Why President Obama shouldn’t step down from the Boy Scouts

[xchrom]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-leadership/post/why-president-obama-shouldnt-step-down-from-the-boy-scouts/2012/08/10/c0c2b0ca-e303-11e1-a25e-15067bb31849_blog.html

On Wednesday, the White House said President Obama is against the Boy Scouts of America’s recently reaffirmed policy of excluding gays from its organization. He will not, however, be stepping down from his honorary post as the Scouts’ president.

Should he?

That’s an interesting question being discussed in various outlets, from Politico’s Arena to the Washington Examiner. Some say that in order to truly take a principled stand on the issue, the president should cut his ties from the organization. Others, meanwhile, argue that resigning the post would cost him votes with male voters, become a distraction for his campaign, or keep him from staying in a role where he may be able to accomplish more than if he distanced himself from the Scouts completely.

On the last point, I couldn’t agree more. One thing no one seems to be mentioning in this debate is that it’s not as if everyone in the Boy Scouts’ leadership is on board with the policy. There are actually two very prominent Boy Scouts board members—Ernst & Young CEO James Turley and AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson (who is in line to become the national executive board president of the Scouts)—who have voiced their concerns over the policy.

In a June statement, Turley said “the membership policy is not one I would personally endorse” and “I intend to continue to work from within the BSA Board to actively encourage dialogue and sustainable progress.” AT&T, meanwhile, has issued a statement saying “we don't agree with every policy of every organization we support,” and believes change “must come from within to be successful and sustainable.”

[MNBrewer]

1. Disagree

He should step down and very much distance himself from the Scouts.

[Fearless]

2. +1

[FreeState]

3. +2