01/19/2009
Obama Team Points Back At HBO
Last night a spokesperson for HBO blamed the Obama Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC) for not airing the inauguration concert invocation from openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson. Today the PIC is pointing back at HBO. Their message to John Aravois at AmericaBlog:
“We had always intended and planned for Rt. Rev. Robinson’s invocation to be included in the televised portion of yesterday’s program. We regret the error in executing this plan – but are gratified that hundreds of thousands of people who gathered on the mall heard his eloquent prayer for our nation that was a fitting start to our event.”
So it was HBO's "error in execution"? And it should be pointed out the "hundreds of thousands of people" didn't hear Robinson due to a sound system "malfunction."
UPDATE: AfterElton got a further statement from HBO: "It was not an HBO omission. We merely televised the show beginning at 2:30pm. Had the PIC told us upfront that this was to be part of the telecast, it would have been." According to AfterElton, HBO has given the PIC permission to post Robinson's speech on their website.
Posted 3:02 PM EST by Joe Jervis in Gene Robinson, Inauguration | Permalink
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Aren't there gay people among the techies?
Surely we can arrange a little malfunction during Warren's invocation!
Posted by: Kevinvt | Jan 19, 2009 3:29:12 PM
Perhaps a nip slip?
Posted by: 24play | Jan 19, 2009 3:40:27 PM
This is frustrating. I'm trying to figure out who to boycott.
Posted by: Jessup | Jan 19, 2009 4:30:47 PM
Funny Jssup. I assume you are being funny.
This is a non issue. HBO is an entertainment channel. It's not a news outlet. Bishop Robinson was there. It was great. The HBO feed started at 2:30 sharp - missed him. No-one's fault.
I'm searching for the OFF SWITCH on the gay community's whining? Tomorrow we are going to elect a President that gives a damn about ut. Its something to celebrate. Shut up and enjoy it.
And yesterday was fantastic. Robinson, the Gay Men's Chorus, Melissa Etheridge, Josh Groban... if we had Elton, Barbra and Liza we'd be taking over.
I'm just confused. All of a sudden we are raging about religion. Do you really care who gave the invocation? Did you look up his prayer on the internet? (it's great http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/faith_and_politics/gene_robinsons_prayer_for_pres.html).
Finally, when was the last time any of you guys stepped one foot inside an church? I thought so. Bishop Robinson would be telling us all to stop being so angry - and look at the facts... we are winning with Obama in the White House.
Stick with what you know. Stick with what's important. Equal rights and protection.
Posted by: Ray | Jan 19, 2009 4:54:09 PM
Unfortunately, from my perspective, the Obama team does not have a record of responsiveness to our community while HBO is, at the least, neutral. It does not help that the Obama team statement makes reference to hundreds of thousands hearing Robinson on the Mall when it is widely known that the microphone wasn't on when he spoke. I don't understand the Obama team's continuing disrespect to our community.
Posted by: silverkjk | Jan 19, 2009 5:01:50 PM
Ray,
It's nice of you to let us know where we should stand. I'm sure Bishop Robinson will be pleased to know that you've authorized yourself to speak on his behalf as well. And I think it's terrific that you've not only read BHO's mind, you're also telling the future!
I wasn't feeling very "cared about" or appreciated when our President-elect chose a minister who compares me to a child molester and a donkey-fucker, but maybe you're right. Maybe I'm just being petty.
I guess we'll see soon enough, won't we?
Posted by: mcQLA | Jan 19, 2009 5:06:19 PM
Ray,
It's nice of you to let us know where we should stand. I'm sure Bishop Robinson will be pleased to know that you've authorized yourself to speak on his behalf as well. And I think it's terrific that you've not only read BHO's mind, you're also telling the future!
I wasn't feeling very "cared about" or appreciated when our President-elect chose a minister who compares me to a child molester and a donkey-fucker, but maybe you're right. Maybe I'm just being petty.
I guess we'll see soon enough, won't we?
Posted by: mcQLA | Jan 19, 2009 5:06:44 PM
Ray,
It's nice of you to let us know where we should stand. I'm sure Bishop Robinson will be pleased to know that you've authorized yourself to speak on his behalf as well. And I think it's terrific that you've not only read BHO's mind, you're also telling the future!
I wasn't feeling very "cared about" or appreciated when our President-elect chose a minister who compares me to a child molester and a donkey-fucker, but maybe you're right. Maybe I'm just being petty.
I guess we'll see soon enough, won't we?
Posted by: mcQLA | Jan 19, 2009 5:06:52 PM
My apologies for the triple-posting. I don't know how that happened.
Posted by: mcQLA | Jan 19, 2009 5:08:23 PM
What's REALLY nice though, is that these things DO get a bit of pressure thanks to the wonderful work of Towleroad, JoeMyGod, and AfterElton. Because now it is known we won't just take crumbs, and now there HAS been a statement, and now the PIC pretty much HAS to put the video on their website! Well played, HBO.
Posted by: Strepsi | Jan 19, 2009 5:52:01 PM
A video of Bishop Robinson's prayer can be seen here:
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/120928/biased_media:_hbo_didn't_air_bishop_robinson's_invocation_(but_we've_got_it)/
Posted by: St James | Jan 19, 2009 5:58:54 PM
Ray,
I was there and I didn't hear Robinson. I only heard him speak after I found the video online. While I won't shout conspiracy, I would like for the PIC to apologize for the handling of his speech. The spokesperson should have done more research before putting out the statement.
Posted by: Michael | Jan 19, 2009 6:23:30 PM
HBO history with gays = never done anything against gays and in fact aired complex gay relationships in their award winning show 6 FEET UNDER. Obama team history with gays???
Their past histories speak to as who is telling the truth
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Jan 19, 2009 6:26:15 PM
Oh and Ray
I sure as hell do not remember you being anywhere around posting here in support of Obama back when I was one of the lone voices who got called an Obamabot back in the first days of the primaries. You have to earn your stripes to be able to preach to early obama supporters that we need to just STFU
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Jan 19, 2009 6:28:59 PM
And when the Gay Men's Choir sang with Josh Groban and Heather Headley, HBO didn't display a title saying who they were, like they did for other performers. REALLY???
Posted by: Buzz | Jan 19, 2009 7:46:20 PM
Ray, while I heartily agree that equal rights and protections are more important than inauguration prayers, to say that what happened yesterday is a non issue--in light of the earlier Warren selection--and that anyone who is upset about it is whining is, well, whining. (Nothing's more whiny than accusing others of whining.) I'd rather hear what people honestly think, even if I disagree with them, rather than being told the proper way to think.
I wanted to hear what Bishop Robinson had to say for reasons that have nothing to do with my church attendance. And I wish that everyone who tuned into the HBO broadcast could have had the opportunity to hear what he had to say, because I believe it was important. Someone fucked up, and I'm glad that both HBO and the PIC have been made aware that they fucked up, even as they've been passing the blame.
Being upset by Warren's selection and Robinson's HBO omission doesn't preclude cheering Obama on tomorrow and remaining hopeful that progress in LGBT civil rights will come during his administration. I'm pissed, and I remain hopeful.
Tomorrow will be a good day to put some differences aside (except when Warren's fat head fills the screen) and come together as a community and as a nation to begin effecting real change on so many issues, including our civil rights. Best wishes.
Posted by: Ernie | Jan 19, 2009 7:53:23 PM
I meant really now....really now! Could this be any more suspect? I don't want to go on an Obama bash fest, I think the man does mean what he says about being inclusive and cares about everyone, but there is MUCH bias (against gays) in his committee. His die hard supporters can spin these things all they want, but it's one after another...and a never ending let down event after another. Some of you seem to create justifiable reasoning for all these letdowns ("oh it happens. It was the weathers fault!") yet the rest of us know whats up, but let's all play pretend and make belief we are the back bone of the democratic party (insert eye roll)
Posted by: Kyle | Jan 19, 2009 9:14:56 PM
Oh shut up and stop whining. I'm tired of the LGBT crybabies.
Obama loves the gays and it is obviously HBO to blame, because I highly doubt the Obama team requested HBO to leave out the caption of the gay&lesbian choir when they sang with Josh Grobin.
Obama actually supported gay marriage in 1996 and vowed to fight for it before his run for President. Unfortunately, if he ran as a supporter of gay marriage, he probably would have lost. Sad, but true.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=387986
Posted by: Lan | Jan 21, 2009 2:15:43 PM