Barack Obama isn’t just reaching across the aisle — he’s straddling it. After appointing Fred Davie, the openly gay president of the community betterment group Public/Private Ventures, to his newly formed Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, he’s also asked a leading Christian bigot to join.
Newly retired NFL coach Tony Dungy has also been asked to come aboard. Dungy, the first black coach to win a Super Bowl title, is also an outspoken Evangelical Christian who’s vocally rallied to ban same-sex marriage.
The soft-spoken Dungy sparked controversy in 2007 by endorsing an Indiana ballot initiative to ban gay marriage and similar legal arrangements for gay couples. “I feel like telling people when they look at this issue of same-sex marriage . . . I’m not on anybody’s side,” Dungy said at a 2007 banquet sponsored by the Indiana Family Institute, a conservative Christian group associated with Focus on the Family. “I’m on the Lord’s side.”
At the event, Dungy said he “embraced” the Indiana Family Institute’s support for the gay marriage ban. “IFI is saying what the Lord says,” Dungy said, accepting the group’s Friend of the Family Award. “You can take that and you can make the decision on which way you want to be.”
“We’re not trying to downgrade anyone else,” Dungy added. “But we’re trying to promote the family—family values the Lord’s way.”
He has not yet accepted nor denied the offer to join the Partnerships.
Alec
Well, he’s also involved in prison ministries and other social service outlets. Yes, he’s anti-gay, although his statement seems a little more nuanced than the worst of them.
The faith based stuff was always a bad idea, but it isn’t going away now.
burger king
the council also doesn’t have any powers related to gay marriage, they work on faith based services funded by the federal government, he represents a large swath of faithful Americans, I don’t see a problem here.
Get out to your progressive churches, temples, mosques and other houses of worship to help balance the political spectrum of American faithful!
Chitown Kev
@Alec:
True, but the concern is that faith-based organization could deny needed services to someone who is gay or discriminate on those grounds.
Alec
@Chitown Kev: Certainly. And Obama broke a campaign pledge by refusing to issue an executive order prohibiting the allocation of funds to groups that discriminate on that basis, IIRC. Although I am uncertain if he had the power to do so, as I believe there might have been legislation in place.
I’m not saying this is a good idea; I think the faith based initiatives are bad public policy, but it is important to keep some perspective.
Topher
I am more concerned that the council continues to exist. Under Bush the Faith Based Programs seemed like a mediocre attempt to legislate religion, especially as only a small group of religious dogmas are given representation by this council. However, it’s continuation under Obama makes me think the Fundies and Christianists may have succeeded in entrenching a certain level of theocracy into our democracy.
Allowing these people a legitimate, and unelected, voice in the mainstream discourse about social welfare and public policy is dangerous. How much simpler does it become for elected officials to vote their conscience, which in many cases equates to the bible, and not vote to uphold the basic tenets of democracy?
strumpetwindsock
Wanting a range of viewpoints is not the same as using all those viewpoints into one policy – that would be impossible. The important thing is to see how those opinions bounce off each other when you put them in the same room.
Also, it’s even more important for a politician to listen to those s/he disagrees with – and to be SEEN doing so.
It certainly makes more sense than pretending the bigots don’t exist. Remember the old adage about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer?
We’ll know his position when he actually does something – or not.
strumpetwindsock
My mistake… I assumed the council was advising HIM – not actually steering service groups. And I was assuming from the name it only had the power to advise. If the council exists I can still see why he would appoint people from all sides, but I would tend to agree with Topher.
Harrison
You have to admit – When it comes down to it, churches and church people make invaluable contributions to service. Representation from a wider number of faiths would be ideal, but it’s good to see that he’s getting at least two ends of the spectrum into the mix.
Attmay
Kick the gay bashers out.
Of the country, never mind the “Faith-Based Advisory Council” that probably violates separation of church and state in some way (although considering that the state is the new church to some people).
Chitown Kev
Why is there a google ad on my screen talking about “not investing in companies that are supporting abortion, pornography, or anti-family entertainment?” and “Get your free moral audit today”
Pete
Obama needs to choose: are we people who deserve basic rights or not? There is no compromise on this. Our humanity is not a “technicality.”
Joanaroo
As an aside, Tony Dungy was instrumental in bringing Michael Vick to the Phila. Eagles as his advisor. Don’t care for the team but not thrilled that someone who beat, drowned and electrocuted dogs can now become a Philly kid’s hero.
Joanaroo
According to some polls, dissatisfaction with this move with Vick is extremely high. Whether you care for sports or not, the social implication of this story is important-however alot of fans are becoming ex-fans quickly.