O NOES! Not ANOTHER take on Obama-Warren-Gate!!!

[KnaveRupe]

Yep.

A conservative Catholic friend with whom I am actually able to have civil, polite disagreements (I KNOW!) asked me what I thought about the Warren situation. Here's my letter to him, submitted for those of you who just can't get enough!!

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As an atheist, I don't see that it makes any PRACTICAL difference which medicine-man invokes the invisible sky-god. The measurable result of the prayer will be exactly the same no matter who says it. I don't believe Obama chose Warren because he thought his blessing would work better than, say, a UCC minister's, or a Lutheran minister's, or a Catholic priest's.

I think it was a purely political pick - an effort to reach out to the growing segment of evangelicals who are becoming concerned with issues of social justice, economic justice, poverty, etc. Strategically, it might appear to be a good idea, but I think the transition team underestimated the degree to which gay Americans aren't willing to be kicked around anymore.

By the way - anything you hear on the news about liberals being opposed to the Warren pick on the grounds that he is opposed to abortion is b.s. The outrage I've seen on the liberal blogs has been almost entirely based on his comments likening gay marriage to pedophilia, polygamy, and bestiality. Despite how we are portrayed, the overwhelming majority of liberals can appreciate the position of those who think abortion should be outlawed. We may strongly disagree with that position, and will certainly disagree over the interpretation of when personhood begins, but we can generally accept the motives for holding that position.

Opposition to gay rights is another matter. There is no legitimate secular, societal reason for discriminating against gay Americans. Promoting discriminatory public policies (such as California's Prop 8, of which Warren was an outspoken supporter) is, to liberals and progressives, no different than supporting anti-miscegenation laws, or Jim Crow.

It is odious.

And whatever other good Rick Warren might be doing to move Evangelicals away from being the blind tools of the Plutocratic wing of the Republican Party towards a group that actually follows the teachings of Jesus, the fact remains that to the gay community, Obama slapped them in the face by giving the Invocation to someone who is perceived by them as a bigot.

Imagine how you would feel, Bryan, if you had worked for and donated to John McCain's campaign and, for his invocation, he chosen John Hagee.

Hagee, leader of a San Antonio megachurch, has referred to the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore" and called it a "false cult system" and "the apostate church" -- "apostate" means someone who has forsaken his religion.

Now imagine that Hagee had not just spoken against Catholicism, but had been actively working to deny Catholics rights, and you'll begin to understand the betrayal gay (and straight) liberals feel over Obama's pick.

He took a group that have been political cannon fodder for years, and "Sister Souljah'ed" them when there was no need to do so, and he's gonna catch some shit for it, if I'm reading the sentiments of my fellow lefties correctly.

I think that including Warren would have been fine, had he done so in a less conspicuous role. There's a bridge to be built there, and I can see what he was trying to do. Warren is EASILY the least toxic of the talibangelists. He does, to a greater extent than the Jerry Falwells and James Dobsons and Pat Robertsons actually practice what he preaches. But the base, who have been willing to "wait and see" with Obama's center-to-center-right actual policy picks feel that this completely symbolic pick was an unnecessary kick in the face. We'll see how much flak Obama takes for what I think is a gross political miscalculation.

[senaca]

1. Your letter is perceptive and right on.

In hindsight what PE Obama could have done was to pick a Pastor, Rev., Rabbi etc, who devoted himself/herself to helping the poor. The symbolism of that pick would have been to say that PE Obama gets that people are struggling now and help is one the way. To pick a mega church Pastor does not reflect the times in my opinion. This would have avoided the political uproar. That said I'm glad I'm not the one who has to make so many decisions in so little time.

[HillWilliam]

2. Thank you

He could have picked a thousand other people, but he didn't. While I do believe it was not at all meant to be hateful, it is hurtful, tacky, and could have been handled a lot better. Some really bad feelings, suspicion, and ill will have been generated where allies once had been. This situation will take a long time and some strong action to heal.

[Johnyawl]

3. Excellent letter!