Gay Bishop Gene Robinson Jokes About Inauguration On The Daily Show (VIDEO)

Over the Inaugural Weekend, openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson found himself at the center of coverage and controversy after his opening invocation was left out of the initial broadcasts of the "We Are One" concert at the Lincoln Memorial. The next day HBO, who broadcast the event, and the Presidential Inaugural Committee, each blamed the other for the gaffe. The dispute was a terrible public relations moment for the Obama team and the President, who had already elicited a firestorm of recrimination for the decision to invite Pastor Rick Warren to deliver the actual Inauguration invocation.

Well, if anyone was wondering how Robinson himself handled being at the middle of all this, they need only have watched his guest appearance on The Daily Show Tuesday night, where he exuded a steady grace, abundant hopefulness, and a measure of wickedly good humor to boot. Asked about how Obama's historic achievement might presage future civil rights advancements, Robinson said, "For every gay or lesbian, bisexual or transgendered person, that dream for us is now in place, and all we have to do is the hard work to get there." Robinson struck a note of comity over Warren as well. "I greeted him, he was very kind to me," Robinson said. "And then just before we went out for the swearing in I let him know, and I was sincere, that I was praying for him."

But the key moment of the interview came early on, in this exchange:

STEWART: Washington DC was so crowded today, there was so many people. You as a Bishop are sort of doubly handicapped in that situation, only being able to move diagonally. How was that, negotiating the crowds.

ROBINSON: John, you have to remember, there's a queen on the board, as well.

There's nothing quite like a moment where a Daily Show guest one-ups the host where laughs are concerned. Gene Robinson FTW!

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Bishop Gene Robinson

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Comments

[akena]

It occurs to me, that we might have had a gay president already. This word and the identity that goes with it are new and would not have applied to such relations, or actions in the past even if the people involved a hundred, two hundred, three hundred years ago were falling in love, or lust, and engaging in the same acts that define "gay" today.

[ProudLiberalDan]

James Buchanan is now seen to have been gay, but he was a very unsuccessful President, so no one really wants to own that one.

[SiberianRat]

LOL, but what about Lincoln and his "special" friend and adviser?

[donniebnyc]

A gay president? In the USA?

Maybe in a hundred years. Don't be fooled by Obama's election -- racism is still alive and well in this country.

We'll have a gay president, sure we will, right after the non-chris.­tian president and the atheist president.

Dream on.

[BEHM777]

Thomas Jefferson wasn't a Christian. Reading his writings has convinced me of that.

[SiberianRat]

Actually, he was. The Jefferson Bible is a definite improvement.

[TruthMatters09]

Racism is foolish. With that said I didn't vote for BHO because of his policies, NOT his skin color.

The reverse racism demonstrated by the majority of Black Americans in this country was obvious by media coverage, etc., of crying people saying things about Obama in connection with his skin color.

If Obama's skin was 100% white, not as many Black Americans would have voted for him.

[preemptivelove]

this guy gene robinson is a class act. a real embodiment of the spirit of christ. rick warren is a jerk. his invocation or whatever you call it was LAME.

[Nikola Tesla]

Rick Warren is a Narcissist.

[SiberianRat]

It was lame.

[TruthMatters09]

Gene Robinson is not a class act, maybe a a## act.

[zbig]

Actually there is scientific evidence that homosexuality is not a choice but the result of our genes. Scientists have found in the animal kingdom too, given certain conditions, animals will become homosexual--it is not a choice. So forcing people who were born that way into something that they're not just creates psychological damage.

[kaukerc]

Of course, as long as the churches continue to promote it as being a choice, they think it enables them to continually label us as sinful. However, a lot of the churches always say something like: "We are not condemning the sinner, only the sin." This allows their members to feel righteous in their bigotry because it allows them the illusion that if we would only change our behavior, God would finally welcome us into HIS arms. What they don't realize is that being gay is an orientation, not a sexual act. If Ted Haggard never sleeps with another man for the rest of his life, he is still a gay man. I personally don't know why they can't understand this----perhaps it causes some confusion with their religious beliefs...­. because if God made us this way, then that introduces a whole new set of problems that they can't resolve from their Sunday morning indoctrination.

[ProudLiberalDan]

It's like they are saying, "I love the fish, but hate that he swims" or "I love the bird, but hate that she flies". What is the fish or bird supposed to do? Not swim? Not fly?

[SiberianRat]

Yes, and apparently it happens quite often with porcupines. Not sure how that works, but...

[blutius]

The "I was born that way" excuse or argument is used to sidetrack people from the real issue. This blog is in response to the Christian stance regarding homosexuality. The Bible, recognized as the inspired, infallible word of God (and therefore, Jesus, too) clearly states that homosexuality is a sin. Period. Nowhere in the several places that it's mentioned, is it spoken of as anything but an abomination, or a perversion. Clergy who argue otherwise are wrong. As a christian, it doesn't really matter to me what other religions believe, but it should be noted that most other religions have the same restriction on homosexuality.

[kaukerc]

For once, I would like to see a title that isn't "Gay Bishop Gene Robinson." I don't think that is going to show up on his tombstone: Here lies "Gay Bishop Gene Robinson, who was gay." Couldn't he just be introduced as Bishop Gene Robinson? I mean, really, you don't introduce Oprah Winfrey as Black Oprah Winfrey (no respect meant towards Oprah, love ya).

[SiberianRat]

Haha, good point.

[msjimmied]

What a perfectly delightful man! He wears his orientation and position so lightly...­Wonderful. Still laughing.

[robiform]

Well said--if I was a Christian, I would be happy to attend a church where someone like Bishop Robinson was the pastor!

[zest]

I'm a gay man born unto a Catholic mother and and Episcopalian father. My mother was a young widow when she married my father, a divorced man. Therefore my mother was excommunicated from the Catholic church. No decision was made about my religious upbringing until I was ten years old when I was baptised and Episcopalian. I find great comfort in my parents decision to place me in an inclusive and progressive group of christians. Thanks be to God.

[blutius]

It is unfortunate that the episcopalian church and many others have decided to wander off the path of righteousness. As christians, we are bound to follow the words of Christ and the inspired word of God, which is the Bible. Homosexuality is addressed in several places in the Bible, and it is always declared a sinful act. It is never described as anything other than that. As Christians, we are told to love one another. But we are also taught what is sinful, and that we need to stay away from sinful things. The gay lifestyle is a sinful lifestyle. It clearly says so in the Bible. It's easy to blame Rick Warren because he's just a simple man, but he is simply teaching the Word of God. The person you really are arguing with is God. Good luck on that, but I think I know who'll win that argument. God Bless you all!

[lizr]

so is wearing polyester and eating shellfish.

Oh- and its ok to sell your daughters into slavery.

[zest]

Judge not lest you be judged.

[Phylmom]

Jesus did not say one word against homosexuals. And since God made people homosexual I think it's safe to say that God approves of homosexuals just he does heterosexuals, and that the few place in the Bible which mention homosexuality are based on the lack of understanding that the people who wrote the Bible had in the past. God and Jesus are right there with the Episcopal Church saying, "Hey guys, you got it wrong in the past. Now you're finally getting it right!

[ProudLiberalDan]

Thank goodness there are increasing numbers of Christians willing to stand up to the un-Christian and un-American anti-gay bigotry expressed here.

The only "sinful" lifestyle here is bigots attempting to use the power of government to inflict their bigotry on other people.

[noelalumit]

Dear friend, there are more condemnations for heterosexuals in the bible. Why isn't anyone discussing those?

[independent32955]

is referring to gay people as queens not seen as derogatory ? is that not the kind of language we seek to remove from our discourse?

or is it like black people using the n-word...p­eople want to pretend that it's ok for a group to use derogatory terms themselves about themselves­...?

either words matter and they represent hate or they don't...yo­u don't get to use words sometimes or in certain circumstances.

[david43a]

The english language has about 1,000,000+ words....
considering the amount of crap Black folks have taken over the years, I have no problem
with me not being able to use a few of them in this context...­and no problem with them using those same words...
Same with GLBT's....­or the Irish etc.
As a Gay man, I can only say that it is a way of taking the negative power out of the word and replacing it with the positive..­.I know that may not make sense but it is true

[lizr]

lesbians can call ourselves dykes, but you better not try it :)

[madatrepubs]

You're nitpicking for the wrong reasons. If you personally know something is offensive, why say it?

[TChalla90210]

Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul.

[Phylmom]

I can call myself a hillbilly (I'm from West Virginia) but if you try it you'll get a kick in the rear.

[burndtdan]

"The next day HBO, who broadcast the event, and the Presidential Inaugural Committee, each blamed the other for the gaffe."

Actually, HBO blamed the PIC for the gaffe, and the PIC released a statement apologizing for the mistake. They never blamed HBO.

[mikey683]

TruthMatters09 you know your a complete tool right?

[TruthMatters09]

Your welcome to your own opinion:)

[lisakaz2]

Great moment, great line. It seemed genuine. Loved it. Jon seemed to love it, too.

[adsandiego]

BEST retort EVER!!

[buckbuck11]

I like how Jon Stewart actually LISTENS to his guest and really appreciates when they get off a good line! The "queen on the board" line made me laugh right out loud. What a quick witted comeback! Real class, for sure.

[TruthMatters09]

Who was the lady in the pink shirt?

[JLee]

One of the best one-liners ever. Forget the inauguration festivities--that line alone should catapult Robinson to national stardom.