CNN: Part 2, Sirius XM's Michelangelo Signorile and others Debate Obama's Speech to Gay Group

This is part two of the spirited debate between me and Dan Savage, Lt. Dan Choi and Hilary Rosen about President Obama's speech on LGBT rights to the Human Rights Campaign Dinner on the eve of the National Equality March.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Michelangelo Signorile
• Hilary Rosen
• Dan Savage
• Dan Choi
• President Obama
• Human Rights Campaign

[MaryJesusJoseph]

Hilary Rosen and the HRC and groups like that are so afraid of losing their access to mainstream politicians that they are absolutely useless. They won't push at all.

[rg0057]

3:35 How dare Hilary accuse Dan Choi of doing nothing and complaining.  Isn't SHE the one doing nothing and complainig?

[wolfinleather]

I've always wondered why no one brings up were african americans happy with incremental rights? Did they ever stop being vocal. Them saying 10 years... NO it's been 40+ years since STONEWALL! 40 Years and ONE BILL? ONE LAW? Really... 40 Years it's time for incrementalists to stuff it! It's time for our rights NOW not next year not 10 years from now... NOW!

[fiveb85]

If incrementalism is "part of the process," so is constant pressure from the public. It's the JOB of grassroots organizations to keep saying "this is not enough" until it finally is. There is absolutely no value in shutting up and waiting patiently, as Hilary suggests. The second you do that is the second that even this half-assed incrementalism will stop.

[fiveb85]

I have a problem with Hilary's logic. Laws take time to pass, therefore the President and Congress should go ahead and take their sweet time even starting to get the ball rolling? If anything, the fact that laws take time to pass is all the more reason for the President to start putting pressure on Congress NOW; all the more reason that Congress should start drafting legislation NOW. If it really takes so long, the last thing we should we should do is patiently wait for them to get STARTED.

[chelseatown118]

As a lesbian, I'd like to answer the question about gay men vs. gay women on action/patience and say that some lesbians, like myself, are for quick action NOW! I'm sick of patience! The president and congress need to act now!

[MaryJesusJoseph]

So, civil rights should be issue #300,001?

[MaryJesusJoseph]

Trouble is, what if the Dems lose the house and senate next year? What then?  Should we be glad they waited? We may never have this chance again.

[rkcoon]

Im not saying walk away from it - i am saying dont expect one man to take the proverbial pile of dog crap that currently is equal rights - among what, 300,000 other things Obama has to fix - and turn it into gold overnight. It wont happen, and you risk alienating the guy your expecting to do the work for you on the issues at hand. Support the guy, dont admonish him cause he isnt going as fast as you folks want.

[rg0057]

OK, rkcoon, how many years does the Democratic House have? If Obama can't even get his friends to work on omnibus civil rights legislation, can't even get them to work on more than one issue at a time, what will his track record be with a Republican House? After 50 years, the time is NOW.

[MaryJesusJoseph]

It bothers me when someone (in this case Hillary Rosen) who was given the majority of time gets on someone else for interrupting her.