Hope for an all-inclusive inauguration
Obama team member makes it his job to encourage diversity among all groups
By Hannah Fine
CHICAGO — For many Americans, diversity is one of the powerful themes of President Barack Obama’s inauguration. For Shin Inouye, it’s his job.
Inouye has worked for the Obama campaign and transition team since August, with the title Constituency Communications Coordinator.
That put him at the center of efforts to include lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender/transsexual people, Native Americans, college students, and faith-based organizations in the inauguration—part of the Obama team’s continuing campaign to revolutionize the role of these interest groups.
Eleven Native American tribes were to be represented at the inauguration, as well as the first openly LGBT group to make an appearance in an inauguration parade.
There were events held to honor a group now in the minority—Republicans—including John McCain and Colin Powell. Obama has repeatedly said that he wants to reach across the political aisle to include as many as possible in the political process.
Some of Obama’s efforts to bring together people of unlike backgrounds and beliefs have sparked controversy.
The naming of evangelical pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven-Life, to give the invocation at the inauguration, provoked strong reactions among both liberals and conservatives. Warren, head of Saddleback Church in California, does not believe in the right of gays to marry, among other convictions that sometimes put him at odds with Obama.
“On some issues he agrees with him, and others he does not,” said Inouye. The issues both Warren and Obama agree on include a responsibility towards global HIV/AIDS and deceasing poverty. However, this “goes down to the same notion that the President-elect is committed to inaugural events celebrating common values and inclusivity.”
Inouye’s range of experience in Washington prepared him for the challenges facing him as he manages correspondence with special media groups. He was the Senior Legislative Communications Associate for the American Civil Liberties Union, and later a communications director in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Inouye feels that “it is very exciting to see the level of enthusiasm.” Many of his friends will be coming into Washington, D.C. to witness the inauguration, designed to accommodate as many spectators as possible. The National Mall will be opened all the way up until the Lincoln Memorial for onlookers, and large TV screens will be set up so everyone can see the event.
Inouye says that there have been “very common themes throughout the campaign. The President-elect has been very committed to change, seeing that everyone was part of the dialogue, and that will continue through the inaugural events.”
