A Bone?

CNN is reporting President Obama will be signing a memorandum today, granting benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. CNN went a little crazy with the headline, though, and made me think for a split second that Andy and I were getting a pony for Christmas. "Obama to OK benefits for same-sex partners"...really? Where do we sign up?

Partners of employees of the federal government will be granted these benefits, not all gay couples. Not that I really thought so when I read it (we first heard of this last night), but it just seems like sloppy journalism. Yes, headline space is limited, but on the heels of last week's disgusting DOMA-defense from Eric Holder's Justice Department, we're a little touchy. Don't jerk with us, CNN.

This is a good move by Obama, but excuse us for not doing cartwheels of joy. This is merely a memorandum, not an executive order, so it can be overturned by any future administration. And, sorry, but the cynic in me knows we were just thrown a bone. Clearly the White House felt the need to do something for the gays; the outcry from gay organizations and even the mainstream media over Obama's record with the gay community since getting elected can't be ignored. But it's interesting that word of this broke last night, hours after news that an upcoming Democratic Party fundraiser was hemorrhaging Big Gay Donors. Prominent gay activists and leaders have pulled out and some are calling for a boycott. And suddenly the President remembers us?

Sorry, but no, too little, too late. Last week your Justice Department compared our relationship to pedophilia and incest, while defending a law you promised to overturn. Now you're doing something woefully limited in scope, while exercising a presidential power that you could have used on your first day in office. What took so long? It's just a freaking memo.

You're going to have to do better than that, Mr. President.