Bishop Robinson not being televised was a stroke of genius by someone.

[IndianaJones]

It represents the fact that the GLBT community is silenced and was meant to show this to the general public in a time of celebration.

That message has been received and eyes are being opened. Sheer genius.

[Occam Bandage]

1. Or, you know, somebody in HBO didn't think anyone tuning in to the concert wanted to hear a prayer.

But I bet it was an encoded message to the GLBT portion of the netroots.

[Bluebear]

2. What a surprise that you would be the first to excuse this!

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. Not

:eyes:

[Bluebear]

4. "It's just a two minute prayer!"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8103078&mesg_id=8103268

[dsc]

5. HBO isn't at fault here

Every single, solitary ounce of publicity for this event gave a 2:30 start time and stated Robinson was included, yet the prayer was at 2:20. Here is the link to his website http://www.pic2009.org/content/home/ Go ahead and find where it states Robinson prays at 2:20.

[flpoljunkie]

10. Robinson was on stage at the end of the ceremony, but I missed him. Here's a Yahoo photo.

(L-R) Ashley Judd, Jon Bon Jovi, Marisa Tomei, Shakira, Bono, Bettye Lavette, Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, and Beyonce attend the We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn (UNITED STATES)

Someone made the decision to have Bishop Robinson speak before 2:30. I'd like to know who made that decision.

[Cha]

13. And, here's a nice pic..

[Occam Bandage]

19. I admit I was wrong, then. This was incredibly stupid of the Obama team.

They need to smarten up. If you're going to get a token gay dude to counter the anger over your token fundie nutbag, then make sure your good token gets to talk.

[yardwork]

6. Yes, why was there a prayer offered at the concert in the first place?

I thought that invocations belonged in a completely different part of the inaugural ceremonies. That's why I was so surprised to learn - just a few weeks ago - that Reverend Robinson was being asked to give this surprise invocation at the beginning of the concert, and even more surprised to learn that it "balanced" the invocation at the inaugural. Which will be televised, presumably.

[Occam Bandage]

18. Because the Obama campaign was trying to blunt the anger of the gay community

by offering a gay bishop a speaking role. The failure to televise his prayer was a major political blunder, and one that disappoints me, if only because I would hope they could coordinate better.

[Jamastiene]

11. Now, now.

Settle down. Just because we didn't get to hear our preacher doesn't mean you won't get to hear your preacher on the 20th. No need to worry your pretty little mind there, Babs. Amen.

[PurityOfEssence]

15. It's hardly this campaign's style to stifle any preachifyin', now is it?,

It's been wall-to-wall Jesus for quite some time now, but maybe they FINALLY decided that people didn't want to hear yet more godliness. Hmmm...

That's a hard sell.

[JoFerret]

22. Yet another preacher problem

Apart from that the Lincoln event was fine.

[Marrah_G]

33. Hi- all the apologies in the world wont make up for this piece of shit post.

Shame on you. You and the rest of the so called progressives showing their true colors.

All the support for the GBLT community is nothing but fucking PC regurgitation.

[Jamastiene]

7. Good point.

The Warren choice was not an isolated event. It's a brand new movement by the majority to freeze us out and make damn sure we KNOW we are not welcome...then excuse it or be an apologist for it or plain flat out deny it.

Meanwhile, the party goes on without us.

Can't you just feel the love? Ain't it all encompassing and supportive of us? :sarcasm:

[Bluebear]

9. And look around this forum! All the usual suspects could give a shit.

No "Wow, that's too bad. I wanted this to kind of take the sting away..."

Nope. More taunting and dismissive posts. It's a beautiful thing.

[Balderdash]

8. I really am starting to wonder.

It just makes no sense that so much would be made of Rev Gene giving
the invocation to start the Inaugural festivities and then not televise
it or even give him a mic at the event.

[Bluebear]

12. Don't wonder. It was all lip service.

[babylonsister]

14. Per John Aravosis, HBO did the censoring...

sadly, it looks like a commercial decision.

http://www.americablog.com/2009/01/hbo-censors-gay-bishop-during-inaugural.html

HBO censors gay bishop during inaugural invocation at national mall today
John Aravosis (DC) · 1/18/2009 05:40:00 PM ET · Link
59 Comments · reddit · FARK · Digg It! · Stumble It! · facebook


UPDATE: Joe's sister was there today (I'm home with the flu), and she says that Bishop Robinson gave the invocation, then they took about a ten minute break, THEN the HBO production started with the introduction of Obama and the rest of the show. So, big surprise that Gene Robinson wasn't shown on HBO - who in their right minds thought HBO would start broadcasting live for Robinson's invocation, then just sit there with ten minutes dead air time until the "real" show began. If the gay Bishop - the man who was basically chosen to offset homophobic bigot Rick Warren - wasn't intentionally slighted today, then the Obama people sure have some of the worst luck ever.

Why do I doubt the same thing will happen when anti-gay bigot Rick Warren does his invocation on Tuesday.

Here is the text of Bishop Robinson's prayer that HBO censored:

By The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire

Opening Inaugural Event
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
January 18, 2009

Welcome to Washington! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God’s blessing upon our nation and our next president.

O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…

Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.

Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic “answers” we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.

Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be “fixed” anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.

Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.

Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.

And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.

Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for ALL the people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.

Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.

Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.

AMEN.

[dsc]

17. that isn't HBO's fault

Obama had him speak at 2:20 when all the publicity was 2:30.

[MadBadger]

20. Obama didnt have him do anything. He wasnt in charge of this event. He was just a guest.

[dsc]

23. Oh please

This was an official event of the Obama Inaguration committee. They ran it.

[MadBadger]

28. Did you watch the credits afterwards? The event was ran mostly by HBO people.

[GeorgeGist]

52. Under contract for the Obama Inauguration Committee

Did you see the end of the 'credits'?

[Bluenorthwest]

37. Sorry.

The live feed began at a predetermined time. The person who placed Robinson before that time knew that. That is a knowable fact. Nothing in what you post proves it was HBO. It was the director of the stage event. Probably the Obama team, as this is what they do every single time. Tuesday, however, Rick Warren will be introduced and televized, and smiled at by Obama. Taint on the whole thing.
Today's exclusion was a cheap action that marred an otherwise nice show. Nothing seems to please this man if it does not include a slap to the minority he is religiously pledged to dispise. Petty fucking bull piles. Petty and small.

[BlooInBloo]

55. Update: HBO blames Team Obama....

http://www.americablog.com/2009/01/hbo-blames-obama-inaugural-team-for.html

[Thrill]

16. What a surprise. Someone quick to try and blame Obama

When this is HBO's doing.

[JoFerret]

25. So how do you FEEL about it

Brent? (Irrespective of responsibility for the eff up I mean. )

[JohnnyLib2]

21. I'm sending the text in all directions.

Anyone else?

[ThomCat]

24. And, apparently the Gay Men's Choir wasn't announced or Identified

when they performed either. We are invisible. :grr:

:wtf:

[dsc]

26. In fairness no other chorus was either, save for the Navy Glee club

but I did hear, and am trying to track down, that the gay men's chorus was banned from the finale.

[MadBadger]

30. Oh you better have a good link for that ridiculous charge.

[dsc]

32. two blogs claim that this is the case

daily kos in the thread linked in this thread and http://joemygod.blogspot.com/ . Both are in comments section and that is why I say I am tracking it down.

[Bluebear]

43. Ooooh you "better" have good links!

:scared:

[Balderdash]

31. The Gay Mens Chorus was there but not introduced. nt

[MadBadger]

29. Bruce Springsteen or most other musical acts were identified...The Boss is invisible!

[JerseygirlCT]

53. I didn't hear any of the choirs introduced

In fact, it was easier to pick out the Gay Men's Choir, since they were all men!

I was hoping they'd all be recognized - those other choirs as well - they must all have been so excited to be a part of it - would it really have hurt to run a small name across the screen for them, too?

[OhioBlue]

27. perhaps it is just part of they way things are televised

When campaign events are televised they leave out all of the prelim stuff like opening prayers, local candidates, etc. and start televising when the candidate or surrogate is about to be introduced.

when concerts are televised they leave out the opening bands or someone warming up the crowd.

Most ALL televised events start live before they are televised.

[Bluenorthwest]

34. So, rather than a place of honor

you say Robinson was there as a warm up act, like some third rate comic jump starting the audience for a sit-com taping? Is that the idea?

[OhioBlue]

35. How on earth could it not be a place of honor?

Of course it is a place of honor. Just as the people that are chosen to say a prayer for or sing the anthem for political events or sporting events are honored but may not be in the televised portion - it is still a place of honor. The networks, cable, etc. just don't televise everything when an event starts.

[Bluenorthwest]

38. A warm up act is not part of the show

the show is on TV. The end. Relegating someone to a less visiable role is what it is. And it was not what it was said to be. In the eyes of America and the world, Robinson was not there at all. They left him out.

[OhioBlue]

41. the show may be on TV

but the event was real and is probably what the event planners had control over - not what was televised as "the show".

I think we get too caught up sometimes in what is televised. yes - for all of us sitting at home, we would have liked to see it, but reality isn't what is just shown on TV.

[Bluenorthwest]

40. Please, share with us the list

of others who were announced as part of the event who were left out, who were publicized but simply 'not in the televized portion'. Name one.

[OhioBlue]

42. I wasn't there. I don't know what went on before they started

televising. And.. I actually tuned into HBO late so I started with Jamie Foxx.

[Bluenorthwest]

51. Well so you are a real expert then!

Pontificating about a show you did not see, and a business you are not in. Certainly the guy to listen to.

[Marrah_G]

36. Or perhaps they just expect the GBLT community to take the slap and turn the other cheek

This is the latest in a string of offensive moves, none of which were apologized for.

It's pretty damn clear whose opinion he values most.

So all those fucking evangelistic bigots whos asses he is kissing can be the ones donating money and time the next fucking time he needs it.

Not one more hour, not one more dime.

[Balderdash]

39. Not only wasn't Rev Gene's prayer not seen or heard on HBO

but it wasn't shown on CNN or CSPAN either!?

Why?

[CreekDog]

44. Far be it for folks to think there's a pattern

advance people are supposed to be all over that stuff.

[Bluebear]

45. Exactly. nt

[kwassa]

46. I'm pissed as an Episcopalian.

Robinson is THE pivotal figure in the internal civil war over gay rights in the Episcopal Church, and in the Anglican Communion worldwide. He is also the center of the culture war between liberals and conservatives in the church.

Also, National Cathedral, the site of the Wednesday prayer event and a million other government-related functions, is an Episcopal cathedral. The preachers are always from someplace else, though, and it is true this time, too.

[JerseygirlCT]

54. I was really disappointed, too. Would have been a terrific signal

in so many ways to really give him that chance.

[Critters2]

56. Try being UCC. A year and a half ago, BO spoke before our General Synod

telling us how important our church was in his life. Now, he can't stay far enough away from us. Too many liberationists, and of course, teh gays in the UCC. He's never heard of us!

He's great friends with the likes of Rick Warren, though!

[me b zola]

47. Always stoking the fire

Before the primaries, I don't recall you speaking out for LGBT rights.

I support LGBT rights and I support PE Obama. I resent someone like you who thrives on throwing fuel on the fire.

[quakerboy]

48. What the hell happened?

Someone fucked up. Wonder who. It would be nice to have a name to attach it to.

[Bonobo]

49. "That message has been received and eyes are being opened."

THIS is what I am talking about. Ridiculous.

[nsd]

50. Aw Jeez. Everything is a big conspiracy, right?

Can't we go even one day without someone "discovering" some new insult to get outraged by?

[Kajsa]

57. Why not ask HBO directly?

'Why was Reverend Gene Robinson's Invocation
not included in the broadcast?'

I just did,

http://tinyurl.com/m2kxf

They can ignore a few questions on this or nasty attacks,
but if enough people ask, they need to respond.

[Phx_Dem]

58. Oh please. If HBO doesn't put your prayer on TV, you've been snubbed?????

The only thing it represents is the fact that his prayer took place outside of the 2-hour time frame that HBO set aside for the event.

But don't let that stop you from playing the martyr.