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He also never asked Bush about torture.
Warren is no friend to democracy, much less democrats.
Obama might as well have a Voodoo Doctor up there with him.
When Bush won, I was very disappointed. I could not believe that my country had fallen for the fear baiting tactics of the Bush cabal. (recall all the orange alerts emanating from the Dept. of Homeland Security that miraculously stopped on election day 2004?)
But what really got to me that election year was when the newly elected Senator from Colorado, Ken Salazar, in his first major public act as my Senator, introduced and recommended Alberto Gonzales, author of the memo that called the Geneva Convention's ban on torture "quaint", to the Senate for confirmation as Attorney General. I felt that Senator Salazar did not understand or care about what had motivated me and many others to work for his election, all in the name of political expediency. Gonzales proved to be an inept upholder of the rule of law and a Bush sycophant, and was forced from office. Salazar would go on to vote to uphold the Bush policy on torture along with the majority of the Senate.
I am feeling almost the same way about Obama right now. In his first major public act as my President, the inauguration ceremony will begin with an invocation by avowed homophobe/bigot Pastor Rick Warren. Warren worked avidly to remove marriage rights of gays and lesbians in California in the Prop. 8 campaign. Warren has equated same sex love with pedophelia and other criminal behavior. This is a highly divisive choice, and an extremely unfortunate note to begin his presidency on.
Right now, I am glad that I did not invest the time and energy into the Obama campaign as I did in 2004. Some niggling thought told me not to really trust Obama's progressive rhetoric. I voted for him (twice) and canvassed one day for his campaign. To me politicians like Obama and Salazar, by seeking to bridge the divide between right and left, end up abandoning core principles. I will have a happy day on Jan 20, as the Bush years willbe over, but it will be bitter-sweet as I will have rubbed in my face that I, as a gay man do not count.
Gerald Bennett
Boulder, CO
and lets face it Pastor Warren, you make a living by sowing division and thats what we need to work on changing... Just think how filled those collection plates could be if you preached from a standpoint of inclusion instead of exclusion...
When he said we don't serve a Red America or a Blue America, a Liberal America, or Conservative America....
When he said that EVERYONE deserves a seat at the table.
I guess everyone just expected him to talk about UNITY and not try and DO IT...
It's amazing that Obama is getting flack for doing just what he said he would do. BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER!
But instead of looking at the big picture, you ignore everything else.
So I guess now that Obama invited Rick Warren it's a slap in the face to gay people.... well what does it say about him inviting Rev. Lowery to give the benediction? Who isn't opposed to gay rights?
What does it say about Obama appointing Nancy Sutley to his cabinet... the first OPENLY GAY WOMEN appointed to US Cabinet?
I really wish that people would grow up. This is ridiculous.. and I read your blog post on HuffPo Aravosis... you compared Obama inviting Warren to BUSH? Saying that Obama was no better than BUSH??? REALLY??
THE MAN WHG LIED TO GET US INTO WAR AND ON SUNDAY WHILE TALKING ABOUT REASONS GOING INTO WAR HE SAID "SO WHAT"??
REALLY??!
That is just sick.
Our econmy is in shambles... we are in two wars, more than 1 million peple may lose their jobs by the end of the year because of this big 3 mess.. and here you are complaining that someone is invited to give prayer?
He is NOT just your president, but EVERYONE'S President. WAKE UP and GET SERIOUS!
I hate to be too rude in this post, but we are facing some serious problems, and THIS is nothing compared to everything else.
Lets stop eating our own, and learn to look at the big picture.
They are NOT VALID VIEWPOINTS. If that was the case, and not to Godwin the conversation, then Hitler was justified in his views of Jews as 'subhumans', and slavery was justified for the entire continent of Africa.
SO, if you feel comfortable with inviting a Klansman and a Neo Nazi on stage with you and entertaining their views, go right ahead. There is NO WAY you will convince anybody else that what they think should in any way be entertained in the slightest.
I guess you didn't see the neo nazis attacking a pride parade in moscow did you?
It is not offensive. It is spot on and your distaste is, frankly, irrelevant to reality.
What's that you say??? Everyone just "knows" that these things I list are wrong and shouldn't be represented??? Well, everyone should also know that anti-gay bigotry is wrong and shouldn't be represented either.
Now, sure, homophobes have feelings too, and they certainly constitute an alarmingly large proportion of American voters. But "change we can believe in" doesn't involve elevating them and their bigotry to a position of prominence. That's validating their position -- particularly in the case of preacher Warren, who very explicitly has used his ministry to disseminate his hateful and delusional thoughts on gays. Now that same preacher gets to preach at the inauguration?!? Oh, sure he'll probably say nice conciliatory things, and Obama can point to his gay band marching down The Mall, and say, "see, a homophobe here, gay people over there -- we're all in this together, right?"
I made the comment about Obama appointing Nancy because so many people are saying that his choice to bring Warren the the ceramony is a slap in the face to gay people... But what about his choice to Rev. Lowery? A Rev. who is for gay rights.. If Warren is a slap in the face, then what is Lowery? What is Nancy Sutley?
And never mind that Obama's own opinion about our marriages were used by Warren (and the Prop.H8 campaign) to rescind the constitutional rights of our community in California.
And never mind that Obama's own marriage segregationist opinion is one of those 'common ground" issues he apparently shares with Warren. The gays should just be happy that we are put in our rightful place as marching band entertainment at the festivities. . .and that Obama will toss a few executive branch positions to some unmarriageable house faggots to show how we are really kinda-sorta-maybe second-class Americans.
So let's just never mind the fact that our families are constantly under attack by Warren and his ilk, and that we voted for this President as the "best choice" among candidates who view us with differing degrees of second-class status. The gays should just continue to make sacrifices of our constitutional rights for the good of the right wing nutcases who are "friends" of the President-elect - and be good house faggots for a few more decades until someone comes along and says we can walk in the goddamn front door.
house faggots.. apt. However, be prepared for others to say that's offensive tot he history fo slavery or some other bullshit.. can't have the gays comparing themselves to black people, that's just GROSS...
I'm wondering if Warren thinks it odd that women in some churches who enter a nunnery as "brides of christ" (that always seemed rather perverted to me--"married" to pie in the sky) or men who allegedly practice celibacy are any problem to the theory of evolution the way he thinks gays are? Not that a good bit of them haven't reproduced or seduced boys and girls, becoming, in effect, a problem to their own sexuality.
Hey, Ricky, when are you going to admit that we're ALL just mere human beings, after all?
at least you get an honest hate fest with Phelps. These other guys hide behind their goatees and comb-overs and pretty church words of goodness and light. They're all the same though. Everything they are is based on fear.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d3c_1229133179
I understand the outrage from gay people, but his views outrage me too.
But who would he have invited? Rev Wright?
How can the conservatives complain, except the extreme right wing. They would want Rev Murthee anyway!
Maybe Rev Warren will learn compassion and the truth by being associated with the Obama campaign. Stranger things have happened.
Happy Holidays everyone!
When civil rights legislation was signed into law it was NOT POPULAR with the public. In fact it cost the dem party the south back then and continues to cost dems the south to this day. But, it was the right thing to do. And pardon me if I believe that had we "waited" for more public acceptance, we still would not have civil rights legislation now. It was the legislation and forced integration that has brought about the change in attitudes not the other way around.
When the Supreme Court decided Loving vs Virgina, it was not a popular decision. Should they have "waited" for more public support to legalize inter-racial marriage?
Should the Supreme Court have waited a few years ago when they struck down the remaining sodomy laws even though it wasn't a popular decision?
Remeber, it is the same Bible, the same Christian beliefs that supported racism, bans on inter-racial marriage and laws against sodomy as are being used to support anti-gay bigotry. Bigotry is wrong whether it comes from religious beliefs or anywhere else.
Commenters keep telling us to wait, but, the waiting never ends.
Will be interesting to see if this is brought up.
This is extremely outrageous. We need to protest the hell out of this.
Warren is overweight. Why is that? Why was Jerry Falwell (quite) overweight? Isn't gluttony a sin? Why does Warren choose to live a sinful lifestyle?
So, what kind of lifestyle does Warren in fact has? Has his ministry maybe made him....wealthy? What is his house like? Is it humble and modest, I wonder? Would Jesus approve?
I suspect Warren is an immodest fraud. Certainly morally and ethically he is.
In the meantime, Obama has ratcheted up the cynicism factor big-time. And it was so unnecessary. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.
I know several of them too---meanest, nastiest, most hateful people you'd ever have the misfortune of meeting.
Many of us who have family members who feel the same as Warren - that gay marriage isn't natural, that gayness is probably a sin, etc. But, yet we have relationships with these people, try to change their minds, and try to find common ground. They are homophobic, yes. But bigots? I dont know. I think bigotry is taking it one step further...like Fred Phelps or Jerry Falwell or James Dobson. I don't see Rick Warren in that category at all.
Why would we just cut off half of America and call them bigots??? No, we cannot. We have the opportunity to try and find common ground on issues where we need them (liberal approaches to poverty, etc) and to educate and fight back on other social issues.
So, in my view, that makes Warren even more dangerous than Dobson because Warren tries to mask his hate with good deeds and a more moderate "tone" while still believing EXACTLY what Dobson believes.
I mean, geeze. Don't tell me Obama couldn't have found a conservative preacher who at least believed in science. The Catholic Church is full of them.
That's the very definition of bigotry. Just because they cloak it in religion doesn't make it any less so.
*eyeroll*
I am a gay man. Please extend your vision of "inclusiveness" and include at the inauguration a high ranking member of the KKK and also a high ranking member of an Anti-Jewish organization. When you include those two hate groups into your inaugural celebration, I will believe your message of inclusion and accept Rick Warren. Be fair, spread your hate equally.
And cannabis users, with regard to Holder.
Nobody is spending 5 years in jail due to Warren.
1/6 of Federal prisoners are non-violent cannabis users.
Where's your outrage on that form of fascist bigotry, John?
Not to "swear him in". Not to spout political opinions on social issues. Not to set agendas. He is to offer a prayer. And, then Lowery will offer a prayer.
That's it. Stop overreacting.
He is to offer a prayer? As an atheist I have a hard time with this whole praying at a secular, political event as it is, but please do explain what Pastor Warren is supposed to pray about if not his fervent beliefs -- which he himself has declared are no different from those of Pastor Dobson?
As for the "praying" part, so what do you think he'll be praying for: that all us "sodomites" see the light, perhaps?
If Warren were a segregationist/anti civil rights leader, would you merely brush off his rhetoric?
i hate idiots like this. i really, really hate them.
Having said that, it would have been far more potent to have Bishop Gene Robinson give the benediction. It's good that Obama's giving a civil rights leader the "last word" at the proceedings, but having Robinson do it (who is probably the most prominent gay clergyperson in the world, but thinks people of different views on homosexuality should nevertheless work and pray together) would have made for a far deeper message to send the nation, with or without Rick Warren at the start of the event. And having heard Robinson preach before, I know that he would deliver such a benediction as a bishop who happens to be gay, not as a "gay bishop" -- again, a powerful message. Lost opportunity there to be truly inclusive on one of the leading divisions in the religious world, I have to say.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunger_Strike
I'm willing to hunger strike over Obama picking Rick Warren as his "spiritual leader" to give the invocation. I watched the movie "MILK" and he asked himself, "I am 40 years old and what have I done that is important?" Well, I'm 43 years old and I'm tired of my community and family being treated like second class citizens and pariahs in these United States. We aren't asking for the "right to party" or "hedonistic pursuits" but the right to have our families and friends treated EQUALLY. Rick Warren does not believe we, or our families, deserve equality.
I love to eat, but I WILL start and participate in a hunger strike over this. We need to have journalists cover it or it won't be effective. I'm willing to put my life on the line to prove I want equal rights for my family, and I demand our community be treated with RESPECT and EQUALLY!
Who knows? Maybe we should call it the "Americablog - Rick Warren Hunger Strike?"
I'm very serious about this. I feel this strongly, and I want our kids, including the young gays and lesbians coming up, to be treated like everyone else's kids, as well. Its time for us to make a STAND, folks. We need to stop threatening, organize and take action.
..with 4 others I chose 10 days in jail rather than community service.
..with one other I fasted during this time..
Fasting for a political purpose was for me an extension of my commitment...it began to take a physical and physiological toll after 6 days...not to be taken lightly..but I am glad I did it..good luck!
The press groups need to get their file photos up to date.
LaHood's on TV now, and has none of the black hair the photos have been showing.
Here we go...
(I'm watching the live presser on msnbc)
But Warren, Dobson, and a swamp-full of others want to anthropromorphize their God to include socio-cultural values that are politically malleable and economically viable. After all, they're also in the business of making money.
Obama's whole political life is about changing that.
If some folks are pissed off because a homophobe is going to say a few words to an imaginary...invisible guy in the sky...
A lot more folks are pissed that black children will be playing on the White House lawn.
(false comparison, if you ask me...)
Also talking about lowrey, saying a "wide range of viewpoints" will be there.....
"That's what America's about...."
Face it: you've been bamboozled by the One. Refill your sippy-cups with Kool-Aid; maybe that will help...LOL! Oh, and I won't be back - well maybe later down the road to get a good laugh!
Moron.
**********************
Yes, "you would think" you imbecile. Does this IQ-70 freak EVER think? Why do you suppose homosexuals never "die out?" Hmmmmm. T-H-I-N-K.
Giant invisible friend, indeed.
That being said, that Warren was chosen to participate in the inaugural events is small potatoes. I think that the "symbolism" is being overblown. The inauguration will come and go, and Warren will again recede into the amalgam of rah-rah preacherdom, which is where he belongs.
http://stateofbelief.com/blog/?p=430