How surprising. A leak.
Reacting to a rising tide of anger from gay and lesbian supporters at a series of slights and deferred promises, President Obama will tomorrow sign an executive order extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
The move, which mirrors the policy of many large corporations, will have an immediate effect for many workers, but it is a deeply reactive response to a core Democratic group whose concerns have been festering for six months. The executive order — scheduled for signing tomorrow at 5:45 p.m., may in the short term give Joe Biden something positive to say at a June 25 fundraiser that has seen prominent guests drop out, a host sharply attack the administration, and which is expected to be marked by protests.
However, the Defense of Marriage Act prohibits the federal government from extending health and retirement benefits to same-sex couples, so the benefits are more likely to be marginal — like relocation assistance.
Too little, too late?
The leak came after HRC pulled out of the June 25 fundraiser.
MORE LATER: The WaPo says health care, too. Politico updated to say that “health benefits appear not to be among those to be extended.”
Emma Ruby-Sachs, the Civil Lawyer at Huffington Post is unmoved:
Obama has made it clear that he will do only the minimum necessary to avoid a gay revolution. Gay rights are consistently moved to the bottom of the political barrel. He thinks extending benefits to a few federal employees is sufficient.
It’s our job to let him know that is not enough.