I agree. Warren should be out.*BUT* how does Obama get rid of him without being shredded by media?

[BigBearJohn]

I don't have to tell you what the media will likely be saying
if Obama kicks Warren out of the inauguration event.

If you were advising Obama, how would you suggest he proceed?

[PVnRT]

1. I would leak every damn thing he's ever said, repeatedly

Generate outrage and give himself an out.

Not that I think that will happen.

[QC]

2. You can't unshit the bed.

There's really no way to reverse course now.

[David Zephyr]

6. Yeah, but there's a lot here at the DU that like that bed. And it's something to behold.

And I won't forget.

[David Zephyr]

7. Yeah, but there's a lot here at the DU that like that bed. And it's something to behold.

And I won't forget.

[Solon]

3. Tell everybody he was wrong and that now he sees why people are pissed?

Who knows, maybe people will be impressed with his honesty in the face of adversity.

[Dennis Donovan]

4. It would show courage - a courage we haven't seen in a politician in quite a while...

[IndianaJones]

5. say it was a mistake to invite a hateful bigot to his inauguration. nt.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

Well -- Maybe make it some sort of group invocation

with clergy from other religions (why do they always have to be Christian? For that matter, why does there have to be any invocation at a secular government ceremony? But that's a whole 'nother discussion) so Warren is just one of a group?

Or else just disinvite his fat ass and take whatever flak comes at him. It was a mistake in the first place.

[gristy]

18. That was my thought also - the more the merrier

Invite several more clergy. A dozen more.

[santamargarita]

8. Tell him what I've been telling Bush for the last 8 miserable years:

Get the fuck out!

[Mike Nelson]

9. Appoint gay people

to bigger, more powerful positions?

[liberalmuse]

10. He tells Warren he can say the invocation...

right after the Village People perform the opening song, which will be a selection from 'La Cage Aux Folles' or 'Cabaret'. In black pleather thongs.

Edited to be vegan friendly.

[CreekDog]

14. Okay, but no Liza

:hide:

[liberalmuse]

27. Liza MUST attend!

Dear god, have you no humanity???

[Brooklyns_Finest]

11. Not going to happen

Your best bet is if Warren bows out himself. If Obama uninvites him now then it opens the door for the right to label him as weak. As we saw in 2004, Americans can tolerate dumb, but they will not tolerate a weak leader.

I want to point out that the media portrayed Kerry as weak and Bush as strong, and that played a major part in Bush's reelection.

[leftstreet]

12. Rahm is probably sending prostitutes to Saddleback as we speak n/t

[Generator]

13. I hate to tell you this

But from everything I've read-and yes I'm too lazy to link around-Obama LIKES Warren. He was thanked in his book. He likes the whole idea of picking the opposite to "heal." He thinks it will get him votes in the future.

And there was a Solon piece that said Obama knows the depth of the outrage and I quote "doesn't care."

[Brooklyns_Finest]

19. I think you are right

Obama and Warren are probably friends. Obama didn't dump Rev Wright during the endless loops of "god damn america" speech. It wasn't until Wrigh decided to go on the talk show circuit and make an ass out of himself and Obama that Obama decided to give him the boot. No reason to believe that he is going to ditch his bud Warren now.

[polichick]

21. If this is who he really is, we've been had.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

24. How have we been had?

When Obama said he was going to be the President of all americas you should have know he would talk to and honor people of opposing views. This is no surprise to me. Warren has some misguided stances on gay rights, but he is not Hitler. His point of view resonates with millions of Americans. In order to govern for the good of all americans our president cannot leave a large portion of the population out in the cold.

I am sure that in 4 years, Obama will do more than any other president in US history for gay rights. If not, then you can vote against him. Just give him a chance.

[polichick]

25. I was referring to the article that said he "doesn't care."

[Hansel]

28. Obama said he was going to be the President of all Americans.

So why is he embracing a man who is so hostile and condescending to so many Americans? And why has he chosen sides with Warren in this controversy rather than reaching out to gay and lesbian leaders as well. If he cannot leave a large portion of the population out in the cold, then why has he? Why has he basically put them on ignore and implied that they should just sit down and shut up? That they are the ones being divisive instead of the man who treats them as though they are less than human.

Warren is not just a person who says bad things about gays. He has actively campaigned against them and largely because of his actions, they recently were stripped of their constitutional rights in California. Largely because of his actions, intolerant politicians keep getting elected to office in place of people who WOULD honor all Americans. Why has Obama chosen to honor a man who so clearly is against him being a president for the good of all Americans? And who is so clearly against electing other politicians who would do the same?

You don't get to discount a large segment of the American people and then pretend this is about honoring people of opposing views. If you want to honor people of opposing views, you don't start by giving a platform to a person who has committed his life doing the exact opposite and expect to be taken seriously.

And if you are the president for all Americans, you don't immediately insult and offend the very people who put you in office because they believed you. Obama has been, how can I put this gently, a pompous prick over this. And he owes some people a very big apology for his utter lack of gratitude for the honor that they have bestow upon him. I'm a huge Obama supporter, and even I can see that.

This is the wrong place, wrong time, and wrong forum for reaching out to Warren. And Obama is smart enough to know that. So he can cut the act.

[BigBearJohn]

37. That's a very well reasoned response. Thanks. I do believe Obama is a clever politician

He knows where all the bases of power exist and I
am starting to believe he is supremely aware
of which side of the bread his bread is buttered on.
It would seem he knows he won't get ahead by ignoring
the power brokers.

I imagine he will just keep trying to "soothe the savage
beast" and put the onus on the people who are objecting.
He will smile and just say his own motives were pure.
Then he will say he has every intent to fight for the
civil rights of ALL people, including gays and lesbians.

He'd make an excellent chess player.

His popularity is so huge at this point, and people are
so desperate for change, that at this point the majority
will forgive almost anything to get this rolling again.
And that includes having Warren give the invocation.
And it will all blow over a few months or weeks after.

SIGH

[QC]

23. Yes, it's deliberate: classic triangulation.

The calculation is that Obama might pick up a few right wing voters by showing that he doesn't take order from those uppity queers a hairy-legged man-hating feminists and godless atheists and all those other villains of the right wing fever swamp.

[Xipe Totec]

15. Great opportunity to show that you recognize when you've made a mistake

and take care to correct it.

The last thing we need is another "I'm never wrong, I'm the decider" Caligula for a President.

[Malikshah]

16. Simple. Be an adult and admit to his mistake. It is called leadership and wisdom.

Perfect example of the opposite.

The Cretin in Chief.

[polichick]

17. I would tell him to apologize for his insensitivity, and then to claim...

...that he wasn't aware of some of the things Warren had said (whether he was or not), and announce his new MUCH WISER choice.

[Starry Messenger]

20. Perhaps Warren will need to "spend more time with his family"...

*wink* *wink*

I'm sure it could be done.

[Neecy]

22. Maybe Warren will take care of this himself

If he keeps doing interviews in which he gay bashes, lies and acts like an ass maybe Obama will pull the plug. After all, from here on out it looks as though Obama is sanctioning his message (which he is).

[Hansel]

26. Warren has said many more hateful things than Rev. Wright ever has.

Maybe Obama can pull out the statement he made when he threw him under the bus and simple change the name.

[BklynChick]

29. he gets Warren to back out.

[Jennicut]

30. Just say you made a crappy mistake and I'm sorry

That would really through the MSM for a loop as Shrub never admitted any mistakes. The reporters would all go into states of shock and would be unable to ask any questions. Hey, it COULD happen.

[Radical Activist]

31. I've been thinking that too.

I don't think there's anything he can do now that won't make him look bad. If he keeps Warren in then he needs to at least say something in his inauguration speech about GLBT rights.

[Kurska]

32. Through a Woodchipper, but one can only dream

But since murder is illegal, just tell the fuck not to bother showing up, his services are not required

[makinguphumans]

33. Rick can suddenly want to spend more time with his family.

[cliffordu]

34. Blackwater accident

[Kurska]

35. Funniest thing I've heard all day

KUdos

[grantcart]

38. put the pipe down

[cliffordu]

39. Give it back first.

Don't bogart.

[Skittles]

36. he can't

that's why it is one big giant fuckup