One Step Back

Per an earlier post, Obama’s decision to involve gay-bashing pastor Rick Warren in the inauguration festivities annoyed me. But commenter LMLM counsels temperance:

As Obama himself said, he invited Rick Warren for several reasons. Rick Warren invited Obama to speak a while back, even though he knew that Obama’s opinions in many areas differed from his own. Obama believes that we all should be able to agree to disagree and that Rick Warren is NOT the only person with whom he has contrasting views in key areas who was invited to speak at the inauguration. Obama has appointed at least one gay individual to his cabinet and is trying to be inclusive in his cabinet and other decisions. Hopefully there will be individuals with a wide variety of viewpoints represented at the inauguration – an event for all Americans – not simply those with whom Obama agrees.

Great points. Most persuasive for me: Obama’s pick for the Department of Labor, Mary Beth Maxwell, will be the first openly gay cabinet member. Symbolic speeches are cheap, but cabinet picks are the real deal, and Obama’s decision to spend (at least) four years working closely with Maxwell sends a powerful message that his decision to “pal around with” Warren for a day cannot mute. *Alas – Mrs. Maxwell was passed over.* And – critically – Obama has circulated talking points among his staff, reminding them that he disagrees with Warren on the fundamental issues affecting gay Americans:

• The President-elect disagrees with Pastor Warren on issues that affect the LGBT community. They disagree on other issues as well. But what’s important is that they agree on many issues vital to the pursuit of social justice, including poverty relief and moving toward a sustainable planet; and they share a commitment to renewing America’s promise by expanding opportunity at home and restoring our moral leadership abroad. [. . . .]
• The Inauguration will also involve Reverend Joseph Lowery, who will be delivering the official benediction at the Inauguration. Reverend Lowery is a giant of the civil rights movement who boasts a proudly progressive record on LGBT issues. He has been a leader in the struggle for civil rights for all Americans, gay or straight.

My righteous rage is cooled. Has yours? The enduring lesson might be this: given the complex image pattern Obama’s already sketching for himself, it’s going to be a lot harder to support a “transcendental” candidate than it would be to support an empty partisan hacks. Lucky for America, but tough on us, in the short term.