I really don’t have a problem with it. It’s certainly less entertaining than Pfleger or Wright would have been, but the drama is fun. I certainly don’t agree with Pastor Warren on a number of issues, but Obama has clearly stated he intends to include everyone in his decisions and his selection of Warren is a step in that direction, in my opinion.
The militant left needs to get used to the idea that “inclusiveness” goes both ways, and that people with opposing viewpoint need to be able to get together and show each other some respect or we are just re-hashing the boring-ass “culture war” dichotomy that has kept america distracted form the real issues for over 40 years.
America may just be getting a bit of practice at consensus-building, which requires lengthy discussion from opposing viewpoints to get to any real place of agreement, as opposed to the back-and-forth politics of Fox/MSNBC Baby-boomer nonsense.
I think the traditional “Liberal” is so used to being justified by the PC-Police that they have developed their own kind of intolerance towards people they deem “intolerant”.
But i’m a pot-smoking, government-hating, bigot who dislikes most gay people he meets, so im special that way.
Who cares? One preacher’s the same as another, more or less. I would love to see the day when a politician no longer needs to cow tow to religion. I flinch every time one of them leaves the podium with God Bless America. Hey, how about, if there is a god, don’t y’all think he, she, it should bless the whole planet? Whatever, the fact is, in today’s America, a man virtually must proclaim his undying love for Christ or not be considered, especially for high office. Have thought for yearts that Gore nailed his fate when he put a Jewish fella on the ticket. Don’t misunderstand, I’ve nothing against Jews but, when a reporter asked some Jewish grandmother in Florida about having a Jewish president, she said, in effect, no time soon.
His reasoning, I understand, but he’s surely going to irritate a lot of liberal supporters, AGAIN.
Obama defends choice of evangelical pastor
WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday defended his choice of a popular evangelical minister to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, rejecting criticism that it slights gays.
The selection of Pastor Rick Warren brought objections from gay rights advocates, who strongly supported Obama during the election campaign. The advocates are angry over Warren’s backing of a California ballot initiative banning gay marriage. That measure was approved by voters last month.
But Obama told reporters in Chicago that America needs to “come together,” even when there’s disagreement on social issues. “That dialogue is part of what my campaign is all about,” he said.
Obama also said he’s known to be a “fierce advocate for equality” for gays and lesbians, and will remain so.
Warren, a best-selling author and leader of a Southern California megachurch, is one of a new breed of evangelicals who stress the need for action on social issues such as reducing poverty and protecting the environment, alongside traditional theological themes.
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay rights organization, said Warren’s opposition to gay marriage is a sign of intolerance.
“We feel a deep level of disrespect when one of the architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination,” the group said in a letter to Obama, asking him to reconsider.
Obama’s selection of Warren is seen as a signal to religious conservatives that the president-elect will listen to their views. During the campaign, Warren interviewed Obama and Republican John McCain in a widely watched television program that focused on religious concerns.
Gay rights advocates say they are troubled that Obama would give Warren such a visible role at his swearing-in. “By inviting Rick Warren to your inauguration, you have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place at your table,” the letter said.
Obama, however, pointed out that a couple of years ago, he was invited to speak at Warren’s church, despite their disagreements on a number of issues.
The president-elect said a “wide range of viewpoints” will be presented during the inaugural ceremonies.
Who cares? One preacher’s the same as another, more or less. I would love to see the day when a politician no longer needs to cow tow to religion. I flinch every time one of them leaves the podium with God Bless America. Hey, how about, if there is a god, don’t y’all think he, she, it should bless the whole planet? Whatever, the fact is, in today’s America, a man virtually must proclaim his undying love for Christ or not be considered, especially for high office. Have thought for yearts that Gore nailed his fate when he put a Jewish fella on the ticket. Don’t misunderstand, I’ve nothing against Jews but, when a reporter asked some Jewish grandmother in Florida about having a Jewish president, she said, in effect, no time soon.
His reasoning, I understand, but he’s surely going to irritate a lot of liberal supporters, AGAIN.
First of all, that’s because heathens like you have no place in America.
Second, for a guy with nothing against jews, you sure do bring them up a lot.
Third, the hard libs will find something to be pissed about no matter what, but you are correct sir. Here are some reactions:
“Throughout the campaign, there were a few times when I was irritated with the Obama campaign, but I have never been so angry with Obama and his staff. By choosing homophobe Rick Warren, who helped pass Prop 8 in California, to do the invocation at the inauguration, Barack Obama just said to LGBT Americans that we’re not part of that event. Thanks.”—AMERICAblog
“What a spit in the eye to the GBLT community in particular, and to anyone who supports equality, dignity and justice under the law.”—Daily Kos
“So many pro-choicers, gay activists, and progressive Christians worked their asses off to elect Obama, which makes Obama’s decision to give Warren a platform at the inauguration a real f*ck-you.”—Feministing
“President-elect Obama chose eliminationist hate preacher Rick Warren to give the invocation at Obama’s Inaguration. With this choice, Obama sends three destructive messages. Number one: In Obama’s America, equal rights and reproductive freedom aren’t for everyone. Number two: President-elect Obama likes sharing the national stage with hate. Number three: While Obama enjoys his equality before the law, LGBT Americans can go to Hell. Literally. Gee. Is this change we can believe in?”—Firedoglake
“Shrewd politics, but if anyone is under any illusion that Obama is interested in advancing gay equality, they should probably sober up now. He won’t be as bad as the Clintons (who, among leading Democrats, could?), but pandering to Christianists at his inauguration is a depressing omen.”—Andrew Sullivan
The “hard left” are just a bunch of journalists who have to fill up space with something, and are usually not the deepest thinkers out there, but merely silly partisans with a limited capacity to understand this new kind of post-boomer politics Obama seems to be introducing America to.
‘F’ the partisan on both sides. There are far more of us in the “middle” (the real middle, not travelahs “middle” that falls to the right of Gorden liddy) than there are of them, and we are interested in a conversation that allows for people to have unique opinions that dont fall into pre-scribed categories.
Although i do agree with Tom (shudder) that the kowtowing to religion in general annoys me, but i do understand a lot of people feel different, and that a lot of people in the states do have very traditional religious beliefs.
I fail to see what this last post has to do with Rick Warren, or The topic at hand.
I fail to see what right bobby had to assail me personally just because I don’t happen to believe in the Christian god? I don’t suppose this little interchange will be well received by Steve but I have to say my truth, like it or not.
Tom, I think the “heathen” remark was a facetious send up of how a real fundamentalist extremist would react and not bobby’s actual feelings about non-believers having no place in America. At least, that’s how I read it. Just imagine a winking smiley placed next to the offending sentence and you will see it that way too.
Oh, and I agree with your heathen comments too, by the way.
Tom, I think the “heathen” remark was a facetious send up of how a real fundamentalist extremist would react and not bobby’s actual feelings about non-believers having no place in America. At least, that’s how I read it. Just imagine a winking smiley placed next to the offending sentence and you will see it that way too.
Oh, and I agree with your heathen comments too, by the way.
That’s your interpretation but I hasten to suggest, we need to be very careful what we post here lest we be misunderstood. Thus I edited my comment and await a response from bobaloo. Perhaps I’m a bit sensitive but I’ve been so often angrily assailed by so called Christians for not bowing to the Lord, perhaps I over reacted. I somehow think I am more correct in my reading than you. We shall see.
Who cares? One preacher’s the same as another, more or less. I would love to see the day when a politician no longer needs to cow tow to religion. I flinch every time one of them leaves the podium with God Bless America. Hey, how about, if there is a god, don’t y’all think he, she, it should bless the whole planet? Whatever, the fact is, in today’s America, a man virtually must proclaim his undying love for Christ or not be considered, especially for high office. Have thought for yearts that Gore nailed his fate when he put a Jewish fella on the ticket. Don’t misunderstand, I’ve nothing against Jews but, when a reporter asked some Jewish grandmother in Florida about having a Jewish president, she said, in effect, no time soon.
His reasoning, I understand, but he’s surely going to irritate a lot of liberal supporters, AGAIN.
Obama defends choice of evangelical pastor
WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday defended his choice of a popular evangelical minister to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, rejecting criticism that it slights gays.
The selection of Pastor Rick Warren brought objections from gay rights advocates, who strongly supported Obama during the election campaign. The advocates are angry over Warren’s backing of a California ballot initiative banning gay marriage. That measure was approved by voters last month.
But Obama told reporters in Chicago that America needs to “come together,” even when there’s disagreement on social issues. “That dialogue is part of what my campaign is all about,” he said.
Obama also said he’s known to be a “fierce advocate for equality” for gays and lesbians, and will remain so.
Warren, a best-selling author and leader of a Southern California megachurch, is one of a new breed of evangelicals who stress the need for action on social issues such as reducing poverty and protecting the environment, alongside traditional theological themes.
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay rights organization, said Warren’s opposition to gay marriage is a sign of intolerance.
“We feel a deep level of disrespect when one of the architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination,” the group said in a letter to Obama, asking him to reconsider.
Obama’s selection of Warren is seen as a signal to religious conservatives that the president-elect will listen to their views. During the campaign, Warren interviewed Obama and Republican John McCain in a widely watched television program that focused on religious concerns.
Gay rights advocates say they are troubled that Obama would give Warren such a visible role at his swearing-in. “By inviting Rick Warren to your inauguration, you have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place at your table,” the letter said.
Obama, however, pointed out that a couple of years ago, he was invited to speak at Warren’s church, despite their disagreements on a number of issues.
The president-elect said a “wide range of viewpoints” will be presented during the inaugural ceremonies.
