Brody's Scribbles... How Can I Still Be A Democrat?

Palo Alto, California based Writer & Comedian Ethan August, gives his spin on life, being Gay, politics, & the current political atmosphere surrounding the ongoing debates in Washington. August holds a degree in Psychology and has volunteered for numerous LGBT non-profits. His blog, This-Gay-Life, features his own comedic and politically incorrect commentary on Gay life, politics, movies and other interesting events. He is working on his first book, a collection of comical short stories on some of the most serious and hilarious Gay issues.

By Ethan August (Palo Alto, California) OCT 20 | I feel so frustrated and betrayed - I’m not even sure I’m a Democrat anymore.  The fact that the Obama administration is defending DADT in court has confounded me. If not for the equality of my own people, what reason do I have to be a Democrat anymore?

1. I would certainly benefit from Republican tax policies. 

2. I don’t need to worry about abortion.

3. I’ve planned well enough for my retirement to not need social security.

4. I’ve completed my education.

5. I don’t rely on any social welfare programs.

If it weren’t for the Republicans socially oppressive ideology, I’d be a Republican.

That’s the first time I’ve ever said that in my life and it feels good! You know that feeling you get when you realize you’re in denial and finally admit the truth to yourself and everyone else? It’s glorious.  I’m outgrowing my idealistic phase.  I’m no longer willing to sacrifice financially for the “greater” good when I’m not part of the “greater.”  Especially when a political party tells me exactly what I want to hear in order to get me to vote for them and then doesn’t back it up when they are in power.  If the Democrats are in control of the House, the Senate and the White house… and they still can’t make this happen – we’ve got a really serious problem.

What a horrible time for Obama to announce the fact that he is going to defend DADT in court.  My vote-by-mail ballot is sitting on my desk! I feel like punishing the Democrats! I’m truly livid about this!  While I’m not beyond reason and wouldn’t vote for a Republican candidate.  I really don’t feel like voting for a party that time after time let us down.  I’m tired of the lies and the lack of courage.  Perhaps I’ll check out the independent candidates, or simply write in the judge’s name that was brilliant enough to rule DADT unconstitutional.

I can tell you this though!  If Obama doesn’t remedy this situation immediately, he isn’t going to get my vote in 2012.  No Democrat will! I’ll be taking as many fired up Homosexuals with me as possible when the time comes. 

I wonder what would happen if all Homosexuals just categorically abandoned the Democratic Party?  Let’s think about this for a minute… The high estimates put us at 10% of the population.  It’s probably more like 8%... 7%... possibly even as low as 5%.  Yet we are still many in numbers.

In 2008, 69,456,897 people voted for Obama.  That’s only 9,522,083 more votes than McCain! If we take our more conservative estimate of the Gay population at 5%, it puts our numbers somewhere in the ballpark of 15,524,850 people nationwide.  Do the Democrats really want to alienate 15 million people?  Think about all the people like my parents who will also exercise their voting power on my behalf and the number becomes staggering.  When I think about those numbers and their impact on an election that was as close the Bush/Gore contest and it sends tingles down my spine.

Certainly this is a cursory review of the numbers.  We can drill down into people of voting age, Gay people who vote Republican because they would rather have lower taxes than equality and I could go on and on… I realize those numbers aren’t solid.  Maybe that will deflect some of the 6,000 emails I’m about to receive on the matter but nevertheless – that is something to think about.  Why do we put up with always being second priority in a Party where we put their numbers just across the finish line?

Once again, I must reinforce my stance of exercising our numbers as a means of achieving equality.  If the 60,000 service members suddenly quit the military as I suggested – there would have been dramatic changes in the military.  We have that same opportunity here with the Democratic Party but it feels like we are pissing our power away again.

When you think about it, we’re not asking for a tremendous amount from our party.  We’re not asking for a Gay President, free lifetime passes to Disneyland or to pay lower taxes than anyone else.  We’re asking for basic civil rights and equality.  We’re asking for a party who we believe in to stand up, do the right thing and follow through on their promises.  We’re asking President Obama to have some courage to once and for all do what no other President has done and do the right thing when it comes to our equality.

I realize this idea sounds ridiculous.  However, when I started thinking about the fact that 11 States agreed to secede, leading to a war in which 620,000 people lost their lives, perhaps it not such a crazy idea that all Homosexuals could just drop out of the Democratic party.  Sure it seems preposterous… but doesn’t defending DADT in court seem preposterous?  Doesn’t it feel dirty when Obama is on MTV professing that he’s going to end DADT on his watch while simultaneously announcing to defend it in court?

Not only that! He has “Stop Loss” powers which enable him to suspend any law that reduces our forces in a time of war.  He still refuses to answer the question of why he hasn’t done that.  Now we are going to spend even more tax money and waste even more time defending something he’s already said he intends to do away with.  In the meantime, our Homosexual soldier’s careers continue to hang in the balance! Absolutely unacceptable!

There are many other issues we could place our full attention on if these obvious ones were resolved.  Issues like homosexual teen suicide and bullying to start!  Yet the President is content with not doing what he promised.  I know there are bullies out there who think “Well if they can’t serve in the military they are inferior” but the President can’t even do the right thing when he has the power too – so why would these bullies?  You’re setting an awesome example Barack.

It really inspires me when one person stands up amongst a great deal of opposition and does the right thing. Unfortunately the President I voted for is not that person.  Thank God this judge had the courage to do the right thing.  I don’t like making a decision about staying with the Democratic Party because we have no better options.  That’s a fear based decision that I simply can’t live with.

Could you imagine what our country would be like today if President Lincoln had said… “Well Slaves should be free but it could hurt our country.  I think we should implement a training program that teaches everyone how work amongst freed slaves.  We’ll let the slave owners do a study on the issue and get back on us for implementation.”  Instead, he took a stand and sent our country to war against itself.  If he hadn’t done that – Barack Obama would probably not be President today.  He should reflect on courage and the opportunities it has provided him.

Now the Democrats are saying "Don't go to the polls angry" - are you kidding me? I'm not going to the polls angry - I'm going livid.  Believe me, it's much worse.  What we really need to pass is a law that says if you donate to a campaign based on promises made by a candidate and they actually make good on those promises but don't - you can get a refund of your political donations.

I think I’ll fill out my ballot now and mail it in.

This is the second installment of a three part series on this issue.