2004-03-18
I'm going to try to wean myself from commenting in comment boards and redirect that energy towards my own postings. In the meantime, there will be a transition period characterized by my posting cannibalized comment postings as blog postings.
So here is the first: Atrios notes some funny goings on at the Office of Special Counsel that seems to rescind the protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation that Clinton granted by executive order.
Anyway, I read this a little more closely and I'm not sure it actually says anything. I mean, Bloch says that sexual orientation isn't included in federal civil rights law, which is true and has always been true. As far as I can tell, the executive order hasn't been rescinded.
My guess--and it would be nice to see the copy of Federal Times to verify this--is that this is what happened:
First, sexual orientation quietly disappeared from the discrimination complaint forms and information brochures. After all, people are less likely to complain if they don't know they can, and especially if they don't have a form to do it on! Then the union and the GLBT group complained, and so he finally gave this half-assed explanation that referenced civil rights law when what was actually relevant was the executive order. If someone complains under the executive order, I don't know what will happen, but it does seem to me that only another executive order or an act of Congress can nullify it.
That's perfectly classic Bush administration dissembling. Perfectly recognizable by the nauseous feeling you get when you try to tell the tiny balance system in your inner ear that up is down.
--Melissa O, at 01:43
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