Is Tim Geithner another bad choice, like Rick Warren, that Barack Obama is simply incapable of recognizing, admitting and acting on? And is his unwillingness to recognize this a symptom of some much deeper problem with how he will govern? I fear it very well could be.
There was a headline at Huffington Post, it's gone now--I blinked and it went away--but it made a sharp impression before it was replaced with something far more benign. I forget the exact wording, but basically it was the Obama told 60-Minutes there was no way he was letting Geithner go. It came across like it was a point of honor with him. And I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when I saw that.
Obama fends off Geithner doubters
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will not be allowed to resign amid criticism of his short term in office, President Barack Obama has said.
Mr Obama told CBS News he would turn down any offer by Mr Geithner to quit, and would tell him: "Sorry, buddy, you've still got the job."
I'm having a flashback right about now, to Barack Obama posting a diary at Daily Kos, telling all us dirty fucking hippies to lay off his buds in the Senate. That was the first instance when Obama used his popularity with the Democratic base to shield his personal friends from justly earned criticism--criticism that had nothing, necessarily, to do with them as private people, and everything to do with their public duties.
Then, there was his still-unexplained infatuation with Rick Warren....
I didn't vote for that guy. That's true of both title characters. The thing is I sort of liked one of them. If I got the opportunity to vote in Virginia, Colorado, Pennsylvania, or Nevada instead of Minnesota, I would have voted for Obama. If Obama wouldn't have tossed me under the bus with his one-eighty turn around on retroactive immunity for telecoms, I would have voted for him no matter where my precinct stood.
Now I guess because I didn't vote for him I really shouldn't dictate what he should and shouldn't do but that's not how politics works in America and it's not the whole story. I am an active member in my local Democrats Abroad chapter. I organized the election night party for my neck of the woods. I even donated money to Obama and got others to do the same. See, I was starting to like the guy. He handled all the retrograde dung McCain and the RNC could throw at him. He was modest. He was intelligent. He was compassionate, and he is the voice of my generation.
I think that's why I am so upset with him right now. He's the voice of my generation-the most tolerate generation America has ever seen yet Rick Warren, self proclaimed James Dobson light, who thinks women must submit to their husbands in marriage, who thinks women exercising their constitution choice are hell bound sluts, forgoing their god given punishment of child, for easy tricks now. He compares homosexuality to pedophilia and polygamy and won't let gays join his church.
Shuush.... I can hear you. You're telling me to shrug it off. Khong Sao in Vietnam's vernacular. It's no big deal, he's just giving a two minute prayer where he won't say anything nasty. It's just a symbol. America is a diverse place and the inauguration should respect that. He's reaching out to those who disagree with him. The culture war is a relic, grow up you liberals!
I get it. I understand your arugments and no I don't think your dumb or are Jones town bound due to the kool-aide. But here's the rub. Those arguments don't convince me. Though these do:
* It makes Warren's brand of Homobigotry seem mainstream.
* It's shown the incoming administration that they can score political points by punching the LGBT and progressive communities in the face.
* The administration won't be able to call in the favor later. Conservative movement politics is based on backlash and victimhood. They won't be able to cooperate because it would destroy the underpinnings of their movement.
Further, let me use an analogy to put you in my shoes. Suppose you're a senior in college. You went to a "normal" college. It was left of center. Now the campus news paper comes out a few months before graduation announcing that Rick Warren will be your commencement speaker. How do you feel?
Betrayed? Couldn't we get anyone better? Most of the words that come out of that guys mouth would get him expelled here! Damn it, why can't we get Borat or Dan Savage?
Now the administration faced with push back from its supporters....err... I mean students tries to calm the masses with some talking points and then kind of just wishes the kids go and smoke some hope...err pot...and forget about the whole deal. The talking points slog on about diversity of though and how intellectual freedom and open minds are essential for the passage of health care... errr...success later in life. It will build character to hear someone you disagree with and be respectful of them. Who knows you may end up agreeing with him. Even though you are the only reason this event is happening-the commencement-your opinion doesn't matter because the administration (of the college) knows better!
Has the administration (of the college) convinced you? Me neither nor has the President Elect.
In the end though, I don't have much of a choice. Obama is going to (kind of) end the war in Iraq. (Kind of) bring about universal health insurance. (kind of) make that affordable. (Kind of) deal with reducing green house gases and the problems associated with the fossil fuel infrastructure of the country. (kind of) fix education. So hey, President Obama, when your buddies down there at NSA are listening to my phone conversation about how I disagree with you and am tired of being sold down the river, remember that I still think kind of is better then nothing-so don't send me to the (kind of) closed guitmo. maybe I (kind of) like it though. I though Obama was a crank during the primaries and I obviously didn't vote for him.
greeting Barack Obama and Rick Warren as Warren delivers the invocation at Obama's inaguration. Now, how would that be as a loving, tolerant way to tell Obama to stop beating up on the folks that put him in the White House?
Because it doesn't matter if you're gay, straight union member, environmentalist, peace activist, whatever. One thing is for certain--the contempt being shown for GLBTs today is the same contempt in store for all of us, if we let this continue. An injury to one is an injury to all. This moment, right now, we are all queer. Each and every one of us.
Whatever happened to this election being about "us", not Obama? It's time to remind Obama of what he himself said, before he destroys his own presidency, and everything that millions of supporters have worked so hard for.
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