Comments on: 9 U.S. senators to Harkin: Time to move on ENDA http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/06/19/9-u-s-senators-to-harkin-time-to-move-on-enda/ the gay community's news source Sat, 25 May 2013 19:43:01 +0000 hourly 1 By: Sen. Kirk Pushes for ENDA Vote « DCBigPappa's Blog http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/06/19/9-u-s-senators-to-harkin-time-to-move-on-enda/#comment-52479 Sen. Kirk Pushes for ENDA Vote « DCBigPappa's Blog Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:08:04 +0000 http://www.washingtonblade.com/?p=43494#comment-52479 [...] Pushes for ENDA Vote Leave a Comment Posted by Robert Turner on June 25, 2012 From the Washington Blade (June 19, 2012) [Sen. Mark] Kirk’s support for both a markup and floor vote on ENDA puts him [...]

]]> By: brian http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/06/19/9-u-s-senators-to-harkin-time-to-move-on-enda/#comment-51567 brian Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:44:59 +0000 http://www.washingtonblade.com/?p=43494#comment-51567 ***
“HRC supports advancing the bill in the smartest, most strategic fashion and at the most opportune time,” Sainz said. “We will continue to work with our ally organizations as well as fair-minded members of both houses of Congress to find that time.”
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The question of whether the president should issue an *OFFICIAL* ENDA Executive Order is much closer that that of the president’s decision to express his *PERSONAL* opinion in favor of civil marriage equality. As it turned out, the president’s personal opinion moved public opinion *FOR* marriage equality big time, and nearly overnight, especially among African Americans.

IMO, an ENDA E.O. would not likely be a big opportunity for Romney and Republicans. But I also respect the question, “Why risk that, now?”

However, the question of getting Democratic Party Senators– a number of whom are up for re-election this year– to go on record regarding ENDA is a much, much closer question, still.

The likelihood that Dem senators and/or new Dem senatorial candidates would then have well-funded Republican/ Tea Party opponents run despicable, transphobic negative ads against them ought to give all of us pause. Moreover, the very significant risk of losing ENDA by forcing votes now, could kill its chances for another two years, for example. And losing more Dem senators is not a good strategy for confirming pro-LGBT, progressive judges, either.

Leaving ENDA’s timing to the Senate’s Democratic leadership, and following HRC’s more careful approach regarding timing makes sense– at this time, anyway. Repeal of DADT happened in the 2010 lame duck session, folks should recall.

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