I look forward to Aretha’s part. And of course to exchanging the worst president in recent (our entire?) history for President Obama whom, I’m hopeful, will be a pretty good one. Certainly Bush/Cheney, his Republican co-conspirators, and the world have given us the kind of problems that pretty much require an excellent president.

Here’s an article about the dustup that’s following the announcement:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/17/rick-warren-obama-invocat_n_151877.html

And here’s more, from Salon. It seems Obama didn’t make this choice.

This time, though, the decision to get involved with Saddleback was actually not Obama’s. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, run by the House and Senate, put together the program for the swearing-in ceremony. Congress, not Obama, invited Warren (as well as scheduling a musical performance by Aretha Franklin; here’s hoping she doesn’t reprise the 2005 inaugural performance of John Ashcroft’s “Let the Eagle Soar”).

Sucking up to the Evangelicals? Ugh!

The President Elect picked the wrong time for meeting people with different opinions, on common ground. He just insulted GLBT, their mothers, fathers, and relatives on a day they were undoubtedly looking forward to since working to put Obama on those steps. I’m disappointed for them, because they deserve more respect than being used to help Obama meet his common ground. Very disappointing to start out this way.

I think Warren is angling to be the next Billy Graham-esque chaplain to the presidents. Although I find his theology less cloying, his ambitious style puts me off. A really good choice would have been the new pastor at Trinity UCC. This would have accomplished 2 things. One would be to set aside all the Rev. Wright rumpus. But also it would give the young guy the credibility that even Wright is denying him (internal church squabbles are not becoming to anyone), even though he picked him to be his successor. Oh well, I am sure there is some political tradeoff to having Warren fill the spot. Perlman and Ma will make the whole event worth watching – though it will be awful cold to play outside!

it is very disappointing that obama will allow the rev warren, an ardent supporter of Prop 8 and someone who is opposed to the equality of LGBT Americans, to associate himself with what should be a celebration of change and inclusiveness. not a positive way to start out… i won’t be watching.

The question on CNN.com today is: President elect Barack Obama’s decision to have evangelical pastor Rick Warren deliver the inauguration invocation is: Shrewd politics–57%
Disappointing—-43%
I didn’t vote for Obama because I thought he was a shrewd politician. I voted for him because I thought he was an intelligent man who cared for everyones feelings. One with sensibilities, for a change.

Forgot again.

I am saddened by the decision to give Warren the opportunity to participate given his support of Prop 8. There are plenty of other pastors who could have been invited. Personally, I don’t think Obama will use much political capital to advance GLBT issues. That’s why I voted for someone who does support marriage equality.

I found this on the astrological section of B’net.
“Joseph Lowery, a pastor with deep roots in the civil rights movement and co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Council, will deliver the closing benediction. Lowery is not only a civil rights leader with impeccable credentials, he is also one of the few black religious leaders in favor of equal rights for gays. Moreover, the Lesbian and Gay Band Association will march in the inaugural procession.”
If this is all indeed true perhaps we can overlook Warren’s presence as a nod to political realities and Warren’s posturing during the campaign. If nothing esle, the last word is often better remembered than the first word, so Lowery’s Benediciton may be the timeless piece/peace.

Thanks jestrfyl, with all this new news I’ll just start watching after the invocation. Rev. Lowery should have been explained in this above article. I was reading the Atlanta-Constitution Journal today and Rev. Lowery is with the United Methodist Church.

The choice of Warren is very disappointing. It is not merely his opposition to equal civil liberties for GLBT Americans, it is his demeaning, diminishing, debasinng, denigration of them. What he said about gay marriages was false (comparing them to pedophilia, incest and polygamy) aka a lie, aka a sin.

In case anyone is still visiting this article. Today in the LATimes an article stated that Warren doesn’t like the Jews either and has publicly stated that they will burn in hell, along with the rest of us presumably, who do not believe his type of fundamentalist religion. So the GLBT, the women of America (who gave Obama such large amounts of votes) and the Jewish people have been dissed by this invitation. My faith of the next four years has a hair line crack in it, now, I hope it doesn’t grow wider.