Harkin calls on Obama to sign anti-discrimination executive order

Basically, it's an ENDA-style executive order covering government contractors. At this point, politically, it couldn't hurt the President to do everything he can to shore up the base. And while he is, every bit helps.

Democratic Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa called on President Obama once again to sign an executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity among federal contractors. Activists have pressured the White House on the issue for much of this year, because getting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) passed in Congress is nearly impossible with Republicans in control of the House, but the Obama administration has steadfastly rebuffed pleas to sign the order.

"Absolutely, he should [sign the order]," Harkin said on my SiriusXM OutQ radio program at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte last week. "A number of us have written him a letters about this, that he should sign it. I mean, federal contractors, people who contract with the federal government, and use taxpayer money, should not be allowed to discriminated on the basis of sexual preference or sexual orientation. So, I think the president should sign that. And we're going to continue to put the pressure on him to do so."