Obama on the DL

"The only way to get equality is for two people to get the same thing at the same time at the same place.”      – Thurgood Marshall                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

As I think about the recent scuttle-butt surrounding comments Vice President Biden made regarding his position on same-sex marriage, I am reminded of the sassy retort that was often used on the streets and playgrounds growing up in my mostly African-American community in Colorado Springs “My mama didn’t raise no fool!” This line was used when someone tried to make you believe something that was obviously false or to thwart a plan that would set you up to make a fool of yourself in public.

This childhood scene immediately came to mind on the heels of Biden’s saying during a recent taping of Meet the Press, “I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same rights.” This simple statement created a political fire-storm regarding whether or not President Obama would soon come out in favor of same-sex marriage during the 2012 Presidential Campaign. There are some who believe that it was a vice presidential gaff that has put Obama in a precarious spot and will force his hand on a decision while others believe it was a well planned and executed move to prepare the public for Obama’s eventual “about-face” on the issue and his presidential endorsement of same-sex unions.

While this subject has once again captivated the media and all the pundits, I can end the debate with one simple assertion that “Mama Obama didn’t raise no fool!” Come on now people, someone as smart, tactical and articulate as President Obama would never allow any member of his team to make such a bold statement with out a bigger purpose at work.

 

It was also no coincidence that less than 24 hours after Biden’s statement, Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan, goes on television and makes a similar statement of support for gay marriage! Unless there has been a complete and utter breakdown in President Obama’s ability to manage his staff (which is highly unlikely) the only other conclusion is that our Commander-In-Chief is ready to “come out” and support marriage in all of its various configurations. 

Before celebrating his finding the pot of gold at the end of this political rainbow, the question has to be addressed why he was on the “down-low” (DL) in the first place?  I think the answer to that question is simple. The only way for “Candidate Obama” to become “Second Term President Obama” is to make good on his promise to one of his largest voting bases he has and that is the LGBTQ community. Everyone knows that once he is set for four more years, he will be free to “set the captives free” and come out on a number of issues but specifically, equal rights and same-sex marriage.

It is incomprehensible for me to believe that the same man who brought hope, vision and a “yes we can” attitude to the White House; the same man that ended “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell” in the military; and the same man that everyday demonstrates the enormous weight of being the First African-American President, to now say “no we can’t” as a nation guarantees justice and equality for all. Biden and Duncan have only prepped the closet door to be flung open as our President comes out and does what he knows to be right for this one nation, under God. Congratulations, Mr. President!