Thursday, May 12, 2011
Today, Caroline Kennedy became the 100,000th signer on the Freedom to Marry’s Open Letter urging President Barack Obama to support marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples.
“Falling in love, getting married, and building a family is part of the American dream. I believe that all Americans, including committed gay and lesbian couples, should have the opportunity to pursue that dream.”
Caroline Kennedy joins a growing list of prominent Americans participating in the Freedom to Marry’s ‘Say I Do’ campaign. They include such high-profile people as civil rights icons Julian Bond, Chairman Emeritus, NAACP, and Helen Fabela Chavez (widow of Cesar Chavez and founder of Cesar E. Chavez Foundation); actors Anne Hathaway, Jane Lynch, Eric McCormack, Martin Sheen, Lily Tomlin, and Verne Troyer; television host Ellen Degeneres and her wife, actor Portia Degeneres; musicians Sara Bareilles, Lance Bass, Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper, Mya, LeAnn Rimes and Rufus Wainwright; Chris Hughes (co-founder of Facebook), Sean Parker (co-founder of Napster), and media/entertainment executive David Geffen.
President Obama has repeatedly said he supports the homophobic, separate, but equal civil unions as a remedy for gay and lesbian couples who want to marry, but he does not support gay marriage. Mr. Obama’s quaint position puts him at odds with the majority of the American people who now support gay marriage.
I find it telling that President Obama had the courage to give the order to the U.S. Navy SEAL team to locate and assassinate the 9/11 terrorist mastermind, Osama bin Laden, but he lacks the cajones to stand up to the religious right. Mr. Obama needs to do better by the LGBT community or I will not support his reelection bid in 2012.
From the Left 
Good on Caroline Kennedy. I bet if her father, John F. Kennedy were alive today, he would support gay marriage. As well as her uncle, the late Robert Kennedy. Did you know the late Ted Kennedy also supported gay marriage? These are good Americans. It’s a shame President Obama has decided to embrace Ronald Reagan as his political role model. Talk about scraping the bottom of the pond.
Obama is hamstrung thanks to DOMA. He said he didn’t support DOMA and yet when the Democrats controlled the House, the senate and the Executive, Obama failed to get it repealed. Oh yeah, he spent his entire first year as president courting Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe in his effort to get national healthcare passed. Even that he fucked up because he dropped Single-Payer. I have to say, I’m not impressed with Obama and I’m reminded of this everything I pay $4.19 a gallon for gasoline.
Caroline Kennedy is a true liberal. It’s genetic. Barack Obama, is a DINO Democrat and hardly what any same person would call a liberal. I’m sure he consults with his handlers before be wipes his ass more than twice after taking a shit.
Brigadoon — ROFL! I have to agree.
What became clear to the gay community early on was the fact that Obama never had a template for advancing LGBT rights. He talks pretty and tosses a few crumbs our way but there’s little of substantial value we can point to and say, yes we can.
Our “fiercest advocate” is just Bush’s third term.
vicodaniel1987@yahoo.com
If this president were just half as concerned about LGBT equality as he is Muslim equality, the country would be better off.
But like Rachel said. Obama couldn’t get DOMA repealed when his own party controlled the entire circus called Washington.
Thank you Caroline Kennedy for your support. You’re swell.
And to President Obama, fuck you.
Nothing sends shivers of fear down the spines of politicians like “teh gays.” President Obama is no better. From all I’ve read about him, he was far more gay-friendly back in his Chicago days. But once he reached for national office, he threw the gay community under the bus. So typical.
Obama! Get with the program. Why do they always suck up to the right wing nuts?
Caroline Kennedy makes her late, great father and mother proud!
Caroline’s Uncle Teddy would be shocked at how little Barack Obama has delivered to the gay community after promising them the moon and the stars in 2008. I know I am.
Actually, my take is the opposite: I don’t support Government defining what a marriage is. I think ANY couple should be wed in a civil ceremony, which leaves marriage to the clerics.
“Legally” married, I should have said. If a couple wants a “marriage” ceremony, they’d be free to pursue it.
It’s curious to me that Obama had the guts to take down Osama bin Laden but he still can’t get his shit together when it comes to gay marriage.
He’s a cultural coward, IMHO.
Love Caroline Kennedy. She’s a gem.
Obama never had a template for dealing with “teh gays.” Christopher blogged about this a few years back, saying something to the effect these Democrats always come a calling with their hands open asking for donations, and asking us to contribute our creativity and of course, our time to go door-to-door, but once in office, they can’t be bothered. Obama is just the latest in a long line of Democrats who think they own us like field slaves. Not this time, Mr. President.