Really ?

AP Photo

I'm not a fan of the use of the rainbow as a political symbol, as may be inferred from this previous post.

As for the question of 'gay marriage' itself, my official stance would be a libertarian one; that government should get out of the business of defining what is or isn't marriage, provide civil unions (with the same benefits & protections) for all, and let individuals and religious groups define marriage as they see fit.  But generally, I'm glad that same-sex couples should find greater equality, greater acceptance, and (hopefully) greater happiness.  And if they find that in us extending the definition of marriage, more power to 'em.  History in the West is and has been clearly on the side of same-sex marriage, whatever I may think (and really, it's primarily if not solely the government redefining words that troubles me), and whatever the right-wing christianist bigots in the Republican party think.

Still, I do think this was ill-advised.  The Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage was already likely to be the rallying-point for the Republican Party's base in the next Presidential elections that so-called 'Obamacare' (and I still hear every time the intended slur in that name, how ever much the Dem's may have tried to co-opt it) was in the last.  And the Obama administration just handed the GOP a needless present by turning the executive mansion into a political symbol.  And why ?  To provide a feel-good moment, to briefly excite the Democratic Party's more progressive supporters ?  A tweet wasn't enough ?

Maybe it was in part an attempt at trolling the GOP, given all the rhetoric of the last seven years about Obama being some sort of foreign interloper in 'our house' and 'taking our house back'.  If so, consider the effort successful.  I hope, sincerely, that it was worth it. *


* Call it concern-trolling if you will.  Whatever I may think of Hillary, the last thing the US needs is continued or expanded dominance of Congress by the GOP, and/or another Republican in the White House, at a crucial time especially for appointments to the Supreme Court.  And you may have just given the Republican base their moment.