As you know, I’m one of the supporters of the DNC boycott launched by Americablog, as my position has been for a long time that money talks. The heavyweight and grassroots donors are appalled, not just with the lack of attention to LGBT civil rights, but the speeding bus now being driven over women and reproductive freedom in the health care reform morass. It’s not just the LGBTs affected by the lack of commitment to progressive change now.

That’s why you’ve seen Daily Kos and Firedoglake sign on to the effort, as well as Dan Savage, Michelangelo Signorile, David Mixner, Andy Towle and Michael Goff of Towleroad, Paul Sousa, Robin Tyler and Bil Browning for the Bilerico Project sign on. As far as our issues go:

President Obama promised to be a “fierce advocate” for LGBT Americans.  But while making modest progress on a scant few issues, on the major campaign promises made to our community, the President and the Democratic party have failed to keep their commitments.

There has been little, if any, pressure from the White House for votes on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).  The administration continues to send mixed signals on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT).  And we’ve been told not to expect the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to even be considered until President Obama’s second term.  In the last two weeks alone, we were angered that the Obama administration continued to defend DOMA in the courts — last June, the administration’s lawyers even compared loving gay relationships to incest and pedophilia — and we were saddened that the White House and the Democratic party refused to help us defeat anti-gay ballot initiatives in Maine and Washington state.  LGBT Americans, our families, and our friends kept our promise at the ballot box, we now expect President Obama to keep his in the White House.

It’s not about pushing issues that were never on the table; it’s about inattention to the promises made and legislation in the queue, and continued delay and stalling both at the WH and on the Hill — after all, it’s never going to be the “right time” to address politically thorny issues. We’re not stupid or lacking pragmatism. You might as well toss the DSCC and DCCC on the list if you really want to send a message.

Glenn Greenwald was spot-on a few weeks ago about the goal post that keeps moving.

As for the “you-have-to-wait” justification, here’s the time-line of the Democratic Party mentality on all such matters:
  • 2004-2006:  ”You have to wait until we win a Congressional majority in the 2006 midterms.”
  • 2006-2008:  ”You have to wait until we win the White House in 2008.”
  • January-May, 2009:  ”You have to wait until we have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.”
  • Currently:  ”You have to wait until after the 2010 midterms so we preserve our majority” or “you have to wait until Obama is safely re-elected in 2012.”
  • Once Obama is safely re-elected, it will be:  ”you have to wait so you don’t jeopardize the 2014 midterms.”  

That’s the mentality that produces majority power which exists for no real purpose but to perpetuate itself.

Jane Hamsher spoke to CBS about the boycott and how it’s cascading into more action.

Hamsher has signed on to a financial boycott of the Democratic National Committee, Organizing for America (the DNC-run operation to mobilize Obama supporters) and the Obama campaign. The boycott was organized by Americablog’s John Aravosis and Joe Sudbay over what they see as President Obama and his party’s failure to keep its commitments to the gay and lesbian community.

…That’s not enough for some on the left, however – and LGBT issues are not the only ones generating anger. Separate from the Americablog effort, another boycott is being organized by Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos. He is calling on his readers not to donate to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee because it is supporting candidates who voted against the health care reform bill. “Instead, give to those elected officials who best reflect your values,” he writes.

In addition to signing onto the Americablog boycott, Hamsher pushed her readers to unsubscribe to the Organizing for America mailing list, which is believed to include 12 – 13 million names. Liberals have been unhappy with OFA for not doing more on progressive causes like the gay marriage referendum in Maine.

But what about those who are not in favor of the boycott — and there are Blenders who think it’s not a good idea.

More below the fold.Chris Geidner opposes the boycott and makes his case The Advocate, in “Where Are We“:

This is ill-informed to the point of recklessness, and all equality advocates should be offended that John Aravosis would use his influence, such as it is, to attack the most pro-equality environment we’ve ever seen in this country.

Was the DNC right in failing to provide much-needed financial support for the No on 1 campaign in Maine? No. Should people sit down and find out what happened and why and publicly demand accountability? Yes. Is President Obama right in maintaining his campaign position opposing marriage equality? No. Should the LGBT community continue to push the president to fulfill his campaign promises that would advance LGBT equality? Of course.

Parting ways or disengaging with the DNC and Obama and his campaign apparatus right now could have tragic results. In the coming months, we expect action on ENDA and want support for D.C. marriage equality, should it occur. Will this AmericaBlog action help us gain support in either of those immediate goals? I suspect not. In a not altogether surprising way, the more successful Aravosis’s efforts at this boycott are, the less likely we could be to see quick action on ENDA. As with his earlier position opposing the inclusion of gender identity protections in ENDA, Aravosis again could be a wrench in the passage of nondiscrimination protections for our communities.

…What’s more, the absolute lack of a good-faith basis behind this stunt is clear from the inclusion of DOMA’s repeal in AmericaBlog’s demands. There’s not a single member of Congress or an honest LGBT activist who actually believed that a repeal of DOMA was possible in this Congress this January. By including it, Aravosis guarantees that this effort can continue indefinitely.

Speaking for myself, I’m well aware that DOMA repeal legislation is unlikely to pass, but a vote on it is quite useful in showing who needs to be lobbied on this — “allies” who haven’t yet grown the spine to support via vote, but also endlessly have their hands out at the gAyTM waiting for a wad of cash. If you pay, then you expect your representative to PLAY, not pretend and dodge. But my position on this has been consistent from the time I threw that gAyTM up there.  I certainly see no impending tragedy ahead for doing what other consitutencies (and PACs and big businesses) have done with the power of the purse to leverage action out of politicians. Why is it scandalous when the grassroots steps up to play hardball? Sign the Boycott the DNC pledge here.

I agree to disagree — the boycott makes sense — if you’re in the “just trust them to do the right thing at their pace” category or have a better approach than the boycott, then make the case for it not going forward; if it helps, all the better. Things will fall where they may. Discussion about it is a good thing.

Q of the Day for Blenders against the boycott:

1) Are you satisfied with the amount of progress in LGBT equality at the federal level?

2) Has the President and Congress had enough time to accomplish more?

3) If you believe progress is being stalled, then what might be a more effective approach to break the logjam?

4) What potential harm to LGBT equality do you think will result from this particular boycott (given there is not a call to stop donating to individual candidates supporting civil equality)?