I may be the only one, but I thought Obama did quite well at the Saddleback campaign event, better than McCain, and I don't think he was ambushed. Obviously there were going to be questions about abortion and gay rights. It would be naive to think otherwise. I also remember hearing Obama got 10% more the of the evangelical vote. I don't think that is "marginally better," I think that's significantly better. Another thing you Godless dems need to realize (that's a joke) is that there is no "spiritual authority" Obama could have chosen who would not have offended someone. If he had chosen someone from a mainline or "liberal" church, it would have sent a clear signal to the "religious right" that they were going to be marginalized by his administration. In contrast, I don't think his picking Warren is a signal he intends to marginalize the GBLT constituency, at least I hope not. Remember, Warren does not have a cabinet position; this is a largely symbolic act, and possibly some good can come out of it. Maybe, maybe not, but hell, its symbolic.

Chrylser and GM have shut down, oil prices are collapsing, the traditional media is imploding all around us, and Mike and Joan can only talk about preacher at an inauguration? Us folks on the left have become as nuts as the ones I've railed against on the right.

Obama said over and over and over and over and over (ad nauseam) that he wanted to reach out to people from all over the sociological and political spectrum. And this is what he is doing. Not a bad thing at an inauguration, which is flash and not substance.

But the left is increasingly becoming a single-issue group. We got a black man into the White House, so it's all about payback for Prop 8. I haven't seen this much carp since I was down at the docks by the fish markets. You want to fix it? Then we talk to the damned voters in a way that appeals to them, not the endless clusterfuck that we put together for our cause. We can be pissed at the religious groups that won, but they had their shit together. We didn't.

Obama has also made other choices, such as Stephen Chu to head energy policy, possibly the most important selection he can make right now, and possibly the most brilliant one in the history of that position.

I'm still plenty happy with this guy. When he promotes Warren to head a new Faith-based science position, let me know and I'll be the first shaking my fists on Pennsylvania Avenue. Until then, this is a tempest in a teapot. Because guess what, liberal left? Not everyone in the good ol' US of A agrees with us. And unless we do a better job of advancing our cause, it'll continue to be this way. Stop blaming everyone else and look in the mirror. Sucks, doesn't it?

It’s apparent that Obama is trying to do the ‘Team of Rivals’ thing by reaching across the isle, embracing his rivals and at least trying to appear inclusive. But what he’s really doing is just pandering to the most obnoxiously bigoted and ignorant segment of the population. Besides being a preacher of Bronze Age ideas, Rick Warren is a shameless huckster and opportunist. Just letting him get near the podium at the inauguration lends him more legitimacy than he will ever deserve.

I don't care if you want to be inclusive or not. You do NOT give a high profile pulpit to someone who spouts such hate in the name of Jesus. Why didn't he include a white-supremacist preacher if he really wanted to include those that he doesn't agree with? This inauguration is supposed to be about inclusion, why pick someone who is so much a part of exclusion?

Can anyone really understand of all the preachers out there, why this jerk is chosen? What does it prove except that Obama wants to have nothing to do with his "base"?

I am so upset I feel like throwing my shoes at someone!

The inauguration was a chance to celebrate his historical win. Why not a black pastor? Why not a woman? Why not someone who preaches equality and loving thy neighbour?

After all of the recent overtures "across the isle", here was an opportunity to throw the base a bone. Rick Warren is not change. I wanted to relive the magic I felt watching the scenes from Grant Park.

Considering Joe Biden's clear (and memorable) enunciation of the Democratic Party's position on gay marriage, this should not surprise anyone.

WTF BO? I'm as confused as I was when one of the first moves I saw another president I enthusiasticly voted for (BC) decide his first, best move was gays in the military. Oh, but this "Falwell in a Hawaiian shirt" doesn't hate "them." Sure. Warren is an affront to a lot of good people I'm thankful to call friends and represents a brand of Christianity I don't subscribe to. Full confession: I like wearing plaid sometimes and enjoy the occasional shellfish.

I don't get it, but then I don't get Hillary in at State either.

...then what's the big deal about extending the marriage thing to them??

A 'humanitarian' issue? Then be humanitarian...

Get a liberal legislator to introduce two bills o Jan 21st-1) calling for repeal of DOMA and 2)-adding sexual orientation in the hate crimes bill. Simultaneously have a peaceful protest

in Washington of millions of supporters on January 21st. The protestors should continue to protest until the Congress and President sign the bill. Then we will see if Obama is all-inclusive or not.

That's what we Liberals have always been. I happen to think it's a strength; unfortunately, Conservatives view this as a weakness and would never - let me repeat that - NEVER invite the likes of Jessie Jackson or Ted Kennedy to any of their parties.

Willingness to compromise, to acknowledge an opponent's grudges or another culture's point of view - those are anathema to Conservatives and look where it has gotten them: they still have a strong hold in the south where morality is inflexible, change is suspect and progress is feared.

Obama is going to be the president of all of the United States, not just the Democrats and the Liberals. As repulsed as I am by some of Warren's views, we cannot exclude people who hold those views from the party. We can alienate Conservatives - which will make them resentful, angry and vengeful - or we can help them feel more comfortable with inevitable change by making sure they participate in the tough decisions that have to be made.