Quote of the Day

It’s the best of times and worst of times. Culturally you see a huge increase in acceptance of gays and lesbians, and in the federal courts you see for the first time a willingness to embrace the Constitution as a vehicle for securing equality for gay people. Yet in our nation’s politics, we see essentially the opposite. [President Obama] made a conscious decision coming [into office] that [his pledges to gays regarding marriage recognition and the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell”] were second- and third-tier issues. People were very excited by him. But he overpromised and underdelivered.

– Richard Socarides
Quoted in David Crary’s article “Gay Marriage Debate
Persists in Some Nov. 2 Races”
Associated Press
October 16, 2010

Recommended Off-site Links:
President Obama Can’t Talk About Gay or Trans Folk with Conviction , and Other Bluffs – Zack Ford (ZackFordBlogs.com, October 14, 2010).
Obama Coalition Crumbling; Core Backers Feeling Dispirited - Liz Sidoti (Associated Press, October 17, 2010).
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and Obama – John Culhane (365Gay.com, October 14, 2010)
Repeal Rhetoric – Mike Almy (The Advocate, October 16, 2010).
Pentagn: Gay Troops Wise to Stay Quiet – Josh Gerstein (Politico.com, October 15, 2010).
Obama: Homosexuality is Not a Choice – CNN (October 14, 2010).

See also the following Wild Reed posts from 2008:
Reality Check
Progressives and Obama (Part 1)
Progressives and Obama (Part 2)
Progressives and Obama (Part 3)
Progressives and Obama (Part 4)
Progressives and Obama (Part 5)
Thoughts on Tomorrow’s Presidential Election
“Change Has Come to America”
The Callenge for Progressives with an Obama Presidency
Progressives and Obama (Part 6)