The man who was going to bring us change has begun to look like the guy who is going to compromise everything. Rick Warren has been selected to deliver the Invocation at the Inauguration and it's sending a message that's loud and clear, "We can pander to the Right with the best of them!" To gays and lesbians, the message is even clearer: "Thanks for working for me, sending me money and voting overwhelmingly for me...now, Fuck Off!"
We all thought we were getting a President who would actually stand on principles, uphold the Constitution, return our government to one of laws and perhaps, repair the divisions so clearly created by the current administration. We thought we were going to get a man who would unite us instead of one who would embrace the divisions that separate us.
We thought we were going to get a guy who probably wouldn't endorse gay marriage but who would acknowledge that we are owed equal standing.
We voted for a guy who's principles were (we thought) stronger than political pandering.
We voted for a man who (we thought) would uphold the Constitution.
We voted for a man we hoped would surround himself with well qualified ppeople who could think "outside the box" and bring us much needed change.
And we voted for a guy who (we thought) was genuinely Christian, who would do unto others....
Instead, we got the guy who's making politically safe choices, who's backing off on his promises and who asks an Evangelical heavyweight to deliver his Invocation despite his actively opposing gay rights, abortion rights and sadly, the separation of church and state.
I could rant about a lot of the choices that Obama is making...perhaps even argue for some of them, despite misgivings, but the symbolism behind the choice of Rick Warren simply leaves me thinking that perhaps I was hoping for too much from Obama. I was hoping he would be a genuinely principled man and that he would do the things that need doing DESPITE politically expedience. I was hoping that he really would walk the walk.
Sadly, I was mistaken. He's proving to be "more of the same." A lighter version, perhaps, but still a political animal, who will make his choices on political grounds for political reasons.
The change you believed in? Not so much.
The messages so far? Environmentalists? Fuck you.
Liberals/Progressives? Fuck you too.
Gays, Lesbians, Transgendered people? Fuck you from day one.