Maureen Dowd on the Prop. 8 trial -- and Obama

Maureen Dowd talked to David Boies and Ted Olson, the lawyers leading the constitutional challenge to Prop. 8. They discussed the case, same-sex marriage and Barack Obama:

While Charles Cooper, the lawyer on the anti-gay-marriage side, cited President Obama’s declaration that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, Olson noted that Obama’s parents could not have married in Virginia before he was born.

I asked the lawyers if they were disappointed that the president who had once raised such hope in the gay community now seemed behind the curve.

“Damned right,” Boies snapped. “I hope my Democratic president will catch up to my conservative Republican co-counsel.”

Olson added: “I’m not talking about Obama, but that’s what’s so bad about politicians. They say, ‘I must hasten to follow them, for I am their leader.’”

Obama sees himself as such a huge change that he can be cautious about other societal changes. But what he doesn’t realize is that legalizing gay marriage is like electing a black president. Before you do it, it seems inconceivable. Once it’s done, you can’t remember what all the fuss was about.

In the print edition of the NY Times, the pull out quote asks "Why is Obama so wary about granting gay rights?" Well, Maureen, we've asked that question ourselves many, many times. Read More...

'Kill the Gays' bill author coming to DC to attend Nat'l Prayer Breakfast with Obama

Via Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin comes the news that the author of the "Kill the Gays" bill in Uganda, David Bahati, is coming to Washington, DC to attend the "National Prayer Breakfast" on February 4th. The prayer breakfast is sponsored by the Fellowship Foundation (also known as "The Family.) Bahati told a Uganda newspaper of his plans:

In February, David Bahati, the mover of the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill is expected to attend a prayer breakfast in the American capital of Washington DC.

Mr Bahati, according to reports, may speak at the event where President Barack Obama – a gays-tolerant liberal president, is also expected to attend. On Friday, Mr Bahati said he would attend. The event is organised by The Fellowship- a conservative Christian organisation, which has deep political connections and counts several high-ranking conservative politicians in its membership.

“I intend to attend the prayer breakfast,” said Mr Bahati - himself a part organiser of the Ugandan equivalent of the national prayer breakfast. This week, citing international pressure, President Yoweri Museveni advised his party’s National Executive Committee, his cabinet and the NRM parliamentary caucus to “go slow” on the Bill.

The prayer breakfast is held at the Washington Hilton, which is around the corner from my place. The President attends as do Cabinet Secretaries and members of Congress. If the Fellowship Foundation/The Family wants Bahati as its guest, then Barack Obama, his cabinet and our allies on Capitol Hill can't go. It's that simple.

The organizers of the prayer breakfast know what kind of message Bahati's presence sends. And, they must want to send that message. As Rachel Maddow has reported, there are long-standing ties between the Family and the "Kill the Gays" supporters in Uganda. Obama can't endorse that message with his presence.

Jim Burroway has an idea:

I think it’s a good time to convene a special session of the rainbow welcoming committee.

The Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting also begins on February 4th. If Obama and other Democratic leaders attend the prayer breakfast with Mahati, the welcoming committee should visit the DNC meeting, too. Read More...