Gay visitation order shows how Obama brings big change with small actionsA few problems.
President Obama's decision Thursday night to grant same-sex couples hospital visitation rights is the latest and most visible example of a strategy to make concrete steps toward equality for gays and lesbians without sparking a broad cultural debate or a fight with Congress.
The approach has angered some of the president's fiercest supporters, who are eager for bold change, but other politically savvy activists have encouraged Obama to act in small ways to reshape government rules and regulations on behalf of gays and lesbians.
1. None of us voted for small change. We voted for "CHANGE." I don't recall there being a small c on all the signs the Obama campaign gave us. We voted for specific promises that are not being kept.
2. "Politically savvy activists" want Obama to make small moves? So those of us pushing for the President to keep his promises are not politically savvy. Well, then that would make the President who made those promises also not politically savvy. This is a common White House talking point that is often used by the Human Rights Campaign. If you expect the President to keep his promises, then you're just not politically savvy. The problem is, lots of people with decades of experience in Washington, successful experience at that, have become highly critical of the President's dithering approach to (not) keeping his promises on gay rights, and lots of other issues. It's a bit of a cop out to claim that everyone who disagrees with you is not politically savvy.
We're not arguing that the President should fall on his sword for us. We're arguing that he's too afraid to try when there's clearly a damn good chance of success. Being afraid to keep your promises isn't politically savvy. It's distressing to see the White House and the President's apologists reinforce this kind of weak behavior time and again.
