One of the most memorable moments for many liberal activists from Monday’s inauguration came with President Obama’s remarks on gay rights. Obama made two references to gay rights during his speech; the first mention (Stonewall) came juxtaposed with mention of Seneca Falls and Selma, locations famous for advances in women’s rights and civil rights, respectively. Obama’s second mention was far more overt:
It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law — for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.
Quietly yesterday, however, Obama press secretary Jay Carney tempered those remarks. The Washington Examiner reports:
The White House reaffirmed the president’s position that the issue should be decided by the states, rather than the federal government.
“The president believes that it’s an issue that should be addressed by the States,” Carney asserted at the White House Press Briefing today when asked by a reporter about the issue.
Before the election (and before Obama’s “evolution” on gay marriage became complete) I expressed doubts about the depth of Obama’s dedication to the cause off of which he has fundraised heavily. As the situation for gays across the world in Egypt, Iran, and Libya (to name a few) continues to deteriorate, President Obama’s dedication to the cause of gay rights seems to only extend to giving lip service to vague promises of “equality” in the U.S. without any tangible policy advancements or proposals attached to them. While it may cost Obama too much political capital to move gay marriage to the forefront of his agenda, if Obama were truly dedicated to the cause of gay rights, perhaps his focus, even if it’s just in the form of talk, should extend to the human rights abuses suffered by gays worldwide.
"….the human rights abuses suffered by gays worldwide." Of course. And addressing this topic means that one has to offend the entire Muslim World and most of Africa. This is why the Left finds itself restricted to beating up, with particular venom, on Republicans and Israel, the only really safe targets for them. It's so much more sane to have a less proscribed view of the world.
President Obama's war on the Judeo-Christian tradition and his war on religious freedom and religious liberty in this country continues.
Does the editorial board of Commentary believe that homosexuals not having "marriage equality" in the United States is equivalent to being threatened with death in Islamic nations?
The only people the Pr. will scold are the IL Jews; forget the defense of homosexuals. Remember that he is a strong Islamophil. There, homosexuality is forbidden.