Today, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 The president signed a Presidential Memorandum extending “Some Benefits” to same sex partners of federal employees. Some in the GLBT community and its lobby has signaled their dissatisfaction because they say the measure does not go far enough. And that it is nothing more than simple tokenism.
This is an opinion piece by the way, therefore, what I am about to say is simply that, my opinion.
In my opinion, I sense an impatience with some in the GLBT community with President Obama’s pace in overturning the “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Which he has not done yet. And I think the word yet, is the operative word in this case. I think it is very significant because the President has a lot on his plate to get a grip on.
President Obama is addressing a myriad of issues, two wars, an inherited recession from the previous administration. He is working to achieve universal health care for all Americans, extending benefits for the unemployed. Putting together a team to come up with some guidelines to prevent the collapse of the country’s financial system from endangering the entire U.S. economy in future years.
No one appreciates being pressured and prodded and neither does the president. The lobby’s interest are first in their minds but not in the President’s at least not first. I am for the abolishment of Don’t ask, Don’t Tell, but give the president a chance. When you push and make demands of a person even though he said on the campaign trail that he would overturn D.A.D.T. Those tactics will not make the President acquiesce to such demands.
What some in the GLBT lobby seem to not get is when a new President takes office he must build a relationship of trust and credibility with the top brass of his armed services. This lobby seems to care less if he lost all that credibility from day one had he came into office and immediately overturned the policy of D.A.D.T.
Those who criticize the President’s signing today of the Memo to extend federal benefits to the same sex partners of federal employees as tokenism are simply being selfish and impatient.
I believe the President will eventually over turn that policy. I think he would be wise to build a little support among the rank and file first. I also think that he has 3 years and 6 months before his presidency is over at least the first term. And I believe he will keep his word if he can. So all I can say to those who want change today is you will just have to wait your turn.
