Comments on: Mehlman among speakers at secret gay donor conference

By: DRL

DRL — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:51:27 +0000

These types of strategy sessions and donor sessions are essential for the GLBT community to continue progress. Criticism of Obama is perfectly legitimate, but some of us who lived through much worse times and fought like hell and sacrificed careers to increase GLBT rights also deserve to have at least a moment to appreciate what has been done – Ted Olson and Ken Mehlman – I can’t overlook their past, but I can appreciate their current efforts.

By: I'm Just Sayin'

I'm Just Sayin' — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:14:23 +0000

May-be, May-be not. An EO accomplishes little unless you’re the person currently living in fear that you are about to lose your job because of your sexual orientation. To that person, a year is a lifetime. I would hate to think that in a room of wealthy donors debating strategy that regular working people are seen as collateral damage.

The problem here is of the President’s own making caused by his penchant for hyperbole. He is getting called out for his inaction on the ENDA EO because of the tough talk he was throwing down back in October. If you are going to rail about a dysfunctional Congress and boldly proclaim that “where they won’t act, you will,” and challenge members of your administration to look for actions you can take without congress to improve the lives of Americans, then you “may” get some criticism when they do and then you don’t.

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:35:23 +0000

Tim Gill’s group of donors funded the majority of work to get marriage across the finish line in New York and maintain it in other states. A process which has included getting anti-equality democrats out of office (Fight Back PAC). They are not shy about punishing people who stand in our way. They haven’t pressured Obama because an Executive Order accomplishes little and would be undone in a second when Romney takes office. So quit whining about how other gay donors spend their resources and go to work for Obama. If you think it’s bad that an EO for ENDA wouldn’t happen, imagine Romney appointing anti-equality justices to all levels of the Federal Judiciary. All pending DOMA, Prop 8 and adoption cases would face an awful future setting the movement back decades. Or you could wait a year for an Obama win, get a legislative ENDA and then you wouldn’t look like your strategy is so short sighted….just sayin’

By: I'm Just Sayin'

I'm Just Sayin' — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:33:37 +0000

Have to agree with Cicada. Gay wallets should stay locked until the ink hits an ENDA executive order. I hope that the attendees realize that whining and grumbling while you write your check is not a strategy for change.

By: Skeptical Cicada

Skeptical Cicada — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:27:05 +0000

Agreed on sell-out Winnie. I assume Mehlman was there not because of anything he did during the Bush administration but because of something he did to reassure Collins and others that any anti-gay fundraising they faced over DADT repeal could be matched by pro-gay fundraising.

By: Skeptical Cicada

Skeptical Cicada — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:06:54 +0000

Unless Plouffe brought a signed executive order barring discrimination by federal contractors and Obama’s sworn endorsement of marriage equality, he can forget it. Wallet locked.

By: Michael Bedwell

Michael Bedwell — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:28:12 +0000

Correction: should read “…Party’s nomination….”

By: Michael Bedwell

Michael Bedwell — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:26:18 +0000

What the hell was Mehlman doing on the DADT panel when I’m not aware of his being involved except having kept silent while Bush kicked out thousands of gays—when lead-repeal sponser Murphy wasn’t on the panel? [His run for PA AG is over, BTW, having lost the parties nomination in last week's primary.] But that’s far more digestible than the elevation yet again of shameless Obambot Winnie Stachelberg who has bragged about having fashioned the dagger that was stabbed in the back of gay and lesbian service members, and used to gut the original repeal bill AT THE DEMAND OF PENTAGON BIGOTS [vs. her disingenous, UNPROVEN claims that members of Congress were the cause]. Thus, we got repeal without EQUALITY in the military. She shouldn’t be put on panels; she should be put on a plane out of town, and the LGBT Movement in perpetuity.

By: Mehlman among speakers at secret gay donor conference | QClick Radar

Mehlman among speakers at secret gay donor conference | QClick Radar — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:56:31 +0000

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