“Two ways to look at Islamic terrorism: One is a threat that has to be taken out, as it relates to creating a strategy that calls it a war. Or we view it as a law enforcement operation, where people have rights. I think the Clinton administration made a mistake, of thinking bin Laden had to be viewed from a law enforcement perspective. Similarly, President Obama’s policies seem to be focused on that as well.”So is he suggesting that Bill Clinton is the blame for bin Laden?
Bill saying that it's time to end DOMA
In 1996, I signed the Defense of Marriage Act. Although that was only 17 years ago, it was a very different time. In no state in the union was same-sex marriage recognized, much less available as a legal right, but some were moving in that direction. Washington, as a result, was swirling with all manner of possible responses, some quite draconian. As a bipartisan group of former senators stated in their March 1 amicus brief to the Supreme Court, many supporters of the bill known as DOMA believed that its passage “would defuse a movement to enact a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, which would have ended the debate for a generation or more.” It was under these circumstances that DOMA came to my desk, opposed by only 81 of the 535 members of Congress.
On March 27, DOMA will come before the Supreme Court, and the justices must decide whether it is consistent with the principles of a nation that honors freedom, equality and justice above all, and is therefore constitutional. As the president who signed the act into law, I have come to believe that DOMA is contrary to those principles and, in fact, incompatible with our Constitution.
Mr. President:
Please accept my apology for interrupting your speech at Netroots Nation. I was raised in the South, as you were, and my mother taught me better. But once in a while, the circumstances of history throw manners out the window.
I know you weren't able to hear my full question. In a setting such as a convention hall, it's not exactly conducive to a productive conversation. What I said was, "Mr. President, will you call for the repeal of DOMA and Don't Ask, Don't Tell right now? Please." At least a little of my Southern upbringing came through.
The moment kind of overcame me and I didn't set out to interrupt your speech. But you need to understand that you have been an inspiration to me. You are what inspired me to become involved in politics. I believed you when you said to the gay community, "I have a vision for America and you are a part of it." And I still believe it.
You are such a passionate person and I love that about you. When you heard me yell from the audience at Netroots Nation, probably all you heard was "DOMA and Don't ask, Don't Tell" and assumed that someone was chastising you for having signed them into law, but that's not what I was doing.
Your defense of why you signed them was unnecessary because we all understand the politics and the reality of how it came to be. I wasn't seeking an explanation.
I was hoping that you would take the opportunity to strongly express your support for repealing both of those laws and to help make it a reality. You are in a unique position to explain why now is the time to repeal them. You can help change the political dynamic and usher in the vision that you held in 1992 and that I believe you still hold today. Again, it's just hard to express that when shouting a question from the audience.
You said, pointing your finger at me "You couldn't deliver me any support in the Congress." Perhaps today you could help President Obama in his effort to be a fierce advocate for the gay community. I know your legacy is important to you and I hope you understand that it didn't end when you left the White House. These issues are clearly important to you and you regret their being a part of your legacy. But you can be an important part of changing it and your legacy will reflect that.
So, I hope you'll stop dwelling on the past on DOMA and DADT and be a champion today and in the near future for their repeal. Will you leave the past as it is and help create a more fair and just future? I know you believe that it is the way it should be, but will you say it and become a champion for it?
The gay community will not be able to achieve this on its own. We need you more than we ever have. Will you be there for us?
With much respect,
Lane Hudson
Tapper: Former President Bill Clinton recently said that he's basically in support of same-sex marriage. "I think it's wrong," he said, "for someone to stop someone else from getting involved in same-sex marriage." Has President Obama heard these comments? Does he have a reaction? And why is Bill Clinton wrong about this issue?
Gibbs: Well, I'm not going to get into anybody's opinion -- I'm not going to criticize anybody's opinion, least of all a former President of the United States, on something like this. I am not clear whether the President has seen that. I don't know where that was from, so I don't know if the President has seen it.
But President Obama holds a different opinion?
Gibbs: President Obama holds the same opinion he has earlier today.
Which is that same-sex marriage is wrong.
Gibbs: He does not support it. He supports civil unions.
Why does he feel differently than President Bill Clinton?
Gibbs: Because they don't agree on the issue. (Laughter.) I've not obviously spent a lot of --
That's not really an explanation of why he feels differently. That's another word for it.
Gibbs: Well, I mean, I'm happy to -- I mean, I think the President has answered this question a number of times. I can't form a basis for why former President Clinton -- I've obviously not had a conversation with him on this issue, so I don't know what -- it's hard for me to compare some of this because I don't have the basis by which he's making that decision.
I don't know about those questions. It felt like Jack was saying Obama should think like Clinton and if Clinton supports it, then he should too.
Why do they hold different opinions? I'll give you 2
“He's crossing protests by gay and lesbian people and labor,” said Jim Brady, 48, of Hillcrest, who held an American flag during the rally. “We just can't support this business.”
“Check out, don't check in!” and “LGBT, we deserve equality!” the protesters chanted, referring to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Who knows if this hurts Clinton's star power, I doubt it will scratch the surface.
So today, there will be a protest outside the hotel. Maybe Clinton will come out and talk to the angry gays and allies. He needs some good press.
