Steve Hildebrand was Barack Obama's deputy campaign chairman and his field organization was widely credited for early, crucial victories in Iowa and South Carolina. The openly gay campaign strategist breaks campaign post-silence and now admits he is "losing patience" with the White House's lack of progress on LGBT rights and says the President "needs to be more bold in his leadership", reports Politico.
"The problem is, Obama isn’t listening enough," Hildebrand said. "I love him, I love Michelle, I want him to succeed, but all of us need to put pressure on him and Congress to do the right things. The American people put confidence in the Democrats because they thought we could get things done, and if we fail, they’re not going to give it back."
"I gave up a lot to elect Democrats, and I expect them to give it up for me. I’m going to speak loudly. The Republicans don’t have power unless the moderates and the Blue Dogs give it to them—which is what they’re doing now," he said in the speech.
"I know where Barack Obama is on these issues and I don't question his sincerity or his honesty towards trying to solve them," he said. "I do question whether or not the Congress as it is constituted right now is going to have the capacity to ever deliver on some of the most critical issues facing our country right now."
Hildebrand says the lack of progress on gay rights has become one of his biggest disappointments. After 22 years of working for Democratic candidates, the strategist says "we haven’t come very far."
The former deputy campaign manager—who was involved in then-Sen. Obama’s decision whether to run for president—becomes the most prominent gay in the Administration's inner circle to criticize its progress (or lack thereof) on LGBT rights. Asked to address Hildebrand’s criticism that the President hasn’t been more forceful, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responded (video): "Well, I'll e-mail Steve and tell him what which affiliate in Sioux Falls will be covering the [health-care] speech so he can listen to the president."
Adviser Losing Patience with Obama [Politico]
I AM REALLY SICK OF THIS WHITE GAY "WE GAVE YOU OBAMA NOW GIVE US OUR RIGHTS NOW" TONE IN THESE NEW CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GAY CONCERNS!
THIS IS STARTING TO MAKE ME FEEL SOME KIND OF WAY! I HAVE TO GO INTO SOME MEETINGS THIS WEEKEND ABOUT MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND I SWEAR TO THE LORD ABOVE, IF ONE OF THEM GOES IN THIS DIRECTION, THERE ARE GOING TO BE PROBLEMS!
WE ARE 8 MONTHS INTO THE MAN'S ADMINISTRATION AND EVERYONE IS SCREAMING "NOW!!!!"
AS MY MOMMA WOULD SAY, SIT YOUR HAPPY A** DOWN! WE'VE GOT A COUNTRY TO RECOVER AND THEN WE SURELY CAN BE VEHEMENT AND VORACIOUS ABOUT ISSUES (AND I DO MEAN NOW AND NOT AN ASSUMED SECOND-TERM), BUT JESUS...8 MONTHS IN...ALL OR NOTHING?! COME ON!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 09 September 2009 at 20:59
Steve Hildebrand is right. Obama has dragged his feet on gay rights. He could do so much more. There are no excuses. Legistlation is writen and signed left and right. Remember the fierce urgency of NOW!
Call and email your Senators to get them to vote YES on ENDA and the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes bill.
Posted by: DeShaun | 09 September 2009 at 22:57
Uh DeShaun, Hildebrand is not criticizing Obama, he's criticizing Congress. Read the excerpt...
You can't give Obama a pass 100%, but the lack of action is more to do with Congress than the White House. You can lobby all you want, but if the legislative branch does nothing what can you do other than condemn?
Posted by: kayman | 10 September 2009 at 11:22
The president sets the agenda. Obama has gotten congress to pass on several important pieces of legistlation like DOMA and DADT. He also has passed on several very qualified gay people for high level positions, obviously because he doesn't want a public battle with conservatives who will fight to the death to block any gay person from getting a major position.
Right now we need to lobby congress to get ENDA and the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes bill passed. I think Obama will sign them.
Posted by: DeShaun | 10 September 2009 at 15:52
Hildebrand is criticizing all of the Democrats in this article which would include both President Obama and the Congress. And he's not simply criticizing the Dems for their inaction now but for their relative inaction over the past "22 years."
If Hildebrand's comments were simply a criticism of Obama, I might agree with you RevKev but it's not.
In Hildebrand's statement that Rod quoted above he especially notes the inability of the Congress to deliver on the "critical issues" of our time, meaning HCR, I assume. If they can't deliver on that with the huge majorities that they have, it will be difficult to deliver on gay rights issues as well.
Posted by: Chitown Kev | 10 September 2009 at 18:20