Same-sex partners to get Fed Benefits

[aphex]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/s...ITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama, under growing criticism for not seeking to end the ban on openly gay men and women in the military, is extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. Obama plans to announce his decision on Wednesday in the Oval Office, a White House official said Tuesday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the president hadn't yet signed the presidential memorandum.

The official said Obama would release more details on Wednesday.

The decision is a political nod to a reliably Democratic voting bloc that in recent weeks has grown frustrated with the White House's slow movement on their priorities.

Several powerful gay fundraisers withdrew their support from a June 25 Democratic National Committee event where Vice President Joe Biden is expected to speak. Their exit came in response to a June 12 Justice Department brief that defended the Defense of Marriage Act, a prime target for gay and lesbian criticism. Justice lawyers argued that the law allowed states to reject marriages performed in other states or countries that defy their own standards.

The legal arguments - including citing incest and sex with minors - sparked rebellion among gay and lesbian activists who had been largely biting their tongues since Obama won election. They had objected to the Rev. Rick Warren's invitation to participate in the inauguration despite his support for repealing gay marriage in California.

Their January protest won the invitation of Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson, whose consecration as the first openly gay bishop divided and almost split his denomination.

Gays and lesbians later fretted as the White House declined to intervene in the cases of enlisted military members facing courts martial for defying the Clinton-era "don't ask, don't tell" policies. White House officials say they want Congress to repeal the policy as part of a "lasting and durable" solution, instead of intervening on individual cases.

"The president agreed that ... the policy wasn't working for our national interests, that he committed to change that policy, that he's working with the secretary of defense and the joint chiefs on making that happen," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said last month.

In the meantime, the administration has tried to make small, quiet moves to extend benefits to gays and lesbians. The State Department has promised to give partners of gay and lesbian diplomats many benefits, such as diplomatic passports and language training.

But without a specific change in the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's promises left out financial benefits such as pensions. Obama's move could make that shift.

Gay and lesbian activists had expected Obama to take action some time in June, which is gay pride month.

John Berry, the highest-ranking gay official in the administration and the de facto human resources chief for the administration, told a gay rally last weekend that Obama planned to take action on benefits soon.

Berry, who heads the Office of Personnel and Management, has repeatedly told reporters that he expected the White House to turn to legislation to give domestic partners access to federal health and retirement plans.

But Obama so far has sent only one piece of legislation to the Hill - a pay-as-you-go measure that is part of his wooing of fiscally conservative Democrats.

Instead, Obama will use his signature instead of legislation to achieve the benefits parity sought by same-sex couples.

One step of what will hopefully be many to come, but glad to see equal rights slowly being afforded to all.

 

[SunSamurai]

Ya know, Im all for this and all, but I always get a bit turned away when I read stuff like "gay pride" month and similar things. It's like, what are you proud about? That you can slide in a different hole? How about have pride in your freedoms, try and expand that, and keep the sexual shit in the privet sector.

Puns intended.

 

[frostedflakes]

Wow, finally the Obama admin is throwing a bone to the LGBT community. About damn time.

 

[compuwiz1]

Good!

 

[JSt0rm]

Originally posted by: aeternitas
Ya know, Im all for this and all, but I always get a bit turned away when I read stuff like "gay pride" month and similar things. It's like, what are you proud about? That you can slide in a different hole? How about have pride in your freedoms, try and expand that, and keep the sexual shit in the privet sector.

Puns intended.

I think the idea behind things like gay pride is to show people in the closet that its ok to come out. So they don't need to fell like hiding and there are other people like them.

 

[Andrew1990]

The gay community is fine by me as long as they leave me be.

 

[OCGuy]

Is this to appease the gay community for not quickly dispatching of Clinton's DADT, and not for being in favor of a national law to invalidate all of the state constitutional marriage bans?

 

[BarrySotero]

It was obvious when Obama appointed Berry he was going to subvert the gov from within (Obama has a gift for that). One step closer to Weimar Germany and impending collapse.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: BarrySotero
It was obvious when Obama appointed Berry he was going to subvert the gov from within (Obama has a gift for that). One step closer to Weimar Germany and impending collapse.

Do you happen to put out a periodical or other publication that I may subscribe to?

 

[glenn1]

Originally posted by: aphex

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama, under growing criticism for not seeking to end the ban on openly gay men and women in the military, is extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.

I'm surprised that they don't already get benefits. This has been pretty common in the private sector for some time, and hasn't generated much controversy that I'm aware of.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: JSt0rm01

Originally posted by: aeternitas
Ya know, Im all for this and all, but I always get a bit turned away when I read stuff like "gay pride" month and similar things. It's like, what are you proud about? That you can slide in a different hole? How about have pride in your freedoms, try and expand that, and keep the sexual shit in the privet sector.

Puns intended.

I think the idea behind things like gay pride is to show people in the closet that its ok to come out. So they don't need to fell like hiding and there are other people like them.

Sure, but I think there are better ways to go about it, like legislation, and instilling tolerance in people in general. Patience and diligence is much greater than in-your-face pride.

All the pride crap does is make people like me that are on the side of freedoms like that really really annoyed.

 

[JKing106]

Originally posted by: Andrew1990
The gay community is fine by me as long as they leave me be.

Gayness is contagious, you know.

 

[eilute]

Originally posted by: aeternitas
Ya know, Im all for this and all, but I always get a bit turned away when I read stuff like "gay pride" month and similar things. It's like, what are you proud about? That you can slide in a different hole? How about have pride in your freedoms, try and expand that, and keep the sexual shit in the privet sector.

Puns intended.

Gay pride events make the public aware of the communities existence. It's also very brilliant in a way, because it's a bad PR move for the conservatives to ban a gay pride event because it's almost liking banning pride itself.

When it comes to pride, I think it is more like freedom to be. Not worrying about discrimination, excommunication, being tied to and dragged by a truck, etc.

 

[piasabird]

When you start giving benefits to couples, next unmarried couples will demand the same benefits. After all, what is the difference between two men or two women shacking up and the average straigt couple shacking up? Next thing you know, people in polygamous relationships will demand equal treatment.

Woo Hoo! Bring the silliness on!

This has nothing to do with accepting gays or God-o-Phobia.

 

[UberNeuman]

Originally posted by: piasabird
When you start giving benefits to couples, next unmarried couples will demand the same benefits. After all, what is the difference between two men or two women shacking up and the average straigt couple shacking up? Next thing you know, people in polygamous relationships will demand equal treatment.

Woo Hoo! Bring the silliness on!

This has nothing to do with accepting gays or God-o-Phobia.

CATS AND DOGS LIVING TOGETHER!!!!! MASS HYSTERIA!!!!

 

[nageov3t]

except the benefit to serve in the military?

funny this comes only a few days after the Obama DoJ made an argument against gay marriage invoking incest.

 

[0marTheZealot]

Originally posted by: BarrySotero
It was obvious when Obama appointed Berry he was going to subvert the gov from within (Obama has a gift for that). One step closer to Weimar Germany and impending collapse.

wow. You're like that homeless guy on the street that mutters to himself about the CIA putting fluoride in the drinking waters so that they can image your teeth from top secret spy satellites in the air.

You managed to link three different events that have nothing to do with each other to another event in history that also has nothing to do with our current situation. Pretty much a textbook definition of a non-sequitor.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: UberNeuman

Originally posted by: piasabird
When you start giving benefits to couples, next unmarried couples will demand the same benefits. After all, what is the difference between two men or two women shacking up and the average straigt couple shacking up? Next thing you know, people in polygamous relationships will demand equal treatment.

Woo Hoo! Bring the silliness on!

This has nothing to do with accepting gays or God-o-Phobia.

CATS AND DOGS LIVING TOGETHER!!!!! MASS HYSTERIA!!!!

Actually he has a valid point.

If Bob and Larry can just sign an affidavit proclaiming them to be a couple and thus eligible for same sex benefits then why can't me and my live in girlfriend do the same thing?

I don't object to offering these benefits, but I wonder how they are going to police them to prevent people from trying to 'game' the system.

 

[nageov3t]

ah ha, my lack of faith restored... there's an important caveat:

but he will stop short of pledging full health insurance coverage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06...s/politics/17gays.html

this from Mr. UHC makes my head asplode.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: UberNeuman

Originally posted by: piasabird
When you start giving benefits to couples, next unmarried couples will demand the same benefits. After all, what is the difference between two men or two women shacking up and the average straigt couple shacking up? Next thing you know, people in polygamous relationships will demand equal treatment.

Woo Hoo! Bring the silliness on!

This has nothing to do with accepting gays or God-o-Phobia.

CATS AND DOGS LIVING TOGETHER!!!!! MASS HYSTERIA!!!!

Actually he has a valid point.

If Bob and Larry can just sign an affidavit proclaiming them to be a couple and thus eligible for same sex benefits then why can't me and my live in girlfriend do the same thing?

I don't object to offering these benefits, but I wonder how they are going to police them to prevent people from trying to 'game' the system.

The only people who have been 'gaming' the system are the ones who've been excluding certain couples and family groups on the basis of that legal fiction known as 'marriage.' After all, why shouldn't you and your live-in girlfriend get the same benefits? Except for a govt-issued piece of paper, what is the difference between you and most any married couple?

 

[BarrySotero]

Originally posted by: 0marTheZealot

Originally posted by: BarrySotero
It was obvious when Obama appointed Berry he was going to subvert the gov from within (Obama has a gift for that). One step closer to Weimar Germany and impending collapse.

wow. You're like that homeless guy on the street that mutters to himself about the CIA putting fluoride in the drinking waters so that they can image your teeth from top secret spy satellites in the air.

You managed to link three different events that have nothing to do with each other to another event in history that also has nothing to do with our current situation. Pretty much a textbook definition of a non-sequitor.

Oh no they are linked. You have to understand President Alinsky - erm - Obama. Obama doesn't care about homosexuals anymore than he has to to keep them in his camp. He's trying to appeal to Muslims around the world so don't expect him to help marry homosexuals.

In a less public way he put homosexual Berry in charge of Office of Personnel Management and lesbian Elaine Kaplan as general counsel of same office. Obama will seed all sorts of homosexual issues from that office. Obama likes homosexuals angry and radicalized so he will give them enough to keep them in his corner but still pissed off enough that they want to keep attacking and sowing havoc.

Obama also put a homosexual in charge of "school safety" and people from "Human Rights Campaign" on faith board. So Obama will keep homosexuals and traditional values groups fighting with each other in the background while he is counterfeiting money and sowing havoc in other places.

Obama is about Obama. He will use what people want to excite them and to piss them off - all the while keeping groups in antagonism while he puts in his own agenda as institutions and groups fight and erode stability. Obama does what Marxists do - promise a lot and deliver little. Homosexuals will get things from Obama but at some point he is throwing them down the well with everybody else.

Obama isn't even going full steam on benefits for homosexuals. He is signing a a "presidential memorandum" and not an executive order. It will expire when (if) he leaves office. Health benefits are probably not covered. DOMA limits them and Obama's DOJ affirmed them in a recent court case


"DOMA is good because it saves the feds money:

"The constitutional propriety of Congress's decision to decline to extend federal benefits immediately to newly recognized types of marriages is bolstered by Congress's articulated interest in preserving the scarce resources of both the federal and State governments. DOMA ensures that evolving understandings of the institution of marriage at the State level do not place greater financial and administrative obligations on federal and state benefits programs. Preserving scarce government resources ? and deciding to extend benefits incrementally ? are well-recognized legitimate interests under rational-basis review. See Butler, 144 F.3d at 625 "

http://www.americablog.com/200...ment-defends-doma.html


"DOJ moves to dismiss first fed gay marriage case"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/...e/n214337D49.DTL&tsp=1

So Obama plays out the Gays


http://www.americablog.com/200...ts-obama-benefits.html

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: BarrySotero

Originally posted by: 0marTheZealot

Originally posted by: BarrySotero
It was obvious when Obama appointed Berry he was going to subvert the gov from within (Obama has a gift for that). One step closer to Weimar Germany and impending collapse.

wow. You're like that homeless guy on the street that mutters to himself about the CIA putting fluoride in the drinking waters so that they can image your teeth from top secret spy satellites in the air.

You managed to link three different events that have nothing to do with each other to another event in history that also has nothing to do with our current situation. Pretty much a textbook definition of a non-sequitor.

Oh no they are linked. You have to understand President Alinsky - erm - Obama. Obama doesn't care about homosexuals anymore than he has to to keep them in his camp. He's trying to appeal to Muslims around the world so don't expect him to help marry homosexuals.

In a less public way he put homosexual Berry in charge of Office of Personnel Management and lesbian Elaine Kaplan as general counsel of same office. Obama will seed all sorts of homosexual issues from that office. Obama likes homosexuals angry and radicalized so he will give them enough to keep them in his corner but still pissed off enough that they want to keep attacking and sowing havoc.

Obama also put a homosexual in charge of "school safety" and people from "Human Rights Campaign" on faith board. So Obama will keep homosexuals and traditional values groups fighting with each other in the background while he is counterfeiting money and sowing havoc in other places.

Obama is about Obama. He will use what people want to excite them and to piss them off - all the while keeping groups in antagonism while he puts in his own agenda as institutions and groups fight and erode stability. Obama does what Marxists do - promise a lot and deliver little. Homosexuals will get things from Obama but at some point he is throwing them down the well with everybody else.

Obama isn't even going full steam on benefits for homosexuals. He is signing a a "presidential memorandum" and not an executive order. It will expire when (if) he leaves office. Health benefits are probably not covered. DOMA limits them and Obama's DOJ affirmed them in a recent court case


"DOMA is good because it saves the feds money:

"The constitutional propriety of Congress's decision to decline to extend federal benefits immediately to newly recognized types of marriages is bolstered by Congress's articulated interest in preserving the scarce resources of both the federal and State governments. DOMA ensures that evolving understandings of the institution of marriage at the State level do not place greater financial and administrative obligations on federal and state benefits programs. Preserving scarce government resources ? and deciding to extend benefits incrementally ? are well-recognized legitimate interests under rational-basis review. See Butler, 144 F.3d at 625 "

http://www.americablog.com/200...ment-defends-doma.html


"DOJ moves to dismiss first fed gay marriage case"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/...e/n214337D49.DTL&tsp=1

So Obama plays out the Gays


http://www.americablog.com/200...ts-obama-benefits.html

Oh look, it's Butterbean's new account :roll:


-------------------------
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If you can prove otherwise; please alert a Moderator(s) of the evidence

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Common Courtesy

 

[Andrew1990]

Originally posted by: JKing106

Originally posted by: Andrew1990
The gay community is fine by me as long as they leave me be.

Gayness is contagious, you know.

Dont worry, I use a cream that prevents it.


Anyways, its about time they get fed benefits.

 

[Balt]

Originally posted by: BarrySotero
It was obvious when Obama appointed Berry he was going to subvert the gov from within (Obama has a gift for that). One step closer to Weimar Germany and impending collapse.

Funniest post I've read all week. :thumbsup:

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: aeternitas
Ya know, Im all for this and all, but I always get a bit turned away when I read stuff like "gay pride" month and similar things. It's like, what are you proud about? That you can slide in a different hole? How about have pride in your freedoms, try and expand that, and keep the sexual shit in the privet sector.

Puns intended.

You really are a douche bag aren`t you??

We have Mother`s day and father`s day and valentine`s day why not Gay Pride Month???

Sounds to nme like you haven`t came out of the closet yet....