What Equality Sounds Like - NYTimes.com DENVER - It went by quickly, but President Obama got a big roar from the crowds at both his rallies today when he mentioned equality for gay people. That used to be the kind of thing that politicians talked about in small settings, not in mass get-out-the-vote gatherings, like the one here in City Park Wednesday afternoon. The usual calculation was that it could alienate more voters than it attracted, so why take the risk? But the calculation has changed for the better. In his Denver speech, the president listed the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy as among his most significant accomplishments. "I promised to cut taxes for middle-class families and small businesses and we have," he said. I promised to end taxpayer-funded Wall Street bailouts for good, and we did. I promised to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell', and today you can't be kicked out of the military because of who you are and who you love. He returned to the subject in the conclusion of his 16-minute speech, and got an even bigger cheer. "You can choose to turn back the clock 50 years for women, immigrants and gays," he said. Or in this election, you can stand up for that basic principle that we're all created equal. That no matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter who you love, here in America you can make it if you try. Of course, he didn't explicitly call for an end to the Defense of Marriage Act, or endorse same-sex marriage, as he has previously done. But even bringing up the subject regularly on the campaign trail without being prompted may be a first. If it isn't, please comment on this post. The response suggests it won't be the last time.