Comments on: Rick Warren to give inaugural invocation

By: Rick Warren to give inaugural invocation | Blogoncherry

Rick Warren to give inaugural invocation | Blogoncherry — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:50:11 +0000

[...] Also included in the inaugural program are cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the United States Marine Band, and other performers. Source : CNN [...]

By: totally unacceptable « Id Eco Super Eco

totally unacceptable « Id Eco Super Eco — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:37:23 +0000

[...] This, however, is too bitter a pill to swallow. [...]

By: Rick Warren: The Wrong Choice | Comments from Left Field

Rick Warren: The Wrong Choice | Comments from Left Field — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:34:19 +0000

[...] Is he serious? Rick “politicians have to believe in God” Warren? Rick “cone of silence” Warren? Rick “Prop 8 is great” Warren? Rick “take out the evildoers” Warren? Rick “Dobson-lite” Warren? That’s the kinder, gentler hatemonger who the President-elect has selected to give the Inaugural Invocation? [...]

By: No | The Church, What's Left?

No | The Church, What's Left? — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:27:27 +0000

[...] Uncategorized | Barack Obama wins the “Wanker of the Day” award at Eschaton, and I have to agree. President-elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony will feature big names like minister [...]

By: Noah

Noah — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:59:01 +0000

Chuck- You are either completely dumb or intellectually dishonest. Where is your proof that McCain was listening to Warren's questions? You are pathetic. Anything that makes your Annointed Leader look poorly you have to make excuses for. This is also hilarious because all you hard-line liberals are just going to be more disappointed at how Centrist Obama is becoming. This is hilarious to me. You did not vote in the same guy you thought you were voting in

By: smokesignals

smokesignals — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:58:35 +0000

ENOUGH!

As much as I support Obama....I have to say....

the separation of church and state should truly begin here. Right now. No benedictions, no invocations, no prayers, no religion. When are we going to get it? IMAGINE!

By: JerryK

JerryK — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:58:01 +0000

Barack Obama will be President of the "United States" of America not just president of the Democratic Party.

By: Alan in SF

Alan in SF — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:56:59 +0000

Awesome - we'll get to have a homophobe lecture us about morality. That's change we can believe in!

By: Dr. Stoner

Dr. Stoner — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:56:36 +0000

Will we ever end the campain obama was elected, period. The preacher is a book seller, hooked up with a word weaver. I still say he has not done a GD, thing yet, but make everything sound like 1932. He ain't no FDR, I'll give him credit, he has given African Americans Pride in this country. He is going to make speeches and more speeches that will wear thing within the year. When he starts lecturing on civil rights that will just push moderates away but fast. I'll give him time and moderate support, but he has to remember he needs to have a successful 1st term before he runs for a 2nd.
ps.

And the press stop being afraid to say or ask the hard questions just because he is not a white guy.

By: Philadelphian trapped in Texas

Philadelphian trapped in Texas — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:56:20 +0000

Politics does make strange bedfellows, doesn't it?

By: Ted

Ted — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:56:06 +0000

Obama has officially thrown the gays and lesbians who voted for him under the bus. I feel sick to my stomach.

By: Once You Vote Black

Once You Vote Black — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:55:47 +0000

Its simple homoisum is an ObamaNation. Just kidding. Obama wants to work with everyone. How do you talk to people if you don't interact with them. There is nothing wrong with having homophobic friends. How else will you change there mind. I have gay friends but they were my friends before I knew they were gay. Now that I have found out my position on gays has changed. It would have never happend if we did not work out our issues verbally. Now I accept them. Perhaps if you can see Warner as a reasonable person and he can see you as the same things might change. But that will never happen without a bridge.

By: cardron

cardron — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:54:44 +0000

I am a gay man and a progressive Christian minister. Although I disagree with much of what Warren on issues such as abortion and gay marriage, I think Obama asking him to say the invocation is both brilliant and appropriate.

We do not have to agree with each other on every single point to work together. We should seek common ground where we can find it. Warren is concerned about AIDS, poverty, and human rights. Can’t progressives work with him and others like him on these issues, even while we disagree about other issues?

Inclusion doesn’t mean only including some, it means including all who desire to work together for positive change. Imagine what our country and our world would be like if we all spent as much time working with each other in those areas where we agree as we do battling each other in those places where we disagree.

Obama inviting Warren to offer the invocation shows good will and a desire for unity in spite of differences. It is a clear indication that he sees himself not just as a Democratic president, or as a progressive president, but as President of the entire country. As such, he must speak to the entire country. Warren’s selection shows the President-elect reaching out beyond the typical constituencies of the Democratic Party and embracing all people of good will. This is change I can believe in!

By: Abyssinian Lion

Abyssinian Lion — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:53:30 +0000

He has to be the President for the people that dont agree with him and the President for the people that he doesnt agree with either. This is symbolic,ok?

By: Holy Mary

Holy Mary — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:53:27 +0000

The Rev. Al Sharpton wasn't available? LOL!!

By: Marc in Virginia

Marc in Virginia — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:53:14 +0000

Welcome to the real world, Obamabots. He's not the liberal, progressive champion you hoped for. Obama is just another slick, Chicago politician who duped many of you young dummies into voting for him. Well played.

By: Terry from GA

Terry from GA — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:52:26 +0000

I think some people are blowing things out of proporation. Obama and Rick Warren may not agree on every issue but I think they can find common values as a basis for their relationship.

By: Jozee

Jozee — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:51:25 +0000

Rick Warren-not a good choice in my opinion. This guy is two-faced and duplicitous who set PE Obama up during the Saddleback so-called debates. I have no respect for the man, but if Obama includes him, then so be it. I will not allow it to ruin the Inauguration festivities for me.

ONE NATION

By: kent

kent — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:50:27 +0000

Is this the intial material for "The Purpose Driven President"?

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:49:36 +0000

Obama is showing us he is going to be the President for "all" people, not just his people. Regardless if he and Warren see eye to eye on somethings but not others, if he's a decent man, a principled man.. then why not him? Even Mike Huckablee, as strong a Conservative as he is, said he'd support an Athiest, if he was a good person. We all need to be able to work with different people, not against them.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:48:31 +0000

@ Mike, Syracuse, NY This is the problem with you people: you've got the question wrong, so your answer is irrelevant. It's not a question of whether gay people should be "given" rights. It's a question of whether their God given rights should be recognized. You're afraid to admit that's the question because there's clearly only one answer: YES. Got a problem with it? Take it up with God...free will was his idea...it's not your place to take it away.

By: NY republican

NY republican — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:48:30 +0000

Bush Begone - It sounds like you have no tolerance to "push the limits" of. It's obvious right off bat from your alias. Then we have the lack of titles ("Obama" without even a "PE"). Then there is the "backward bible thumper " comment. I see no "tolerance" what so ever.

By: Once You Vote Black

Once You Vote Black — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:47:39 +0000

Wait a min. You can't turn against Big Daddy O just because he makes a pick that you don't like. We must ask what does this choice say about Brother Hussian. It says he wants to work with all the people. People you like and people you don't like. He is not forcing anything on anyone. We have to stop trying to make blanket statements on every pick he makes. He just picked a gay women from NJ to lead something yesterday. What does that say about him. Let him do his thing.

By: Change - Yeah Left

Change - Yeah Left — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:47:13 +0000

At least he's not a hate filled anti-American bigot like Obama's regular pastor!

By: MikeH

MikeH — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:46:45 +0000

I think the phrase "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" is apporpriate for what is at play here.

By: SAD SAD

SAD SAD — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:46:42 +0000

It still shows how gracious President Elect is...After hoe Rev Warren treated him at Saddle back stting him up for Sen McCain to look good over him. How on eath will this Rev tell all Americans that Sen McCain is in a cone of silence which the state security service later said Sen McCain was in him motorcade listening to all the interview.
Same Rev came out last week to give president Bush P.E.A.C.E. award.....
It will take God for me to forgive this man but well i am not President-elect

By: Meet the Automatic Complaint Generator « Donkey Punch

Meet the Automatic Complaint Generator « Donkey Punch — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:46:17 +0000

[...] Obama is having noted evangelical preacher and Proposition 8 supporter Rick Warren to give his inaugural invocation. And the right thought he was the most liberal [...]

By: Juge

Juge — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:45:46 +0000

It better be an ecumenical invocation – including all religions, ethnicities, colors and sexual orientation. I strongly suspect that Rick Warren is incapable of doing this. OY as they say in French.

By: TerryMD

TerryMD — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:43:57 +0000

Has Obama lost his mind?

By: Juge

Juge — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:43:51 +0000

Warren only represents a small fraction of the American public. I DO NOT think he stands for what most of us stand for – equality! This was a VERY poor and a potentially damaging choice Mr. Obama. AND I voted for you. HMMMMMMMMMMM

By: DR

DR — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:43:41 +0000

Mike: Marriage is strictly a legal contract. It has no existence whatever otherwise. The religious concept of marriage is of no consequence to the law or to society at large. It's also worth mentioning that until quite recently, even so-called "religious" marriages were nothing but property transactions (and I mean VERY recently, like the early 20th c.). As for taking a "right" which doesn't exist, blacks and whites had no right to marry until the 1970s in some cases. Are you saying that was an appropriate state of fact? Because unless you make a strictly religious, and hence invalid in terms of the Law, argument, you cannot distinguish between inter-racial marriage and gay-marriage. It's really all or nothing here.

By: Michael B

Michael B — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:43:16 +0000

Mike from Syracuse - yes rights WERE taken away. I could get married in CA before, now I can't. Right taken away.

By: Obama Voter

Obama Voter — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:42:46 +0000

Not the change we need.

By: Michael B

Michael B — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:42:27 +0000

Incredibly disgusted. The President-elect has lost my support.

By: obama-mama

obama-mama — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:42:26 +0000

@Dianne – Your point makes sense....

By: Walt D

Walt D — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:42:03 +0000

I hope Rick Warren appreciates Obama is a very forgiving person, to grant him this honor, in view of the way he favored John McCain in the Saddleback Presidential forum with questions focused on the concerns and issues of the far-right While, at the same time, never once pressing McCain for more in-depth answers. The questions in the Forum were slanted to McCain and to make McCain, not known to be a very religious person with in-depth knowledge of the Christian faith, the "winner."

For a while, I thought Warren was becoming a little more open to issues of the environment and the gay community. But that Forum, along with his recent support of Proposition 8, clearly demonstrates he is stuck in fundamendalism or an out and outright panderer and phony.

By: Tennisguypitt

Tennisguypitt — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:41:54 +0000

Not smart... this guy is a polar opposite to Obama!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:40:24 +0000

CanIcallyouJoe, I think that your mention of Obama & slavery may have been a bit uninformed so I don't think you should be so hard on the Catholic church. Even Obama's ancestry is tainted with injustices against blacks. In my opinion, this decision is similar to Obama's decision to make H. Clinton Secretary of State. Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer. I'm a bit surprised that Warren went along with it. But as someone elluded to earlier, it's not about individuals, it's about a cause. Do what's right; preferably without ulterior motives.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:40:20 +0000

HUGE MISTAKE by Obama!! How he could even think of having a man who would make such an ignorant statement ("This is not a political issue — it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about.") is beyond belief! “God” also spoke clearly about who should be killed for touching the skin of a pig, or wearing cloth made from two different materials, or working on the Sabbath – yet Warren ignores those. Only the rules about homosexuals need to be followed to the letter.

I agree with John from NY “So….once again, we gay Americans are being the first to be thrown overboard after we get a new president elected.” I have strongly believed in Obama up until now – this is a very dark turn of events.

By: Independent Voter

Independent Voter — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:39:29 +0000

oh my God...why is aretha franklin participating in the inauguration at all? she is a washed up has been and sounds terrible now! she had her time back in the day and its over now....please, please don't let her sing! by the way, i thought stevie wonder was a favorite of the Obamas???

p.s. for all of you who will not agree with my opinion of aretha franklin, I don't want beyonce on the stage half naked, screaming and rolling around on stage either!!

God Bless President Obama, VP Biden and the First Families

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:39:16 +0000

@ Mike, Syracuse, NY

But you sure can recognize a right that's always existed but been ignored and unprotected.

By: JacklynD

JacklynD — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:38:28 +0000

I don't think he is worthy of giving the invocation. I think there are far more spiritual and enlightened choices. First pick I've been truly disappointed in – but it is not an appointment so we don't have to live with the guy.

By: gregor

gregor — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:37:36 +0000

Barack Obama is the result of diklessedness that has been poring into the veins of the Democrats.

The President Elect, The Ultimate Democratic Wuss.

By: sam

sam — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:36:18 +0000

Can't comment on this-it's above my paygrade

By: What is this????

What is this???? — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:36:08 +0000

An inauguration or a variety show???

By: OBFUMA

OBFUMA — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:35:01 +0000

Cynthia: Get a life and STOP poking your head into things that DO NOT affect you.

Steph: Inclusion can kiss my lab rat's behind!! What happened to "inclusion" when the majority of californians voted for "Prop 8". Why could they not be inclusive and vote against it and keep in place a right for GL ppl to marry – a right that, by the way, has no bearing whatsoever on anyone else – something that affects no one else – it did not take away the rights of straight ppl to be married. IT WAS JUST AN INCLUSIVE LAW!! And now you want inclusion!! Go fi............

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:34:53 +0000

WHY CAN'T US AS GAY PEOPLE GET MARRIED TO OUR PARTNERS. WE PAY TAXES AS US CITIZEN, I WAS BORN IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA- IN THE "GOOD OL USA." I THOUGHT ALL US CITIZENS ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE SAME CIVIL RIGHTS. MARRIAGE IS A BOND OF LOVE BETWEEN TWO CONSENTING ADULTS- SHAME ON OBAMA'S TEAM FOR CONDONING AN ABUSE OF OUR CIVIL RIGHTS.

By: D

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:34:43 +0000

So let me get this straight...

Rick Warren is bad and Rev. Billy Graham is okay? Bill Clinton had Rev. Billy Graham give the invocation at his first inaugural.

People, relax and get a grip.

By: Aldo

Aldo — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:34:19 +0000

Actually, Mike, the right to marry was given to same-sex couples in California back in May, and marriage licenses were granted to them in June. Prop 8 repealed this. So yes, it was a right taken away. Who are you to say which citizens can and cannot be granted "rights"?

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:34:15 +0000

All I have to say is... Wow.... I am sure a lot of you Obama-bots would be mad if he asked the guy who said New Orleans was God's punishment to give the address.

Sick.... it's ok to be prejudiced about GLBT people, but not other people.... whatever!