I'll say it and put it on the carpet... Some of our gay bloggers and activists played a decent role in the Republican win last week.
They can't deny it. After all they did in order to hold Obama and Dems accountable, their actions took on a powerful negative effect. I will highlight a few of these actions from the past 2 years:
- Showtime! Ever since Obama was elected, several folks were all over CNN, MSNBC and the internet, dooming Obama's actions on the LGBT community. Dan Savage and Dan Choi, could be found any news outlet, pushing a lot of their anger, but never offering many solutions.
- Blog, Rant, Blog- Pam Spaudling, John Aravosis, David Mixner and journalist Kerry Eleveld spent the majority of their blogs or posts about Obama/Dems failing at everything Gay. In fact, they blogged more negative posts on Obama/Dems than positive. After a while, a faithful reader of their work would be convinced that Obama hated Gay people. I'm not saying they should be all roses and unicorns about Obama, but they could have at least threw a dog a bone.
- Boycotts- There were at least 3 DNC boycotts, trying to make gays close the gAyTM. It didn't really work, but it did send the message to everyone that was watching.
- Attacking within. There were so much infighting within our activists. Without strong leadership, everyone with after everyone. The usual target was HRC. In fact, the online Town Hall meeting of LGBT bloggers spent most of their time attacking HRC and yet, STILL not putting out many solutions.
- getEQUAL- They could have been great, but their breakout performance left many confused and bitter. I hope they will get better in time.
- Confusion/Half-truths/partial stories - John Aravosis was a puppetmaster. He basically spat out a lot of foolishness, that critical thinking person could easily see through. However, his popularity allowed him to manipulate many folks into believing in his crap. Only a few LGBT activists and writers called him out, only a few.
- No accountability on the quality of the info spewed out by some LGBT bloggers/activists. And if you challenged them, you were attacked by many of their drones.
- Presenting the LGBT Civil Rights movement as a quick fix. If anything, the Civil Rights movement in the 60s should have taught us that this will take time.
- Not educating ourselves. I believe some us took a lot info for granted and not challenge the validity of the content or the credibility of the writer.
We really did a number on ourselves, we really did. And instead of claiming that it didn't happen, we need to own it, so we can move forward and not go down this path again.
9 comments:
I see it this way:
Two years ago Obama called himself our "fierce advocate", and then took office and left the fierce back in Chicago.
Yes, he has done many things for the LGBT community, but he has also left many things undone.
Did I switch sides and vote R this time because of him? Not on your life, because I know that my best shot for full equality lies on the D side...or perhaps the bipartsian side.
But I can be angry and annoyed and bothered by the lack of fierceness.
It's like DavidDust said, and I'll paraphrase: Imagine the world today, and LGBT rights, under a McCain/Palin White House?
Yeah, sends shudders up my spine, too.
So, I am annoyed by those who switched sides, or even worse, didn't vote, because Obama lost the fierce, but I can't say I totally blame them.
There's blame on both sides.
I wish I could argue with you, but the fact is I don't read any of those blogs you mentioned. I like Pam very much, but I cannot stand her wife so I avoid the blog.
I would like to say that I think even if all the homos lined up lock-step behind the Dems and Obama, few if any of the contests would have come out any differently. We have not seen a political landslide the size of last week's in nearly a century. Our robust discussions about LGBT issues neither caused it nor accelerated it. But it did get people thinking about the issues and talking about them, and that cannot be all bad.
I do agree that there is blame on both sides. I was just floored that the same folks who led a lot of the attacks, won't own any of the fallout.I would respect them more if they did, vs. running from it.
There is blame on both sides but I liken this to black people who complain about him not doing enough for the black community.
When he took the oath of office it was for President of the UNITED STATES...not President of Gay or black America.
In two years he's done more for LGBT's than any other President in history. Fierce advocate for LGBT's? Maybe not. Ally? HELL YES!
Hell will freeze before I ever vote for a ReTHUGlican. And any gay who does deserves whatever he or she gets...too bad we have to suffer with them.
I voted for Democrats, and urged my readers to do the same
However, I don't think gay bloggers should be blamed for criticizing the President. What should they have done, pretended that Obama was doing a great job on behalf of the LGBT community?? Because the truth is Obama did NOT do a good job of advocating for our rights. Yeah, he might have done a little more that the guys who came before him, but that's not saying much.
Bottom line: President Obama made promises to us - and failed to deliver. Those bloggers simply held Obama accountable for failing to do what he promised to do.
Furthermore, John Aravosis (who I know you can't stand) was the one who said if we don't get all of this stuff (DADT, DOMA, ENDA) done with Democratic majorities in Congress it won't happen. Because once the Republicans come to town, NOTHING will get done on behalf of the LGBT community. And John Aravosis was right - and I remember you criticizing him for saying this. But he was RIGHT.
People kept saying "give Obama some time" - but unfortunately time is up and we have been left out in the cold. That's not John Aravosis' fault - that's President Obama and the Democratic leadership's fault.
Honey, you know I love you to death, but this "let's cheer for Obama no matter what" thing is getting old. I'll start cheering when he gives me a reason to cheer.
XOXOXOXO
I agree that they should criticize the President, but their methods were questionable. I think they went beyond criticism.
Also I know others are angry, but I'm not completely there yet. I feel that he has time to fulfill his promises. But, thanks for still loving me, David.
The foolishness of last week isn't exactly the result of the idiocy of some LGBT bloggers. It was the result of the lack of patience and incoherence of some people in this country. The fact is there are too many inpatient individuals in the LGBT community speaks volumes of their antics. Yeah, more could have been done, but mostly policies involving improving the economy. We are still dealing with a sluggish economy and regardless of how much some LGBTs wants to see the wheels of times jump leaps and bounds, there still people whom can't find a steady job to support themselves or their families. There are still things that need to be accomplished that regardless of how some feel about LGBT issues, we need to get this nation's economy back on track. Sorry but the truth hurts, but as far things LGBT goes it's going to have to wait until we can afford to keep our lights on and roofs over our heads.
Another thing, the President only has the power of the pen and the ability to advocate. I'm one whom realizes the blame lies ironically with the Senate more than anything else, which is the house of Congress that is still in Democratic control. Until we can get more senators on board to push key legislation through the Senate without it lying dead on the floor for years or wind up weaker than an anorexic then regardless of how much of a "LGBT fierce advocate" is in the White House then it will continue to be more of the same.
I would have to believe that the "fierce" that got lost did so with good reason. I think there was a conscious effort to plot a long range strategy. The sour puss Dems in the Senate did not support him and his ideals. That made (and makes) him seem weaker and less fierce than he actually is.
The political machine is too entrenched in our system. It's designed to maintain, not progress. What we really need is to upgrade the entire system. Two parties polarize. And over the years, there has been greater and greater polarity. Repubs capitalize on that and use fear to maintain the system as it is in fear that changing will make ti worse. And in doing so, have managed to work for the extremely wealthy, and help them concentrate their wealth. While at the same time using fear to intimidate the poor into protecting their chance for wealth. Which is an empty a dream as it is a promise. But our lack of education makes us believe that someday, we might be welcome in the club. Ain't going to happen.
So many things are wrong, it's hard to make all the gears move in any direction at all.
The bottom line is we need the Senate to do something now. You're suppose to use a wake up call to wake up. They appear to be lying down and waiting to be cast off and cast out. Now that's wimpy! Truly.
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