But after the stunt he pulled in August, what might Warren turn around and say afterwards this time?

Whatever he says, it probably won't be a surprise to McCain.

Ick. He's bound to annoy ME. However, I think we're in no danger of Aretha sounding like Ashcroft ;)

in this case is winning.

Personally, I won't be watching any of that religious ****. I am personally offended that our president will be sworn in in a religious ceremony. It's not a religious office!

but is there something to be said for co-opting people? Or does this just give Rick Warren more power when he criticizes the left? I don't know. But if there is a God, I don't believe Warren is one of his favorite preachers.

http://townhall.com/news/religion/2008/10/27/rick_warren_endorses_prop_8_calif_marriage_amendment

For 5,000 years, every culture and every religion -- not just Christianity -- has defined marriage as a contract between men and women. There is no reason to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2% of our population. This is one issue that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on. Both Barack Obama and John McCain have publicly opposed the redefinition of marriage to include so-called 'gay marriage.' Even some gay leaders, like Al Rantel of KABC oppose watering down the definition of marriage.

Of course, my longtime opposition is well known. This is not a political issue, it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about. There is no doubt where we should stand on this issue.

This will be a close contest, maybe even decided by a few thousand votes. I urge you to VOTE YES on Proposition 8 -- to preserve the biblical definition of marriage. Don't forget to vote!

An openly bigoted homophobe who urges people to revoke the rights of U.S. citizens because of sexual orientation.

Oh and the "not Obama's decision" is absolute horseshit buck passing. If Congress had invited Jermiah Wright to give the invocation you better believe Obama would have vetoed that.

She is, by all evidence, closer to God than Warren.

because it would offend conservatives. & we're terrified of doing that!

Mike lets Obama off the hook here (I hope through carelesness and not through intentionally withholding information). The JCCIC simply invited Warren. Obama, the JCCIC Chairman, and Biden actually selected Warren, according to the press release announcing the inaugural lineup:

"The program participants were invited by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and chosen by the Chairman, the Presidential-elect and the Vice President-elect."

I'm all for being pragmatic, triangulating, etc., to neutralize the Right. But Warren is an ant-gay, anti-choice zealot who says a Christian who votes for a pro-choice candidate is like a Jew who votes for a Holocaust denier. And a douchebag.

I supported Obama big time. I have no problem with his centrist choices for cabinet positions. But when he pulls crap like giving a prominent role to a guy like Warren, he needs to be called out on it.

It's not Obama's fault that an anti-gay bigot will be speaking at his inauguration. He had nothing to do with it.

He voted Present.

You're trying to blame the Congressional committee for this? Nonsense. Everybody on that inaugural platform will be there because Obama wants them there, including Warren.

Pastor Warren apparently agrees with Sean Hannity's assertion that (speaking of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) "we need to take him out."

Via Atrios at http://www.eschatonblog.com/2008_12_14_archive.html#8351114765630615549

I called Dianne Feinstein's SF office this afternoon and spoke with a staffer who unequovocally told me that Rick Warren was Obama's pick and that the Committee had nothing to do with it. He was quite upset that it was being spread around the blogosphere that the DiFi's Committee was involved at all with Warren's selection.

This is one of those moments when the Dems show their true colors. This is why I can happily say with a clear conscience that I voted for Cynthia McKinney. The hypocracy of the 'we need your vote, we're all in it together' of the last campaign was once again bound to surface when payback time hits. You owe christians, Mr. Obama, but you also OWE a lot of gays too. Are you going to screw gays over because you can? Are gays going to be your new targets? I had a coworker who listened to this man's sermons and books on tape non-stop. Rick Warren's like the rest, after control, after his own empire. Mr Obama is like more of the same. No change here. Move along people!

I can't believe Barack Obama would choose this divisive hate-monger to give the prayer at his inauguration. Any one of thousands of ministers who respect the gay community could have been asked by those planning the event, but they choose this Neanderthal. What is the message Obama hopes to send to the Gay Community?? I thought we were voting for change we could believe in, but it already looks like more of the same.

Really disappointed!! What a slap in the face for those of us who worked so hard during the campaign!

There's lots of fuss (not necessarily on this board, but on another one I peek at) about how this pick reflects on Barack Obama. An article on Slate talks about how the choice of Warren is pissing off religious progressive. Probably so, and fine.

But think about it another way: how might appearing at the inauguration of a Democratic president affect Rick Warren's stature? Will he lose credibility among the hard core Christianist base for agreeing to give the invocation? After all, in their minds he'll be up on stage with a gay-loving baby killer.

In other words, I think that it's just as likely that this will hurt Warren's stature among HIS base as it will be to hurt Obama's stature among his.

Obama has lost what was a very enthusiastic suppoter in pandering the the bigots of this country. There is no middle ground whan dealing with bigots. I deeply regret that I gave over $1000 dollars to his campaign. Morally he seems to have no foundation. I suppose if the Nazi's were an element in American politics, he would try to include them too--possibly leading the pedge of glag to the United States. Just where does Obama stand? What does he stand for? What does he have the courage to stand against?