“Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” It works for the mobsters of The Godfather, but President Obama and the White House have been working so hard to court our enemies that they have alienated core Democratic constituencies. No group has felt this more than the LGBT community. When Obama addresses the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC, the largest gay-rights organization) annual gala this Saturday, he will have the chance to either renew his relations with this loyal Democratic constituency or incite further agitation and disenchantment.

As a candidate in the primaries, Obama positioned himself to the left of frontrunner Hillary Clinton on gay rights. He promised speedy repeals of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT, the law that bans gays from serving openly in the military) and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA, which bans same-sex marriage on a federal level). He made a number of other commitments, promising to serve as a “fierce advocate” for the LGBT community and pledging to put the full weight of the White House behind eight legislative goals. In return, the LGBT community threw much of its support behind Obama, both in fundraising and in actual campaigning. The community finally saw someone that would work for them in the White House. (more…)

This past week the College Democrats were lucky enough to host Michael Moore in a town hall style meeting. He made some brilliant points and I am happy to say he really made me think about health care in America. Later that day, I watched Sicko which made me think even more, and by the end, I was extremely angry. You’re right Mr. Moore, the way we treat our citizens when it comes to health care is immoral.

One thing that Michael Moore touched on, but doesn’t talk  about specifically, is mental health care in America. It is an issue that I am passionate about and I wholeheartedly believe that we need major reforms for the mental health care system in America.

Fifteen to eighteen percent of Americans are said to suffer from some type of mental illness. According to the NIMH, about 20% of adults will at sometime seek treatment for a mental disorder. Suicide accounts for more deaths than homicide and HIV/AIDS combined. Mental health is real, it’s prevalent and it needs to be addressed. (more…)

A recent topic of discussion is the prospect that the GOP could re-take the House of Representatives in the 2010 midterm elections. With today’s unfortunate report that the economy is still shedding jobs, and with the defeat of the public option in the Senate Finance Committee’s version of the health care bill, many Republicans no doubt believe they are on the offensive to a such a degree that they can take back the House. (more…)