Obama Camp Releases Talking Points on Rick Warren Selection
These are the Obama camp's talking points regarding the selection of Rick Warren to speak at Obama's inauguration, via L.A.-based journalist Karen Ocamb.
This will be the most open, accessible, and inclusive Inauguration in American history.
In keeping with the spirit of unity and common purpose this Inauguration will reflect, the President-elect and Vice President-elect have chosen some of the world's most gifted artists and people with broad appeal to participate in the inaugural ceremonies.
Pastor Rick Warren has a long history of activism on behalf of the disadvantaged and the downtrodden. He's devoted his life to performing good works for the poor and leads the evangelical movement in addressing the global HIV/AIDS crisis. In fact, the President-elect recently addressed Rick Warren's Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health to salute Warren's leadership in the struggle against HIV/AIDS and pledge his support to the effort in the years ahead.
The President-elect disagrees with Pastor Warren on issues that affect the LGBT community. They disagree on other issues as well. But what's important is that they agree on many issues vital to the pursuit of social justice, including poverty relief and moving toward a sustainable planet; and they share a commitment to renewing America's promise by expanding opportunity at home and restoring our moral leadership abroad.
As he's said again and again, the President-elect is committed to bringing together all sides of the faith discussion in search of common ground. That's the only way we'll be able to unite this country with the resolve and common purpose necessary to solve the challenges we face.
The Inauguration will also involve Reverend Joseph Lowery, who will be delivering the official benediction at the Inauguration. Reverend Lowery is a giant of the civil rights movement who boasts a proudly progressive record on LGBT issues. He has been a leader in the struggle for civil rights for all Americans, gay or straight.
And for the very first time, there will be a group representing the interests of LGBT Americans participating in the Inaugural Parade.
Emmett Beliveau, the executive director/CEO of the Inaugural Committee, is the point person on this: emmett@pic2009.org.
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Posted Dec. 18,2008 at 8:13 AM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Inauguration, News, Rick Warren | Permalink
We never had to sit at the back of the bus... just had to get thrown under it.
Posted by: Matt | Dec 18, 2008 10:54:55 AM
I truly appreciate everyone's response to my comment (and no Jack I'm not on crack and Glenn, I'm old enough) - I do see the other side of this. However, I can't help but wonder if we, gay people, ever really want to see change. I'm not sure what you are expecting... a gay parade? That's why some people hate us now.
I guess I've simply come to accept some people don't like gay people. To me, it's not a big deal. And it doesn't mean we can't get along. And it doesn't mean that we can't agree on the bigger picture - the human race, not just the GAY race.
Maybe Warren can't change and I'm a mere naive optimist, but I can see why this might not be the first choice of the gay community, but is a good choice for Obama and America.
Sometimes is not always about you.
Posted by: JayDub | Dec 18, 2008 11:08:49 AM
Two points.
First the serious:
JAYDUB, Rick Warren is entirely too invested (financially, politically and theologically) in his very publicly stated views on homosexuality and marriage equality to change. Just look at what happens to evangelical people who aren't nearly as invested when they either come out themselves (Clay Aiken, Ray Boltz, and the gospel singing duo who came out as a gay couple, who have fallen so far from grace that I can’t even find them on Google) or come out with any form of support for the gay community and recognition of our relationships (Richard Cizik et al). They are LITERALLY thrown out of the "club", disowned, disavowed, chastised and demonized. You will almost never find one of these mega leaders of great wealth, power and influence publicly changing their position on homosexuality because the second they do their source of wealth AND their power and influence disappears over night. I immediately think about the African-American mega church pastor from, I believe it was Oklahoma City, who was going to affiliate his congregation with the United Church of Christ. He was a nationally renowned pastor until the day he told his congregation that God had changed his heart and mind about the issue of homosexuality. He was immediately fired and found himself going from a church of over 4,000 to a hotel meeting room with a group of 20 congregants. He fell so far so fast that I can't find him on a Google search either. If anyone can find this story and post the link I think it will demonstrate EXACTLY why people like Warren, who are even more deeply invested in their anti-gay views, will never change or at least will never publicly admit that they’ve changed. “Bible based” homophobia is their bread and butter.
Now for my second, and much more trivial, observation:
Is it just me or does Rick Warren look more and more like Jerry Falwell with every passing day and every gained pound? I'm not absolutely convinced that he hasn't become possessed by the "spirit" of Falwell after hearing some of his latest, very familiar sounding, very un-Christian "Christian" screeds on Fox News.
Posted by: Zeke | Dec 18, 2008 11:33:26 AM
JAYDUB, you can't see the difference between the average citizen merely disliking, or even hating, us and someone of power and influence actively working to marginalize us and deny us CIVIL rights? Do you really think that one is the same as the other and that NEITHER is a big deal? You don't see any problem with giving the latter, who compared our relationships with incest and pedophilia, a place of honor at an event that is supposed to bring us "all" together?
It's not as if Warren was the ONLY person available JAYDUB. There were literally thousands of choices to be given this honor that wouldn't have stirred such controversy. Notice the lack of controversy over the choice of Rev. Lowry to give the benediction.
I'm curious, would you have been bothered at all had Obama given a racist or anti-Semitic pastor a place at his inaugural table. After all there is a considerable percentage of America that is racist and/or anti-Semitic. Are we not obligated to bring them into the tent for the sake of national unity and healing?
Posted by: Zeke | Dec 18, 2008 11:47:31 AM
"I'm not sure what you are expecting... a gay parade? That's why some people hate us now."
You're showing your true colors there, JAYDUB. No one hates us because of a gay parade. They hate us because they are ignorant and bigoted. Eliminate every drag queen and leather daddy in every gay parade ever marched and they'll still hate us. And why exactly is Warren a good choice for Obama and America? The inauguration is not the time to be convincing bigoted preachers to mend their ways. It is the time to bring people together. This only divides.
A good choice would not reward a person who made vile, inaccurate, ignorant statements about gay people. In the aftermath of Prop 8 (and other anti-gay amendments) particularly, inclusiveness has its limits, and Obama has found them. Warren is a show-biz preacher, with--yes, it's true, Zeke!--an unfortunate resemblance to the evil Jerry Falwell. While I'm less outraged than some of the McCain trolls who are appearing from out of the woodwork with their hollow "I told you so's" it's very hard to argue that Warren is anything but a misjudgment on Obama's part, one he can learn from or deny, his choice.
No, it's not always about us (notice I say "us" instead of "you"), but part of being human is being unwilling to settle for less than our full humanity.
Posted by: Ernie | Dec 18, 2008 12:14:32 PM
I always like how the 'right' like Warren and Bush always state how they are leading the fight and provide 'global' assistance to those with HIV/AIDS, as though this is their support of the gay community. The fact being, is they probably wouldn't be leading any fight if it was confined to the gay community and strictly a gay disease.
Posted by: MP | Dec 18, 2008 3:06:59 PM
The Obama team still hasn't grasped that the selection of participants grants a measure of legitimacy to those voices. It's the same problem they had with anti-queer speakers on the campaign trail. It cost them some trust among the community early on, and it will cost them again.
Posted by: Jere | Dec 18, 2008 3:19:33 PM
I just emailed:
As a gay man who donated money to and worked for your campaign, I am dismayed by the choice of Rick Warren to be a part of the Inauguration. Mr Warren has publicly and unapologetically compared gay relationships to incest and pedophilia. Why is it OK to demean and disrespect gay people when the same rhetoric about any other minority would be an anathema to most people.
It is NOT OK to give Rick Warren a role in a ceremony that should celebrate and include all Americans. Including a person who preaches that gay people are immoral and whose relationships are not equal to that of heterosexual relationships IS NOT WHY I CAMAPAIGNED FOR YOU!!!
Here's hoping I can roll out from under the bus before the back wheels crush me for good.
Signed,
A gay, tax-paying American who demands to be treated equally under the law
Posted by: Aron | Dec 18, 2008 5:25:00 PM
bullshit answers to bullshit action from Obama.
Obama has now set the tone of DIVISION.
So much for "change" ... it was all bullshit.
Posted by: FunMe | Dec 18, 2008 6:27:00 PM
Who gives a sh*t? I don't. I wish I was half as wonderful as Rick Warren thinks he is. Obama needs evangelicals to not think he's a demon. Period. Rick Warren, as gross as he is, is the best of that bunch. Put him on the program, sure, but leave him OUT of the Oval Office.
This is politics, plain and simple. However I am struck by the prayers as bookends of an event. When Rick Warren is praying, Obama is not yet the President. However apparently they have a minister who is progressive on GLBT issues all lined up to give the benediction, the first to pray when Obama IS the President. The only reason why I don't know the guy's name is because WE on the progressive side haven't done enough to buy books and promote progressive and inclusive clergy to the point where they are as much household names as Rick Warren, maybe with the exception of Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church who LUVS us homos and at least some folks seem to know her face and name.
My point is, this is more complicated than all our raging. Cool off and think critically.
Posted by: clint | Dec 18, 2008 6:56:39 PM