Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Gay Pawns

When it comes to gay marriage, says the Washington Post, Dick Cheney is resolutely left of the Obama administration's stance on the issue. Well tickle me pink.

While our President hails the achievements of the LGBT community and, in his words, is the first president "to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration," he still refuses to support gay marriage and prefers to tow the Republican/Democrat agenda of civil unions. At this point it's fair to say that neither gays or conservatives want civil unions - it's an all or nothing proposition.

So, what's up with Dick Cheney getting air time...again...on another issue that helped define his administration? A few weeks ago the former vice president was sparring with Obama over torture, saying that waterboarding has kept us safe, now Tricky Dick v2 is tackling gay marriage and next week he'll be swapping strudel recipes with Rachael Ray. Me thinks the shamed former VP doth protest too much.

While significant gains have been made in the gay rights movement over the years we're still nothing more than a hot button issue that sells news. Politicians, for the most part, feel no obligation to us - they stump for our issues on the campaign trail but once they're in power they prefer to sweep us under the rug. I'm talking to you, former President Clinton, he of Don't Ask Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act. Rudy Giuliani used to march in the Gay Pride parade here in New York until he decided to run for President.

That's why I've stopped listening to what politicians have to say about the issue. They'll do whatever the public tells them to do when it comes to gay marriage and gay rights in general - so the strides made in Vermont, Iowa and perhaps New York do matter and can turn the course of events throughout the country. But the hot air and posturing from our nation's leaders is all a show - gays, you mean nothing to them.

2 comments:

Rob said...

Cheney was speaking at the Gerald Ford Foundation Journalism Awards function. He was asked questions from the audience after he spoke. He also reiterated that Chairman Obama only released half the story with the much tortured "torture memos" and had asked again that the results of the EIT be released. Why shouldn't we get the whole story instead of the manufactured story and feigned outrage of the liberals?

And in what way has Cheney been "shamed"?

Anonymous said...

I have to say that I think it's somewhat hypocritical of the Obama administration to be so focused on Cuba and their need to improve human and civil rights in their country when hardworking, moral Americans are prevented from marrying and living the "American dream" every day. Pay attention to what's going on in your own backyard, please.