Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Boycott the White House? (Can you say, "over the top?")
A number of activists have suggested that LGBT leaders boycott the White House event hosted by President Obama.I've talked before about the DNC dinner and the people pulling out from it. I understand both sides of why people go or decide not to go the fundraiser. It's a party event. There will always be people on the inside and outside who apply the pressure. It's a good thing and it's served us well for a long time.
Then there is The White House event hosted by President Obama. In the same way they are being asked to pull out of the dinner, activists are suggesting that people should refuse to attend the White House event. Ugh.
Anyone who turns down an invitation from the President of The United States of America to the White House like this without a very legitimate reason (e.g. mom's funeral) completely misses the point. I can't think of anything more disrespectful in the political and government realms than saying to someone like President Obama "Fuck you, I'm not coming to your house when you want to meet me." I mean really... can you think of anything dumber?
Why would someone who is upset with the President's progress give up a chance to have a respectful chat with him. If even for 30 seconds, to say "Mr. President, I've served our nation in the military.,..." or "Mr. President, please meet my husband and our son who desperately needs protections...." Such an interaction is EXACTLY what we want.
We have had 8 years of "yes men" in the White House with no dissent. No one is suggesting that people should bow before the president, but this is what we wanted, ACCESS. THIS IS PART OF THE ACCESS.
Call me SHOCKED, but I did not get invited to the Bush White House. If I was, I think I would have said the same thing. When the President of the United States says "hey come on by," you go. Invitations to the Oval Office or the White House are not supposed to be used to get up in the President's face, it's the time to compellingly present your case.
End of story.
When thinking of people who are pulling out of a White House event I wonder where on the scale they appear, certainly somewhere between stupid and dumb.
What they miss is this. It's not the president (lower case) that extends these invitations, it's The President (upper case) and to that you simply do not say "no." If you do, you are doing a disservice to the very movement that you were invited to represent.
By: Michael Rogers
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