to do, and that's more important than campaign strategy.

[edhopper]

15. True that

but Obama rarely makes bold policy choices. He seems more intent on half measures and the "doable".

[MineralMan]

18. It has certainly seemed that way.

It's been a difficult first term, given the obstructionism of Congress, etc. Personally, I think he's a shoe-in for re-election, so it's time to take some bold stances. I believe that would encourage a lot of people who are dissatisfied with the first term to get out and work hard. That would also benefit all of the legislative races, which I believe to be the most important part of this election. Getting Democratic voters to turn out in unprecedented numbers would go a long way toward a Congress that will back up bold ideas with legislation that can make those ideas happen.

The Obama campaign needs to stop being cautious and switch to being bold.

[99Forever]

7. I wouldn't ..

.. hold my breath waiting on it to happen if I were you. Promises and supporters have a way of being thrown under the bus once they've lost their usefulness after the election.

[JoePhilly]

11. Probably why he didn't support the end of DADT.

Oh wait ...

[99Forever]

19. Well whoop tee dooo.

Like letting military policy catch up with reality is some huge gain. I'm not even gay, but why this is even still something Obama won't STAND UP and DO THE RIGHT THING over, absolutely baffles me.

WTF is this guy waiting for anyway?

BTW, thanks for the snark, buddy.

[JoePhilly]

31. My point is that prior to the overturn of DADT ...

Lots of folks here on DU said Obama would NEVER support it. Then when he signed it they said, well, he'll never really make the military do it. Then when it ended, they said ... just as you did above "Well whoop tee dooo!"

SO ... they spent months attacking him on DADT, and then when it went bye bye ... they said it didn't really matter.

The next domino to fall will be Gay Marriage and DOMA. But I fully expect some to attack Obama endlessly and claim that he won't ever do anything about it. Right up until when he does.

That's just how it seems to work.

Oh btw ... on Tuesday, I'll be voting NO on Amendment 1 in NC. The GOP would LOVE to use gay marriage as an issue in November to energize the right wing base so that NC, which Obama won in 2008, turns RED again.

And this we know for sure ... if Romney wins, you can be sure there will be no action on ending DOMA until sometime after 2016, or later.

So what do we do ... attack Obama for something some folks predict he won't do, even though many of them were wrong on DADT?

Doesn't make sense to me.

[99Forever]

32. Horsefeathers.

Your "point" was to try and belittle me through snark. No sale, pal.

[JoePhilly]

34. whatever

[crazyjoe]

14. Obama is against gay marriage, he has had 4 years to change his position,

and failed to do so.
What more is there to talk about?

[edhopper]

16. If he is

he is on the very wrong side of history. More's the shame.

[Poll_Blind]

17. President Obama was against gay marriage as a candidate, as the President and he will still...

...be against gay marriage in his second term.

As crazyjoe said above me, what more is there to talk about?

PB

[PragmaticLiberal]

29. State Senator Obama supported gay marriage and I honestly believe that President Obama does as well.

Granted, I could be wrong but I don't think so.

[demtenjeep]

28. and what would Rmoney do?

?

[FreeState]

33. Is that a proper response to gay families?

Really? I can't imagine telling an oppressed minoriety and their children that.

[bigtree]

35. not in this election

sadly, it doesn't look that way on marriage rights . . . Because of that, I won't carry the water for him on the other advancements he's made on LGBT rights in his term, though there has been progress.