Frank Rich Scolds Obama Over Rick Warren: 'You're Likable Enough, Gay People'

IN his first press conference after his re-election in 2004, President Bush memorably declared, "I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it." We all know how that turned out.

Barack Obama has little in common with George W. Bush, thank God, his obsessive workouts and message control notwithstanding. At a time when very few Americans feel very good about very much, Obama is generating huge hopes even before he takes office. So much so that his name and face, affixed to any product, may be the last commodity left in the marketplace that can still move Americans to shop.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[BobSF94117]

I wish journalists would be more accurate.

Rick Warren doesn't just oppose same-sex marriage. He opposes civil unions and domestic partnership.

He's as bad as Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson. He just seems nicer.

[Beninn]

Rick Warren opposes more than gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships (which don't provide the same rights and benefits as gay marriage). He opposes women's reproductive freedom which includes rights that exist under the law (abortion), as well as birth control and health control (condoms). He also opposed stem cell research.

Rick Warren is an extremist, a far right winger with a pleasant manner. He's Jerry Falwell in a Hawaiian shirt.

Just when you thought it was safe to go out again in politics, our president-elect embraces and pulls in religious extremists.

[diogenes1967]

"It is almost unimaginable to me that" [Rick Warren] "would seriously be considered for the top"

Taking this quote completely out of context, yes, this is TOTALLY unimaginable.

[Smith808]

It is purposefully out of context.

You must be referring to my post below...I prefaced it with the admission that I had changed the subject matter to make a point. Yarrow's original words are still maintained in quotation marks - mine are in brackets. It is a remarkably well-suited "template" to articulate our indignation.

It's also an excellent example of the disparity in public condemnation between Warren and Saltsman.

[diogenes1967]

Well, yeah, though I am using as a double entendre...read the statement again

[MarieFara]

Obama said those words to Hillary Clinton and yet he not only trusted her enough but had enough faith in her to give her one of the highest cabinet positions. So is this article telling me that even though Obama is in a way saying that to gays that when it comes to policies he'll deliver extremely well for gays?

After all that's the only thing that would make such for such a dumb comment by Frank Rich.

[MoviePooch]

Next time try reading past the headline.

[moda31]

the MSM has been promoting warren like it was their job for the past 2 years or so; he's been absolutely everywhere and treated like the gold standard for evangelical preachers in this country. two weeks ago he was still being praised on all the news networks and being held up as their go to guy in the religious community, now all of a sudden they're all piling onto obama like they had no idea what this guy was about before his name was placed on the inauguration program.i don't care for rick warren but i'd be a lot more impressed with their outrage if they hadn't been orchestrating his promotional tours not even a month ago; his views are not a surprise to the MSM, they just see an opportunity to jump on another "scandal" and can't help themselves.

[Edmonsky]

I support gay-rights and marriage, even though, l am heterosexual; but l also respect those who disagree with my viewpoints. Civil right issues are better resolved through political means. Politics is a game of numbers. Hence, those with majority votes can have their political issues resolved under democracy. A minority group can only resolve their political issues by building bridges with other constituencies in order to form a coalition of majority as political capital for problem resolutions.
LGBT will be doing themselves disservice if they succeed in elevating their issues into a primary culture war. The current dispositions of the society are for civil union and are disproportionately opposed to gay marriage. Be careful what you wish.

[Eric8869]

Yes all gay people should just be quiet and wait for their rights. Especially when they are voted away on election day.

The culture war is on FULL TIME by the religious right. If you don't believe it then go to the site for Americans United for the Seperation of Church and State. They follow all the activities of the religious right who are trying desperately to legislate their religious beliefs not matter what.

Prop 8 wasn't put on the ballot by gay people.

Gay people didn't make this Warren guy compare their relationships to pedophilia and beastiality. The war is already on.

[Pupster]

Not quiet. Not wait. Be productive instead of yelling into the wind and vilifying everyone who doesn't agree with you.

[BusstaBrown]

Christian principles supercede any so-called culture war. Use any excuse you want to advocate for a sinful act, but marriage is between a man and a woman.This is not the Christian Right saying that gay marriages are wrong. It's everyday people who choose to not cherry-pick their religious beliefs to conveniently accept sins that bring pleasure or are difficult in bringing to an end. Sin is rampant in the world and no one is immune. But this campaign to make gay marriage normal behavior is wrong. What's the next sin that needs mainstream acceptance?

[JumpDownTurnAround]

I don't care what you call it. Call it Civil Unions if that's what you want, if it's the word "marriage" that has the evangelicals all in an uproar - then call it Civil WHATEVER, but give me Equal Rights! I don't want any more, or any less. I don't care if Rick Warren won't let me join his church because I'm GAY, I'd rather go to a church where I'm welcomed and not judged as it should be.

I don't care who speaks at the Inauguration as long as I have EQUAL RIGHTS that no one, I repeat NO ONE has the right or the authority to take away!

[Eric8869]

Yes that is what this is about. Sad they can't get it. (or don't want to)

[nomobull]

and all without name calling and criticizing bravo

[eden4barack08]

BRAVO!!! That's exactly what Obama has promised and what he will deliver if we give him a chance.

[notthistime]

BRAVO!!!!!!

[wait500]

No one has taken away any rights from you. To equate this with a civil rights issue of the past is absolutely ridiculous. Where is the suffering as cited in civil rights cases of hte past?

Regarding the history of marriage, yes, there has been polygamy and yes there has been abusive marriages whereby a grown man marries a young girl basically creating a rape situation and yes there have been loveless marriages to create wealth and dynasty. Not shining examples of marriage. You know what they all have in common? A man and either a woman or women or a girl. Its that simple. Man plus woman equals marriage. Look at the animal kingdom. Homosexuality is an anomaly within species, never, never, never a norm. If we legalize gay marriage (which we won't) we will be making something not a norm and raising it to the level of normalcy. Will not occur and is not a civil rights issue.

Even if the marriage reasons were wrong historically, the ultimate goal was to keep the bloodline going whether for humanistic reasons or for reasons of wealth. That can naturally occur within a hetero marriage but cannot within a gay marriage.

Before all the name calling starts, I am a NYC resident, a liberal, not a church goer, not a bigot, worked for years and years in catering and restaurants so know and befriended lots of gay men and women. My opinion is just my opinion.

[AguynamedWayne]

History has proven "Separate but Equal" is never equal. NJ gay couples are already finding that the companies that issue benefits (medical decisions and visitation, inheritance, etc.) are refusing to issue benefits and say that by law they are required to issue benefits only to "married" couples and therefor deny benefits to civil union couples. Separate is never equal.

and as Harvey Milk said: "Hope will never be silent".

[jcwtts1]

cite please

[SJBrown]

Separate but equal is never equal. Really? Marriage laws are unequal and vary across the U.S. and the world. So do the "same-sex" marriage laws that have been put in place across the world. Many countries have both civil marriage and traditional marriage laws at the same time.

This is about money and costs. If you read the fine print, some companies don't enable any automatic inheritance based on relationships, even children. Companies don't want to pay for or supplement healthcare costs for anybody and don't want to add to their bottom line.

[carrierobertson]

http://www.pubrecord.org/religion/583-proselytizing-in-the-military-likely-to-continue-under-obama.html

Proselytizing in the Military Likely to Continue Under Obama

Barack Obama's decision to have the evangelical megachurch leader Rick Warren conduct the invocation at next month's presidential inauguration proves that fundamentalist Christians still wield enormous power within the federal government and will likely continue to be a dominating force under an Obama administration.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the U.S. military where, for the past several years, in apparent violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution, chaplains have openly proselytized to thousands of active-duty soldiers and, in some cases, have tried to convert Iraqis and Afghans to Christianity.

[diogenes1967]

What does this have to do with the subject?

[Eric8869]

I got it - sorry u didn't

[JumpDownTurnAround]

I don't know. Did Obama mention anything about it in his campaign? I'm lost on this one.

[Eric8869]

Military personnel who are atheist or non-religious are often treated horribly in the military. They are discriminated against in their careers and also treated abusively by others in the service.

The phrase "there are no atheists in foxholes" is a lie.

[rantsandraves]

So Obama gets sworn in, then over the next four years he fixes the economy, creates new job, ends oil dependency,ends the war in Iraq, captures Bin Laden, gets a peace agreement in the middle east, and establishes universal health care,but you will still be pissed off because of a 3 min prayer by a preacher at his inauguration. Does anyone remember who did the invocation at any inauguration in the past 20 years...no. Dr. Martin Luther King could have given the invocation for Bush it wouldn't change the fact of his failure as a president.

Please, please, please get over it.

[Eric8869]

Let's hope you're right. Gay people are just making it known. We will not let you stab us in the back like Bill Clinton. If you do - you will hear it and often.

[rocketman69]

If you think anything will change, get your Kleenex ready. Do you think Congress will pass anything worthwhile? They have plenty of constituents who would not vote for them again if they did. The most you could hope for is another military thing or POSSIBLY some recognition in govt. jobs. Other than that, you've been Warrened.

[Jazzcomedian]

When PE Obama said that Hillary was "likable enough", a lot of people viewed that as dismissive towards her. And she now finds herself his Secretary of State. So obviously he liked enough of the things he thought important about her, to want her on his team. PE Obama has always supported gay and lesbian rights, though he doesn't support same sex marriage. I support same sex marriage, but I can't demonize those who don't, as I realize it goes against a centuries old globally recognized norm. It's instructive that liberal California which defeated the vicious anti-gay Prop 6 in the '70s, supported the anti-same sex marriage Prop 8 by a large margin. Obviously gays have to do a better job of changing minds on this issue. Canada that recognizes it, but Canada was way ahead on the slavery issue as well.

I cannot remember the name of any other minister who's given an inaugural invocation, and I suspect it's that way for most people. It's the gay community at the moment, that is making Rick Warren more important, and memorable than he deserves.

I think that like Hillary Clinton, gays will find being "likable enough" on PE Obama's part very helpful, and productive in their fight for equal rights. Though the future cannot be predicted, I think it's a good bet that PE Obama's support of gay and lesbian rights will be born out in the policies that he implements.

[stanjz]

The "you're likeable enough Hillary" comment was taken to mean something it wasn't. Obama was clearly looking for a way to reassure Senator Clinton without seeming to come to her defense. PE elect Obama clearly wasn't trying to put down Senator Clinton, and he isn't trying to put down the gay community. Frank Rich has mental issues.

[Balancement]

Yes, Frank Rich has mental issues--he's infinitely more intelligent than Rick Warren for starts.

[JimR]

I usually like Frank Rich and appreciate his take on things, but he is way off base on this one.

[sperkins]

... he isn't trying to put down the gay community....

I agree with you there, he wasn't trying to put us down....but he did. He got cocky and brushed off any concerns that this would not be acceptable to most gay folks. The whole idea that this was some highly strategic plan is nonsense; Obama screwed up. He screwed up big time. Period.

[Sparty1]

So how would you feel if the anti-gay people were protesting Rev. Lowery's speech, due to the fact that he's a pro-gay rights activist? No one is mentioning Rev. Lowery and I don't understand why.

[jcwtts1]

He didn't get cocky, he thought the LGBT community had some political common sense. Their reaction has hurt their cause dramatically and help Obama immensely.

J

[Smith808]

If you read Yarrow's blog on Huff Post about his reaction to the Saltsman's song, you could easily replace the subject matter from "song" to the "Warren invocation" and the interpretation of intolerance becomes identical...no one is calling Yarrow "infantile" or "Republican" for being insulted.

[Inviting Warren to give the invocation] "is not only offensive, it is shocking and saddening in the extreme. It flies in the face of America's deeply held hope for a new era in which common ground and mutual respect characterize the exchanges between our national leaders."

[The gay community has] "been eagerly awaiting an end to the mean-spiritedness, outright disrespect and bigotry that was commonplace prior to this last presidential election. What might have been wearily accepted as "the way it was" in the campaign, is now unacceptable. Obama is not a candidate. He is the President-Elect, and this" [invitation] "insults the office of the Presidency, the people who voted for him, as well as those who did not -- and taking" [gay marriage] "and twisting it in such vulgar, mean-spirited way, is a slur to our entire country and our common agreement to move beyond" [bigotry].

"It is almost unimaginable to me that" [Rick Warren] "would seriously be considered for the top" [honor]. "Puff, himself, if asked, would certainly agree."

[JumpDownTurnAround]

I really like and appreciate the way you write and what you have to say. Thank you.

[Eric8869]

No kidding - having that song parody is racist and horrible. But having someone who compares my relationships to pedophilia I should just get over.

The Black community will lose OUR support if they continue down that path.

[notthistime]

what do you mean the black community will lose your support?

How exactly have you shaped the movement?

See now you are going off in the wrong direction.

[Mattylock]

As a member of the black community, let me tell you I've never experienced your so-called support massah white gay person.

[jcwtts1]

See this is what I'm talking about. We'd love your support but until you needed us yours was curiously absent. Now I'm not trying to start a fight but when Cali abolished affirmative action where was the gay community? When the enrollment in Berkley went from 15 percent to 2 percent in one year, where was your community. The best thing to do is leave black people out of your argument. Make your case on its own merits. Stop calling us the n word and threatening to wear sheets to the Inauguration. Calm down and start thinking with a political mind and come up with argument 2,3,4,5,6,7,8... 20 just like everyone else has had to do.

J

oh and we'd love your support, if you could please document any time you supported us I'd appreciate it. Don't say Obama your choice was a guy who said there should be a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and same sex couples should be precluded by law from adopting.

J

[nomobull]

not even close

[FuriousAtObama]

Obama has lost my support completely. Having Rick Warren deliver the invocation at the inauguration is unforgivable. After 8 years of Bush, I can wait out 4 years of Obama. I don't give a flying you know what about Obama now. I made a little ceremony out of peeling off my Obama bumper sticker and sending it to the transition office in Chicago. I feel about Obama just like I feel about Bush--I can't stand to see him on TV or listen to him--and I am letting everyone know that is exactly how I feel.

[Jazzcomedian]

Childish.

[sperkins]

How is it childish? He has every right to protest; I unsubscribed from Obama's email in protest; suppose that was childish also. I'll tell you what is childish; blindly following someone and not questioning authority.

The newness of Obama will wear off and he is going to need all the support he can get; he made a foolish error selecting Warren and betraying his gay supporters. We have every right to protest; and Obama will be a better President if people are willing to praise him when he does well and criticize him when he fails. We don't want to do the same thing the Repubs did with Bush for 8 years; we must hold Obama accountable for his actions/inaction.

[Smith808]

Your argument has merit - point taken. You have right to demonstrate your disapproval.

[Eric8869]

That's going a little far. Speaking out is one thing but I am still supporting Obama. That is what people on here don't get.

Gay people are still supporting Obama and hoping for the best. This was just a bad decision and we have to let him know how we feel.

He is not a saint that can't get ANY criticism.

[diogenes1967]

agreed, Eric. I don't like the Warren choice either. But there is a wide spectrum of stuff here that is being addressed.

[JimR]

I hope that someday, you will find a candidate who entertains every single one of your childish whims.

[MyLowell]

i'm still not sure if they're being sarcastic or not...

[Eric8869]

Ok I'll say that to you the next time a racial incident happens.

[JumpDownTurnAround]

JimR.
I just came back online. Did you check out the link I left you showing that you are wrong about Rick Warren never equating Gay Marriage to pedophilia, polygamy, and incest?

The Rachel Maddow interview where he blatantly lies to his congregation and Rachel has the video proof of it?

I haven't searched through the last 2 1/2 hours to look to see if you got the link!

[loocifer]

Not every single one of my childish wishes, just the one for my civil rights! Let me see how mature you are when they invalidate your marriage and the president asks one of the main proponents to bless the naton.

[MoviePooch]

Yeah... childish whims.

You know, like the right to equal federal housing and employment protections under the law. Like the right to serve openly and with dignity in the nation's armed forces. Like the right to a federally recognized EQUAL union with the partner of my choosing that carries all of the rights and benefits available to heterosexual couples, including immigration rights if your partner is the citizen of a foreign country. And my selfish opposition to such a prominent role being awarded to someone who equated such a union with incest or pedophilia, and advocated revoking the right to such a union, by writing discrimination into the constitution, in a state in which it already legally existed. My selfish opposition to such a prominent role being awarded to someone who withholds membership in his church to "someone unwilling to repent of their homosexual lifestyle," but is willing to give us doughnuts if we protest.

You know... childish whims.

[PS4OBAMA]

You are upset about Warren which is minimal the drama happening in this country right now...you didn't vote for Obama - it's pretty clear, but keep on stiring the pot if it makes you feel better.

[Eric8869]

hmmmm gay people who were betrayed by the Clintons, attacked by the Bush Administration and then had their rights taken away on election day while the first black president was elected.

Wouldn't YOU be a little emotionally raw right now????????????

[MyLowell]

yup yup

[Smith808]

Sorry that your reaction is being dismissed by people as either childish or Republican hate speech. The country reacted this way to us for years each time we were critical of Bush. It makes you wonder who the "real" Bush operatives are.

Your sentiments are echoed by many of us. Good will come of this - but it's clear that this effort will only be up to those who recognized this as an affront in the first place.

[Smith808]

Sorry, my post below was not directed at you.

[Jazzcomedian]

Every decision a president makes pisses somebody off if he's doing his job right. It comes with the territory. PE Obama ignored all of the unsolicited advice (even mine) that came his way during his campaign--much of it questioning his approach. People wanted rage, passion, attacks etc., and he just stuck to his plan. There were some things that I questioned that he proposed to do, and in the end it always turned out well for him. So I decided to just let him do what he felt was right, as he's a man of demonstrably good judgement with a far-reaching vision for a more unified nation. It's obvious that he's not interested in doing politics as usual. He made that clear in his book--which is basically his political manifesto. Anyone who hasn't read it, should do so as you'll get more insight into his mind and philosophy.

All of those constituents, pundits, media strategists, journalists, and GOP members who are evaluating him using yesterday's political criteria are missing the boat. I hope he continues to ignore everyone and follow his plan--whatever it is. I'm sure he'll piss me off down the road on some issue, but that's cool. In four years PE Obama will have a clear record with regards to gay rights for gays to judge him on and weigh against his selection of Rev. Warren.

[Partridge]

So by your logic, George W. Bush has been doing a fantastic job. I wonder why he decided not to take your so-called advice.

[Eric8869]

Right Bush followed his plan despite overwhelming evidence and public outcry. Look where it got us.

[Jazzcomedian]

No, George Bush did a terrible job because he made decisions beholden to only one constituency--rich, corporate, military industrial interests. My point is that if you try honestly to represent a multiplicity of interests in a pluralistic society, and are serious in doing that, every decision you make is going to make one of those interests unhappy. PE Obama seems to be sincerely interested in being president of all Americans, as opposed to just paying lip service to that concept. That is something we are not used to. So, I think a lot of people on both sides of the spectrum are going to find that they won't get what they want if he does the job right. By right, I mean trying to weigh the competing interests and make a decision on what will benefit the nation best.

[Eric8869]

I hope you're right. We were promised "40 acres and a mule" from the Clintons

[wait500]

I'm sorry but can I ask what the Clintons' promised? And wasn't just one of them President at the time?

[MyLowell]

i agree with your post, but it's also okay for us to criticize his decisions and have a debate. while this pick isn't as serious as policy, it still matters to gay people because we're sick and tired of it being okay to call us perverted, deviant, subhuman, and not worthy of equal treatment and protection under the law.

[MyLowell]

i agree with your points, but i also don't think that there's anyhting wrong with critizicing obama's decisions and have a debate. although this isn't as important as policy, it still matters to gay people because we are sick and tired of being told that we're deviant, second-class citizens who don't deserve equal treatment and protections.

[Jazzcomedian]

I respect your concerns and your feelings about your unequal treatment. And discussion is good. Much more productive than debate in my opinion. Debate usually results in people yelling over each other, with no minds changed. I just feel that ultimately policies will determine what's what with regard to PE Obama's committment to equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans. Now in all honesty, I'm not up to snuff on all the issues affecting gays, but if PE Obama institutes policies that addresses them to the satisfaction of the gay community, how will Warren doing the invocation stack up against that? And if he doesn't then you'll have a full picture to judge him on.

[NewCenturyWoman]

I think Obama's choice of Warren was both personal and diliberate. I think he and Warren share a friendship, and he truly wanted to invite him to participate in this occasion (just as Warren invited Obama to speak before his congregation). I also think Obama knew that his choice of Warren would be criticized and scrutinized. Obama indicated throughout his campaign for president that he welcomed debate and criticism. He said he would listen to anyone, especially those who disagreed with him. I don't see why the gay community and their supporters are taking so personally this invitation by to invite Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. This is not an attack against the gay community; if anything it seems to be an effort to open up dialogue so that opposing factions can begin to see the common ground they share.

I do believe the gay community needs to pick its battles more carefully. I am sure the right wingnuts are gleefully enjoying this discord, and those outside of the gay community who would otherwise be more sympathetic to the gay community are beginning to question such support.

[Balancement]

Good talking points. Did they have good kool-aid where you picked them up?

[Eric8869]

The kool aid is called right wing radio and faux news

[sperkins]

...This is not an attack against the gay community; if anything it seems to be an effort to open up dialogue so that opposing factions can begin to see the common ground they share....

Dear God. If this is the help we are going to get from Obama....NO THANKS!!!!!

.....I am sure the right wingnuts are gleefully enjoying this discord, and those outside of the gay community who would otherwise be more sympathetic to the gay community are beginning to question such support....

Yes us rascally gays; we never know when to keep our mouth shut and if we don't watch it all the people outside our community (normal people) might stop tolerating us.

[RationalDubSteppa]

I hear ya mate, every progressive should be upset about this, gay and straight!! Rick Warren is the very embodiment of an agent that opposes change! What in the h3ll is he doing in the inauguration.

[MyLowell]

imagine...we are being blamed for people's intolerance/idiocy. who knew that we had the power to control how other people think and feel?

[socialdemocracy1968]

I'm a left-leaning, heterosexual Democrat who knows almost no one who is gay at a personal level, nor is anyone in my family, to my knowledge, homosexual. Yet I support equal rights for the gay community.

What Obama acolytes need to realize is that this was never about just Proposition 8 or Rick Warren's support of it. It's about how the gay community has been shunted to the side for the sake of political expediency. When the chips are down, the gay community is told to "shut up and quit whining" by people whose rights in this matter are intact, making the whole affair reek of hypocrisy, to "unite all Americans." Well, Obama is the president of gay Americans, too.

Obama's plan for the "unification of all Americans" has little chance of actually working because those who he's trying to cater to with his Rick Warren move, will vote Republican in 2012, 2016, and every election thereafter. The idea that all Americans share some sort of common ground is fallacious because that common ground is ridiculously shallow, because the things social progressives and social conservatives agree on in terms of social policy comprise such a small amount of potential that nothing would progress. When Obama extends his hand of friendship, they will bite, and they will never remember his graciousness come election season.

[RationalDubSteppa]

Unbelievable! If one where to replace the word g@y with the word N3gro in your comment we would be smack dab in the middle of the 1950s segregationist America. Rick Warren is a bigot and it was really beneath Obama to choose him for the invocation.

While Rick Warren represents the popular wing of Chr1st1anity today, he also represents all that is wrong, spiteful, hypocritical and hateful about the very same faith he claims to serve. Gay Americans have been beat on and discriminated against without impunity for decades in this country and Rick Warren through his bigoted belief system allows for the creation of an American support system for said bigotry through the veil of evangelical theology.

Rick Warren is an enabler for hate which makes him at the very least antithetical to "Change We Can Believe In"

[JimR]

While I do not agree with his views on homosexuality or gay marriage, Warren is not a bigot. More importantly, his conflicting views on gay rights are shared by millions of Americans. You're not going to advance the cause of gay marriage very far by trying to cast him as a cartoonish villlain.

[sperkins]

Bingo. If we just started reposting comments already made by those supporting Obama's decision and switched out the word gay with another minority; people would start going ballistic. Pure hypocrisy.

[JumpDownTurnAround]

OH MY GOD! That is EXACTLY it! Thank YOU! Thank YOU! Thank YOU!

[notthistime]

nonsense.

[MyLowell]

the religious right are up in arms over this also since obama is pro-choice.

[Eric8869]

So both sides are mad? sounds like the Clinton's again. I hope not.

[PS4OBAMA]

I agree NewCenturyWoman - the gays want to be heard that's fine, but guess what, I don't find this a major issue in the world right now. War has killed 4,000 Americans, Gaza Strip - children have died; people losing their homes; economy in the tank; people losing their jos all over the United States, 401(k)'s in the tank; No one will help refinance a home that is undervalue and we may lose our home; these issues, in my opinion, are much more important than the hurt feelings of gays that feel like they need to be heard. I'm in California and I voted on behalf of the gays to have their rights and I will continue to do so, but to continue this constant complaining about "Their" rights....well, I have a LIST of those don't have rights; Womens rights to their own decisions about their bodie, children be molested or raped, women being raped; robberies, shooting deaths and suicide for those who haved lost their jobs....read the news.... the gays have more respect than women in this country. Therefore, be glad to know that Prop 8 will be overturned and be DAMN GLAD THAT SARAH PALIN IS NOT GOING TO THE WHITEHOUSE OR MCCAIN....THEY WERE BOTH SEVERE HOMOPHOBICS AND YOU WOULD HAVE NO RIGHTS WHATSOEVER - NONE!!

[Doofus]

If it was between Jeriemiah Wright & Rick Warren, and
obviously it must have been, the President-to-be went
with the more 'moderate' choice, thus disappointing
only a few less people.

[Dave01]

I would MUCH rather it be Dr. Wright.

[channelerchik]

Many "good" white people, including a lot of parents and grandparents of people posting here, were either anti-integration, racist, or silent during the Jim Crow era. If MLK had chosen to ignore or vilify those people instead of open up a dialogue, the gains in racial equality made during that era would not have happened.

Just like pro-gay-marriage supporters believe they are right, the anti-gay-marriage people believe they are right. Hating isn't going to change the anti side's minds, it will only solidify their opposition. And, sorry but their minds have to be changed if gays want the rights they deserve.

Yes it would be great if we could wave a magic wand and have instant equality for gays and all people, in all ways. But we can't. Wasn't it just 10 years ago that there weren't gay characters on tv before Ellen Degeneres came out? Face it, for most people who don't live in cosmopolitan areas, gays are a foreign entity they are just now becoming aware of. Two guys or women kissing is a shock to a lot of people. That will change, but its not going to happen overnite. The first step is everybody talking like adults about the issues. Obama is a genius to have forced the first painful step.