Mr. President:
Please accept my apology for interrupting your speech at Netroots Nation. I was raised in the South, as you were, and my mother taught me better. But once in a while, the circumstances of history throw manners out the window.
I know you weren’t able to hear my full question. In a setting such as a convention hall, it’s not exactly conducive to a productive conversation. What I said was, “Mr. President, will you call for the repeal of DOMA and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell right now? Please.” See, at least a little of my Southern upbringing came through.
The moment kind of overcame me and I didn’t set out to interrupt your speech. But you need to understand that you have been an inspiration to me. You are what inspired me to become involved in politics. I believed you when you said to the gay community, “I have a vision for America and you are a part of it”. And I still believe it.
You are such a passionate person and I love that about you. When you heard me yell from the audience at Netroots Nation, probably all you heard was “DOMA and Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” and assumed that someone was chastising you for having signed them into law, but that’s not what I was doing.
Your defense of why you signed them was unnecessary because we all understand the politics and the reality of how it came to be. I wasn’t seeking an explanation.
I was hoping that you would take the opportunity to strongly express your support for repealing both of those laws and to help make it a reality. You are in a unique position to explain why now is the time to repeal them. You can help change the political dynamic and usher in the vision that you held in 1992 and that I believe you still hold today. Again, it’s just hard to express that when shouting a question from the audience.
Just as you said, pointing your finger at me “You couldn’t deliver me any support in the Congress.” Perhaps today you could help President Obama in his effort to be a fierce advocate for the gay community. I know your legacy is important to you and I hope you understand that it didn’t end when you left the White House. These issues are clearly important to you and you regret their being a part of your legacy. But you can be an important part of changing it and your legacy will reflect that.
So, I hope you’ll stop living in the past on DOMA and DADT and be a champion today and in the near future for their repeal. Will you leave the past as it is and help create a more fair and just future? I know you believe that it is the way it should be, but will you say it and become a champion for it?
The gay community will not be able to achieve this on its own. We need you more than we ever have. Will you be there for us?
With much respect,
Lane Hudson
Related posts:
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- Administration Still Defending the Indefensible DOMA
- Why I Interrupted Bill Clinton’s Speech at Netroots Nation
- Honoring Paul Wellstone’s Legacy: Fighting Like Hell for Health Care Reform
- PA Pres. Abbas to “Step Down”; Was Suppressing Goldstone Worth It?
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Ah, Mr. Hudson, you still haven’t learned. It’s not about you. It’s not about DOMA or DADT. It’s about Bill. Everything is about Bill. All Bill all the time.
I can’t believe you actually think he gives a damn about anybody but himself.
Thank you, Lane. For two presidents who sought to “look forward, not backwards” we sure hear a lot of yesterday-talk from Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Let’s fix these stupid laws, and let’s enlist allies however we can in fixing them.
Bill Clinton never would have addressed DOMA and DADT without your interruption. Thanks very much for that, and for this letter to him.
If Billy can’t stand the heat, get him out of the kitchen.
Yes, he has done some good things but just remember where the term “Triangulation” came from.
More of this please, get after their asses when they are in public, just don’t be waving a Moran sign, please.
Good for you for doing this. I’m afraid Teddy P. is right – he wouldn’t have addressed this if you hadn’t asked. Barack Obama could effectively end DADT with an executive order. He shouldn’t be let off the hook, either.
Thanks again Lane. I’m kind of sorry to see an apology thought however I respect that you felt that you had to do it.
For the way he shamed you though for taking the spotlight away from him and his ego, he didn’t merit an apology in my book.
I think one reason President Obama has been slow to move on gay issues is that too many of us idolize the Clintons, and see them as savior figures for the gay community.
In my view, they did nothing–absolutely nothing–to help us out, and much to make our lives miserable as gay citizens when they were in the White House.
And I voted for them.
To the extent that Obama plays by the Clinton playbook, we’re as screwed again now as we were under the Clinton presidency in the 1990s.
DOMA was stupid from the signing! But it was a first step and I realize that was all Bill could get done at the time! It does need to be repealed and then allow gays to serve openly in the Armed Services. We are missing a lot of high quality people with this insane phobias that the upper echelon of the Military have about the whole subject. I wonder just how many highly qualified service members have served but in the closet and served our country with dignity??
Very poor manners.
good
Lane – I’m glad you shouted out, that you posted your reasons for doing so earlier, and it’s also nice that you wrote this letter too.
But let’s face it.
As gay people, we only are where we are today because of our own efforts; not by anybody who is not gay championing them. What’s really happened is that by “Living Out Loud” we have inspired and dragged (pun not intended, but fine with me!) many others along into the reality of it:
The World Is Better With Us In It.
We’re just going to have to keep doing that, and quit asking other people for frikking anything. We don’t need permissions or champions.
Let’s Stay Loud.
Thank you Mr. Hudson for rocking the boat. That took guts and you have my deep respect.
But who cares about Bill Clinton? He hasn’t been prez for what, almost ten years?
Obama could have frozen DADT with a flick of his pinky on 1/21/09. There would have been the usual right wing omg hategasm for a news cycle or two.
At least Bill Clinton did try, and back in a more hostile time. (Of course, being a democrat, he ran like a fraidy cat and pissed himself trying to walk it back to please the neanderthals. Why is this the only thing elected dems do anymore?)
Anyway, Obama is a disgrace. I thought we’d hit the bottom of the barrel with dem pussyhood during the Bush junta. Alas. Barack is exploring fresh vistas of surrender and wimptitude, on almost every issue.
One actual good thing, Sonia Sotomayor. But she made it through the gauntlet completely on her own unflappable excellence.
Anyway sorry to ramble/rant. I just want to freaking speed-slap Obama (note: I mean this TOTALLY FIGURATIVELY). It’s infuriating how much power he has on something like DADT, and he might as well be Bush or Cheney. Wtf did we vote for?
Republicans at least have principles. Dumbocrats are far too busy triangulating. The sooner the Republicans regain power the sooner the inevitable collapse. Out of the ashes perhaps a fresh start. The Dumbocrats had a golden opportunity to reform a broken system but a timorous leader that wanted to be popular squandered the greatest transformative opportunity since the great Depression. Obama should have spent a bit more time studying FDR rather than Lincoln.
Lane, I’m not gay.
But I’ll go along with you.
WRT to DADT I wrote a diary on this a while ago in which I looked at the language of the act:
So yes, Obama could change the policy by Executive Order by declaring that it is in the best interests of the armed forces to retain gay service members.
A good example about asking for forgiveness rather than permission….good job.
Three questions:
1. Why is the age limit on Medicare & SCHIP constitutional. Does the equal protection clause potentially invalidate the age limit?
2. Is a Federal Mandate to buy private insurance legal? Why is is not an unlawful taking? And I’m familiar with Kelo vs New London, and the arguments used there seem a stretch for “common good” if I don’t buy compulsory insurance?
3. If the feds forces the insurance companies to eliminate ceilings on payments, drop the pre-exiting conditions clause, and otherwise deny payments, how high will that raise our insurance premiums?
No they don’t. Case in point of millions of cases in point: The complete turn arounds that Rachel Maddow aired from Limbaugh, Gingrich and Palin about “Death Panels” aka, living wills.
Lane: While I think you’re right to implore Clinton to get into the fight again, don’t underestimate how many of us are with you whether he is or not. And please, do not discount that one need not be a part of the so called ‘gay community’ to completely understand the battle and to want to fight and support the battle for rights.
I agree with milleneryman that Clinton owes you an apology for wagging a finger at you and shaming you. I was repulsed and incensed by what he did.
Hi Lane…
I think you did the right thing by asking your question to Bill Clinton. And Clinton answered it just like he does any other question….with rudeness…finger pointing…and outright lies! He has never accepted any personally responsibility for anything not only in his Presidency, but in his life. He has always shifted blame to others when called to task!! So, if it were me I wouldn’t give one good f**k what that asshole, degenerate had to say!!
Hi FDL!!
I’m sorry I missed you all earlier. I wanted to thank you all for the support on my post on Friday. You guys are awesome and I appreciate you all very much. Jane and the rest of the FDL crew are so lucky to have you all.
Much love,
Lane
I’m glad you circled back and spent the time to reframe your question and ask for another opportunity to have the conversation. In my opinion, you’ve earned it.
You’re much too kind to him, Lane.