Left Disappointed In Obama?
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Barack, Democrats, Obama, Republicans
Well, at least the far left.
And hey, fair enough. I don’t agree with many of his recent decisions either, especially the ones regarding the Abu Gharib photos and detainee policies.
But Obama talked at length during the campaign about taking more centrist positions and trying to find common ground and that’s what he’s doing. So while many Dems may hate it, does anybody really think that they’ll stay home come 2012?
He has pushed gun control to the back burner, used the state secrets privilege to try to quash lawsuits over warrantless wiretapping, opposed a “truth commission†to investigate alleged torture and sought to deny some legal protections to detainees in Afghanistan.And he’s made clear he’s in no rush to do immigration reform or repeal the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers.
I’ve had debates recently with a number of folks about Obama’s unwillingness to touch the hot button issues and my point back to them is that it’s a lot more likely that Obama can pass healthcare first, bring the economy back around, get reelected and then address these issues.
Because does anybody really think Obama is against gay marriage?
You think he doesn’t want comprehensive immigration reform?
How about gays in the military? Think he doesn’t want to change that system?
After so many years out of power, Dems should be very careful about how quickly they want this President to move on everything. Remember, Obama is looking to be a liberal Reagan, not a liberal Bush. So start practicing some patience Dems, because if you get in a huff about every single thing he doesn’t agree with you about, it’s going to be a long 4 years.
This entry was posted on Sunday, May 17th, 2009 and is filed under Barack, Democrats, Obama, Republicans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
May 17th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Yes, Yes and No.
He has repeatedly said he is against it and is for civil unions. I actually believe him on that one, it’s still a slow walk to full acceptance of gay marriage throughout the country. Will he possibly get civil unions in his second term? Could be, but I highly doubt he touches DoMA.
Nope, it’s not worth fighting for right now. He was pretty much the same as McCain on that issue, tougher border control but really don’t deal with illegals as much. Unions are still pretty anti-immigration and right now with the economy immigration has slowed, but violence is continuing. I imagine he goes for more border control but no full immigration policy.
Yes but it’s way down on the list. This one will be in the second term.
May 17th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
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May 17th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I knew when i voted for him that he wasn’t as socially liberal as I would’ve liked. Is there a legal difference between civil unions and marriage?
May 18th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Because does anybody really think Obama is against gay marriage?
do you just filter out what is difficult for you to hear or are you saying words don’t matter, you can divine what a person really feels.
“I’m a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.”
Obama, Chicago Daily Tribune
May 18th, 2009 at 8:30 am
@Chris
There is a difference between civil unions and marriage…sometimes. I’ve heard it described that marriages are civil unions in the legal sense, but not all civil unions contain the same rights that marriages do. This is where the problem lies. The way most civil union laws are now, gay couples are not offered all of the rights as married straight couples
I could care less what they call it. You can call gay marriage “Miller High Life” for all I care. Gay couples must be extended the same rights given to straight couples in civil unions, otherwise it’s just separate but equal.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:45 am
it’s a lot more likely that Obama can pass healthcare first, bring the economy back around, get reelected and then address these issues.
I agree with this. There is only so much the man can do and he’s made clear that healthcare is a top priority.
This doesn’t really excuse the state secrets claims though. There’s no reason for that. It doesn’t even really account for flipping on the release of the photos. I don’t think Dems or anyone else should “be patient” on these issues – they have nothing to do with politics (or at least they shouldn’t), and people are right to at least raise an eyebrow.
May 18th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Gay marriage is advancing the way it should: through state legislatures. If NY doesn’t go this year it may next year. OR, WA, MD, IL probably within 3 or 4 years. CA will reverse itself and then it’s over and the DoM act will go down.
I expect Obama, if he gets health care and is riding high polls a year from now will discover that his opinion has evolved. If he’s shaky in the polls and having some setbacks he’ll let it go until early in his second term.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:35 am
If Obama decides to go forward with something on gay rights (and I agree that it will be a year or two, after health care reform passes in some form or another), it seems far more likely that he will act first to get DADT dumped. That gives him a case where it is easy to show a serious national security justification (no more dumping specialists we seriously need), and avoid bringing in quite so much of the religious argument.
Sure, some religious conservatives will object to anything that even hints at acceptance of homosexuality. But nobody’s religion says anything specific about who can serve in the military. And, as Michael notes, the sate by state approach is providing lots of people with the opportunity to see that the world does not end when gay marriage is accepted. So look for DADT to go, probably in late 2010 or early 2011; and DOMA not until the second term.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Second Term? I am so disappointed in Obama I will vote third party. Bails out wall street, no one fired, no nothing. Car companies have to meet strict deadlines but not the financial institutions. Bankruptcy for the auto companies and a free ride for wall street. This is not the man I voted for. He has taken off his Obama mask and is Bush. Torture is now legal? What sacrifices are the Obamas making? Are they giving up some meals, trips to the doctor or dentist. Living in a tent city? Obama, what a disappointment!