Obama: We need ENDA because 'We need to harness the creativity and talents of every American'

Not content with just releasing one of those dry statements of administration policy on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, President Barack Obama went to Huffington Post to make the case that workplace discrimination hurts us, and banning it is the right thing to do:

Americans ought to be judged by one thing only in their workplaces: their ability to get their jobs done. Does it make a difference if the firefighter who rescues you is gay—or the accountant who does your taxes, or the mechanic who fixes your car? If someone works hard every day, does everything he or she is asked, is responsible and trustworthy and a good colleague, that's all that should matter.

Business agrees. The majority of Fortune 500 companies and small businesses already have nondiscrimination policies that protect LGBT employees. These companies know that it's both the right thing to do and makes good economic sense. They want to attract and retain the best workers, and discrimination makes it harder to do that.

So too with our nation. If we want to create more jobs and economic growth and keep our country competitive in the global economy, we need everyone working hard, contributing their ideas, and putting their abilities to use doing what they do best. We need to harness the creativity and talents of every American.

The Senate is scheduled to hold its first vote on ENDA late Monday afternoon, and is very close to the 60 votes needed to defeat a filibuster. If it passes the Senate, though, John Boehner will need to face serious, serious pressure if ENDA is ever going to get a vote in the House.

6:30 AM PT: ENDA has picked up its 60th Senate supporter:

Today I announced my support for #ENDA. Read more here: http://t.co/...
— @SenDeanHeller