HRC and SLDN

UPDATE: The demise of the WashBlade today (Monday, Nov. 16) means the Blade link doesn't work.

Good news -- Barney Frank says DADT may be repealed in 2010, according to an article in the Washington Blade.

But if you wonder why much of our agenda has languished in Congress over the past decade, two quotes shed light on our time spent wondering in the wilderness.

On the question of the timing of DADT repeal, first we have HRC:

"Asked about Frank’s prediction for the repeal strategy, Allison Herwitt, legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign, said her organization 'always takes its cues from its congressional allies.'"

Check. We wait for "cues" from the folks who are supposed to represent us about when they will act to end injustice against us. Got it.

Now, let's throw it over to Kevin Nix, spokesperson for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network:

"Nix also said SLDN is urging President Obama to include repeal as part of his defense budget request, which is expected to be delivered to Congress early next year."

Wait. What? SLDN is "urging" action by the government on our behalf? Actually "urging?" Not waiting for "cues" before asking on bended knee to stop injustice against us? You mean they're not letting others tell us "When we say so, and not before that?"

How impatient of them! Hopefully, someday they will cease being political novices and fall in line with the establishment. Then they will stop rocking the boat and making our "Congressional allies" queasy from having to actually follow through on the promises they made to us when they took our money and our votes.

Meanwhile, let's sit here on our hands and hope the "cues" will come soon.

Bush Hearts...

Barney Frank?

Gay Issues Not "Real" to Dems?

That's what one unnamed Dem "insider" told the WashBlade:

But the Republican National Committee could be expected to focus on this issue by portraying Democrats who favor repealing DOMA as advocating for gay marriage “through the back door,” [get it? -- Scott] according to one Democratic Party activist and insider who asked not to be identified.

“This can only distract from the real issues the Democrats want to focus on in 2008, namely the Iraq war and the highly unpopular Bush administration,” the party activist said. [emphasis added]

Okay, I already assumed gay issue weren't a priority to the Dems, but I had no idea they weren't even considered "real."

In the same article, Rep. Barney Frank says we shouldn't split hairs with the Dems because they are great and the Republicans are "terrible."

Wrong...the Dems just sound better than the Repubs. When it comes to action (DOMA, DADT, Marriage Equality, UAFA) they're about the same.

And I disagree with Frank -- it's precisely because the Dems say they are for us when asking for our money and votes that we should hold their feet to the fire when looking at their records...and considering future support. I expect our issues to be as real to them in the Oval Office or Senate floor as they seem to be at their fundraising receptions.

I'm just not holding my breath.