President Obama Keeping Promises of Change

One of those big changes President Obama and the Democrats promised during the election is about to become law.

Last week the Senate gave final passage to the bill authorizing spending for the Department of Defense, which included a provision creating a hate crimes designation.

The Obama administration has announced the President will sign the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act into law at the White House on Wednesday of this week. The bill now includes LGBT in the federal definition of a hate crime, one thing he promised to do if elected during his campaign for the presidency.

At the signing, the President will also host a reception for gay rights groups and civil rights leaders commemorating the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998. Shepard’s mother Judy, a tireless advocate for the legislation, along with his surviving brother Logan will be in attendance at the signing ceremony.

Last week, the president also kept another campaign promise by signing a bill into law that authorizes advanced funding for the Veterans Administration.

As I’ve said to those critics, change takes time, but it’s sometimes worth the wait.

Obama Asks to Be Judged on Promises Kept

In front of a group of LGBT Americans, President Obama defended his policies on LGBT rights stating he remains committed to overturning “don’t ask, don’t tell”. He also asked that he be judged “not by promises I’ve made but by the promises that my administration keeps.”

Yesterday the President and his wife held a reception at the White House to observe the Stonewall riots of 1969, the LGBT uprising that led to the modern day Gay Rights Movement.

President Obama stated:

“I know that many in this room don’t believe progress has come fast enough, and I understand that. It’s not for me to tell you to be patient any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African-Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half-century ago. We’ve been in office six months now. I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration.”

I for one haven’t ever lost faith in the change that President Obama promised to bring fourth.  I am however a realist, and know, the old cliche “change doesn’t happen overnight”, is an old cliche for a reason, it’s the truth, and it’s rediculous to think otherwise.

Watch a video of the reception below:

Obama Chooses Openly Gay Transition Officials

Living up to his word of inclusion and transparency in government, President-Elect Barack Obama has chosen seven openly gay transition officials to help in making preparations for his new administration.  Details about the transition team are posted online for public inspection.

Change.gov (Obama’s transition website) explains the roles of the transition team, and states, “The Presidential Transition Project is the enormous effort of hundreds of people coming together to lay out the agenda and priorities for the Obama Administration.” It also states, “The transition is responsible for ensuring that the transfer of power from the current administration to the Obama Administration is smooth and that the continuity of leadership is preserved.”  The site continues by saying, “The Transition Project is also tasked with reviewing hundreds of agencies and programs in the federal government and selecting new personnel to manage these important offices. Among the personnel that will be selected will be new Cabinet members, national security and federal law enforcement officials, non-career appointments, and other heads of agencies across the Executive Branch.”

The purpose of the site posting this information is so – “We will keep this transition process transparent, so that you will know which officials are being selected to serve in this administration and lead the country for the next four years.” “All staff appointments chosen for this administration will be committed to fulfilling Obama’s campaign promises, to rebuilding our government, and to serving the American people again.”

What is More Change: Gay or Black?

Precisely one week ago, Obama declared that “change has come to America,” as he became the first black president of the United States. On the very same day, Nov. 4th, 2008, the state of California voted yes on Proposition 8, legally restricting the sanctity of marriage to heterosexual couples only.
“Just how much change can a nation take in one day?” I’m ironically tempted to ask…

Find out at tapmag.net.

The Economist: It’s Time for Barack Obama

From The Economist:

It is impossible to forecast how important any presidency will be. Back in 2000 America stood tall as the undisputed superpower, at peace with a generally admiring world. The main argument was over what to do with the federal government’s huge budget surplus. Nobody foresaw the seismic events of the next eight years. When Americans go to the polls next week the mood will be very different. The United States is unhappy, divided and floundering both at home and abroad. Its self-belief and values are under attack.

For all the shortcomings of the campaign, both John McCain and Barack Obama offer hope of national redemption. Now America has to choose between them. The Economist does not have a vote, but if it did, it would cast it for Mr Obama. We do so wholeheartedly: the Democratic candidate has clearly shown that he offers the better chance of restoring America’s self-confidence. But we acknowledge it is a gamble. Given Mr Obama’s inexperience, the lack of clarity about some of his beliefs and the prospect of a stridently Democratic Congress, voting for him is a risk. Yet it is one America should take, given the steep road ahead.

Read the rest by clicking here.

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