Yesterday, the invocation to be delivered by Bishop Gene Robinson was cut from the broadcast of the first inaugural event at the Lincoln Memorial. There was a lot of speculation as to whether this was HBO's decision or the inaugural committee's. Just now, the inaugural committee has admitted to making an "error." Whether we find that accounting satisfactory is another matter.
Here is the link from HRC's website:
http://www.hrcbackstory.org/...
Personally, I don't believe it was an error at all. They put him on TEN MINUTES before the scheduled broadcast and before the guests of honor arrived. I believe it was calculated, and it is a big disappointment. And then comes the "non apology" apology. It's just rings hollow.
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According to HRC Back Story:
PIC communications director Josh Earnest responded today to the outcry over Bishop Gene Robinson's invocation prayer being omitted from HBO's coverage of yesterday's pre-inaugural concert:
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.
Gene Robinson talked about it today on NPR's Talk of the Nation. Here is how TV critic Aaron Barnhart described the conversation:
Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson just addressed the issue on NPR's Talk of the Nation. He said he had been in interviews all morning and no one -- certainly not Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC -- mentioned the snub. "I know very little about it," said Robinson before telling host Neal Conan how he learned the news: "I had a delightful day meeting all the other participants in the program. ... A little later in the morning I happened to see a schedule," and it showed him giving the invocation at 2:25 and HBO cameras going live at 2:30 p.m. Robinson said he had "no idea" why it was scheduled this way but postulated, "The fact of the matter is HBO is an entertainment station and perhaps an executive at HBO thought, 'Well, who would possibly be interested in a prayer? People are tuning in to see Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder." As you will read below, HBO officials made it clear that they had nothing to do with the scheduling. Also, a caller to "Talk of the Nation" called in to confirm that NPR did not air the invocation, either.
Key Background Links:
HBO Points Finger at Obama Inaugural Team
Bishop Gene Robinson's Blog
Video of Bishop Robinson's Invocation
The text of the prayer is here
Here is some background on the selection of Bishop Gene Robinson to deliver the invocation at today's Lincoln Memorial Inaugural Event:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
My previous diary on the matter:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Other relevant links here:
http://www.queerty.com/...
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/...
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/...
http://queersunited.blogspot.com/...
http://www.inlookout.com/...
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/...
http://crooksandliars.com/...
http://slog.thestranger.com/...
http://www.towleroad.com/...
http://gayrights.change.org/...
http://www.getreligion.org/...
http://content.usatoday.com/...
http://fromtheleft.wordpress.com/...
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/...
http://sesw.blogspot.com/...
http://tucsonobserver.blogspot.com/...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
http://lafiga.firedoglake.com/...
http://www.washblade.com/...
http://blogs.kansascity.com/...
http://dcist.com/...