Note: I am not the heckler from the Boxer fundraising event.
At a Tuesday night fundraiser for Barbara Boxer President Obama was again heckled by an audience member over DADT. In response the president put on his mildly bemused expression – like one of his kids had done something naughty but oh so cute. An "Oh those hecklers – not too bright but, you know, their heart’s in the right place" kind of look. He grinned, mentioned that the heckler might want to "buy a ticket (to a fundraiser) to someone who doesn’t support his point of view". He told the crowd that the heckler must not have been reading the newspapers because "we’re working with congress as we speak to roll back don’t ask don’t tell". Finally he stated "I actually does think he reads the newspapers, because his heart didn’t seem in it ... do it faster, come on man, I’m dealing with congress here, it takes a little bit of time".
Well, Mr. President. That response pretty much explains why we’re still heckling you.
First, we’re not at all certain that you do support our point of view, or that your support will remain strong. We have reason for that doubt – you supported our right to marry when you ran for state senator in Illinois and then changed your public point of view when you ran for president. You cited, among other reasons, religious concerns for that change. While you’ve claimed support for ending DADT your own secretary of defense (a Republican) recently pretty much ordered congress not to end it this year. The latest agreement with congress – the one you’re referring to when you state that "we’re working with congress as we speak..." requires sign off by the Pentagon before repeal can happen. We’re not stupid, Mr. President. We know who our enemies are – and a lot of them are evangelical Christians with stars on their shoulders and desks at the Pentagon.
And, Mr. President, we do read the newspapers. And blogs. And watch cable tv. And pay attention to the latest polls. And we know that we’re not the most popular folks in the room. And because we’re paying attention we know that if elimination of DADT doesn’t happen now we’re not likely to see it for a very long time. Your party (and mine) is most likely going to lose seats in November. If it’s hard to get this done now, it’s likely impossible later.
Mr. President, we’re not teabaggers, we’re not your cute kids, we’re not that slightly loopy uncle at the family Thanksgiving table that doesn’t know when to shut up. We’re also not naïve activists who don’t understand the ways of the political system with all of its complexities and priorities and fundraising moments. Instead we are Americans who have decided that our equality is no longer something that will wait, something that is open to compromise or something that is granted to us by well meaning politicians. It is our birthright. We understand that the complexities, priorities and fundraising moments are nothing more than excuses that allow for delay and defeat.
What does that mean for you? It means that we are no longer concerned that you think us rude. It means that not hating us is not a high enough standard to earn our support. It means we are going to hold you accountable for your actions – not just your words. So that when you dismiss us with "we’re working with congress as we speak" we’re not going to pretend that our prior heckling, our demonstrating and the heroes chained to the gates of your home played no part in that. We’re not going to continue to pretend that we have won a victory when nothing has yet changed. We’re not going to be intimidated into silence by the threat that our noise might cause Republican victory. We’re not backing down and we’re not going away.
There is a way to stop the heckling, Mr. President. Do what you promised and do it now.