At the 58th annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington today, President Barack Obama finally spoke about the pending "kill the gays" bill in Uganda, calling it "odious."
We may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are, whether it is here in the United States or, as Hillary mentioned, more extremely in odious laws that are being proposed most recently in Uganda.
Gay and lesbian groups and straight allies have been quick to praise him for it.
Wayne Besen at Truth Wins Out, one of the organizers of the American Prayer Hour, a progressive Christian response to the breakfast created by the C Street group, "The Family," who have influenced the Ugandan legislation, issued a glowing statement:
We applaud President Obama for having the courage to confront those responsible for the heinous anti-gay bill in Uganda, said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. We hope that the President's laudable stand makes it clear to Family members in the United States and Uganda that the world is watching. Religion can no longer be used to justify bigotry, intolerance and persecution anywhere on the face of the earth.
UCC pastor and blogger Rev. Chuck Currie gushed, "We are fortunate in the United States to have a president of deep faith who is willing to defend human rights."
I watched the speech this morning and I can say, without a doubt, that the gay and lesbian community has very low expectations of this president if this tepid expression of disgust over this pending law is something we should be cheering. He mentioned it only in passing and while he called it "odious" he didn't actually say he condemned it. He didn't warn Ugandan authorities that they may face any consequences if they ultimately pass it. He didn't even tell them that the law was "unChristian." Rick Warren's clear condemnation of this law was stronger than anything the president uttered over the bacon and eggs at this morning's breakfast. And we're supposed to applaud? I suppose after the past eight years of having a president who couldn't say "gay and lesbian" without looking like he would pass out from utter disgust, gays and lesbians get giddy just having a president who sounds like he respects us when he says that phrase, but I expected more.
President Obama has spent the past week verbally spanking both Republicans and Democrats for their partisanship and bickering, showing great courage and flair in the process. When he has a chance to spank religious bigots, however, he drops the ball – and mentions, only in passing, a piece of legislation that many in that room support --or at least have failed to denounce. Where is the backbone he has been displaying the past few days? Perhaps he left it in his other suit.
Obama's timidity in front of this group is appalling and should not be applauded. The one who should have garnered the applause this morning was Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. She took on the issue in strong terms, telling the crowd that no matter what religion we practice, we all have the same "talking points" because "all religions direct us to love our neighbor."
Yet, across the world we see organized religion standing in the way of faith, perverting love, undermining that message. Religion cloaked in naked power-lust is used to justify horrific violence. Religion is used as a club to deny the human rights of girls and women from the Gulf to Africa to Asia and to discriminate, even advocating the execution of, gays and lesbians.
I was almost as disappointed in Clinton as Obama since she failed to mention the country of Uganda at this point, but she continued:
We are standing up for gays and lesbians who deserve to be treated as whole human beings and we are also making it clear to countries and leaders that these are priorities to the United States. I recently called Pres. Museveni, who I have known through the prayer breakfast, and expressed the strongest concerns about a lawbeing considered in the parliament of Uganda."
Clinton, like Obama, didn't say she "condemned" the law, but she was not afraid to take the matter head on and to make bold statements of support for gay and lesbian people – and take the case of gay and lesbian civil rights directly to Uganda's president. That's far more than President Obama has done in this matter.
Overall, both Clinton and Obama had a sterling opportunity to speak boldly and directly to the organization that is helping to pass this legislation in Uganda. Neither of them scored a touchdown, but at least Clinton was able to move the ball down the field before Obama fumbled.
Tags: chuck currie, national prayer breakfast, the family, truth wins out, uganda, uganda anti-gay law, wayne besen
This is an excellent article! I've long given up on the expectation that Obama really cares about LGBT civil rights. As far as I'm concerned, he's at the very best tepid regarding equal rights; I feel he's just doing the minimum in this area to hopefully shore up his base for the next election. Just his refusal to sign a stop/loss order to suspend DADT (which he could easily have done a year ago), and his Justice Department's advocacy of DOMA in federal court that raised the specter of incest and pedophilia in their brief, should tell us all we need to know about Obama's concern for Gay rights.
President Obama disappoints on many fronts. Even though he inherited an economic disaster and two unnecessary wars, he ought to be able to act on more than three fronts. When he says less that the Rev. Rick Warren on the genocide of gay and lesbian people in Uganda, he aims low indeed.
The annual prayer breakfast utterly disgusts me. I wish we had a president, any president, who would just say no to that nonsense.
WHEN… will the
[1] Press and the
[2] Spin Jockeys including O'Reilly and Hannity at FoxNews, and
[3] The entire CNN talking heads and
[4] All the bloggers wake up?
Let's add to the list:
[5] President Obama and
[6] Any/all of Congress; and don't forget:
[7] The clergy who are -like all the others, afraid for fear of being called racist or bigot.
Extremism of Islam and/or Ugandan legislation is on a par. Read the Koran: To kill all infidels (includes believing Christians), then read the writings of Mohammed.
Doubt this? Find a Nigerian neighbor, friend, student who is a Christian who lives in the U.S. Ask them! ASK THEM! Recall Biafra! Islamists have been following this same course for centuries! Wake up Americans! Wake up World!
So why some are surprised that President Obama did not tackle the Ugandan 'hate' proposal to destroy people? He had no courage before the breakfast to speak of both extremisms.
The "extremists" are acting out and they won’t quit. Our government thinks we can stop them by our invasions and occupations and murdering their heads of state.
BEWARE! As long as our Press, our Catholic Bishops and Priests, Our Ministers and Rabbis, our columnists and thinkers do not speak up, President Obama will never do likewise. Remember: He is a follower...
No slack from me on Obama not standing up for American values and my friends, but he's got a revolution on his hands: fifth columnists and outright traitors who will bring both him and the country down rather than change, grow, or even admit they're wrong. He put down those un-Americans very neatly.
Please, get over yourselves. Obama has a full plate and you all sound like crying babies wanting attention. To think that the DADT policy can be changed in 5 minutes is ludicrous. Do you have any idea what kind of pressure he would be under if he was to push that while the economy is in the dumper? Wake up and get your priorities in order. The wheels are turning; it is a big ship to turn. Settle down.
I am growing increasingly weary -- exceedingly weary -- of progressive/liberal/uber-liberal folks who simply cannot be pleased by anything Obama does! I wonder what kind of world they live in where everything has to be done EXACTLY the way they say. Do they really think they are the most important person in a nation of 3+ million people or that their way is the only legitimate way? Their endless nit-picking is petty, useless and immature. If you want change, take a clue from Gandhi who advised, "Become the change you seek." I recommend that these perpetual malcontents get busy actually working to help others in need. Doing so will improve their spirits and leave them less idle time to criticize those fighting on the front lines.
President Obama and Secretary Clinton did a marvelous job . . . or have these people forgotten the Bush, Cheney, Bush, Reagan era when nothing wpould ahve been said?!!!
HELLO msfwdc!
You say...
[If YOU want it done exactly YOUR way . . . YOU run for President!]
Obama was the least qualified of candidates; and you support(ed) him?
[I am growing increasingly weary -- exceedingly weary -- of progressive/liberal/uber-liberal folks who simply cannot be pleased by anything Obama does! I wonder what kind of world they live in where everything has to be done EXACTLY the way they say.]
Obama spends wildly, supports tax funded abortion, is untruthful (otherwise said: "He lies"), Says he supports 'Gay Rights' but Did not condemn Ugandan legislation. Is this the man you support?
[Do they really think they are the most important person in a nation of 3+ million people or that their way is the only legitimate way? Their endless nit-picking is petty, useless and immature.]
Name calling and the self-importance you submit? Look in a mirror.
[If you want change, take a clue from Gandhi who advised, "Become the change you seek." I recommend that these perpetual malcontents get busy actually working to help others in need. Doing so will improve their spirits and leave them less idle time to criticize those fighting on the front lines.]
Comparing Ghandi and Obama in the same paragraph?
Is MSFWDC doing what He/She is suggesting for others(malcontents)to do according to your scenario and plan?
[President Obama and Secretary Clinton did a marvelous job . . .]
On this I agree with support for Secretary Clinton.
[or have these people forgotten the Bush, Cheney, Bush, Reagan era when nothing would have been said?!!!]
No, I haven't forgotten G.W. Bush and President Obama inherited a mess from him; this is not in any way to alter or correct my replies to you.
Len
I'd like to offer an opinion from outside the US , as a Canadian who has lived stateside (San Diego) & has close ties to the country.I am an expert in nothing, but I've seen & been through a lot.I agree with those calling for patience with President Obama.When he took office, he was handed a disaster, as you know.
I remember the rise of the religious right ; laregly under the umbrella of Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority.There are simply no words adequate to describe the unfettered disdain with which I view those individuals & organizations.Here is why: During the early years of the AIDS epidemic, they successfully opposed the use of any public funds for research into HIV & the development of treatment options. The subsequent delay in acquiring effective meds denied thousands even a fighting chance at survival.I knew hundreds of them. I helped bury fifty-eight good friends.They were Canadians & Americans , & of the Americans , many had served with honour & distinction in the USN or USMC. The nation & the then "free world", could be proud of them.They were the best ; bar none.
I have binders full of examples of the lies , slander , defamation & innuendo that has been the modus operandi of conservative Christians against us. That such people claim to follw & represent the Prince of Peace , is reprehensible.
As for Africa , .....it is primarily a basket case.That's not racism by any means.Some countries & regions on that continent are culturally in bambi-land.PLease do some reading up on the various nations that occupy that continent. I could give dozens of well documented examples, but I'll leave you with one : today , in 2010 , there are many Egyptian medical students who believe that masturbation can lead to blindness. Medical students , cupcakes !Thanks for hearing me out.
Comments closed
The comments for this story have been closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.