Op-Ed: Gay Marriage Johnny Come-Latelies— Political Expediency

ON SECOND THOUGHT, perhaps the revolution will be televised. And “Liked.”  And “Tweeted.”And commemorated with an emblazoned equality sign via millions of Facebook profiles. And co-opted by Smirnoff vodka.  And then blessed by Her Lady of Bling.

Here’s what Beyonce said recently: “If you like it you should be able to put a ring on it #wewillunite4marriageequality! B”

OK, I gotta admit that last one was pretty cute. And to be honest, I am not trying to be snarky. It’s just that this sudden fervor to support gay marriage has got me feeling, a little, well, used. You can’t fault pop culture for being pop culture. But what about these Johnny come-lately politicians all jumping into the gay rights water in apparent tandem?

Let’s begin with Former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. A few daya ago, she came out in support of gay marriage. It was the most deft bit of territorial pissing I have witnessed. With a few simple words she was able to:

A.) Stake her claim to the 2016 presidential nomination — an obvious shot across the bow to anyone who dare oppose her — without admiting that she plans on running.

B.) Dust off the cobwebs on her own political crown — she had difficulty connecting with younger voters in 2008.

C.) Head off what will definitely be an obstacle to her candidacy in 2016, the fact that she did not support gay marriage in 2008 and when asked as recently as 2011 said her position had not changed.

But perhaps more importantly, she at least tried to mute the actions of her husband, former President Bill Clinton. Clinton is obviously well loved as the statesman of the Party and remembered fondly (though apparently quite vaguely) by many Democratic constituencies. Most folks simply recall that he left the budget in a surplus, having been handed a deficit. But Clinton’s signature political triangulation, dusted off and held to current standards would not pass the sniff test.

The fact is, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act are both Clinton constructs. The fact is, though he did some impressive post-presidential AIDS work, he barely uttered the words AIDS or gay rights during his presidency. The fact is: In 2004 he urged then presidential candidate John Kerry to support the ban against marriage for political expediency.

“Clinton, Kerry reported at the time, did suggest blunting Bush’s appeal to cultural conservatives with a reprise of Clinton’s Sister Souljah moment in 1992 when he’d denounced her call for violence against whites — and done it as conspicuously as possible in front of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition,” Bob Shrum wrote in his 2008 book No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner.

“Kerry, Clinton ventured, should consider defying Democratic interest groups by endorsing the Bush proposal for a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.”

Shrum went on to add that this was a “flip-flop too far for Kerry.”

Just 10 years ago, politicians were expressing political cowardice by running as fast as they could away from gay rights, marriage equality, AIDS, or anything even remotely contentious to “cultural conservatives” within and outside the party. It was the legacy the Clintons left us with. Now they are showing the same level of political cowardice by falling over themselves to support gay marriage, all ironically on the heels of yet another Clinton.

I am not naive. I understand the concept of reciprocity. I also understand the gay rights movement needs the good will and support of well-positioned politicians. But, for once, a little less transparency would be nice.