As the furor over Barack Obama selecting divisive bigot Rick Warren to deliver a prayer on Inauguration Day trickles through the news cycle, it’s time to answer some unexplored questions. Such as: How did Team Obama even think this guy was a good choice? And if Obama is so proud of Warren, why did he try to sneak his name past the public after deciding on him?
Reports muckraking Salon: “Linda Douglass, a spokeswoman for Obama’s inauguration committee and a senior advisor during the campaign, told Salon later that picking [Pastor Rick] Warren “was not a political decision,” which is usually the surest sign that something was exactly that. Obama aides wouldn’t go into the decision-making process that led to Warren’s selection, but Douglass admitted they predicted some of the fury it caused ahead of time. “People don’t go into these kinds of decisions unaware that there might be some criticism, but on the other hand, the overriding goal, again, was this message of inclusivity,” she said.”
And meanwhile, how did we even learn Obama had chosen Warren to deliver a prayer? In secret.
Salon: “Making matters worse, the Obama team evidently decided not to alert anyone who was likely to be upset about the pick ahead of time. News of Warren’s involvement in the inauguration came out of the congressional committee working on the inauguration instead of from Obama’s own inaugural committee, a wholly separate entity. At least initially, aides for Obama’s inaugural committee said the decision had come from Congress, not Obama. In fact, that wasn’t the case at all. “That was solely the choice of the president-elect,” said Gil Duran, a spokesman for Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who chairs the congressional committee. Obama’s staff sent explicit orders for whom to include in the inaugural ceremony up to Capitol Hill, since Congress is, technically, in charge of that part of the day. “Sen. Feinstein obviously disagrees with the views of Rev. Warren on issues that affect the gay and lesbian community,” Duran said. “However, Sen. Feinstein respects the president-elect’s prerogative to select a cleric to deliver the invocation.” (That one doesn’t need any translation — Feinstein’s office was politely, respectfully, throwing Obama under the bus.)”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
[Salon]
niles
What a pity, we could have had the same deal with Hillary minus the public humiliation.
John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)
Someone laughed at this BUT I think Oprah has a lot to do with this!
I know but didn’t she SEAL Obama even running for pres with his appearing on her show as just a senate writting about his mixed heritage? Didn’t she also hold the largest rally for him at the begining making him an outsider to a potential candidate?
So he kind of owes her quite a bit, no?
She got Warren known in the mainstream when he appeared on her show touting his book and is a big fan of his.
She’s also moving to Washington..why now?
OBV also the politcal fact that Warren is HUGELY popular and will bring his right wing evangelical crowd to be more keen on Obama…
Right, that’s enough conspirarcy theories.
fixator
A seriously disturbing state of affairs….was this the douche that wrote a book called Purpose driven life?
Tallskin
I hate to say this But I think you guys are going to have real problems with Obama. From this side of the pond he is coming over as duplicitous, slimy, two faced AND THIS IS EVEN BEFORE HE’S SWORN IN A YOUR PREZ!
Fuck, batten down the hatches boys and girls, it’s gonna be a bumby ride ahead.
I said hilary would’ve made a better choice. but hey!
tommy jonq
bam-o doesn’t need you. them. whoever. he’s got bill’s donor list, caroline’s senate seat, and hillary’s pecker in his pocket. lieberman uber alles!
http://politiqs.tommyjonq.com
richard smith
So the key question here regarding the inauguration should be ‘whether the GBLTQ community has representation at the event’ rather than whether Rick Warren name is on Obama’s list. True diversity is much more complicated than we oftentimes realize. I have noticed people using the example of whether Obama would have considered the KKK, etc under his tent of diversity. Let me ask a different question: should we remove George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Harry Truman and John Wayne’s faces and names from the currency and airports they are named after because of their ownership of slaves or racial viewpoints? The question of whether to include Warren in the ceremonies is colored by one’s concept of diversity itself. When deciding who is not qualified to fit under the tent, who truly fits that qualification? The real question here for the GLBTQ community is inclusion for us rather than exclusion of those we oppose. Are we represented at the event or not?
fixator
I am just so saddened
“The Gays” got fucked…royal,,,
ChristopherJ
@richard smith:
bingo
Roy Pyatt
It’s like nana dana always said if it’s not one thing it’s another.
Shall we all head to the back of the bus or start a revolution?
rick
this is known in the business as giving them enough rope to hang themselves. obama has given this asshole a wider platform so that he can show extacly what a stupid fraud he and his christian right are. they come off sounding like morons. i can’t wait until his financials get scrutinized.
pay back is a bitch. you want to show old reverand wright clips, well here is your most main stream evangelical being stupid and ignorant for all to see.
warren’s comments on if gays are born gay is priceless and shows how shallow he and his god are.
ggreen
What is the most shocking is how little Obama cares about blowing off LGBT voters. His apologists can whine all they want about its “simply symbolicâ€, a “wise political move†or an “olive branch†while overlooking what a slap in the face it is to Gays. Its disgraceful how little he seems to care and how the MSM blows it off too.
ggreen
FYI
http://www.annoy.com/
Dave
@fixator: Yeah he is
John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)
@Tallskin:
Is he??
I’ve not read that…they seem always as ‘myeh’ about him as before. Europe was always more for Obama.
And Hilary? It wouldv’e been too back slapping and just incestous. Obama brought change and by that I mean being a 1) young dude 2) being black 3) even mentioning gays in his speech…
Whether you like that or not, that had brought inspiration AND change to people’s lives.
Now lets see what he will do….
I just think he is very similar to Blair-which is good AND bad.
mark
I do give Dianne Feinstein some credit of washing her hands of the decision of Warren. Pelosi would be wise to do the same.
Maybe team Obama didn’t add this calculation into the decision of Warren, (although I must admit, I wouldn’t want to play chess against Obama, he is a ruthless strategist.)It’s Not just folks who detest Warren’s prop 8 campaign were queers, it was 48% of the most progressive people in CA, with the VAST majority of Hollywood. In other words the Democratic Party’s ATM. You p*ss off that golden Goose, and she ain’t gonna get any stretch marks in 2010, dropping you an unlimited amount of eggs.
Maybe if the congressional Inaugural team gets enough HEAT over Warren, the actual “decider” about Warren will be revealed…I think it’s that weasly faith based DuBois who selected McClurkin trying to f*ck with us one time TOO MANY.
Turn you back on Warren and kiss the partner of your choice the entire Invocation
LOVE conquers H8,
and if Democrats think they are herding US CATS, I suggest they have plenty of band aids handy, for that whole flying ball of fur and claws coming to town.
Dave
AP has some comments from Barney Frank on this ( http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jL1wHfvxbVuH4tkCehILUCNJjqrgD9579L700 ). I think he’s right that it’d be one thing to have Warren there to take part in a panel but to lead the nation in prayer that is an honor he does not deserve – if anyone finds themselves being subjected to Warren’s spiel either live or via tv/radio I propose you put a hat on your head as customarily you remove head covering as a sign of respect during prayer – also it should be fairly visible even in a crowd.
John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)
@Tallskin:
Also, we CAN’T talk.
We’re a mess and a joke. We’ve followed EVERYTHING America has done like a stupid puppy despite our incredibly different cultures and history and now that the US is ‘allegedly’ about ‘change’ or ‘progress’, we’re shitting our pants!
richard smith
Some of you guys are missing a very important point here. I mentioned diversity here earlier to get people to talk about what that means. There is an assumption here that Obama does not support the gays. That is an assumption based on including an anti-gay pastor in his inauguration. It is a flawed assumption to make unless you ask the more important question of whether the LGBTQ community is represented at the same event. If Obama’s definition of diversity includes Rick Warren (perhaps because pastor Warren has other issues, such as fighting AIDS that he shares with Obama) that is not an automatic exclusion of the LGBTQ community, unless your definition of diversity advocates eliminating religious viewpoints not favorable to the LGBTQ community. He also made, for a second time, a distinction between himself and Warren on LGBTQ support. Why do this if he is simply throwing us under a bus? His definition of diversity is broader than others (remember his speech in reaction to Rev. Wright where he talked about supporting his grandmother despite her racist views – how many of us have done the same thing)? Our movement has to be focused on our inclusion and empowerment, not the exclusion of those we oppose. Stated another way, if Obama had followed Feinstein’s hint an dropped Warren, but not included any LGBTQ inclusive representives, what would the community have gained? Nothing.
Tallskin
@Tallskin:
Also, we CAN’T talk.
We’re a mess and a joke. We’ve followed EVERYTHING America has done like a stupid puppy despite our incredibly different cultures and history and now that the US is ‘allegedly’ about ‘change’ or ‘progress’, we’re shitting our pants!
John, what the fuck are you talking about????
Carlin
Its not just gay amercians who are angry. Giving such an honor to Rick Warren is like giving moderate and mainstream christians the finger. Obama is simply making a evengelical vote grab. Warren, a man who teaches hatred and intolerance, tarnishes Obama’s message of hope and change.
mark
OVER REAHING H8ers
They made a SERIOUS mistake going after the 18,000 married couples rather than acknowledging they be grandfathered in to prop 8. They will lose the retroactive arguement, making the rest of their case WEAKER.
I already thought the original CA Supreme Court ruling plainly stated the RIGHT to marry was so integral to a human’s rights it couldn’t be abridged or denied by EITHER the legislators or an innitiative, so it was very likely to be overturned.
I don’t know much about how an initiative gets vetted before it reaches a ballot, but shouldn’t that ruling have made prop 8 inelidgable to be on a ballot in the FIRST PLACE? Can you get enough signitures and put ANYTHING on the ballot?
Cuz that would be a very dangerous precident, and maybe one we could use in OUR bag of tricks, to B*TCH SLAP the LDS elders and Rick Warren???
mark
Obama may think the TV audience who will be 45-45% Republicans and Democrats with 10% Independents will enjoy Warren as reaching across the culture war divide. Unfortunately the folks LIVE in DC being herded like Time Square at New Years Eve will be 100% Democrats and very progressive Democrats at that. So the telivision audience will also see OUR reaction to Warren in their homes.
Make it a show they will REMEMBER.
mark
television typo
richard smith
@Mark – ok, so we make it a show they will remember. Then what? We have lost 40 gay marriage bans, including prop.8. If we could not get this country to support us any better than that, what makes you think they will remember us favorably? You need to remember there are an awfull lot of people in this country who support the president-elect. Further, what is to stop religious rightwingers from increasing their support of Obama at our expense? I will say this again – unless we have some better support than the gay marriage bans have indicated so far, we would do far better to work at keeping the president-elect true to the promises made to our community than fight him, have no support from the GOP, and get nothing. We can and should always keep fighting for full equality no matter what. The allies we make and the process we follow make the difference here. I think we have an ally in Obama.
Jennifer
Does anyone have any information about the possibility of an organized show of protest on January 20? I would be more than happy to participate, if that’s going to happen.
If you know of anything, pretty please: get it posted on Queerty.
John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)
@Tallskin:
Erm, I’m talking about the state we are in.
I think it’s pretty awful don’t you??? Gordon Brown is a reck! Milliband is trying to become PM. David Cameron is FULL OF SHIT and the country seems to be voting towards him! Boris Johnson is London Mayor??
The economy etc??
I went to see Mandleson talk on Wednesday at the RSA about our future-he made some great points BUT it was pretty controversial.
I guess we’re living in two different worlds if you even have to question the state the UK is in. My MBA is 80% about the British Economy and cultural system, so maybe I’m all up it’s arse. Heck, I don’t think I’m that far off as I got a distinction for my subject on this…
I’ve been researching our policies since the 19th century to now-we’ve constantly followed the US, esp during Thathcherism but we’ve lacked an ‘honesty’ in who we are and what we’ve done and how we can progress. This is also what Mandleson said.
I mean you even said something ages ago which was really insane-like you completely forgot about the fact that colonisation existed, or of Windrush when Enoch Powell insisted then denounced the arrival of using Afro Carribeans to do meagre jobs etc etc..
If you’re not tapping what is there, then I assume a lot of people aren’t as well. So without calling a spade a spade, how is a country suppose to prosper or develop to become the best it can be?
Phew. Now saying that I think Obama was really smart for bringing Warren-what a pragmatist! One can’t deny America is full of evangelists with his opinions…
John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)
@Tallskin:
Also, the main thing about the UK not being honest and thus not moving is pretty much this. I grew up and am now living in the most conservative and middle class place called Tunbridge Wells. I have a part time job in a posh theatre and one of my jobs is going through the database of people who purchase things. And, how funny is it but I’ve yet to see an ‘English’ name-whatever that is..? I’ve seen a bit of Anglo-Saxon,a HUGE amount of jewish, some french, italian and eastern european… Now living here (whilst I finish my post grad), you would think only English people live here.
So what gives??
Christ, I remember being at private school in kent and arguing with a fellow classmate who looked a bit of chinese here and there, taht he was mixed! He swore he wasn’t! His voice was rather posh sounding for sure and he came from Stevenage but it was all rather confusing. Such a racist little island that gets it name-England-from the Germans! Oops!
Rock
Throw your SHOES and BOOTS at Rick Warren!
mark
@richard smith:
It beats being treated like shit, and doing ABSO-FUCKIN-LUTELY
nothing.
Chloe
@richard smith: Yeah, we got a marching band in the parade. I’m sure they’ve been requested to play “I will survive”. . . .and if we’re lucky, perhaps they’ll as one of us to do Michelle’s hair? Other than that, nada.
Wondermann
Richard Smith, thank you. Rick Warren only has power if we give it to him. It’s not that serious, we can survive this.
Frederick Ferguson
On Proposition 8, he was silent.
On the US Veto of the UN Resolution for decriminalizing homosexuality, he was silent.
On Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, he says, “Wait.”
And now associating with someone who compares me to a pedophile?
I never expected much from PE Obama on LGBT issues.
But I have to ask, “Where is the leadership?”
– Black Gay Americans Under the Obama Bus
Jaroslaw
Frederick Ferguson – Obama was NOT silent on Prop 8. Stop spreading crap.
Pre
Jaroslaw is right, Obama did say he was against Prop 8 but no one wanted to report that (or listen).
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1051404.html
http://www.washblade.com/2008/9-12/election08/topstory/13273.cfm
Biden said it too, on the Ellen DeGeneres show, no less.
Really, I think most Obama/Biden supporters were afraid to link Obama to anti-Prop8 for fear it would turn off conservative blacks.
Honestly, before Rick Warren I had never heard the term “invocation”. It sounds like something a spell-caster would do in Dungeons and Dragons. The benediction (which is a term I’m familiar with) is being given by Rev Joseph Lowrey who has a career in fighting for all civil rights.
http://www.umaffirm.org/gcnews10.html
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/religion/post/2008/12/60178434/1
Mark
@rick:
EXACTLY! The public scrutiny of Warren now will be HUGE. So huge, that I’m betting one of several things:
1. Someone will discover his gay chat handle.
2. His finances will be discovered to be ‘mismanaged’. Not him. His ‘handlers’ will have done it.
3. He and Ted Haggard had an affair which conveniently was ‘missed’ by all the tabloid news.
4. Warren will slip up and tell people that he hasn’t believed in God for years now.
5. One of his kids will be found using meth, or is a pedophile, or got knocked up, etc. The family scandal will make Palin’s sordid life pale in comparison.
You get my drift. This public scrutiny will introduce America and the world to the morass that his life really is. It’s only a matter of time before he comes crashing down. ALL big name Christians – especially evangelicals – have more skeletons in their closets than your average person. Now it’s up to journalists to TAKE THE F*CKER DOWN.
Raymond Sawyersmith
1) Political Triangulation
2) Punk the Base
3) End the Blagojevich Stuff 24/7
4) Pick up AA and White Evangelicals in One Move.
5) Punk the Base
6) Punk the Base
7) Oreo goes all Chocolate and no Down Lo talk.
alicia
nothing can ever excuse this horrid choice!
obama has flagrantly betrayed millions of gay voters he simply no longer needs!
shame!!!!
OUTLOOK
http://aliciabanks.blogspot.com
Herbert Wassinger
Obama can go to Saddleback for support, as far as I’m concerned. I am with Jennifer. There should be organized protest, now, on Jan. 20 and after.
As far as now, get an Obama button and mark a red X through his face (nail polish, etc.) Wear the button on your coats. People will get the point.
mark
On Pam’s House Blend someone had used the Obama LGBT logo (with the rainbow) and added tire tracks over it. WICKED imagry.
marlene
Ha Ha Ha GAYS, IT DID NOT TAKE LONG TO RECEIVE YOUR INSULT KARMA.
Enjoy the pain that you have inflicted on Blacks while ignoring them of not comparing homosexuality to their race and oppression.
I don’t have salt strong enough to throw at you to cause enough pain. Also did you ever think that you Insulted President Elect Obama with your Gay is the New Black comparisons. Remember Obama went to a church of Black Liberation Theology for 20 years. His wife and children are of Black Slave descendency and you compare his family skin with Butt Sex oppression. You in your infantile states are the stupids of the Galaxy by thinking your Smart. Fighting to change marriage definition, How stupid can you get.
You have really set up a backfire that will hit gays hard. Blaming Blacks for Prop 8 when you know most of your White relatives are against your spoiled privilege nonsense. STOP INSULTING OBAMA WITH YOUR NONSENSE, YOU WILL BE MADE STUPID TO THE WORLD, AND THEY WILL CRUSH YOU IN YOUR STUPIDITY. OBAMA IS LOVED BY THE WORLD, AND YOU WILL MAKE A SERIOUS MISTAKE THINKING YOU CAN DEGRADE HIM IN ANYWAY AND GET AWAY WITH IT. WE WILL STOP YOU IN EVERY STATE AND COUNTRY.
marlene
OH I FORGOT HOW DO YOU LIKE THE COMPARISONS TO PEDIOPHILIA, INCEST AND RAPE. OH AND PIZZA. KEEP BLACK OUT OF YOUR PENIS SUCKING MOUTHS.
AND WHAT IS NAMBLA BUT A MAN WANTING THE RIGHT TO PEDIOPHILE A YOUNG BOY, MANY TIMES BY INCEST AND RAPE. THE GAY COMMUNITY HAS NOT DENOUNCED NAMBLA.
THAT MEANS THEY ARE PEDIOPHILES, RAPISTS, AND PSYCHOLOLGIST WILL TELL YOU OF MALE ON MALE ABUSE OF HOMOSEXUALITY INCESTS IN FAMILIES.
NOW STOP INSULTING BLACKS YOU AGENTS OF WHITE SUPREMACY ON STERIODS CRYING FOWL IN PRIVILIGE OF TRYING TO FORCE THE LEGALITY OF YOUR BEHAVIOR ON EVERYONE
DAMNED HETEROPHOBES PUSHING A SODOM AND GOMORRAH AGENDA.
pyxbiz
If you’re already as disillusioned with Obama as I am, tell the world how you feel:
http://www.cafepress.com/Disillusioned_O
Charles J. Mueller
@marlene:
I see, Marlene. Apparently, you believe that this has something to do with something.
Now, perhaps you’d care to share with us how you really feel about gays?
Charles J. Mueller
Marlene:
Black racist.
Voted Yes on Proposition 8
Hates Queers.
Supporter of Rick Warren’s homophobic comments and lies.
Seeking reparations from whites for slavery.
Can we have a round of applause for this outstanding bitc…err, lady?
seitan-on-a-stick
Marlene has walked off into the chemically-imbalanced light of GOD! Seems like she read all the pamphlets that Watch Tower gave her in the Homeless Shelter….and access to a Computer paid by my Taxes. Hmmmm, TAX the CHURCH to pay down the DEBT!
On President-(S)elected by the Media, Barack O-blah-blah is rubbing our noses in it since GAYS loved HILLARY more. At least wear a condom when you fuck us up the ASS, Mister President-Select!
liz48
Many American Christians don’t have a clue about what Christianity is about. It is a relationship and is of the spirit, i.e. spiritual. They know about God but never refer to demons or satan. We in the east, understand that each person is a spirit and can attract or be impacted by either of these spirits, even when a child is in his mother’s womb!
So if you are homosexual, go back to stuff in your childhood, your parents and things that happened when you were not even born. Your genes, your DNA and cells carry the influence of powers that are unseen. If you truly want to talk about God then you should be willing to consider other things of the spirit…