12/18/2008
Obama Defends Rick Warren's Inauguration Invitation
At a press conference this morning, Barack Obama defended his invitation to anti-gay pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration.
Said Obama, via TPM:
"Well, let me start by talking about my own views. I think it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans. It is something I have been consistent on and something I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency...What I've also said is that it is important for America to come together even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues...And I would note that a couple of years ago I was invited to Rick Warren's church to speak, despite his awareness that I held views entirely contrary to his when it came to gay and lesbian rights, when it came to issues like abortion....Nevertheless, I had an opportunity to speak, and that dialogue, I think, is a part of what my campaign's been all about, that we're never going to agree on every single issue. What we have to do is create an atmosphere where we can disagree without being disagreeable, and then focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans. So Rick Warren has been invited to speak, Dr. Joseph Lowery -- who has deeply contrasting views to Rick Warren about a whole host of issues -- is also speaking."
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
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Posted 12:38 PM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Inauguration, News, Rick Warren | Permalink
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@ Derrick from Philly...
But...OR did you know he would do this? You seem pretty chilled about it all?
To me he reminds me of Tony Blair and although Blair wasn't that, THAT bad...he was still not great and an egosit..
I hate to say it and I've been a staunch idealistic supporter but this is a really, really poor choice. Why? Because it smells of politics.
Posted by: Rowan | Dec 18, 2008 2:00:56 PM
Meh. He's a politician and wants to appear a centrist. It's a strategy. Meanwhile., Rick Warren can tell his flock that he has the President's ear and will try and get the Lord to change his heart. Then he'll condemn him when Obama makes one too many liberal decisions. Same same same.
Posted by: Jay | Dec 18, 2008 2:04:17 PM
I love all the racist and hateful comments. Things have really not changed amongst the white gay community have they?
Does it matter to anyone that Rev. Joseph Lowery is giving the final benediction? He supports gay marriage and equal right.
Maybe we should have Palin's Pastor from the Wasilla Bible Church who is organizing a De-gaying convention this week?
Posted by: Shan | Dec 18, 2008 2:05:17 PM
I think America voted for someone who would try to make peace, who would try to reach out, who would get rid of the "us vs. them" mentality.
That is what we have.
He is reaching out to people who disagree with him, reassuring them that he considers them part of America as well, even if he finds their beliefs and their actions unacceptable. And that means giving him a prominent position not just giving them token representation--just like others used to treat Gay Americans.
It is amazing to me how many people's reactions to this come down to "you're either with us or against us." Didn't we criticize the last president for taking that very same approach?
Many people feel that we have suffered enough, but I applaud Obama for the sentiment.
Posted by: Dennis | Dec 18, 2008 2:06:45 PM
It was just a matter of time.
Obama is going to be a better president than Bush. But he has never given any indication that he is going to be a particularly strong president for LGTB rights. As with Clinton and most other Democrats, his campaign could comfortably take the LGTB vote (and money) for granted. It's a triangulation issue --- as long as the only other option is the right-wing Republican party, Democrats don't have to pay more than lip-service to LGTB issues and can walk over us when they want to please other, more fickle voters.
What I'm afraid of is that until the Greens or some other libertarian group works its way into being a truly viable national party, this is the lot we are left with.
Posted by: Buster | Dec 18, 2008 2:06:49 PM
I have said before that I got into politics as a Hillary Clinton supporter. I changed support to Obama after the travesty of the roll call vote in Denver. I felt Hillary sold us out by not allowing the vote to be counted honestly.
I have worked my ass off for "That One" since leaving Denver. So much so that when he won I got hundreds of calls, texts. and emails congratulating ME on my hard work. While flattering I never thought it was about me. But nice compliments all the same.
Now this bitch done gone and given a worldwide audience to someone who does everything possible to keep me down all the while smiling all nice into the cameras.
I am sickened.
I said during the primaries that there was NO way a black man from Chicago got as far as That One did without being just the same as it ever was. Now, we see I was dreadfully correct in my observation.
Look around at the boneheaded decisions of the last few days. Caroline Fucking Kennedy to take over Hillary Clintons senate seat!?! What a slap in the face after the way the Kennedys fucked Hill!
And now this shit.
Like the way blacks have been treated by the Dems for years, the gays are now in for the same "where are you going to go?" treatment.
You can bet That One and his imbecilic emails begging for money and time will start up again in two years. We will always be good enough to send him our money, we might even get a few positions in his lower levels, but, we will NEVER be equals at That Ones' table.
Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was.
Posted by: Derek Washington | Dec 18, 2008 2:06:59 PM
NO WAY. NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
Posted by: Gay Power Living | Dec 18, 2008 2:08:24 PM
It's like having a member of the Klan speak? Hmm. I thought the Klan was engaged in acts of violence and physical intimidation against minorities. Is Rick Warren doing that?
Would I have picked Warren? NO!
But, I am surprised at the hubris of so many gay white men who are consistently ready to tell me (and other black people) what we would feel if x happened. You don't have any damn idea what "we" feel. Anger that Warren is speaking: fine. You feel betrayed by Obama: fine. But, please let's just leave it at that and STOP with the racial analogies.
Posted by: Brandon | Dec 18, 2008 2:12:41 PM
Jeffrey, the best I can say about you is that you're a mongoloid, but that would insult people who have no control over their retardation.
Professional pulpit gay bashers like Warren don't give a flying fuck about "who we are and what we're about." Phyllis Schlafly has a gay son and she is still one of the most viscious homohaters in America.
So was Pete Knight who had both a gay son and a gay brother and still created CA Prop 22, the precursor to Prop H8TE which, since he's now dead, his widow, the MOTHER of a gay son, the sister-in-law of a gay man, helped pass H8TE.
Dr. Charles Socarides sired a proud gay son who worked in the Clinton administration, but that didn't stop Daddy Dearest from continue to promote his hideous antigay psychiatric theories that helped convince thousands of shrinks over the years from treating their gay patients like psychopathic scum, encouraging their guilt, subjecting them to electroshock "therapy."
You might not of heard of these famous examples but WHAT do we need to "learn" about the Warrens, Schaflys, Knights, Socarides of the world? Are you from another planet or did you just come out of a post natal coma?
Brother Derek, we've both been knocked around too many blocks not to be able to read the writing on these walls. At least Clinton waited until after he was sworn in to start screwing us.
But, yes, he still did some good things. But O's campaign was ALL about being better, being different, "getting it" viscerally, CHANGE.
Well, what has changed? Dig out transcript of Obama defending campaigning with Donnie "Gays Are Out to Kill Our Children" McClurkin. Erase McClurkin's name. Insert Rick "gay marriage is the moral equivalent of incest and pedophilia."
Yes, O may still do some pro gay things. And, OF COURSE, Barry's gonna use the G-word in his speech...after bowing his head for Warren. But he is STILL signaling that the teaching and preaching of homohatred is not serious, not an offense to his Christ, not as important as teaching and preaching racism.
"A glooming peace this morning with it brings. The sun for sorrow will not show his head." Hope for gay Americans has been smothered in its cradle.
Posted by: Leland Frances | Dec 18, 2008 2:13:38 PM
Someone please introduce a referendum measure to have some state vote on interracial marriage. Just to prove a point. PLEASE.
Posted by: GREAT | Dec 18, 2008 2:15:27 PM
I think it would be great for those who will brave the crowds at the inauguration to simply turn their backs during the invocation and deliver a good, old fashioned shunning -- something the Pastor will surely recognize. No signs, no shouts and very visually effective! Pass it on!
Posted by: Bruce Monroe | Dec 18, 2008 2:17:02 PM
Wow, what a nice cop-out! It's just what every gay boy wants for Chrismakkah.
Congrats Andy, I'm glad to see your bias in favor of him the entire primary/election has finally paid off...?
Posted by: DONOVAN | Dec 18, 2008 2:19:44 PM
White Me won't tell a man of color like you, Brandon, how to feel, how to think about comparing racism with homohatred.
BUT two great late gay AND black men would:
Mel Boozer, addressing the DNC Convention years ago said, in short, that he had been called both "nigger" and "faggot" and there was NO DIFFERENCE.
Civil rights giant Bayard Rustin told a meeting of Black & White Men Together over 20 yrs. ago that "Blacks are no longer the litmus test" of equality; that "Gays are the new "niggers." That there are laws in place meant to protect blacks where few exist for gays. That there was, by then, a social barrier to politicians and others saying racist things if they expected to be elected, respected, but that anyone could say whatever hideous thing they wanted about gays and get away with it.
Obama just proved his point.
Posted by: Leland Frances | Dec 18, 2008 2:23:52 PM
Obama is trying too hard to please EVERYONE. He keeps nominating Republicans and palling out with right wing evangelicals while at the same time trying to have a progressive administration.
When he gets voted out of office in four years, he'll realize it is impossible to please everyone.
Posted by: Eric | Dec 18, 2008 2:25:59 PM
Great idea, Bruce....in a different, much smaller situation. There will probably be over a million people in front of the inaugural platform and 90% of them will already be standing and too close together for any TV camera to measure such a shunning unless everyone who did it simultaneousl raised a huge rainbow flag or the like.
But I do encourage demonstrations during the parade, that the LGBT band BOYCOTT the parade now, and that LGBT groups cancel any plans for a celebration.
Paging Join the Impact. Red Emergency Phone. Paging Join the Impact.
Posted by: Leland Frances | Dec 18, 2008 2:27:53 PM
In regards to all these accusations of racism, why is it that posters such as Brandon and Derek simply assume that the posters who disagree with them are white?
Posted by: Eric | Dec 18, 2008 2:30:59 PM
I just saw his response on MSNBC after listening to a liberal talk show host trying to smooth over feelings after a very passionate gay caller on this very topic. Neither was terribly convincing.
We've got four years to decide, he's got the same period to prove himself. It's definitely time to send the message by removing ourselves from donor lists for a while. Better than McCain, sure, but this is not a good omen.
I really don't understand the Democratic party. If you've loyally supported them, be it us, African Americans, Hispanics, labor, you don't get much tangible in the way of rewards. But, hey, this boob invites Obama to his church, and viola, hey, give the invocation at my inaugural? Huh?
Is someone from HRC speaking? Labor? African Americans? Hispanics? Anyone that votes consistently for years?
That was a pretty low key fierceness there supporting lgbt rights. It's one thing to say it, it's another to live it and do it.
From a political standpoint, why? After the scandal in Illinois, is THIS what you want on the TV instead of policies and appointments? Bill Clinton talked a good talk too, and look where we are with Don't Ask, Don't Tell, DOMA, and ENDA. Not good at all.
"Nothing opens the closed mind of a [politician] like the sound of a purse closing tightly shut." -- Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
Posted by: Craig | Dec 18, 2008 2:31:01 PM
I thought I would to wait till at least 6 months into his adminstration to say this...
"I told you so"
Many people on here bashed anyone who questioned Obama during the campaign, got us booted from Towleroad as republican toads, and reviled us for speaking our minds that Obama was not what he appeared to be. Congratualtions to all of you who blindly followed Obama no matter what withough question or pause you are now going to get what you deserve and the rest of us will pay the price for you blindness and arrogance.
The GLBT community has no one to blame but themselves for once again allowing a Democratic Presidential candidate to merely acknowledge them on the campaign trail, take their money, and appoint a few tokens to the administration to lower level positions to show that they are "gay friendly".
Once again congratulations to all you sheeple for electing the "change and hope" we all deserve...whatever the hell that means since no one bothered to ask him.
Posted by: Las Vegas | Dec 18, 2008 2:32:05 PM
Taking off my size ten pumps, throwing them at him and saying this is your goodbye from the gay community......
Posted by: rick | Dec 18, 2008 2:38:29 PM
Here's another idea. I know that many of you, as I did, donated money to the Obama campaign.
Don't just ask them to unsubscribe you from their continuing pitches for money, their premature pats on their own backs for whatever.
Write them now and DEMAND A REFUND. Seriously! And I seriously understand that we won't get one. BUT it will tell them how many of us are PISSED, feel BETRAYED, and will NOT be donating to support his run for reelection in 2012.
Or you can call their toll free number: 877-336-7200.
Trust me! Money talks louder in politics than anywhere else.
Posted by: Leland Frances | Dec 18, 2008 2:41:33 PM
Hey, its not a total loss. We got a band in the parade.
They get a prayer, we get a clarinet.
Posted by: kansastock | Dec 18, 2008 2:43:15 PM
Leland: does your post have a point? I mean other than getting use the n-word twice.
Assuming the quotes are accurate, Boozer said epithets hurt. I agree. Rustin says blacks aren't the litmus test for equality. I agree.
From the evidence that you cite, neither man contracts my points which were: (a) you aren't in a position to know what or how I would feel if the positions were "reversed" and (b) comparing Warren to a Klansman is not a precise comparison.
If you want to rage against his selection, you are welcome to do it, but I think that this can be done without making the gay=black analogy which I do not think is helpful.
Gay does not equal black. Gay does not equal trans. Black does not equal trans. But, gay, black, trans, people all deserve liberation. Can't we just call Obama out on the selection and leave it at that without playing the what if game?
Posted by: Brandon | Dec 18, 2008 2:44:12 PM
No, it is NOT well known that he is a fierce advocate for the GLBT community. At least with Bush we knew what we got. With Obama, we may have had suspicions. We now know that he is not an advocate at all. He is willing to do us harm to advance his own personal agenda. He is no friend to our community!
Posted by: John | Dec 18, 2008 2:45:30 PM
So Mr. Obama, can we expect to see a member of the KKK speaking on the platform with you, too? After all, you seem to want to include everyone, regardless of their beliefs. So where is the racist preacher? Where's the anti-Semitic preacher? Hell, why didn't you invite Fred Phelps to speak! He hates everyone!
It's a line of bullshit, but you don't need to worry...people will buy it. After all, how can GAYS - of all people - protest inclusion, right?
And for those of you removing yourselves from the Obama email list...that's great, but it will really only make an impact if you actually donated money in the first place (which I'm sure some of you did, so don't jump on me). If not, what are they losing? I'm just saying...
Posted by: Sam | Dec 18, 2008 2:53:13 PM
SHITTING ON GAYS and Warren's hate speech is acceptable and commendable by Obama
No racist, anti-semitic or anti-ethnic PASTOR is invited -- so why is it okay for an anti-gay bigot to be invited.
This is a slap in the face and a huge insult
to a huge voting/spedning power
the gays
Posted by: sNOWINlASVEGAS | Dec 18, 2008 2:58:07 PM