Obama, Gay Rights, and the LeBron Factor

It's easy to fall into the trap that LeBron James' teammates often do -- we get so used to watching him put up fantastical stats each night, we assume he can do anything. The same is true of Obama.
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I moderated a spirited conversation this week about president Barack Obama and gay rights. Like many progressives across the country, more than a few of my guests were dumbfounded by the administration's inaction over these first few months. It is a matter of courage, they said, and for all he's done elsewhere, Obama hasn't shown much on gay rights thus far. While that is certainly true, it's also not surprising. The winds on gay rights are changing -- I mean, even Cheney is to the left of Obama on gay marriage! (Not to toot my own horn too much, but I saw that one coming.) Iowa, New Hampshire -- movement is underway, and that momentum informs the president's decision. But so does politics, and he's got some cover there -- despite the backlash in California, there's no denying that the most liberal state in country voted down the exact measure that liberals expect the president suddenly to enact.

Still, he's had cover for other tough issues he's taken on. Why leave gay rights on the sidelines? Because to achieve equality for same sex-couples and still accomplish everything else on his agenda, Obama knows he can't do everything alone. And on gay marriage, his strategy seems to be to let others fight the battle -- people like Gavin Newsom, who told me this week that he won't stop pushing for gay marriage, even if it hurts his gubernatorial campaign. "There are principles that are more important than politics or politicians," he said. "I believe in this."

That's the kind of conviction the president needs from folks outside the White House. Obama is our main leader, but he's not our only leader. It is not up to him and him alone to change the world. We pay lots of elected and unelected officials billions of dollars a year to help craft public policy. And to paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, even many people who are not paid public servants have a duty to do the right thing and lead boldly on important issues. It's easy to fall into the trap that LeBron James' teammates often do -- we get so used to watching a miracle worker put up fantastical stats each night, we assume he can do anything. So we start taking it easy. And as we saw in the NBA playoffs, that doesn't work too well.

Consider what Obama has done to raise our expectations: banking reform, health care, energy, foreign relations, a pandemic, and stimulus package. What if John McCain had won last fall? No disrespect intended, but I frankly cannot imagine McCain multi-processing all of the major initiatives that Obama has -- McCain just would've taken on less. It would've made my small-government friends happy, but while that philosophy may have suited other moments best, we're living in a time where we need that much from the president.

So the next time you get ready to take Obama's leadership for granted, take stock of what you or your representatives are doing, too. I'm not saying "don't criticize the President." Just make sure that we are taking a responsible team approach to change and improvement. GOP: jump in there and help really reform entitlement programs. Democrats: once Obama proposes significant defense cuts, step up with creative public pressure to make sure those trillions are truly removed.

And gay rights advocates: keep fighting. Even if it doesn't feel that way, you've got gay marriage bans on the ropes. And you don't need the president to deliver the knockout punch.

Cross-posted at The Stimulist. For more on gay rights, check out Jon Soltz' utter debunking of the logic behind Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and my prediction that Dick Cheney will become the left's next hero.

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