Okay that’s interesting, coming from the Vice President of the United States. Though Biden is known for saying things he shouldn’t, so to some degree, this may be written off as “there goes that crazy Biden.” It’s an interesting question as to whether this is part of some strategy by the White House, i.e., was this intentional. I suspect it is. It’s too coincidental, happening in the middle of a White House charm offensive to the gay community (e.g., making a big deal out of signing the DADT law by having a huge signing ceremony, inviting all sorts of White House critics to the signing, finally inviting Advocate reporter Kerry Eleveld for a sit down interview with Obama (she’s been asking for two years). And, yesterday there were more reports of bad comments from Obama on marriage. And, the comments led the Washington Post’s Perry Bacon to write a big story about marriage and Obama today.
All of that happening right before Biden makes some good comments? Not a coincidence.
Now, will it work? It’s helpful for Biden to make such positive comments. But at the same time, Biden didn’t say he was in favor of marriage equality.
If a segregationist in the 1950s were to suggest that racial equality was inevitable, but he still did not come out in favor of such equality, would we hail that comment? Perhaps. And perhaps it would be a step forward. But in the end, the segregationist’s bottom line would still be to oppose equality.
Biden is far from a segregationist. But he’s still wrapping his opposition to our civil rights in sweet language. All I’m saying is that I’d rather have him ditch the sweetness and simply give us his support, and the President’s.
