Being selfish for a bit

If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that none of our hands are entirely clean. If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King’s vision of a beloved community. We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing someone else down. - Barack Obama

I hear Barack Obama say things like this, and I want to believe that he's a different sort of politician. If I'm being totally selfish here (which I am), I'm trying to decide if he, Hillary, or Edwards would best serve the gay community. I think it's ok to be a bit selfish about this, even in war time. After all, I can't tell you how many of our troops I've tried to help by providing them with phone cards so they can call their families, care packages, and the like, while my country has repaid the gesture to my community by doing everything humanly possible to ensure that we are second class citizens. I think that gives me the right to be just a little selfish here. So, back to my selfishness.....

Barack claims that he's better for gays because, unlike Hillary, he will abolish the Defense of Marriage Act that President Clinton signed into law. That is the act that prevents gay couples joined in a marriage or civil union from obtaining any federal benefits associated with marriage. And this is no small deal. These are some of the benefits we are excluded from...

• Autopsy examination consent
• Burial rights of service member’s dependents
• Child custody in divorce proceedings
• Cohabitation on military and other controlled properties
• Community property control, division, acquisition, and disposition
• Exemption from conveyance tax
• Court notice of probate proceedings
• Death benefit for surviving spouse for government employee
• Domestic violence protection orders
• Existing homestead lease continuation of rights
• Regulation of condominium sales to owner-occupants exemption
• Funeral and bereavement leave
• Joint adoption and foster care
• Joint tax filing
• Property tax exemption for homes of totally disabled veterans
• Income tax deductions, credits, rates exemption, and estimates
• Insurance licenses, coverage, eligibility, and benefits organization of mutual benefits society
• Legal status with stepchildren
• Making, revoking, and objecting to post-mortem anatomical gifts
• Making spousal medical decisions
• Spousal non-resident tuition deferential waiver
• Payment of wages and workers compensation benefits after worker death
• Permission to make arrangements for burial or cremation
• Right of survivorship of custodial trust
• Right to change surname upon marriage
• Right to enter into prenuptial agreement
• Right to inheritance of property
• Right to sue for tort and wrongful death
• Right to child support after divorce
• Spousal privilege and confidential marriage communications
• Spousal immigration benefits
• Spouse of veteran medical care discount
• Status as next-of-kin
• Visitation privileges to imprisoned spouse
• Visitation privileges to spouse in hospital

You know, little things like that...

Hillary has vowed to only get rid of certain sections of it. Why? Could it be because her husband signed it into law, or does she really believe that we aren't equal? I don't know. I really don't know who will be best for my community. Both Hillary and Barack have said and done some bizarre things where our community is concerned. For Hillary, it's the half-hearted attempt of getting rid of the Defense of Marriage Act. Maybe I just never got over Bill Clinton. I remember when he went into office, he vowed to allow gay soldiers to serve in the military without being discharged. So after weeks of hearings on Capitol Hill, he finally caved in with letting gay soldiers serve, as long as they didn't tell. Thus spawned Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and we all know how well that's worked out. The point is, will history repeat itself with another Clinton in the White House? Is Hillary just giving us lip service like Bill did? Is she really sincere about ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and getting rid of DOMA?

Then on Barack's side, there's the gospel singer fiasco, along with other company that he keeps. It leaves one wondering.

I guess the question is, how much of their rhetoric should we believe, or can any of it be seen as sincere? They are both just politicians.