Right on cue, the Gutless Wonder offers up platitudes (in lieu of actual leadership) in an attempt to placate the LGBT community:
Recently, several young people have taken their own lives after being bullied for being gay – or perceived as being gay – by their peers. Their deaths are shocking and heartbreaking tragedies. No one should have to endure relentless harassment or tormenting. No one should ever feel so alone or desperate that they feel they have nowhere to turn. We each share a responsibility to protect our young people. And we also have an obligation to set an example of respect and kindness, regardless of our differences.
This is personal to me. When I was a young adult, I faced the jokes and taunting that too many of our youth face today, and I considered suicide as a way out. But I was fortunate. One of my co-workers recognized that I was hurting, and I soon confided in her. She cared enough to push me to seek help. She saved my life. I will always be grateful for her compassion and support – the same compassion and support that so many kids need today.
Yes, you were fortunate, Mr. President. Unfortunately, given just how craven you're being on each and every LGBT issue (especially DADT) in front of you, the real message you are sending to today's LGBT youth is...
Sorry, kids. You're shit out of luck.
And as you'd expect, Barack Obama can't go more than 85 words before making it All About Him.
Speaking of Craven: Andrew Sullivan's present presidential mancrush continues unabated.
Don't believe me? Try this this bit of dreck on for size:
Dan Savage should be beaming with pride about what he started. Here is the president of the United States reaching out to gay kids being bullied in their teenage years.
It's beautifully crafted and gently put. I think it's the first time in history that a US president has spoken directly to gay Americans in support from the White House. Which makes it a milestone.
Milestone? When at the same time that same president is fighting the ending of Don't Ask Don't Tell with tooth and nail? Some milestone.
And quite frankly, if Dan Savage really is what he claims to be, he could be nothing but outraged with Obama's transparently patronizing piffle.
And, unless he's changed positions this morning, El Presidente is still on record as being opposed to gay marriage.
Posted by: Joe Redfield | October 22, 2010 at 02:49 PM
There's something about that little heartwarming vignette that smells like one of Rahm Emanuel's calling cards. Too pat, too convenient.
Posted by: aelfheld | October 22, 2010 at 02:49 PM
To be fair, what you quote isn't the president (I imagine it would be front page news if the president admitted he had contemplated suicide). It was written by Brian Bond who runs the white house blog. In his "it gets better" video, Obama DOES make it all about him, though, referencing growing up "different" in Hawaii--whatever...
Posted by: gaylib | October 22, 2010 at 03:19 PM
IfDan Savage really is what he claims to be
Gay?
Posted by: MM | October 22, 2010 at 05:59 PM
No. A fighter for gay rights.
Posted by: Dennis the Peasant | October 22, 2010 at 06:57 PM
If I were gay, I'd resent like hell the immature, overreactive, Sully drama queen, sloppy sentimentalizing, Elena Kagen DADT nomination and Barney Franks embarrassingly corrupt opining on my behalf.
Face it, you principled good queers, the Democrat Party has been using you and not producing for you for years. The Republican social cons are at least more honest in their opposition. Make a mature and measured case for gay marriage as socially responsible and constitutionally protected and let Phelps discredit himself by "acting out."
Eff Harvard, Obama and Democrat human rights liars and pretenders.
Posted by: tchaikovsky | October 22, 2010 at 09:48 PM
This is personal to me. When I was a young adult, I faced the jokes and taunting that too many of our youth face today, and I considered suicide as a way out.
America - do you get sand kicked in your face ? Because you're now led by a 100 pound weakling.
Posted by: Simon | October 23, 2010 at 12:02 AM
When contemplating the dual daddies that are Sullivan and Savage it is always difficult to tell who gave what to whom and when.
Posted by: vanderleun | October 25, 2010 at 08:05 PM
When I was a young adult, I faced the jokes and taunting that too many of our youth face today, and I considered suicide as a way out.
I guess that Fox News and the Tea Party need to tone down the rhetoric or Biden will be president....
Posted by: NoChicagoPols | October 26, 2010 at 06:53 PM