The Other Tea Party

The Other Tea Party
by Carlos T. Mock, MD
January 30, 2009

I voted for Barack Obama as the lesser of two evils. As an openly Gay activist I had serious doubts about his candidacy because Mr. Obama was against the most fundamental human right: same sex marriage. I was swayed by the enthusiasm of the general election and cast my vote for him on November 4, 2008. I hoped he would eventually come to terms with the our community.

Like many activists, we have been greatly disillusioned by the lack of progress on all of our issues. I get that some things take time, and the legislative process isn't always as fast as we'd like. But here's the thing—don t come begging for money when you haven't delivered on your promises.

We did our part. Yet after a year in office with super majorities, the Democratic Party has not delivered. Until they do, it seems ludicrous for them to ask for money, especially with whines about "Republican obstructionism". The obstructionism is coming within the own Democratic Party. When it gets its house in order and delivers on their promises, then that'll be different.

President Barack Obama was AWOL when it came to the marriage vote in Maine and the partnership vote in Washington.

The DNC was worse, actively working against us by sending out an email to Maine Democrats asking them to campaign for New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine—instead of asking them to man phones in their home state, working for marriage equality.

Despite a supposed commitment to gay civil rights expressed in the DNC platform and by the Obama campaign and administration, there has been relative silence on our issues.

What the DNC has failed to realize is that they have serious problems with the left—gay rights movements included—that they have failed to address. Their troubles are coming from both sides and they are not even aware of it.

Until I see results, my wallet is close. And the left throws a better Tea party than the right! If you don’t believe me ask the people from Massachusetts!

Dr. Mock has published four books with Floricanto Press, Berklety, CA. His articles have appeared on publications like The Chicago Tribune and several gay and lesbian newspapers. He was inducted in The Chicago GLBT Hall of Fame in 2007. He can be reached at: www.carlostmock.com