12/29/2008
Frank Rich on Obama and Rick Warren: You're Likable Enough, Gays
Frank Rich of the NYT is just the latest columnist to hand Obama a piece of his mind on the Rick Warren mistake. Here's a taste of it:
"Warren’s defamation of gay people illustrates why, as does our president-elect’s rationalization of it. When Obama defends Warren’s words by calling them an example of the “wide range of viewpoints” in a “diverse and noisy and opinionated” America, he is being too cute by half. He knows full well that a “viewpoint” defaming any minority group by linking it to sexual crimes like pedophilia is unacceptable.
"It is even more toxic in a year when that group has been marginalized and stripped of its rights by ballot initiatives fomenting precisely such fears. 'You’ve got to give them hope' was the refrain of the pioneering 1970s gay politician Harvey Milk, so stunningly brought back to life by Sean Penn on screen this winter. Milk reminds us that hope has to mean action, not just words.
"By the historical standards of presidential hubris, Obama’s disingenuous defense of his tone-deaf invitation to Warren is nonetheless a relatively tiny infraction. It’s no Bay of Pigs. But it does add an asterisk to the joyous inaugural of our first black president. It’s bizarre that Obama, of all people, would allow himself to be on the wrong side of this history.
"Since he’s not about to rescind the invitation, what happens next? For perspective, I asked Timothy McCarthy, a historian who teaches at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and an unabashed Obama enthusiast who served on his campaign’s National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Leadership Council. He responded via e-mail on Christmas Eve.
"After noting that Warren’s role at the inauguration is, in the end, symbolic, McCarthy concluded that “it’s now time to move from symbol to substance.” This means Warren should “recant his previous statements about gays and lesbians, and start acting like a Christian.”
"McCarthy added that it’s also time 'for President-elect Obama to start acting on the promises he made to the LGBT community during his campaign so that he doesn’t go down in history as another Bill Clinton, a sweet-talking swindler who would throw us under the bus for the sake of political expediency.'"
Read the rest HERE.
You’re Likable Enough, Gay People [frank rich - nyt]
For all our Rick Warren coverage, CLICK HERE.
Posted 8:09 AM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Frank Rich, Inauguration, News, Rick Warren | Permalink
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The Chicago Sun Times also ran a very interesting article on Warren's somewhat odious history:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/1350834,CST-EDT-hitch27.article
Posted by: Wayne | Dec 29, 2008 8:26:43 AM
Fantastic. Two more Obama apologists (Rich and McCarthy) telling Obama it was a dumb move but then telling the gay community to move the fuck on. McCarthy's "what next" strategy is worthless and really tells me that the people that support Obama as well as those that advise him don't know what to do with the gay community.
DADT has been pushed to 2010 at the earliest. So tell me, since DADT is probably the thing that has the most support right now and THAT can't be touched till 2010, what exactly IS Obama gonna do with the gay community?
Posted by: Adam | Dec 29, 2008 8:33:09 AM
I don't think Obama is going to "throw us under the bus" (though we've been down there enough times that we might as well start decorating). However, I don't think he's going to pave the way for us either.
As has been the case in other countries around the world that have legalized same-sex marriage, the heavy lifting will all have to be done by gays and lesbians and their allies.
Then, either through the courts or by other means, the government will be forced to enshrine it, with the country's leader telling conservatives that it's a logical and unavoidable progression in the pursuit of equal human rights for all. Any facilitation and negotiation will happen behind the scenes, and probably at arm's length from the Oval Office.
Posted by: David D. | Dec 29, 2008 9:24:58 AM
I agree with Adam. What is Obama going to do to right injustice against gays ? Is he going to support absolute equality or peddle mealy-mouthed platitudes about diverse viewpoints ? The issues are clear: we don't need an inquiry into DADT, we've had 12+ years to ponder it. The fact that all European countries (at least the 15) have open policies should be a pointer in the right direction. if a str8 can marry so should a gay person;ditto with adoption etc. and most of all there should be total separation between church/religion and stste. No more "so help me god"....or gods or any other form of supernatural manifestations.
Posted by: Hephaistion | Dec 29, 2008 9:33:20 AM
I think John Hodgman makes a few interesting points here:
http://bit.ly/QzRf
Posted by: Mike | Dec 29, 2008 9:51:32 AM
The Rich article is not an apology for Obama. It's an measured assessment of an issue that's drawn violent reactions from everywhere.
Likewise, the what's next question is a good one. Rick Warren apologizing for his stupidity seems... unlikely.
At least until hell freezes over.
Posted by: MammaB | Dec 29, 2008 10:12:53 AM
That John Hodgman article is a must read and should be posted on this here blog as well. Thank you for the link, Mike.
Posted by: Harrison | Dec 29, 2008 10:25:16 AM
The Frank Rich piece seems all over the place. For 2/3 of the piece he holds Obama's feet to the fire and claims this is an important issue, than for the rest he seems to trivialize it again.
This is not just a symbolic slap in the face. Obama is elevating those who are on a warpath to further strip our fundamental civil rights.
This inauguration will be for everyone but us. Not only does Rick Warren's version of God not include us, but it's looking like Obama's version of the Constitution doesn't either.
Posted by: Adamblast | Dec 29, 2008 11:33:21 AM
Just because he's not calling out for blood at the end doesn't mean he's being an apologist for Obama. It's very clear he sees this as a mistake. However, he also knows that this is just a footnote. We shouldn't forget and DEFINTELY shouldn't let Obama forget it. But since it's not the end and it's not a Supreme Court justiceship or Cabinet position, we should also put it in some perspective.
Posted by: Jay | Dec 29, 2008 11:50:41 AM
Of course, Andy conveniently cuts off the last sentence of the paragraph which is critical of some gay people's overreaction to the Warren brouhaha:
McCarthy also said, it's time “for LGBT folks to choose their battles wisely, to judge Obama on the content of his policy-making, not on the character of his ministers.”
Posted by: LightningLad | Dec 29, 2008 12:13:36 PM
Well what would you expect McCarthy to say? He has been shilling for Obama since day one. He helped to convince many gays to vote for Obama. You don't think he'll actually admit to being wrong do you?
Posted by: Wayne | Dec 29, 2008 12:49:11 PM
Frank Rich said it best: Obama IS 'on the wrong side of history'. If he doesn't step up and LEAD on this issue, in twenty years he will look as out of step as George Wallace in the '70's.
TIME IS ON OUR SIDE!
Posted by: dc8stretch | Dec 29, 2008 12:49:52 PM
I am shocked that any gay people are shocked by his choice. Oh is this not the change you were expecting? That was promised?
For as much as Bill Clinton continues to take the blame for "throwing gays under the bus," I can promise you he nor Hillary would have chosen someone so insanely absurd as Rick Warren to stand on that dais on January 20th.
To paint this decision by Obama as his desire to be open and welcoming to all aspects of our society is just a continuation by the gay community that supported Obama to try to paint him as something other than what he is...a typical Chicago smooth talking politician. Why not have a few Klan members up there? Or a few neo-Nazis. They are a part of our America too ya know. Diversity my ass. Idiocy is what that is.
Posted by: Banne | Dec 29, 2008 1:01:51 PM
>>For as much as Bill Clinton continues to take the blame for "throwing gays under the bus," I can promise you he nor Hillary would have chosen someone so insanely absurd as Rick Warren to stand on that dais on January 20th.
Waah! I'm still angry that Hillary didn't win the Democratic nomination! Waaahh! Hillary 2012! Waaaah!
Posted by: GetOverIt | Dec 29, 2008 1:16:46 PM
I had high hopes for Obama. I donated money to his campaign. I voted for him, and encouraged everyone I know to vote for him. Then I saw his lackluster opposition to Prop 8, and his complete lack of a response to the robocalls using his words to encourage discrimination against my community. He did nothing to stop it. And now he's chosen a man who thinks I am akin to a pedophile to lead our nation in prayer, and doesn't seem to understand why that's offensive. And I think back to my similar excitement toward Bill Clinton, only to have him enact DADT and enthusiastically sign DOMA, not to mention not lifting a finger to pass ENDA. I can count on one hand the number of Republicans I've ever voted for (and my first vote was for Walter Mondale). All of those votes were to oppose a homophobic Democrat or to oust a corrupt candidate from office. I've been a Democrat since I was old enough to understand politics. But this latest coddling of a man who thinks I'm sub-human is the last straw for me. I am leaving the Democratic party. I can no longer support, fund, and vote for candidates who pander to me and my community, but fuck us over when they get elected. I'm not sure where my allegiance will lie in the future, but I know it's not with the Democrats. I cannot and will not be a member of a party that uses me, then stomps all over me when my usefulness has temporarily expired, only to come running to me and my community again when another election rolls around.
Posted by: Bob | Dec 29, 2008 1:23:55 PM
I think Obama will make positive changes on our behalf real soon. I think I understand his reason in selecting Warren. However, it was an insensitive choice. Nevertheless, it's time to move on.
Posted by: Mel Smith | Dec 29, 2008 1:32:39 PM
Frank Rich is hardly being an apologist. He clearly articulates why Obama was wrong to choose Warren without getting hyperbolic about it. As despicable as Obama's choice of Warren was, what will matter most is how Obama will govern, and since he's yet to take office, prematurely rendering final verdicts on that is futile. Rich consistently gets gay rights right in a way that few straight guys do.
Posted by: Ernie | Dec 29, 2008 2:02:05 PM
"Nevertheless, it's time to move on."
That is an apologist.
And yes, I probably should have left out my point about how Bill and Hillary would not have made such a politically absurd choice, because clearly Obama apologists jump on that rather than actually confront his asinine decision. My apologies for the distraction. I will however say when Bill Clinton "threw us under the bus," it was the mid-90s before an openly gay person appeared on television, when the only openly gay congressman was recently caught up in a male escort scandal, a time when gays were not even allowed to serve in the military, openly or otherwise. I mean I'm sorry but we can revise history until we are blue in the face but 1993 was a different time in this country than 15 years later is. Obama should know better.
So apologize on. Hopefully regardless of our dear leader, the Democratic majority in Congress will grow a set and get with the times. I have a feeling they are going to wait to take dear leader's lead and if that is the case, we better settle in for a long wait.
Posted by: Banne | Dec 29, 2008 2:34:36 PM
I can't abide the mindless repetition that "Bill Clinton through us under the bus". Its not true. BANNE is right when he points out the different times we lived in 15 year ago. Bill Clinton used his political capital to bring Gays into the conversation at the onset of his administration- although DADT is reviled, it was a step further than where we had been, THANKS TO BILL CLINTON. Clinton may have failed us, but he took the risk on our behalf.
Posted by: dc8stretch | Dec 29, 2008 3:13:47 PM
Banne, I think we're in a culture war right now. Honestly, plenty of Americans have the same feelings that Rick Warren has towards us. Our job is to make sure that Obama give us legal protections as soon as possible. See, our strategy should be based on educating the public about the legal benefits of marriage, and we must also educate them more about sexual orientation. The public is ignorant about who we are. I think that's the reason why they are so hostile towards us. We don't have visible leaders who speak on our behalf.
Posted by: Mel Smith | Dec 29, 2008 10:56:05 PM