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talkpoliticsObama includes openly gay athletes in 2014 Olympic delegation
"King and Cahow are both openly gay athletes. Gay rights groups have urged the Obama administration to use the delegation selection to make a point about Russia's treatment of gays and lesbians."
"In what may be another slight to the Russian president, Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the opening ceremony. This marks the first time since the 2000 Summer Olympic Games that a president, vice president, first lady or former president won't be part of the opening ceremony." (source)
That'll surely show 'em bad Russkies! I can see from now what's gonna happen next, tovarisch Putin appointing Edward Snowden head of the Russian Olympic delegation in Sochi and going all-preachy about transparency and honesty in international politics. And the shit'll keep rollin' rollin' rollin' baby. ;)
Now this is curious:
"I have no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in a way that intimidate them or are harmful to them". (source)
Kudos, that's such a noble, princpled stance, Mr Prez. Well, perhaps if we're to remain fully consistent with this so-boldly stated principle, then the US should be sending lesbian delegates to Riyadh to bow down before the King on Barry's behalf, no? Or better yet, not send anyone in protest to their treating of gays or lesbians or transgender persons in a way that intimidate them or are harmful to them (to put it very mildly in KSA's case). After all, he's having "no patience" for "such countries", which for some reason should include, I don't know, the likes of Saudi Arabia as well? Otherwise, if that's not the case, then the conclusion is that there must be some other additional criterion that I've remained blissfully unaware of, which serves to negate the above-stated principle in some mysterious way.
That said, the Russian anti-gay-"propaganda" law is bullshit and a disgrace. The "think about the children" sort of reasoning has never been the strongest argument in existence for crafting legislation that potentially affects millions of people - but then again, it's not like Russia's leaders have ever cared about these things too much, have they. Putin has already gone to tremendous lengths to craft and image of Mr Tough Guy for himself, and create a Great Russia narrative, and acting tough on public displays of homosexual affection plays just fine into the demands and expectations of the hard-line segments of Russian society (which seem to be an overwhelming majority, I daresay) - as spearheaded by the super-conservative Orthodox Church of Russia. Which, curiously, seems to be on the very same page as the various neo-Nazi groups in Russia on this particular issue. Yep, we all know of the status of LGBTs in that country, so no surprises there.
As for Obama, some of his most devout clappers call that a bold move, even a "checkmate". Sort of showing the finger to Putin in a fashion. Some have even gone as far as to call it an act of retaliation to the way Putin arguably "embarrassed" the White House during the whole Syria-WMDs affair (the actual term being used there is much more explicit, mind you). And a revenge for Snowden, of course. So I guess we should Watch Out, Cuz We Have A Badass Over Here!
Your move, Putin. Maybe you'd send a squadron of drunken Siberian bears to Capitol Hill to wreak havoc on the lawn in front of the White House? That'll scare 'em lame mothafuckin' no-doers in Congress shitless, I bet! (Unless someone shoots those pesky intruders for acting too strangely in such proximity to Mr Prez). Or... or, he could land that paraplane on Times Square - ya know, the one he used for steering that flock of birds into whatever direction Dear Leader had figured the brave bright future was awaiting them?
Ps. I hear an eminent US politician or two have walked out in protest to commemorating that evil commie Mandela. Clearly, Mandela should've made a few more shirtless horse-riding shots to appeal to particular parts of the American high-ranking public way better. Oh well, that was just an idea.
"King and Cahow are both openly gay athletes. Gay rights groups have urged the Obama administration to use the delegation selection to make a point about Russia's treatment of gays and lesbians."
"In what may be another slight to the Russian president, Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the opening ceremony. This marks the first time since the 2000 Summer Olympic Games that a president, vice president, first lady or former president won't be part of the opening ceremony." (source)
That'll surely show 'em bad Russkies! I can see from now what's gonna happen next, tovarisch Putin appointing Edward Snowden head of the Russian Olympic delegation in Sochi and going all-preachy about transparency and honesty in international politics. And the shit'll keep rollin' rollin' rollin' baby. ;)
Now this is curious:
"I have no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in a way that intimidate them or are harmful to them". (source)
Kudos, that's such a noble, princpled stance, Mr Prez. Well, perhaps if we're to remain fully consistent with this so-boldly stated principle, then the US should be sending lesbian delegates to Riyadh to bow down before the King on Barry's behalf, no? Or better yet, not send anyone in protest to their treating of gays or lesbians or transgender persons in a way that intimidate them or are harmful to them (to put it very mildly in KSA's case). After all, he's having "no patience" for "such countries", which for some reason should include, I don't know, the likes of Saudi Arabia as well? Otherwise, if that's not the case, then the conclusion is that there must be some other additional criterion that I've remained blissfully unaware of, which serves to negate the above-stated principle in some mysterious way.
That said, the Russian anti-gay-"propaganda" law is bullshit and a disgrace. The "think about the children" sort of reasoning has never been the strongest argument in existence for crafting legislation that potentially affects millions of people - but then again, it's not like Russia's leaders have ever cared about these things too much, have they. Putin has already gone to tremendous lengths to craft and image of Mr Tough Guy for himself, and create a Great Russia narrative, and acting tough on public displays of homosexual affection plays just fine into the demands and expectations of the hard-line segments of Russian society (which seem to be an overwhelming majority, I daresay) - as spearheaded by the super-conservative Orthodox Church of Russia. Which, curiously, seems to be on the very same page as the various neo-Nazi groups in Russia on this particular issue. Yep, we all know of the status of LGBTs in that country, so no surprises there.
As for Obama, some of his most devout clappers call that a bold move, even a "checkmate". Sort of showing the finger to Putin in a fashion. Some have even gone as far as to call it an act of retaliation to the way Putin arguably "embarrassed" the White House during the whole Syria-WMDs affair (the actual term being used there is much more explicit, mind you). And a revenge for Snowden, of course. So I guess we should Watch Out, Cuz We Have A Badass Over Here!
Your move, Putin. Maybe you'd send a squadron of drunken Siberian bears to Capitol Hill to wreak havoc on the lawn in front of the White House? That'll scare 'em lame mothafuckin' no-doers in Congress shitless, I bet! (Unless someone shoots those pesky intruders for acting too strangely in such proximity to Mr Prez). Or... or, he could land that paraplane on Times Square - ya know, the one he used for steering that flock of birds into whatever direction Dear Leader had figured the brave bright future was awaiting them?
Ps. I hear an eminent US politician or two have walked out in protest to commemorating that evil commie Mandela. Clearly, Mandela should've made a few more shirtless horse-riding shots to appeal to particular parts of the American high-ranking public way better. Oh well, that was just an idea.
