Obama and Bishop Robinson

Last updated on: December 17, 2012 at 9:26 pm by Andrew Marin

Obama and Bishop Robinson 2012-12-17T21:26:51-06:00 Andrew Marin

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Since yesterday I have been asked quite a few times what my thoughts are regarding Obama’s choice of the first openly gay Episcopal Bishop, Gene Robinson, to give the Invocation at the Lincoln Memorial. Just like I believed that Obama strategically chose Rick Warren to publicly reach out in a bipartisan nature to the millions of conservatives around the country, so I believe he is doing the same for the gay community by selecting Robinson.

The GLBT community has been UP IN ARMS at Obama recently, totally furious at him since his selection of Warren. I have been told by many in the gay community across the country that they see the choice of Warren as a stab in the back by Obama because of Obama’s promises about repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and his favorable take on gay civil unions. For that sole reason, it is my belief that Robinson is the quickest and most efficient way to tone down the blasts coming from an entire population of people who more then had Obama’s back when election day rolled around. Politics is what it is, and Obama seems to be politically maneuvering with the best that have ever come (at least in my lifetime, thus far).

At the very least I can say this much:

During any election whoever is running for an office always talks about bipartisanship: “I will reach across the political divide and unite.”

You can quote any politician who has ever run – they all say the same stuff. And whenever I hear those words from a politician I easily disregard them because I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen it happen on a large public scale. And if it has, it’s usually just the “safe” pick of a person who is already three-quarters of the way to the other side. Until now. It seems to me that Obama is trying to actually reach across and do something – or at least make a statement. Who knows if this is all for show or if it will last. But at least he’s trying to set some type of unique precedent the day he takes office.

I live in Chicago and I come from the political juggernaut that is Chicago politics, so I’m naturally very skeptic of anyone that received their on-the-job political training in my unfortunately corrupt city and State. Though for the time being, good for Obama and what he’s trying to do. I can only pray his original bipartisan promises continue.

Here is a great article from the New York Times about the Obama/Robinson situation.

Much love.
www.themarinfoundation.org

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