The following conversation may, or may not, have occurred between President-elect Barack Obama and the chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, US Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA):
BARACK OBAMA: So who we gonna have do the invocation at my inaugural?
DIANNE FEINSTEIN: Oh my God, you're gonna love this, B.
BO: Okay Di, hit me.
DIFI: Ready? Rick. Warren.
BO: You mean conservative evangelical Christian leader Rick Warren?
DIFI: Yup.
BO: Rick Warren who wants to ban all abortions and basically said that I support a holocaust?
DIFI: Uh huh.
BO: The guy who compared gay marriage to pedophilia and incest, and helped lead the fight for Prop 8 in California?
DIFI: That's him.
BO: The man who said he agrees on everything with far-right nut James Dobson.
DIFI: Yesiree.
BO: But Di, the guy has devoted his entire life to destroying everything I stand for, everything I believe in, everyone who worked so hard and so long to put me into office.
DIFI: I know, isn't it brilliant!
BO: I don't get it.
DIFI: Okay, think about it. You're so post-partisan that you're willing to embrace and promote someone who loathes you, didn't vote for you, and will do everything in his power to destroy your presidency. It's like the Lieberman thing, but even bigger!
BO: So you mean, by promoting a guy who represents none of my goals, ideals or hopes that the majority of the country voted for, and by devastating my own supporters on what was supposed to be a day of celebration and national rebirth, I'm actually promoting "change" by publicly undermining it?
DIFI: Exactly!
BO: But won't I be screwing the gays, women, and pretty much everyone else who got me elected?
DIFI: Never stopped me.
BO: But doesn't this make me no better than the guy I'm replacing or the guy I just beat?
DIFI: Never stopped me.
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I'll be watching the inauguration, but the minute Rick Warren appears, my DVR goes off for 60 seconds in protest. I urge everyone with satellite or cable to do the same. The change will be noted in aggregate by providers.
It's BS!
We will NOT walk away, or take this lying down! President Barrack Obama you thought that a few simple words saying; "I support gays- and I disagree with Pastor Warren on this issue would fix it"... Rick Warren is our Nemesis and this is WAR!
Please visit my Blog to hear my thoughts on this issue! http://leboon1653.wordpress.com/
Thank you, you're GAY Brother,
Norman LeBoon Sr.
Also, because of this he will have more people on his side, and will be able to push his agenda even better; this INCLUDES being able to change gay rights laws and upholding the abortion laws.
Dems who are bawing and hawing over this need to realize that in the long term this is only good for the democratic party. Weren't we pissed at Bush for not doing exactly what Obama is doing?
Far better to govern from your own perspective and do it well to benefit everyone. Just don't bring them in to sleep with you in the tent.
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John, very funny, in a sort of painful way.
Christianists, on the other hand, are an important voting block he must court if he expects to remain in power. We can expect Rick Warren to be the first of many brilliant, disgusting compromises.
The ignorant will love whoever gives them someone to hate. For Obama, racism and anti-Semitism are, respectively, untenable and insufficiently powerful. Communism is perceived as obsolete and terrorism just isn't working out as Bush had hoped. Homophobia, however, still gets a very useful knee jerk reaction from voters, and Obama is perfectly positioned to play both ends against the middle.
Strategically brilliant. Utterly loathsome.
Barack suffering from stuffed vestibular tubes due to an ear infection and Diane getting over an upper respiratory bug now in the final stages of laryngitis:
BO: Who should provide the inaugural invocation?
DIFI: Well, Graham is too sick and tired and anti-semetic; Haggart?.......hmmm......too aligned with McCain.
BO: I wish Jeremiah hadn't made such a mess of things....just too much ego!
DIFI: Oh...I know! How about Rick Warren....a real s-t-r-e-t-c-h across the aisle!
BO: Earl Warren's grandson? Of course! Le'ts get him!
DiFi: Guess what, Barry, we think you should invite Pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation. Whaddya think?
BO: Brilliant idea. I like it. But what about the gays and abortion rights groups?
DiFi: So what? Where are they gonna go? To the Republicans?
BO: Good point. I'll call Rick myself. You don't need to give me the number - I still have it on my speed dial.
For the people who take this ridiculous bullshit seriously, this is the same as having the pope put the crown on the kings head. That's not how to start the 21st century.
Obama is pandering. You have to ask who benefits by having Warren say his self-righteous prayers. It is Obama who benefits. Warren brings huge political capital to the table.
If you stop and think about the Republican Southern Strategy and how it was subtly employed to exploit racism for political gain among the same constituency of people that Obama is now utilizing it to scapegoat gay people, you will see the shear hypocrisy of this man come into focus before your very eyes.
Obama is a "New Democrat" just like his pal Joe Lieberman [READ: Neo-con sell-out to the right].
As far as bashing Obama. That's perfectly fair. But here's what I don't understand, do you really think that we're going to go soft on him after following up the worst President in United States modern history? We're already ripping him to shreds before he's even been sworn in. So, you're really just talking into the wind here.
I ask again, WHY do we need an invocation in the first place?
Can an Imam do it next time?
How many times has a Rabbi given it?
A wiccan priestess?
A celtic druid?
A buddhist monk?
A shaman?
A native american spiritual leader?
Oh that's right....
Religion's only tolerable at official government occasions if it's Christianity-based.
There's something vaguely tacky about it, from all directions. First of all, God is busy. Second, what a cop-out. Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, people, and WORK for the win. Trust in God if you must, but ALWAYS have a backup plan. Obviously, Obama has a plan. So why do we need to pray? Which leads me to my next thought...
I'm not religious. But if I was, I think I'd be annoyed by the whole NOTION of an Inaugural invocation. It's a gesture so clearly without meaning as to be off'ensive-- especially in this case. Talk about using the Lord's name in vain! But, I suppose it's a time-honored tradition to crassly and thoughtlessly use religion as merely a tool.
http://www.turnyourbackonrickwarren.org/
The idea is. LGBT people and allies in attendance at the inauguration to turn their backs to the podium when Rick Warren speaks. This silent act is not disruptive, but will send a simple message to President-elect Obama: we refuse to be treated like second-class citizens any longer.
When I picture this in my head, I laugh hysterically.
Whether you like it or not, there is a large population of Americans that share Rick Warren's views, and Obama is the president of them too. He'd be no better than Bush if he were to alienate them. Obama choosing Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration does not mean that he shares the same views as the man, or that he is going to implement policies that will affect the gay community.
Some of you are no better than the extremists on the Right. It seems you'd rather just have things go your way, and alienating the other side. Please explain to me how that is good for our country as a whole?? GIVE IT A REST why don't ya, and wait and see how President Obama actually performs on the job!!