Seems to me that Rick Warren, one of the most popular Christian evangelical pastors in the nation, has some splainin' to do to the Muslim bruthas when he speaks to the Muslim American Political Affairs Council national convention in two weeks. You see, Brother Rick engaged in a surreal interview with Brother Sean on FOX News recently in which he called for "taking out" Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's president. Somehow, I don't think that's going to go over too well with the Convention guests. I'd really like to see the video of this session especially the Q&A! Somebody who attends, please send it to me.
Here's Rick's FOX commentary:
Hannity: Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust, wants to wipe Israel off the map, is seeking nuclear weapons...I think we need to take him out.
WARREN: Yes.
HANNITY: Am I advocating something dark, evil, or something righteous?
WARREN: Well, actually, the Bible says that evil cannot be negotiated with. It has to just be stopped. And I believe...
HANNITY: By force?
WARREN: Well, if necessary. In fact, that is the legitimate role of government. The Bible says that God puts government on earth to punish evildoers...
Maybe, Rick can claim that Sean drugged him before the interview and that he was undergoing some kind of Manchurian Candidate brainwashing experience that turned him into a Muslim-bashing automaton. I'm sure he'll some sort of cute explanation to get himself off the hook, if he has the guts to show up.
I note that Juan Cole will be the other keynote speaker. I don't think Juan's going to be so understanding of Rev. Rick in his remarks. Juan, don't let Rick off the hook. Skewer him.