Obama Disappoints Gay Groups By Refusing To Ban Discrimination Against Gay Federal Contractors

[ruggerson]

73. HERE IS WHAT OBAMA HIMSELF SAID TWO YEARS AGO

When asked about ways to circumvent legislation stalled in congress.

"There still a lot of things we can do administratively even if we don't pass things legislatively. So my ability to make sure that the federal government is an employer that treats gays and lesbians fairly, that's something I can do, and sets a model for folks across the board,"

Those who are offering varied excuses, such as an EO would harm the passage of ENDA in Congress, have no rational basis for their argument.

The Executive Order in question covers only Federal Employees - a very different legal protection than what ENDA offers.

There is NO, ZERO, NADA chance that ENDA will ever be brought to a vote in a Republican House. Anyone who argues that an EO might harm pending legislation in Congress does not understand the history of this issue.

ENDA has been "pending" for over 20 years.

FIVE other Presidents have issued Executive Orders in regards to employment in the Federal government.

In 1965, Johnson signed an Executive Order banning federal contractors from discrimination based on race, religion and gender.

This EO would have added sexual orientation to the list.

Obama himself has signed 115 Executive Orders so far in his Presidency.

115.

"There still a lot of things we can do administratively even if we don't pass things legislatively. So my ability to make sure that the federal government is an employer that treats gays and lesbians fairly, that's something I can do, and sets a model for folks across the board,"

Yeah, right.