Hilary Rosen On AC360 Discussing Rick Warren, Obama's Controversial Inaugural Pastor Pick

Comments

[capalzo]

People, As a straight African American male, I support all rights for all people, Prop 8 is a bunch of BS and is unconstitutional. However I see the selection of Rev. Warren differently, I see it more akin to the relationships that had to be established during the early days of the Civil Rights movement. Working together with the mainstream in a non violent way, the non violent movement ultimately received a different response then, the confrontational movement of the number of different factions. To move the Gay Rights Movement Forward, there has to be dialogue. Obama has placed Warren in a position to broaden the subject on a number of different issues, including Gay Rights and Abortion Rights. It also gives the Right Wing Evangelicals an opportunity of see tolerance at work. It shows that Obama and Warren can disagree, but they can also come together to discuss the issues. Dr. King and President Johnson would have never come together, to help enact the Civil Rights Bill, without coming together and bridging gaps. This is that opportunity. If we can change the minds of One Gay Hater at a time, Warren is a great start. Lets also hope this opportunity will also show the nation there is a universal need for tolerance for all.

[justmeerin]

I do see that point.

[saltpeter]

People need to realise that Rick Warren helped give Obama a platform during the campiagn that showed some Christians that Obama wasn't Satan or a Muslim (like they had been led to believe) and that John McCain wasn't necessarily as much of a well-versed Christian as they thought he was. A lot of these fundamentalists chose to stay home on election day and, in the end, that is the difference that was made between the outcome. Falwell, Bob Jones, Pat Robertson and any number of fundamentalist goons wouldn't have been so magnanimous and risked the power of their leadership of the willfully ignorant fundamentalists to even try to give a Democratic nominee a platform.

The fact that Obama showed some fundamentalists and, most importantly, Christians who aren't all anti-gay and obsessed with abortion that he had a grasp on scripture and understood the real world application of those scripture did serve to impress some Christians to vote for him and very many of the rest to tamper down their fake outrage about him. All inclusion of religious leaders in political pomp and circumstances is window dressing and throwing bones to religious constituents. At some point, the Democratic Party is going to have to make efforts to convince those who regard themselves as ardent Christians that the neo-cons never really cared about their concerns and begin to sway them to their party while not necessarily conceding policy to them. This is Obama's gesture toward that goal.

[some-realtalk]

Obama is going to be the president NOT Warren, and I think that there are certain people who are purposeful ignoring of the fact that Obama has also invited to speak at his inauguration a pastor who is very pro-gay and lesbian rights.
Obama is also very pro-gay, and lesbian, and he is the one who is going to be our president, NOT Warren !!

[AJBF]

It never ceases to amaze me how some african americans can be so tone deaf to the plight of gays. If Warren was using his pulpit to spout hate speech against blacks and interracial marriage there would be plenty of outrage. Obama made a mistake. I am deeply disappointed and dismayed.

[masha2008]

this was political calculation by obama. they had to know the liberals would put up a stink over this (otherwise i have to doubt his vaunted political deftness), they just presumed liberals would get over it pretty quickly. what stings is that this act is a brushing aside of the sentiments of a key constituency of obama's. this is a mistake but i dont think they have the guts to admit it.

[Weasie16]

Roland wasn't listening to Hilary at all. She doesn't care if there's a preacher who is opposed to gay rights, she just doesn't think it's ok to have this preacher who has tossed homosexuality into the bin with pedophilia, etc. If Obama's vision was to bring everyone together he could have chosen a preacher who supports the anti-gay marriage ticket without demonizing the gay community. I agree with Hilary on this. The inauguration is symbolizing unity this doesn't really jive with that. I understand that there are pressing issues like the Economy etc. but the basic fundamentals of our Constitution and equality, should always be a pressing issue. We can offer respect to all Americans and fix our financial crisis.

[nypchung]

i don't think Warren is part of his cabinet nor part of Congress. Take it easy folks...

[nypchung]

With all the problems we have to deal with, this is what you all are angry about? Goodness..­.

[masha2008]

those who are anti-gay will not see the invocation by warren as being included in obama's presidency, they will see it as an imprimatur that they are in the right.

[FebM]

Ad Jesus said,- What good does it do if you only hang out with your friends? This is a challenge to Rick Warren to "love thy neighbor" unfortunately that would require we love Warren too!

[WellbornBroad]

I am not gay but, that is beside the point. As a Barack Omaba supporter

from the beginning, I was appalled to hear that Rick Warren would be

giving the Invocation. It is a slap in the face to many Americans. This

man , in no way, represents the MAJORITY of Americans. Shame, shame,

Obama.

[orangepetal]

It does seem quite a blow. Seems he has said some hurtful stuff. I would hope this is a fight worth picking.

[LandOfPinot]

People are upset because Obama chose Warren to speak at the inauguration. Warren is against gay marriage, but Warren is a cleric. So I have a suggestion, similar to what's done in some western European countries. Have two wedding ceremonies: One civil (the legal one) and one religious. In this way, the Warrens of the world can turn down gay people, but gay people can still get officially married. Everybody wins: The clerics and assorted religious bigots don't have to marry people that don't meet their definition of marriage, and gay people have the same benefits as anybody else in this country as far as marriage is concerned. The problem in the US is that marriage is being defined by religious people. What blows me away is that in this country, a cleric can officiate at a marriage ceremony. Where's the separation of church and state? If you're a Catholic, you can get married (once) by a priest, but if you get divorced, you actually need two divorce "ceremonies", one by the state (to be legally divorced), and one by the Catholic church (which pronounces an annulment, their version of divorce)..­..

[roch20]

I'm so disappointed with Roland Martin, what a jerk!!! Hilary Rosen rocks, you go girl!!!

[Ugonna]

so now, he's a jerk for explaining his point of view, which no matter how ignorant or wrong you may find it, was at least explained in a non-hostile, baiting, smug and obnoxious way like most of the pundits on CNN do it. If anything I thought the guy on the right was too hostile. I get that this is a sensitive issue, but you don't gain anything by attacking from the get-go.

[Proud Bay Man]

ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, Don't EVER say the evangelical community "Stood up" for the AIDS Pandemic. In the beginning, when only gay men were dying, the ONLY leaders who spoke up were Jim and Tammy Fae. ALL other evangelical communities blacklisted them to the point where they were driven out of their own community for doing what their bible told them to do. Love one another. The pathetic religious leaders ONLY got involved when it came to babies or white women with AIDS, or people of color. They NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, "Stood up" for anything involved with AIDS in the gay community. NEVER! Get your facts straight Mr. Zimmerman.

All of you young gays now realizing your so called assimilation of the straight community is warranted, it's wake up time. You saw on election day what your straight friends are capable of. When you're not around them, trust me they are not talking good about you. Look how they voted. They would vote away your civil rights immediately if it remotely trespassed upon any of their insecurities. They voted to give chickens rights and in the same sweep of the pen strip civil rights. You wouldn't believe what they would pass to protect a false sense of security. You need to understand this. Wise up your generation and stop allowing any civil rights of a community be stripped away. Speak up and let them know how you feel. And never stop.

Silence equals death!
Action equals life!
Act up, fight back!

[lucidthoughts]

BRAVO WELL SAID!!! God, I haven't heard that chant since the late 1980's. Bought a tear to my eyes tonight!

[david43a]

Exactly! as stonewall, harvey milk, aids should show us, we can depend on no one but our selfs if we want full citizenship. We were used, simple as that! now we are under a long, long bus...
I was blind for a while, no more!

[CharlotteNH]

I'm not gay. But I am damn mad about Rick Warren being invited to give the invocation. Bad, bad choice.

[ReservoirDog]

Has President-elect Obama made a decision YET (since Nov.20) that hasn't upset somebody,
somewhere, somehow?

This really is ridiculous. Let the new guy make his decisions (AND Cabinet choices), sit-back and see what actually happens. You may well have reason to complain later.

You gotta let the pilot fly the dam*n plane before you criticize his skill set.....gi­ve us all a break!

And President Obama.

[nypchung]

totally agree...th­ese angry posting are insane. absolutely insane. i don't know who's worse the far right or the far left. but they both need to stay far away the next four years.

I want a deep purple in America. no more red and blue.

well said R Dawg