Cheney Two, Obama Nothing, Clinton - a Thousand
By Ani on June 3, 2009 at 9:00 PM in Backtrack Obama, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Bush/Cheney, Current Affairs, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Flip Flopping, GLBT, Gay Rights, Hillary Clinton, Obama's Broken Promises, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
While I have long thought VP Dick Cheney was the devil incarnate, no one ever said he wasn’t a smart guy. Cheney was also arguably our most unpopular Vice President evah! He looked to be hiding out in a bunker most of the eight years President Bush was in office, and was probably lucky to slink away without jail time. Who’d’a thunk he’d be getting a big bump in the polls for defending Bush era national security decisions and their safety record. He also rocked our new President, a man of enormous personal popularity, back on his heels. Obama made the terrible mistake of elevating Dick Cheney to his own level by insisting on doing dueling speeches with him the week before on the topic of national security. Why President Obama would wish to draw more attention to Mr. Cheney, I will never know. Well, now, Cheney has trumped Obama again… and wait ‘til you hear how…on Gay Marriage. Yep. You heard me.
According to Jake Tapper of ABC News:
Cheney was asked at the National Press Club, “given recent events in Iowa and elsewhere, is some form of legalized gay marriage inevitable for the United States?”
“I think that freedom means freedom for everyone,” Cheney said.
“People ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish, any kind of arrangement they wish,” said the laconic former veep, whose daughter Mary is lesbian, and has a son, Sam, with her partner Heather Poe.
Cheney said “…The question of whether or not there ought to be a federal statute to protect this, I don’t support. I do believe that historically the way marriage has been regulated is at the state level. It has always been a state issue and I think that is the way it ought to be handled, on a state-by-state basis. … But I don’t have any problem with that. People ought to get a shot at that.”
I know that VP Cheney has a lesbian daughter and all, but let me put it to you this way, if the world’s most reactionary VP, a/k/a my name is Dick “just call me Mr. Neo Con” Cheney can make a statement as progressive as that – for him – what the hell excuse does our most progressive President evah have for not coming out in favor of gay marriage, or at the very least, at long last repealing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” – since he has an overwhelmingly Democratic congress and with his popularity, he clearly has the political capital to do it.
Unintentionally perhaps (tee hee), President Obama is receiving a not so gentle nudge from another quarter. Last month, our SHE-ro, Secretary of State Clinton vowed to confer “equal benefits to partners of homosexual US diplomats stationed overseas” (H/T to RRR Amy for her excellent story) and Clinton now takes this a step further:
Clinton vows to fight for gay rights abroad:
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed Monday to fight for gay rights, calling for all nations to stop violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Clinton made the appeal ahead of the 40th anniversary this month of New York’s Stonewall Riots, often seen as the launch of the US gay rights movement, in which gays and lesbians fought back against police who raided their bars.
“The example set by those fighting for equal rights in the United States gives hope to men and women around the world who yearn for a better future for themselves and their loved ones,” said Clinton, a former senator from New York.
While acknowledging that gays and lesbians still had a long path to equality in the United States, Clinton deplored that gays in some parts of the world live in constant fear of arrest or violence.
“The persecution of gays and lesbians is a violation of human rights and an affront to human decency, and it must end,” she said.
“As secretary of state, I will advance a comprehensive human rights agenda that includes the elimination of violence and discrimination against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Under President Barack Obama, the United States has switched gears from the previous George W. Bush administration by supporting a United Nations resolution calling for the global decriminalization of homosexuality.
Homosexuality is punishable by death in seven countries — Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Clinton in her statement saluted the service of “our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees in Washington and around the world.”
And what is the President doing? Tapper of ABC News reports POTUS Honors LGBT Pride Month by Not Supporting Same Sex Marriage, While Cheney Disagrees. Ouch!
Saying he’s “proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration,” President Obama issued a presidential proclamation Monday in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.
To LGBT activists, however, some of the omissions on his proclamation likely spoke louder than the words included.
Then, Tapper offers an UPDATE at the bottom of his post:
It turns out that Mr. Obama’s claim “to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration” isn’t accurate, since by April 1993 President Bill Clinton had nominated two openly gay Assistant Secretaries.
Double ouch! Always trying to omit Bill from the equation, isn’t he? And never mind the fact that Hillary Clinton has marched in every Gay Pride parade imaginable and has spoken out for Gay rights many times.
Mentioning his administration’s international efforts to decriminalize homosexuality, the President said he would continue to “support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans” — enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for gays and lesbians in the armed services.
…
That equal justice under law did not include, in the president’s recitation, perhaps the highest profile issue on the gay-dar – same sex marriage, or what LGBT activists call “marriage equality.”Interestingly, the presidential proclamation came the same day that Mr. Obama’s conservative nemesis, former Vice President Dick Cheney, seemed to say he supported same-sex marriage as long as the rules are determined on a state-by-state basis.
I am still agape at this: Dick Cheney trumping Obama on the gay marriage issue. I mean Hillary always trumped Obama on gay rights, women’s rights, too, of course, but Cheney? Certainly, it is easy for Mr. Cheney to talk now that he’s no longer in office and can do nothing to affect policy, but he clearly enjoys this limelight and as well, being a thorn in the President’s side. And good for Jake Tapper for making sure to point out the following in his article:
President Obama today also made no mention of when or how the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy would end, though he said it would be done “in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security.
“As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected,” the president said. “If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit.”
But Mr. President – you are the one leaving that promise unfulfilled. What about Dan Choi? You said you wished you could do more about his situation. Sir, you are the POTUS! And what does repealing DADT have to do with our national security? But I gotta love my girl Hill for her statements, which bear repeating:
“The persecution of gays and lesbians is a violation of human rights and an affront to human decency, and it must end,” she said.
“As secretary of state, I will advance a comprehensive human rights agenda that includes the elimination of violence and discrimination against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity.”
While the article quoting Secretary Clinton makes mention of the fact that this is Obama reversing Bush’s old policies, since this man has never actually participated in any Gay pride event prior to this, and gave his voters very mixed messages on Prop 8 in California, he is again making a show without the substance to back it up. Further, Bret Baier of FOX News discussed Cheney’s statements with his panel yesterday and they all felt Obama would shortly be coming under great pressure to act.
Come on, Mr. President. We’re waiting.
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By Sarah Palin (Release date: November 17. 2009)
Oh, Ani - you know it’s bad when Darth, um, I mean, Dick trumps Obama on an issue near and dear to the RHETORIC of the DNC!
And once again - who is walking the walk not just talk, talk, talk? Hillary, of course.
Great post, Ani!
From my “name” you know that I originally came to this site as a Hillary supporter.
I congratulate Hillary for her stand on gay rights. But she, just like Colon (mis-spelling intended) Powell, has taken on the role of selling policies she knows are wrong. How about putting Isreal in the doghouse? How about verifying Iran’s right to nuclear power?
When you lay down with dogs, you wake up with fleas.
JJ I don’t remember your name, but I remember the “lay down with dogs” comment and I remember it was always directed at Hillary. One might ask why you come to nq to vilify Hillary since this blog has always supported her. I’m not about to get into a shouting match with anyone over this again nor will I accuse you of never having been a Hillary supporter. I just wonder why people have to keep inflicting wounds, like Richard Wolfe in his new book. Commonly the continued insults are still coming from bots trying to convince themselves the lies they told about her were truth. Some have trouble with her as SoS because they feel her success will make Obama look better. I doubt Hillary thinks in those terms because I never believed she was looking for praise, only what’s best for America. She could have turned the job down and left it to Kerry or any one of the other incompetents Obama might have nominated in her stead then sat back and smiled when things went wrong, but if she had been that kind of person nq wouldn’t have supported her. She is our safety net and the one who is best able to prevent total disaster in foreign policy and in that arena his policies are very similar to his. In fact, you might even say he stole many of them for her. But will she lie for him as Powell did for Bush? No.
NObama only cares about himself…and what he can get out of being President…. he’s not really there to do any good for the people of this country! I mean hell, even Michelle has to have a photo op and wear $500 designer shoes to a soup kitchen event. Their the biggest fluff that’s ever set foot in the White House!
And a couple of years ago Don Imus got fired for a bit of humor that went awry concerning a black basketball player. It was poorly thought out and he was wrong. However, he was correct about Dickless Cheney, who he said was a war criminal and about Bush, who he said was just plain stupid. After that bit of character assassination, Imus left and MSNBC became the putrid bit of left-wing bilge it is today.
Who is better off?
Even worse, Joe had to leave his old one hour show and take the morning slot with that Mika muzzle next to him.
She is the worst thing to happen to a conversation in years. Interrupting grown ups with rude childish sighs and what not because something truthful might be said about Obama. Or something nice said about someone else.
To the original point. Cheney just painted Obama into a corner with his stance on gay rights and exposed Obama as a coward on the issue. Hopefully the Republicans can take the baton and run with it. Instead of taking up judgment at the foot of people’s beds as a platform solution.
Hillary, we all knew where she stood, and there she is still standing by her principles. Imagine that.
I`m sorry, Cheney did us a favor. And I hope he keeps doing us more favors and is more of a thorn in 0bama`s side.
Hillary is on Greta`s show. She has an 80% approval rating, Dr. Utopia doesn`t!
I think and hope Hillary has a plan… upstage the A-hole and come back to get him (politically) in 2012 when things are bad again because he F-ed up…
I love it when I hear how he has a 64% approval rating … hell it’s only been 150 days… let’s come back re-examine that number on day 600. Two years into this he’ll be toast…
I dont think the Dems will let Hillary run in 2012 and I dont think she would make a good independent. Remember she didnt go Independent last year, and many die hard Hillary supporters are not happy with her.
I just happen to be one of those Hillary supporters not happy with her.
I trully think Hillary Kissed Obama A$$ just a bit too much during the election and especially for the SOS job.
I think Hillary will look pretty damn good to the Democrats by 2012. I wouldn’t count her out… She didn’t take SoS job for the hell of it. I doubt she will stay SoS either… I look for her to move on in a few years. If you were a real Hillary supporter you’d not be pissed at her for taking SoS job. She’s setting herself up for the next move in her political career. I believe she cut herself loose from the Senate so she wouldn’t be aligned with NObama’s minions in there and she is much more effective as SoS. Look at her approval ratings now…even with Republicans! She’s showing she does have what it takes to be President. So, maybe you should reconsider your position on her…. You know when life hands you lemons you make lemonade. I think she’s doing a fine job making the lemonade right now and maybe will squeeze a little of it in his eye in the end… Karma is a bitch…
“I think she’s doing a fine job making the lemonade right now and maybe will squeeze a little of it in his eye in the end”
ROFL
Confused?
“just happen to be one of those Hillary supporters not happy with her.”
Forgive me, but I’m choking on this. Some stats on an earlier thread: 90% of Dems approve of Hillary and over 50% of Repubs. Die hard Hillary supporters, in my experience, are grateful she is there representing our country. Kissing his ass is not the same thing as keeping her word.
Hillary is more concerned with her image with the Democrats. Hillary practically sold Bill’s and her souls to be come SOS.
Do you guys really think that the Democrats will turn on Obama in 2012. Look at history guys, there have been very few times that a political party has turned on the standing president in favor of another candidate, no matter what their record was.
No, of course the Dems will not turn on Obama — they’re riding this out all the way to 2016. Hillary would never run against the incumbent. H would have to resign “for health reasons or to spend time with his family, blah blah blah” and literally annoint her for this to happen in 2012. I ain’t holding my breath.
But neither is Hillary kissing anyone’s ass. She actually gives a damn about this country and can be more effective serving within this Administration than being an outcast. There is a bigger picture here. How can anyone claim to have been a supporter of hers yet trash her using the same “She’s ambitious and power hungry, inauthentic” crap talking points the drive by media and his campaign used to smack talk her. Sorry. I’m not buying.
I am grateful we have an adult minding the store. Would you reather have Kerry or Richardson as SoS — or Biden????? Heaven forfend the gaffemeister would be in that position. Can’t you be happy she’s doing her best to serve the American people, even in less than ideal circumstances.
She always promised she would fight for the nominee no matter who that was. She kept her word. More than I can say for many in her own party. Or either party for that matter.
In the SOS process Hillary and Bill had to jump through a whole lot of hoops to ensure Hillary the position. Bill and Hillary had to turn over records and make promises that no other person that Obama picked had to make. If that is not kissing the BHO bottom then it sure came close.
Excuse me 2012, BS. Over the last fifteen years or more the Clintons have turned over more records and made more personal information public than anyone in the history of the world. They have done so at the request of Republicans and Democrats and they continue to serve our country.
Obama will never support GLR in public. It is against the Muslim religion and in many Muslim countries they stone them to death or hang them. How could he look at those leaders and brag that he comes from a Muslim BG, knows the prayers by heart, but that he supports gay rights?
He’s looking for their respect and admiration. Watch what would happen to abortion rights if anyone printed that Muslims women were having abortions. He’d have to stop that instantly. He’d go from pro-abortion to pro-life in a heartbeat. Then again I’m really angry at Obama today for endangering American citizens lives, so that may be the reason for my smart “A” comment. I just can’t believe he made all that information public, then went oops it was a mistake.
NObama is a moron and a jack ass…better face that now or be completely disappointed later. And I’m a Democrat saying this…
I’m still waiting for someone to tell me what are the bald faced lies Bill Clinton told about Barry during the campaign per Richard Wolffe’s new book?
I have to admit I enjoyed(?) listening to Dick Cheney the other night with his daughter Liz when they appeared on Greta. I am far from a conservative but I always appreciate listening to all sides of the political spectrum if it is within the confines of CIVIL political discourse. I love listening Charles Krauthammer when he appears on Special Report with Bret Baier.
Has anyone noticed that the Republicans are now backtracking and backpedaling on their raging Delusional Sotomayor Syndrome? Maybe they are realizing that they really need to examine the battles they want to fight as long as they know they can win them. I believe a memo was sent out within the last day to raise the bar on the discourse.
…meant to say “Sotomayor Derangement Syndrome”!
No, Bill Clinton didn’t tell any bald faced lies during the campaign at all. As you point out…
But you notice, he never says what any of those “lies” were. Typical. Accuse, then run away.
What can you expect from the leader of one of the worlds largest Muslim nations ?
AT uppity woman’s blog there is a post that extremist muslims beheaded a British man today and posted the video.
In the mean time backtrack is accepting gifts and talking to his best friends forever while they kill civilians.
Gee backtrack will you even say anything about this man’s death or will you keep quiet so your friends won’t be upset?
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
Seriously, is Barry that naive or stupid to think that this Kumbaya hand holding with the Muslim culture is actually going to change their hardcore beliefs?
Yes, he’s that stupid.
I can’t stand obama, and what’s our country is slowly becoming.
Shout out to Ani for a great post.
Thanks
Destardi!
I think he is that ARROGANT. He believe he can talk (con) people into anything since he is so special. He’s “The One” you know. And he completely buys into that label.
The only people conned by this juvenile idiot are ‘American’… I think the more objective ‘foreigners’ don;t buy into enabling his ego…
He is a narcissist. He thinks that all he has to do is show up and smile and everyone will fall into his line of thinking. (Hey, it worked during the campaign!) It never occurs to him that perhaps after the smile is gone that people will start to think about what he said, or didn’t say. He actually believes that all that is necessary to bring peace and love between the various religions is his presence. That is what makes narcissists so dangerous, they believe the crap they spew is reality. And some of them manage to convince others that it is as well. That’s how Obummer got elected, remember? So why wouldn’t he continue with a successful game plan?
You know the world is upside down when Dick Cheney takes the high road on an issue and the Democratic POTUS is still straddling the fence.
Of course, it could have been different with “you know who” in the WH. Coulda, woulda, shoulda.
Great piece, Ani. There’s a reason Hillary’s numbers are sky-high. And as the Obamatrons come out of their trance, they’ll know too. I just read a piece over at LR with a link to a letter from a “broken-hearted” Obama supporter, her delusion fractured.
Too little, too late, I’d say. No pity party from me that’s for sure.
NObama’s ego is what will eventually do him in… he has to be #1 on everything… If he were truly a real President… he wouldn’t feel the need to make comments about every news person or personality he doesn’t agree with…. NOR would he have entertained the whole “dueling speeches” thing. You just let people do what they do and you go about your own business. He will self destruct before the end of his first term because of his ego!
her delusion fractured…like so many busted toboggans when the snow melts away.
Peggy Sue, it must have strangely painful to read.
Great read Ani.
he’s not taking any high road; he just said he wants his daughter to go into politics…
nom, he appears to be taking the high road and who knows in comparison with nowaybama, he probably is. hehehe
Keep talking, Dick!
Yeah, too bad he didn’t say that during the Bush administration. Funny how now that he is retired, he comes out for gay marriage when he refused to comment on it while he was in office.
Good article Ani! How ironic is it that the POTUS is playing follow the leader with Cheney, of all people? My head’s spinning!
Cheney’s remarks could have a big impact on many Republicans, especially because of the way he framed his comments (and because of his popularity among die hards). Saying he’s for individual states deciding gay issues may appeal to their sense of Federalism. Saying he feels people should be “free to choose…” could hopefully pave the way for them to consider being laissez-faire about more than just commerce. Then again it could all have the opposite effect, causing blowhard “purists” to label him a RINO which seems to be one of their favorite words, self-defeating as it is though.
BTW if I were Jake Tapper I’d constantly be looking over my shoulder, considering the hypocritical thug he’s confronting. He seems to be the main guy among network news types to challenge the myth and BS of The One.
If you’re waiting, you can wait long. Obumble won’t make a move until the lame-stream media, to borrow a great name from Monica Crowley, blows enough smoke up his a** to point his opinion in some direction.
This jerkwad has told so many lies the White House dog handlers must have their hands full reminding him which lie is being spun in which direction at the moment.
Ani why did he engage Cheney? He is president, Cheney an ex-VP and unpopular and irrelevant. He even changed the schedule of his policy address to coincide with Cheney’s speech. How dumb is that? Cheney is a snake, but a smart one who has been around DC for many years so why open that door? I’m not totally surprised that he would support gay marriage since his daughter is in a long term relationship and now has a child. In 2004 his wife openly said she supported gay marriage and he didn’t demure.
I think it is an inherent weakness of his — he hates to be criticized and on some level, I think, feels insecure within himself not to rebut those criticisms. Unfortunately, all he does by this action is to elevate to greater importance the very person he is attempting to diminish by answering back.
hillary………resign from this administration…you are going to lose the respect of millions if you dont.
oh, please — I’m not buying what you’re selling here. Hillary is doing a great job. I think she has gained even more respect because of the great job she’s doing. Look what she is doing - even in the above post — she could not fight for gay rights for diplomats or internationally from the Senate and have the same effect. That creates pressure here too — don’t you see that? Smart girl, our Hill.
The really odd thing is that Cheney can say whatever he wants to say. When he says he supports torture, every one believes him. When he says he supports gay marriage, NO ONE believes him. He has one daughter who is not willing to sell her sole….(hmmm, as a spawn of Cheney, does she have one?) Now, he wants to have his other daughter willing, too, before the electrical connection to his pace maker comes undone and he goes to whereever it is that despicable creatures like him go. (but I digress)
Obama doesn’t have to really say that he supports gay marriage. Everyone believes he does.
Yeah, I exaggerate but not by much.
“Obama doesn’t have to really say that he supports gay marriage. Everyone believes he does.”
Actions speak louder than words, and so far - zilch.
look james, sigh, cheney is more believeable than nowaybama! deal with it!
Have we heard from Obama his condemnation of Sharia Law that makes women slaves, punishable by death or extreme violence in Afganistan and elsewhere? I can’t remember hearing him say anything about it as he props up Karzai’s gov’t.
WELL done, Ani! I love when you nail it.
Thanks for this great piece, and your title is priceless!!
He isn’t for the people. He’s for himself - an opportunistic chameleon.
Obama says he’s for gay rights yet he has never made any efforts. He hasn’t even marched in a single gay parade. Last year, he was invited but chose to go and get a haircut instead.
That’s a standard for him…
Really well-done post. I hadn’t caught the Cheney marriage statement earlier. My goodness. Thanks Ani.
And all without rhetorical empty speech and a teleprompter!
After 8 years hating bush, cheney, hannity, rush, etc…..I now find myself taking a second look and now I support anybody that has the gonads to speak up against that fraud, obutt-hole. In addition, I will never be a democrat again. How can any democrat support the whole rotten obama administration and anyone that does is a phony. admit it.
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