Lincoln was weaselly, too, until circumstances forced a bold move.
Actually, having read the text of his Cairo speech, I’m now wondering if he’s concerned that pushing a pro-gay agenda at this stage will undermine his credibility with Muslim countries and give ammunition to the radical fringes.
This international politics thing is bloody complicated.
I think you are on to something Gyrate. He’s bound and determined to show what a good muslim he is. A pro-gay agenda would not get him viewed properly by the global muslim community he’s trying so hard to cultivate as friends of the US.
I can’t figure out if you misread Gyrate’s post or if you actually believe this.
I also tend to think that he’s really not nearly as religious as a politician needs to be to get elected in the US. An atheist probably cannot be elected to our highest office today. If someone wants to get their foot in the political door, they have to believe in some sort of supernatural being. If they don’t, they have to behave as they do or they’ll never get the gig.
I don’t think I mis-read it. Obama has been fairly quiet on an issue that he promised to take a leadership role in. The reasons can be many, but I don’t think it hurts his persona to the muslim community that he’s not been a vocal leader of gay rights/SSM. And I’ve heard minor rumblings in the gay community for his less than proactive approach.
Or are you saying that Muslims are OK with SSM and homosexuality in general and Obama would bring down the house with a discussion about it in his Cairo speech? If so, then yes, I mis-read it.
Er, no. He’s attempting to undermine the image of the US as white, Christian and an enemy of Islam by pointing out that it is none of those, and using himself as an exemplar of someone who is neither the first nor last of those. He continues to state that he is a Christian, even when speaking to Muslim audiences.
It could certainly be held up as evidence of Western decadence by the radical Islamic fringes, yes. I remember Robert Mugabe going on about how the UK government was all T3h Gh3y and using it as an issue to whip up anti-foreign sentiment.
I stand corrected, and I mis-read it. :smack:
I thought you were implying he was either a muslim or trying to convince the islamic nations that he’s muslim.
As I went through the subsequent posts, I see you re-interpreted it. 
So Obama isn’t really against SSM, and he’s not really religious, despite his words and actions to the opposite effect? Unless you’re secretly Michelle, how do you know this? Are you a mind-reader?
Wait, I thought he was a secret atheist muslim. It’s hard keeping my right wing wackoes straight.