Where's the change I can believe in?

President Obama doesn't seem to want to hold the Bush administration torturers accountable.

He repeats the Bush administration's "state secrets" excuse to cover up possible crimes.

And now he has betrayed the gay community.

Last week, Obama's Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss a case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Under DOMA, same-sex marriages are not recognized at the federal level or (to a more limited extent) an interstate level. A piece on the Huffington Post astutely pointed out that Obama had pledged to try to repeal DOMA while on the campaign trail. Allowing the case challenging DOMA to move forward, thereby shining a light on DOMA's discriminatory (and thereby unconstitutional) nature, could have been big a step towards making that happen.

Sadly, for every step forward by the Obama administration, there is another step backwards.

Where is the change that he promised us?

Now, as I write this, I realize that the news broke late yesterday that Obama will sign an order today granting some benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.

That is good, but it is not nearly enough. And the timing of this move makes it appear as though he's just throwing a bone to the LGBT crowd in response to all the recent criticism of his inaction on their behalf.

Repeal DOMA, Mr. President.

Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

That would be some change I could believe in, even as the economy continues to fall.