Obama defends choice of evangelical pastor

icon gravatar.comwww.salon.com/wires/ap/2008/12/18/D955841O0_inauguration_min...
sent by Fiore since 418 days 23 hours 12 minutes, published about 418 days 9 hours 44 minutes
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.
tags: obama, rick warren, inauguration
15 commentscategory: Progressive Issues karma: 219

comments

  1. #1    The MSM is relentlessly framing this as a gay issue, when Warren should be objectionable to any antiwar, pro-choice, pro-science, pro-public-education, anti-christian-right, pro-rule-of-law, etc -- in other words, progressive -- person.
    written by nasrudin since 418 days 23 hours 7 minutesnasrudin
  2. #2    I agree with #1 on this, it is not a gay issue. Warren has called for assassinating foreign leaders, and advocates policies that can be called theocratic. His medieval mindset is the antithesis of progressive.
    written by gringoflamenco since 418 days 22 hours 57 minutesgringoflamenco
  3. #3    Most politicians wait until they get into office before betraying the people who voted for them. Obama is starting before he gets into office. I suppose that is what "Change" meant in his campaign.
    written by PhilosopherJay since 418 days 22 hours 52 minutesPhilosopherJay
  4. #4    To be honest, I can't get excited by this. It's just one ceremony. It's not like Obama is making him Attorney General or something.
    written by Fiore since 418 days 21 hours 55 minutesFiore
  5. #5    True Fiore, but the symbolism is not lost. On the other hand, imagine if he picked Rev. Jeremiah Wright?
    written by gringoflamenco since 418 days 21 hours 39 minutesgringoflamenco
  6. #6    Does the person delivering the invocation have to be a US citizen? If not, he could have asked Desmond Tutu.
    written by Fiore since 418 days 20 hours 42 minutesFiore
  7. #7    #6, What a brilliant idea?

    #5, I would much prever Jeremiah Wright to Rick Warren. I agree with point #4, it's one event and not a big deal; and the symbolism is probably intended to preempt any criticism from reich wingers, but it does send a message that will not fade away quickly.
    written by protect_democracy since 418 days 19 hours 24 minutesprotect_democracy
  8. #8    PREFER....damn, I shouldn't have skipped those typing lessons!
    written by protect_democracy since 418 days 18 hours 50 minutesprotect_democracy
  9. #9    I assume the "invocation" invokes God, in some way. That is clearly unconstitutional.

    Rev. Warren can speak, as long as he doesn't invoke any deity or bash any group of citizens.

    But than, what would be the purpose?
    written by rlpete2 since 418 days 9 hours 37 minutesrlpete2
  10. #10    Open dialog is fine, provided both parties refrain from screaming at the other. In this instance this will NOT be an open dialog. Obama's endorsement of a bigot disguised as a man of the clergy is an open admission that he backs this type of hate speech.

    You may love your family, but if they are disruptive at family gatherings you LIMIT your exposure to them. This is not limiting exposure, this is a big wet french kiss between people that feel the same way, despite what Obama may say on the record.

    The change we can believe in is no change at all actually.
    written by kjlovell since 418 days 8 hours 50 minuteskjlovell
  11. #11    Obama is not progressive - get use to it.


    PS - can we get the word OBAMA added to the spell checker? It's time.
    written by PHred42 since 418 days 1 time 58 minutesPHred42
  12. #12    Agree number 13.
    written by Bladerunner since 417 days 23 hours 15 minutesBladerunner
  13. #13    The Political Compass has been telling us for a long time that Obama is not a progressive.
    See: http://www.politicalcompass.org/uselection2008
    He and Biden are substantially closer to the quadrant where progressives tend to feel at home, at the lower left, than McInsane and whatsername are. However, they are still in the upper right quadrant.
    written by Fiore since 417 days 22 hours 37 minutesFiore
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