Warren hasn't been asked to move into the White House to become Obama's spiritual adviser. He is giving one prayer which most people won't even be listening to while they wait for the main event. Let's all take a few deep breaths. We've got actual problems to solve and we don't have energy to waste on this.

First Read:

Where was this outrage when Obama appeared at Warren’s Saddleback forum back in August? The difference may be that the forum came before Proposition 8 passed in California.

Er, there was outrage about that appearance, whether or not First Read happened to notice it at the time.

Also, the other little piddling difference is that this isn't a campaign appearance, it's a Presidential Inauguration.

We've got actual problems to solve and we don't have energy to waste on this.

I consider ongoing legally-enforced discrimination an actual problem to solve.

Doesn't surprise me. I lost a lot of my enthusiasm for Obama with his FISA vote so I don't really expect happy things from him any more. But I wouldn't invite that fat, smug phony to Thanksgiving, let alone give him a position of prominence in the inauguration.

Obama would do well to remember how the non-religious in this country did much of the leg work for his campaign.

Obama told reporters in Chicago that America needs to "come together," even when there's disagreement on social issues.

Obama can blow me if he thinks I'm going to "come together" with a piece of shit like Rick Warren.

I have to admit, I wasn't really expecting much from the guy and so far, he hasn't disappointed me.

Fuck you right back!

The suggestion of a multi-denominational invocation was the most obvious and appropriate option for this perverse and antiquated imposition of religion into what should be a secular event. Instead he brings the kinder gentler Tim LeHaye on board.

Obama continues to pander, continues to beg and degrade himself before the altar of the Right Wing. He goes to bed each night praying that he has done enough to keep the Republican Slander Machine at bay, flagellating himself with these continued commiserations.

Putting an icon of hate on the national stage.

Spitting in the face of reason by giving this creationist nutjob a seal of government approval.

Add this to his FISA commiseration, his continued employment of Robert Gates, and everything else he is doing to smash any hope that he may lean anywhere to the left of Joe Leiberman.

Doesn't he know it will never be enough? He could invade Iran, continue wire tapping, expand guantanamo and have Pelosi and Reid hanged for high treason and the right would not be impressed until he changed his D to an R and offered a few billion dollars in Tax cuts to the wealthiest 2% of Americans.

And even then he might face impeachment proceedings for doing the same thing Cheney and Bush have been doing for the past 8 years.

He wants to be loved by those who will never love him and he disregards the favor of those he has already won over.

His first 100 days better be STELLAR or he will destroy the Democratic Party with his grotesque pandering.

All I want is someone, anyone to show ONE SINGLE THING that he has done to even imply that real CHANGE ((c)2007-2008 Barack Obama Industries) is coming thanks to the incoming administration.

I will not go so far as to say I regret voting for him, YET. But ask me again in May of next year.

Neither Rick Warren nor his church preach tolerance. Obama may be getting together with Rick Warren for political reasons, but to those of us non-religious, moderate folks, asking Rick Warren to speak is just plain offensive. I'm fine with Obama's picks of non-ideological, competent cabinet and othe officials. An administration's top responsibility, in my view, is to run the government competently regardless of ideology (a premise sorely missing over the last eight years). Rick Warren, however, does not fit this mold. He is devisive and intolerant. One would think that Obama would try to reach out to different faiths with his theme of tolerance and "one nation." Catering to the extreme religious right is just plain wrong -- its not what we voted for when we voted for Obama.

There is a counterbalance, tho, in that the benediction, or whatever the "prayer" at the end is called, will be given by Joseph Lowery.

And Aretha's going to sing.

So Obama appears to be planning to appoint an openly gay Secretary of the Navy--imagine that, an openly gay appointment to a position in his administration! And one associated with the military!--and people are kvetching about the fact that a pastor is going to read a prayer at a ceremony?

One of the worst tendencies of the right wing over the past eight years has been to elevate silly symbolic stuff like this to importance while ignoring real issues. Let's not imitate them here. The Sec Navy appointment is huge and could have major positive ramifications. Who gives a shit about this silly prayer?

Obama appears to be planning to appoint an openly gay Secretary of the Navy

As the saying goes, talk is cheap.

Obama is giving legitimacy to a Dominionist. This sends the worst sign imaginable.

Dominionists aren't just anti-gay, they're anti-anything that doesn't fit into their extremely narrow view. Their goal is to own America, and the world, through gradual takeovers of churches, businesses, and governments. (See theocracywatch.org.)

Obama has probably had to deal with them plenty of times in the Senate as many senators are either Dominionists or have gotten in bed with them.

But giving them any sort of acknowledgement in a ceremony as highly symbolic as the inauguration is not only a betrayal, it shows extreme ignorance.

Who talked him into this?

and a disgrace. I can't believe that there aren't other religious leaders whom Obama could have picked that would have been inclusive without giving a huge middle finger to GLBT Americans like myself.

Obama acknowledged the work that we GLBT people have put forward in his acceptance speech. I really hope he meant it, because I won't tolerate another Democratic president who throws gays and lesbians under the bus the way Bill Clinton did.