[Inauguration Inventory] The University of Utah marching band made the trek to Barack Obama's inauguration. But what of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?The small observation party in our living room today noticed the conspicuous absence of the choir, which has made five inaugural appearances for five modern presidents: Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and both Bush 41 and 43.
Of course, it's pretty likely none of those guys would have invited Usher to join inauguration festivities, either.
The MoTabs' absence left us chewing on this: With all the fallout the new president faced over asking the Rev. Rick Warren to open today's historic event with prayer, could Obama's posse have sensed the bad political mojo over aligning even slightly with the pro-Propostion 8 Mormon Church?
Steve Fidel, writing for the Deseret News online vehicle Momon Times, put it this way:
"Overall it appears that involvement in the Obama inauguration by LDS Church members will be significantly less conspicuous than in some past inaugurations." (Holly Mullen)
"Overall it appears that involvement in the Obama inauguration by LDS Church members will be significantly less conspicuous than in some past inaugurations."
ReplyDeleteYes, but at the head table for the Congressional luncheon, after the inauguration, you had both Sens. Bennett and Reid, so there was an interesting Mormon presence at the inauguration.
"so there was an interesting Mormon presence at the inauguration."
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't go so far as to say interesting. There's very little, aside from all the sci-fi written into their beliefs, that is interesting about Mormons.
I was wondering myself why Bennett got to sit so close to the Obamas during the Inaugrual Luncheon. I understand why Reid did, him being Senate Majority Leader, but why Bennett. Just a sign of bipartisanship or was it something else?
ReplyDeleteSen Bennett was co-chair of the Inaugural Committee. Had McCain won, he would have conducted the ceremony instead of just introducing the Justice that swore in Joe Biden.
ReplyDelete-Bob