Are We Too Into Complaining?

by: Jennifer Daler

Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 09:06:44 AM EST

There is a diary here asking whether to boycott the DNC, Organizing for America and Obama's reelection campaign. People have every right to do this, as well as to criticize the seemingly slow pace of change.

I feel as frustrated as the next person, but then I realize the mess we're in wasn't created during eight years of Bush, but during thirty years of an assault on everything progressive that came before, especially the New Deal. Also during that time there has been a severe backlash against women's rights. Stupak-Pits is only the outer manifestation, the boil, if you will, on a much deeper abscess.

There is a diary up at Daily Kos outlining some of what President Obama has managed to accomplish. It's not exhaustive in that there is so much left to be done.

After the fold is  a partial list:

A Gay Boycott of the DNC & OFA?

by: Dubious MindBomb

Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 10:50:46 AM EST

"It is not enough to look back in wonder at how far we have come; those who came before us did not strike a blow against injustice only so that we would allow injustice to fester in our time. That means removing the barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding that still exist in America."

On Monday, November 9, 2009, on Americablog and Americablog Gay, John Aravosis & Joe Sudbay, launched a boycott (temporary hopefully) against the Democratic National Commitee, Organizing For America, and the Obama re-election campaign. They have been joined by:

Daily Kos
Jane Hamsher (FireDogLake)
Dan Savage (The Stranger & Slog)
Michelangelo Signorile (Sirius OutQ & Gist)
David Mixner
Andy Towle & Michael Goff (TowleRoad)
Paul Sousa (Founder, Equal Rep)
Pam Spaulding (Pam's House Blend)
Robin Tyler (ED, Equality Campaign, Inc.)
Bill Browning (Bilerico Project)

Their reasoning:

President Obama promised to be a "fierce advocate" for LGBT Americans.  But while making modest progress on a scant few issues, on the major campaign promises made to our community, the President and the Democratic party have failed to keep their commitments.

There has been little, if any, pressure from the White House for votes on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).  The administration continues to send mixed signals on the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT).  And we've been told not to expect the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to even be considered until President Obama's second term.  In the last two weeks alone, we were angered that the Obama administration continued to defend DOMA in the courts -- last June, the administration's lawyers even compared loving gay relationships to incest and pedophilia -- and we were saddened that the White House and the Democratic party refused to help us defeat anti-gay ballot initiatives in Maine and Washington state.  LGBT Americans, our families, and our friends kept our promise at the ballot box, we now expect President Obama to keep his in the White House.

Until the Democratic Congress passes, and President Obama signs, legislation enacting ENDA, repealing DADT, and repealing DOMA, we ask you to join us in pledging to postpone contributions to the Democratic National Committee, Organizing for America, and the Obama campaign.

I don't usually do this kind of thing, join boycotts or promote them, yet I have been feeling such frustration over the national Dems and the Obama administration's handling of gay issues (beginning with the inauguration) I just had to do something.

Last Friday I posted on my blog, Dubious MindBomb Internet Radio, my feelings and concerns over the boycott being called for by Americablog's John Aravosis and Joe Sudbay. John and Joe (who was raised in Maine) worked tirelessly on Maine's No on 1 campaign! They have blogged about it constantly and raised thousands in support of "No on 1" (through Americablog and Americablog Gay). They even live-blogged from Portland on election night

The failure of Obama (or his administration) to even mention support for the civil rights effort in Maine and the DNC's failure to support it financially or to even it mention it in get out the vote e-mails (sent out on election day), were the final straws for them and should be for us! Unfortunately, there is much, much more...

I would love for you all to take a look at it, follow the links & weigh it carefully, and then join me in signing the pledge not to support (temporarily) the DNC, OFA, or the Obama campaign financially.

Turn off the gAyTM? I say, "Yes"!

This was a hard step for me to take...My blog is there, primarily, in support of my Internet Radio Station, "Dubious MindBomb", and not political action.

So please give it a read and let's stop the national politicians from taking our money with one hand and slapping us in the face with the other!

Read my full post at:
http://dubiousmindbomb.blogspo...

Sign the Pledge here: http://www.dontaskdontgive.com

Read the boycott FAQ:
http://gay.americablog.com/200...

Way off the reservation. Boycott?

by: Sleeping Giant Stirs

Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 23:24:03 PM EDT

The first comment was this:

barackoblogger
I am a lifelong Democrat and Obama supporter. And I have come to the conclusion that if (god forbid) Hillary gets the nomination, I will not vote for her.

I read about her CHIEF strategist being CEO and president of the company representing Blackwater in the recent hearings, and it literally turned my stomach.

I see no real difference between Hillary and a moderate Republican, and I cannot stomach a vote for this candidate.

Alright, lets get out the tinfoil hats and wait for the comet, BUT

Is it possible to change the political landscape by "UNVOTING"?

O Ya, Baby. BIG, BIG, BIG RISKS! Maybe tooooooo BIG. But IF you think that a vote for HRC is a vote for Bush/Cheney Lite, then can we twist the Party's arm by signing a petition AFTER the primaries.

An "UNDRAFT" petition. Could enough voters find the sack to risk the Presidency, if HRC is the nominee?
Two things:
-We don't vote Republican, maybe we write in our favorite. Mebbe, Al Gore?
-We still vote Dem in the Congressional races to keep the balance of power. With all the "counting of unhatched chickens" I have seen amongst progressive blogs, Congress is all but ours.

Based on the sentiment expressed by activist like MoveON and politicians like John Edwards

"Politicians who care more about their careers than their constituents go along to get elected. They make easy promises to voters instead of challenging them to take responsibility for our country. And then they compromise even those promises to keep the lobbyists happy and the contributions coming.

Instead of serving the people and the nation, too many play the parlor game of Washington -- trading favors and campaign money, influencing votes and compromising legislation. It's a game that never ends, but every American knows -- it's time to end the game.

And it's time for the Democratic Party -- the party of the people -- to end it.

The choice for our party could not be more clear. We cannot replace a group of corporate Republicans with a group of corporate Democrats, just swapping the Washington insiders of one party for the Washington insiders of the other.

The American people deserve to know that their presidency is not for sale, the Lincoln Bedroom is not for rent, and lobbyist money can no longer influence policy in the House or the Senate.

It's time to end the game. It's time to tell the big corporations and the lobbyists who have been running things for too long that their time is over. It's time to challenge politicians to put the American people's interests ahead of their own calculated political interests, to look the lobbyists in the eye and just say no."

Maybe we should put our nation where our blog is?
AC/DC's BIG BALLS: