Video: President Obama speaks at fundraiser for New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine

Video: President Obama speaks at Democratic fundraiser

From Politico:

June 18, 2009 - 08:36PM

Here are some highlights from Obama's address at the joint DSCC/DCCC fundraiser:

ON HIS ADMIN, SO FAR: "We've come a long way. We can see some light along the horizon but we've got a much longer journey to travel...I can't bring about the change that I promised by myself in the Oval Office. Or just me and Rahm...Rahm is great but I need a little more help than that. I need partners in Congress."

ON HEALTH CARE: "To those who simply criticize without offering new ideas of their own, I have to ask, what's your answer?...Don't tell me that all you're offering is meager tax cuts to uninsured Amercans. Don't present that as a new idea. That's the same idea that's been proposed for the last eight years. Don't tell me that we're going to tinker around the edges and that nothing's going to change." (8:25 p.m.)

A Measure Of Equality Via Executive Order?

Update, Wednesday, June 17, 2009: The President signed a Presidential Memorandum that will expire when his Presidency ends.

It is a beginning. Not enough, but a beginning.

--------------------------------------

It is expected that today, President Obama will extend a measure of equality to same-sex partners of federal employees.

Well, I hate to be the one to explain a rights struggle to the first Black President, but the equality movement is not a grab bag of rights. You don't get to reach in and see which prize you've won. Each of the rights discussed above - the right to benefits for your partner, the right to serve openly in the military and the right to access the same tax breaks and immigration privileges given to heterosexual couples - should be granted. Immediately. Granting one does not absolve trespass over the other rights.

Obama has made it clear that he will do only the minimum necessary to avoid a gay revolution. Gay rights are consistently moved to the bottom of the political barrel. He thinks extending benefits to a few federal employees is sufficient.

It's our job to let him know that is not enough. source: The Huffington Post

Very curious timing as yesterday it was reported on Politico that gay and lesbian activists are pulling out of a Biden fundraiser. Okay. I need to correct that. I meant to say prominent (i.e. wealthy) persons from the LGBT community.

Video: President Obama at Las Vegas Fundraiser