What’s Under The Wrapping Of Obama’s Extending Benefits to Same-Sex Partners of Federal Employees?
Oh, hell, we’ve all done it! That last-minute dinner party invitation. An unexpected visit from a neighbor. There’s always a bottle of wine or champagne or a book from Aunt Bette or your mother, lying about the house. Times are tough, and time is tight. It may not always be the thought that counts – sometimes, timing is everything. As long as no one finds out.
Heaven knows our president has his hands full. Between the economy, the automakers, healthcare, even Iran, Obama is a busy guy. Who has time to put together a plan for gay civil rights at the drop of a hat? Just like the White House threw us a bone by throwing The Advocate an interview with John Berry. (You remember: I can imagine the conversation in the West Wing: “Oh crap, the gay issue just blew up. Who can we put on this? Oh yeah, Berry, he’s gay.â€) Well, with a major Democratic National Committee fundraiser just next week, and the Obama Department of Justice caught comparing laws that support DOMA to laws about incest and the marrying of children, Obama found himself smack dab in the middle of a last-minute dinner party invitation. What’s a president to do? Regift! Why, let’s just see what’s in the proverbial closet!
“Yes, yes, yes, this will do nicely,” no doubt some mid-level staffer proclaimed! So the Obama White House took a look in the LGBTQ closet and pulled out some old rights no one was using and re-wrapped them. President Obama is scheduled to deliver them tonight. But we can take a peek now.
First off, since the Obama team is doing this last minute, the rights come in the form of a memorandum, not a presidential order. The difference? When Obama leaves, so do these new rights. (I suppose one could make the case at that point for calling him an Indian giver too, but that’s not a term we think of fondly around here.)
So, Obama is going to direct federal agencies to “give” partners of same-sex employees some benefits that they already have, and look in their employee handbooks to see if they can stretch existing guidelines to offer more. So, same-sex partners can use bereavement time if a family member dies, and sick time to take care of an ill relative. But last night when we all heard that Obama was extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, we all naturally assumed benefits meant health benefits. Guess what? That mid-level staffer who reached into the closet didn’t pull out the single-malt scotch. More like the box of Gallo. We’ll learn tonight that Obama is not yet ready to offer his LGBTQ federal employees’ families full health benefits, retirement benefits, or survivor benefits. They will be eligible for long-term care benefits (i.e. care for the infirm.) That’s at least something.
What’s also curious is HRC’s take on all this. Rather than pointing out the obvious lack of substance, they are calling it a “beginning step.” That’s it.
Last night on Twitter I asked,
Obama can apologize to Nancy Reagan for a séance joke, but can’t apologize to gays for comparing our relationships to incest?
Today, Americablog’s John Aravosis asked,
Where’s the apology for comparing us to incest and pedophilia, the commitment to actively work to repeal DOMA, DADT, the promise to oppose DOMA in court, and the institution of a stop-loss order?
ABC reports this exchange with, Robert Gibbs, the White House Press Secretary, and The Advocate:
“Many gay and lesbian activists feel this falls far short of the promises President Obama made to the gay community on the campaign trail,” said the Advocate’s Kerry Eleveld. “Many are already saying if the president wanted to do something really bold he would spearhead an initiative to repeal DOMA.”
“Well, again, it’s the president’s Justice Department. And, again, we have the role of upholding the law of the land while the president has stated and will work with Congress to change that law.”