Sharpton Defends Warren Choice: 'Gracious And Courageous'

Reverend Al Sharpton defended Barack Obama on Friday for choosing Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, calling the move gracious and inclusive on the president-elect's part.

"I think that from my understanding, President-elect Obama is trying to reach out to people that don't agree and do agree with him, to unite the country. I certainly don't agree with Reverend Rick Warren. I'm sure Reverend Warren doesn't agree with me on certain things. But I think there's room for everyone and I think that is what President Obama is trying do. I thought it was a very gracious thing. I think Warren said it was courageous. I think it was both," said Sharpton. "I think that President-elect Obama showed a lot of graciousness extending this to him, showing that he's trying to pull the country together even with those he disagrees with and [those that are] frankly... less than gracious to him."

The remarks come on the third day of sustained and loud protest over the invocation choice, which both Warren and Obama have labored to defend. Warren's views on gay rights, stem cell research and torture are seen not just as in complete contrast to Obama's agenda, but antithetical to the very inclusiveness that the president-elect is hoping to promote.

Four years ago, the shoe was on the other foot. For his reelection inauguration, George W. Bush asked Rev. Dr. Louis Leon of Washington's St. John's Church Lafayette Square to deliver the invocation. Leon and Bush had a personal relationship developed over the years that the president attended his church. The two also shared policy commitments towards fighting AIDS and, to a lesser extent, pushing immigration reform (in one sermon that Bush attended, Leon blasted Congress for its failure to pass legislation on the topic). The president, in fact, sat in the pew at Leon's church right after the attacks of September 11th.

But the two, as Leon acknowledges, had their share of political differences. And it was of some interest that Bush had tasked him for the inauguration spotlight.

Reached by phone and asked to compare his situation with the current one, Leon demurred. Pressed if he had any tips for Warren, he said: "I wouldn't dare offer Reverend Warren a piece of advice."

That said, the Warren and Leon comparisons go only so far. And progressives are right to note that Leon was never a symbol of exclusion the way that Warren, through his public support of Proposition 8 in California, has become.

Comments

[torbo]

05:09 PM on 12/29/2008

It's not what Rick Warren or Rev. Sharpton thinks about homosexuality its what the Bible and the word of God says. "Homosexuality is clearly condemned by the Bible. It goes against the created order of God. God created Adam and then made a woman.' Bible verses that condemn homosexuality. Leviticus 18;22, Lev.20;13, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and Romans 1;26-28 and others. Homosexuality is a sin but "Just because someone is a homosexual does not mean that we cannot love him (or her) or pray for him (her). "Homosexuality is a sin and like other sin, it needs to dealt with in the only way possible. It needs to be laid at the crosss, repented of, and never done again." Many people want to change God's words and meanings into something more suitable to its sinful desires. "Nevertheless, the truth stands: "The Bible condemns homosexuality as a sin."

[felliott]

02:14 AM on 01/08/2009

Thankfully, the United States isn't a theocracy. Every decent American should be willing to kill to stop this country from becoming one.

[AvantStL]

12:24 AM on 12/29/2008

How many gay people interpret this:
Woooooo. We got our rights. We have lots of legal protections. Other oppressed Americans need to shut up and stop ruining our big day. Can't rent an apartment? We've been there, but too bad. Can't marry your loved one? We've been there, but too bad. Have to pay taxes, but don't have equal rights? We've been there, but too bad.
If someone who I had campaigned for was honoring a racist, I would be OUTRAGED. I'm not expecting everyone to share my outrage at Obama honoring Warren (who compares me to a pedophile and just campaigned to TAKE AWAY my rights), but this "Obama can do no wrong" mentality is disgusting.
Obama could have "reached out" and chosen many, many people with whom I could "agree to disagree". Warren does more than "disagree", he has hurt me and many other citizens like me.

[mergina]

05:55 AM on 12/26/2008

Sharpton, YOU CAN GO TO HELL WITH WARREN.

[Motorinstructor]

01:13 PM on 12/26/2008

If you knew how terrible hell is, you would never wish anyone to go there. Check out the book 23 minutes in hell by Bill Wiese at Amazon.com.

[mheister]

10:41 PM on 12/24/2008

Elements of the gay community and elements of the fundamentalist Christian community are fighting tooth and nail over the definition of marriage, and they are using the government as their field of battle.

They're both wrong.

The gay community is sore because they got their hat handed to them in California. The fundamentalists are fearful that this is far from over as the battle is joined in all 50 states.

If we are to actually practice the separation of church and state in the United States, then this argument over what is essentially a spiritual union should be removed from the hands of the government. The various states should sanction only civil unions, and leave the consecration of marital vows to churches, fellowships, and other religious organizations.

Of course, neither the gay rights advocates nor the fundamentalists want this solution, as both sides are trying to use the government to push their agenda.

The gay community, however, is in a fantastic position to entirely outflank the fundamentalists by advocating that marriage is strictly a religious matter and no government body should sanction anything more than a civil union, which would be defined as a union between two consenting adults without regard to gender. Gays would achieve full and equal rights with their straight counterparts in the eyes of the law, and the fundamentalists could salve their wounds with the knowledge that no church would be required to sanctify a union that runs counter to a fundamental tenet of their faith.

[AvantStL]

01:02 AM on 12/29/2008

mheister, the reason it is so important that we achieve "marriage" equality is because the 1000+ benefits that married people enjoy reference "marriage". I don't care if I can't get married in a certain church (Churches already decide who can or cannot be married inside their walls). I know it just seems like symantics, but what I want is EQUALITY.

[NoCalDavid]

05:15 PM on 12/23/2008

I wonder if Mr. Sharpton would support Rev. Warren's selection for the inauguration if he was aware that Warren's Saddleback Church, according to Rachel Maddow, does not allow gays and lesbians to join.

Would he feel so damned good about a Reverand that did not allow African Amiercans to join his church?

A racist is a racists, a hater is a hater. Obama needs to select someone else to be leading the invocation.

[streetkid5]

09:30 PM on 12/23/2008

Time was when a Black person could not become a Mormon, or a Seventh day Adventist. Both denominations are now actively evangelizing Blacks, both here and abroad. Given Reverend warren's efforts in Africa, it appears ludicrous for him to continue race-based evangelizing, if indeed that is what he IS doing, and is not some figment of the lefties' imaginations.

[cyndeewi]

08:01 AM on 12/25/2008

Al Sharpton is right. You guys are so narrow minded it's pathetic.

[Pema]

01:46 PM on 12/23/2008

American Christianity can be such a farce.

[lorandrea]

10:42 AM on 12/23/2008

I am not gay but have many gay friends.At first I thought that Obama had been brave and inclusive for inviting Rick Warren. I thought I liked Rick Warren for supposedly trying to emphasize issues that Christians should focus on, like poverty and other social issues, while purportedly de-emphasizing divisive issues like gay marriage and abortion.. However, the more I read of Rev Warren's own words, the more uncomfortable I am with him, and the less truth I see in this view of him. Instead I see an enormous ego that is being selective in the biblical injunctions he wishes to support. Gays=bad, but gluttony (his own)=good; his version of "love one another" only applies to people whose belief systems align with his; and so forth. I am particularly appalled that he excludes gays from receiving spiritual comfort by attending his church. I guarantee you Jesus would never have done such a thing. Many stories in the New Testament support complete inclusiveness as the basic tenet of Jesus' teachings.
I am an enormous fan of Obama and up until now I felt he could do no wrong. However, I agree with the blogger who called this choice of Rick Warren "tone-deaf".

[ddanimal]

04:02 AM on 12/23/2008

Sorry, but I dont see a need for the democratic party to be so big that it includes bigots and religious fundamentalists like rick warren.

Exactly how much right wing/conservative christian support will Obama get for this? Exactly zero.

Courageous? No. Stupid? Absolutely.

[JimR]

02:42 PM on 12/23/2008

You don't know that he won't get any support. You speak as if all conservative Christians think and act alike. Well, some people think all gays think and act alike, too. Both viewpoints are dangerous and stupid.

[streetkid5]

09:51 PM on 12/23/2008

Who said Obama is trying to make the Democratic Party, alone, a bigger unit? He has said, quite a few times, that he aims to be President of ALL Americans.
Sorry, but the nation is going to become more united, either peacefully through Mr. Obama's efforts, or by trials and tribulations that will stem directly from his opponents' efforts at division. These horrors could be brought about just as easily by Obama's enemies on the Left as by their counterparts on the Right. There is, quantitatively, little difference between the two.

[SteveDenver]

02:32 AM on 12/23/2008

Perhaps if Warren had said to his mostly suburban, mostly WHITE congregation: "I love Black people, but science has proven their brains are smaller. God loves Black people, but all they think about is sex and bling, and most rapists are Black. We must embrace the soul of Black people, but a mixed-race couple will cause untold pain for their children when kids from traditional families tease them," maybe more Black people would understand how gays feel when Warren compares us to pedophiles and says same-sex marriage will destroy society and the family unit.

[tbsykesopinion]

07:44 PM on 12/24/2008

Why is it that maybe "more Black people" need to understand your plight. Some of us don't live in California and didn't shoot down your proposal. Maybe you should make it clear that you are referring to Black people in California. But I still wouldn't see the point.

[RODERICK098]

05:08 PM on 12/21/2008

One other thought on this. If an all white committee was chosing Rick Warren as the person for the job with all of the spiritual leaders that the US has would you not think that the Committee had short changed him and given him third best rather than the best and he deserves the best.

[RODERICK098]

04:44 PM on 12/21/2008

To all Afro-americans who support Obama's choice of Warren -if the reverse were true and a gay President chose a 'minister' who said that Afro americans could not marry, could not be members of his church, were incestuous and child molesters how many of you would support that gay President' s decision. And can you at least admit that it was a sleazy choice to have on one of the most historic days in our countriy's history-where is Maya Angelou or somebody of her quality who exude love, peace and harmony rather than this divisive 'religious' man. Obama needs a person of real and authentic stature with a real YES WE CAN YES WE CAN QUALITY RATHER THAN this sleazy used car salesman.

[vote-obama]

01:18 AM on 12/23/2008

Afro-american?really!!! hey michael richards is that you.
i was waiting for you to break into your look there is a n-gg@ routine oh well maybe next time.

[hunnycaress]

08:52 AM on 12/21/2008

If you are going to the inauguration, TURN YOUR BACK ON RICK. Go to this Facebook page for more information and join: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=51521381807
Simply put, it isn't fair for one group to be pitted against others. Proposition 8 was very painful for many people. To the straight readers who may not understand: Imagine your right to marry the person you love suddenly taken away because someone didn't like you, or approve of you. Can you for one moment imagine it?
You can't be inclusive of people who are not inclusive of others. So, please, tell your friends to TURN YOUR BACK ON RICK on January 20.

[Tanyars5]

08:55 AM on 12/21/2008

no one cares if you turn your back....stop doing silly things and do something that is actually proactive and meaningful.....its a one to 2 minute prayers.........do you really think that truning your back is going to do anything? come on you have to come up with a strategy

[brandon102]

10:56 AM on 12/21/2008

I guess you're not much of a fan of symbolism, huh? Remember, Rosa Parks only took that one bus ride.

[SteveDenver]

02:35 AM on 12/23/2008

Actually, I think it would be much better the CLAP LOUDLY through his prayer. Many energy workers and healers utilized clapping as a way to disperse negative energy. This is also used by Feng Shui experts to clear negativity.

[BigBagel]

09:58 AM on 12/21/2008

Grow up.

[RODERICK098]

04:24 PM on 12/21/2008

F

[ckfan]

08:48 AM on 12/21/2008

In November, Pesident-elect Barack Obama invited the Lesbian and Gay Band Association to march in the Inaugural Parade. Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, a staunch supporter of gay marriage, has been invited to give the Benediction at the inauguration.

Yet, the only thing you and other columnists have focused on is the inclusion of Warren to deliver the invocation.

[BEHM777]

10:08 AM on 12/21/2008

It is sexier to foment outrage and divisiveness. I hate to be that cynical, but this is America after all.

[ckfan]

07:56 AM on 12/21/2008

For those who believe REVEREND Jesse Jackson would have been a better choice, consider this: He has continually bashed Jewish people, had an affair that produced a child and curses like a drunken sailor.

So, for those who think he is an acceptable alternative to Warren, I guess you must be ok with someone who bashes Jewish people?

If Warren is unacceptable for bashing gays then Jackson should be unacceptable for bashing Jewish people. He's no better than Warren.

[StillIRise]

10:49 AM on 12/21/2008

Jackson has NOT continually "bashed Jewish people." He was overheard making an anti-semitic joke more than twenty years ago and apologized for it. Before and since his remark, he has worked closely with the Jewish community and with Jewish organizations toward common causes.

I am not suggesting that Jackson should give the invocation or substitute for Warren, but your remarks are not substantiated by facts.

[ckfan]

12:04 PM on 12/21/2008

Jesse was not just overheard making a joke, he also made several comments since then while chatting "off the record" with African-American journalists.

And the FACT that it is public knowledge that he made the joke, regardless of how long it was, confirms that my assertion is supported by facts. Publicly known facts.

[Eyewideopen]

07:25 AM on 12/21/2008

Black voters better watch their enemies on the left and the right. Seriously.

[ckfan]

07:52 AM on 12/21/2008

Hmmm. I'm Black and I don't know what that means. Explain, please.

[Eyewideopen]

07:29 PM on 12/21/2008

I find it curious that the gays pick this President to call a "bigot". That's right some white gay writer of Time Magazine called PE Obama a "bigot". Not Hillary Clinton (who happens to share the same opinions on civil unions as Obama, but approved of DOMA), not Bill Clinton ( the guy who signed into law DADT). The gays have singled out Obama.

Black voters, I hope youre paying attention.

[Tanyars5]

08:49 AM on 12/21/2008

You are so right Eye-there is an anti black agenda and guess where it is being started? The 95% or more of blacks voting for Obama has made some feel very uncomfortable.......racism is everywhere