Because I can?

A Brief Manifesto (Or, Why I Chose To Start A Blog That Essentially Aims To Talk Shit About My Own Political Hero)

By Randy Behr

As a lifelong Democrat who was completely fed up with eight years of Shrub Part II, I was overjoyed at the resounding victory Barack Obama enjoyed at the polls in November. The win, without a doubt, was historic, breathtaking, exciting ... hard to put into words.

And, as a faithful supporter of Barack, even back when it seemed Hillary Clinton's nomination was a foregone conclusion, in the months since this historic victory I resolutely held my tongue when the appointments to his Cabinet were announced, with nary a progressive (and barely any people of color or women) in sight.

However, this latest announcement of virulent homophobe Rick Warren to preside over the invocation at Obama's inaugural means all bets are off. Sorry, Barack: You blew this one. This is a major slap in the face, a humiliation, to all the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people who campaigned so hard for you and gave from ever-dwindling savings accounts to make your campaign war chest the biggest in history, who felt, at least for a few months, that their rights were on a par with the rest of the public's. It's a stick in the eye to all the women who, despite the bitter disappointment of seeing their historic first choice of a nominee passed up, still managed in the end to support you, a man they knew hardly anything about. And it's a kick in the nuts to all people who value science over superstition, progress over puritanical thought.

Barack, you screwed up. Big time. It's not too late, though. You can rescind the invitation you so calculatingly extended to that homophobe in the hopes of winning over those from his flock (News flash, Barry: That'll never happen. Ever.) You can start following through on some of those campaign promises too, like having the richest 5% of Americans pay their fair share in taxes, or doing away with the military's hypocritical "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gays.

It's not too late to redeem yourself. As long as you, in the words of Spike Lee, do the right thing. And do it now.