Piling on the 100 Days circus

Obama made a big speech yesterday (I didn't watch, I was at the Ruth Ellis Center) about his accomplishments of his first 100 days. While I appreciate (and a bit amazed) at all he's done, his gay cred is a bit shaky. On the plus side, he has appointed a lot of gay people to high places (except the cabinet) and made a lot of symbolic gestures. The Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Act passed the House, but that was on Day 101 and the Senate still needs to act. Compared to Bush and what we would have gotten under McCain and Palin these are highly welcome. On the minus side, he has specifically postponed repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and has done very little on Defense of Marriage, Employment Non-Discrimination, and Uniting American Families (prevent deportation of half a binational gay couple).

To be fair, the president has done a lot in 100 days (and I'm pleased at what he has done), so it isn't surprising or all that irritating that he hasn't done much specifically for gays. In the meantime, many states are making up the difference.

And in those hundred days Obama has been described in many ways -- closet socialist, too moderate, too liberal, too generous to the banks, etc. -- but rarely is he described as black. He is the president, not the black president. Of course, racism isn't over and there is a very shrill corner of the population that focuses on the president's race and nothing else. But that group has gotten smaller over the years (and more shrill as it does so).