Barack Obama Cruising for Gays for 2012

Everyday, while the Republicans hesitate, incapable of declaring themselves for the primaries next year, the 44th puts together the pieces of the puzzle that should ensure his re-election. The latest example: the gay vote.

On Friday, the White House announced its selection for chief of protocol (social secretary in English), an openly gay man named Jeremy Bernard. Bernard will take office in March. Until now, he was an adviser to the U.S. ambassador to France. He is the first gay American to hold this post, which consists of organizing and orchestrating the receptions at the White House. He is the third social secretary since the election of Barack Obama. The first to hold the position, Desiree Rogers, left a few weeks after the scandal that erupted when two people entered during an official dinner for the prime minister of India. Her successor, Julianna Smoot, left the White House to join Barack Obama’s campaign team.

Jeremy Bernard, 49, is a force in the Democratic Party. He raised millions of dollars for the first campaign of the 44th. It’s he, for example, who organized the fund-raising dinner on Oprah Winfrey’s property in 2007 that brought together 1,500 people in support of the Illinois senator. His former partner, Rufus Gifford, is the director of Finance for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the armed wing of the president’s party.

Especially for the last two decades, the former adviser to the U.S. ambassador to Paris has been very influential in the gay community, a group that Obama will need more than ever if he wants a second term. Having taken the time to look at this group that contributed to his election, the 44th is finally underway. In December, he abolished the policy named Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, a move which allowed those who were gay to serve openly in the armed forces.

Now he appoints an influential representative of the gay community. At the same time Wednesday, Barack Obama said his administration would no longer defend in court the law that prohibits same-sex marriage, judging it unconstitutional. As recently as last month, the Department of Justice had clearly defended its policy supporting the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996.

The sudden change in policy was prompted by Valeria Jarrett, close adviser to the president and his ambassador to the gay community.

After repairing his relations with Wall Street and the business community, Barack Obama has re-connected with the gay community. The upcoming campaign is falling into place.