Commentary: Obama absent on gay rights

This morning CNN.com posted an article written by guest commentator William Jelani Cobb.

(CNN) -- Last week Gov. John Lynch signed a bill making New Hampshire the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage.

It was a paradoxical moment. The new law is a reminder that same-sex marriage is the civil rights issue of our era and just how far the movement for marriage equality has come. It also highlighted the unexpected and remarkable silence from the White House on this issue.

I've noticed a marked increase in dissatisfaction with Obama coming from gay rights activists. So far, Mr. Cobb's commentary is the most eloquent, complete with parallels to John F. Kennedy Jr. that may surprise the average reader. It seems that neither Obama or JFK are/were the Saints they presented Americans with during their elections.

Obama, trying not to get into a "culture war", seems to be doing just the opposite by following in the footsteps of Bill Clinton, who charmed his way into the White House on a wave of miraculous promises that turned out to be empty. Now Barak Obama seems to be avoiding gay rights as he tries to keep to "middle ground" that will please the most Americans. Has he forgotten the overwhelming support he had that swept him into office? Plus, he's the first Democratic president to be backed by a Democratic Congress in... ages! Obama should be taking charge and unafraid, not cow-towing to the middle.

Even middle America was critical of the Bail Outs. Now Obama is risking pissing off the left by ignoring the recent gay marriage wins and losses, pussy-footing around his promise to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", and refusing to use support of Roe v. Wade as a litmus test for choosing his Supreme Court nominees.

I will be the first in line to adjust Obama's saintly halo back into its rightful place, but only after he un-tarnishes the thing first.