Priorities, Schmiorities: The Wrong Outrage on Pastor Rick Warren, Syria's Best Bud

[IndianaGreen]

Here are non-LGBT objections to Rick Warren giving the invocation at Obama's Inaugural, including that of rightwing Debbie Schlussel:



Priorities, Schmiorities: The Wrong Outrage on Pastor Rick Warren, Syria's Best Bud

By Debbie Schlussel

By now you probably know how gays and assorted other left-wingers are outraged--outraged!--that Barack Hussein Obama's "gone rogue" on them and invited pro-life, anti-gay-marriage, New Age Pastor Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church.

And, of course, the liberal mainstream media is following suit.

But, as I noted back in the fall when John McCain and Obama debated at Warren's Church, the real outrage against Rick Warren is his enabling of the patron-saint-state of terrorism, Syria.

Warren gleefully visited Syria with his wife and paid homage to the Bashar Assads. And he had the gall to praise Syria as a "moderate" country. He had nothing negative to say in the least about this family that has wreaked havoc on Lebanon, worked in concert with Hezbollah and Iran, used his state as a shelter for every Islamic terrorist group imaginable, Nazi war criminal Alois Brunner, Jamil Al-Gashey (the only surviving Munich terrorist), etc.

Not a word from Rick Warren about the extreme repression of human rights, to the point that anti-Syrian journalist Salim Al-Lawzi disappeared in Lebanon and was never heard from again, after he visited from England. The lovely Assad family sent his hands in a box to his family members in the West. Then, he was found mutilated and tortured to death--all courtesy of the Assads.

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2008/12/priorities_schm.html

Videos:

http://www.americablog.com/2008/12/rick-warren-praised-israel-hating.html

Rick Warren: Syria Treats Jews Really Well

By Greg Sargent and Eric Kleefeld - December 19, 2008, 12:42PM

Hmm -- seems like Rick Warren, who's set to deliver the invocation at Obama's inauguration, has said stuff that could prove offensive to yet another group: Jews.

John Aravosis has discovered some interesting quotes from Warren from 2006, talking about how he'd visited Syria and found it to be a place of moderation and religious tolerance -- including tolerance towards Jews, who in reality are barred from government jobs and who are singled out for special identification and discrimination in other ways.

Here's what Warren said:

"The Syrian government has long had a bad reputation in America, but if one considers a positive action like welcoming in thousands of Christian refugees from Iraq, or the protection of freedom to worship for Christians and Jews in Syria, it should not be ignored."

Aravosis reads it as Warren praising an "Israel-hating terror state as a `moderate country' that treats its Jews great." Of course, it's quite possible that Warren is merely ignorant of the plight of Syrian Jews, and actually believed the wonderful things about itself that the government there told him. Either way, it seems questionable.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/12/rick_warren_syria_gets_a_bad_r.php

[GarbagemanLB]

1. How, exactly, does this change anything? The guy is a tool, but Obama will not be reversing his

decision.

[IndianaGreen]

3. IOW, Obama is unwilling or unable to admit he made a mistake, and take corrective action

That is a very bad trait to have in a President, or on anyone in a position of leadership and trust in any human endeavour.

[GarbagemanLB]

7. You assume he didn't expect the outrage. This was a political move done on purpose, would be my gues

s.

[No Elephants]

20. According to Brazile, who was on This Week this a.m., Obama did not expect this outrage AT ALL. The

show is probably online already.

Wait for it. Soon, someone here will now post that fooling Brazile on this issue so she would say that on This Week is all part of some mysterious grand plan on the part of Obama that no mere mortal can possibly have sufficient intelligence to understand.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

29. Obama was used to being idolized by his base.

I guess he figured he could start putting in all kinds of Republicans, have homophobic-bigots do the invocation, and all kinds of shit.

This all took him by surprise. He now knows that support is neither automatic, nor guaranteed forever or in 2012. He has been elected and has to do a good job. Picking a bigot-homophobe for the invocation is NOT doing a good job.

[IndianaGreen]

32. And Rick Warren will remain a major distraction until January 20

or until Warren gets dis-invited, whichever comes first.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

34. Yep. This is growing. nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. Then Obama will be facing a VERY ANGRY BASE. It's up to him.

He's now facing the following:

* The fundies (whom I guess he's trying to please) will NOT vote for him in 2012 anyway;
* Obama's base is LIVID, rethinking 2012, and filing their eyeteeth looking for some other candidate already.

What a truly stupid way for Obama to start his presidency, really.

[GarbagemanLB]

10. The base will vote for him in 2012 as long as some campaign promises are kept.

You are very naive if you think this Warren thing will be any sort of factor 4 years from now.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

12. Well, the magic is already gone with this. I think he's made 2 errors:

1) Picking a homophobe-bigot thinking the fundies would vote for him in 2012 (which they will not; they will vote for any Repuke)
2) REFUSING to make his base happy by removing the hompophobe-bigot.

2 for the price of one.

His inauguration has completely lost its magic. I know 2 people who had planned little get-togethers to watch it, and have cancelled them.

[No Elephants]

I would say it's a three fer. His defense of his choice is so blatantly

disingenuous that it insults the intelligence. I can forgive a gaffe. I have more trouble refusing a dishonest portrayal of it as some kind of saintliness.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

26. The start of Obama's presidency is being done on a highly disappointing note

And Obama has no one to blame but himself.

It's very depressing.

[No Elephants]

50. Sad, But, as I have posted on other threads, I think good will come of this in many different ways.

[No Elephants]

22. Maybe not, but gay rights in general definitely will be. Including gay marriage. You cannot ask

people to wait forever.

[Why Syzygy]

2. Plus his organization's

hand in helping spread AIDS. Their faith based funding won't allow teaching prevention.

And the evangelicals are feeling all loved.

"It's nice to see a conservative evangelical pastor play such a prominent role in such an important event," said Tom Minnery, a senior vice president at Focus on the Family, which has fiercely criticized Obama over his support for abortion rights and other issues. "I think what it does is it underscores the importance of evangelicalism in the country."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hTbyRNWAPcFqAtQshEEA9ZT6jGDwD955G2C83

I am very disappointed that he is supporting their agendas of oppression on many fronts.

[ProSense]

4. Debbie Schlussel? Is a wingnut racist

It's hilarious to watch people going off the deep end to criticize the choice of Warren to deliver the invocation

Schlussel's claim that WNBA player Anna DeForge is a bad role model because she is a lesbian drew criticism from player Kayte Christensen in an Arizona Republic column.<16>

link

[IndianaGreen]

11. I did say she was a rightwinger, and she is no friend of LGBTs

but the point she makes about Rick Warren and Syria is dead on.

[ProSense]

14. She's full of shit.

Warren gleefully visited Syria with his wife and paid homage to the Bashar Assads. And he had the gall to praise Syria as a "moderate" country.

Her point is racist. What do you think she says about any Democrat who visits Syria? What will she say when Obama sits down with Syrian leaders?

[IndianaGreen]

15. I am more concerned about Rick Warren's bigoted bona fides

I am going to burn in Hell anyway, for being a Jew and an unrepentant LGBT.

[ProSense]

17. Right, nothing else matters so it's OK to use a despicable and hateful person to make your point

Schlussel displayed candy hearts on her website for Obama and Clinton, including "obama & islam forever!" and "Pimp My Chelsea"

Schlussel smeared Soros, "believe(s)" Deutsch "was lying about his own religious status"

Schlussel claimed Media Matters is "Nazi-funded"

Schlussel responds to Media Matters, Olbermann: Vegans, transsexuals, and "fake Holocaust survivors," oh my

Debbie Schlussel suspected VA Tech shooter might be a "Paki," part of "terrorist attack"

Schlussel: Should Barack Hussein Obama be president "when we are fighting the war of our lives against Islam"?

On Scarborough Country, Schlussel misrepresented Hillary Clinton, defended Coulter

link

[IndianaGreen]

24. Warren compared abortion to Holocaust, and gay marriage to incest and pedophilia

Warren is the one that Obama invited to give the invocation at the Inaugural. Obama did not invite Debbie Schlussel, although if he had, I am sure some DUers would be defending the pick as much as they are defending Warren.

[ProSense]

31. And what the hell has Schlussel done? She's better?

Your using her to make your point pretty much validates Obama using Warren to make his. Period.

[IndianaGreen]

33. She is not the one giving the invocation.

Warren is!

[ProSense]

36. Enjoy her.

She's your Warren.

[Political Tiger]

39. So that makes it okay to give her a platform

to spread her hate just as long as she isn't saying a prayer at the inauguration?

She's said much worst things about gay people and other minorities than Warren ever has.

Isn't this hypocritical, to say the least? Why give her politics and opinions any legitimacy at all? Isn't that the beef with Obama's pick of Warren?

[IndianaGreen]

40. Who gave Rick Warren a platform at the Inaugural?

How come the invite has not be rescinded in view of Warren's homophobia, misogyny, and anti-Semitism?

[Political Tiger]

43. Who's giving Debbie Schlussel a platform on DU?

n/t

[Solon]

45. Uhm, I think pointing out hypocrisy while being hypocritical yourself is fucking hilarious.

:rofl:

[Mass]

18. What your objection? The source or the point she makes?

The source is not that good, but coming from somebody who uses the Washington Times to make your point, you are not exactly great.

The quite, though, from Warren is way off base, and is just another point among others to find this choice offensive. I agree totally with Barney Frank when he says: “If he was inviting the Rev. Warren to participate in a forum and to make a speech, that would be a good thing,” Frank said. “But being singled out to give the prayer at the inauguration is a high honor. It has traditionally given as a mark of great respect. And, yes, I think it was wrong to single him out for this mark of respect.”

[ProSense]

19. The point she makes, her, everything she stands for.

She's full of shit.

[Mass]

23. So you think that Warren is right when he says that Jews are well treated in Syria?

Or that Bashar Asad is a good guy? Because if yes, you may want to check your source. If it is simply because somebody implicitly criticized Obama, it is sad to see.

Sorry, I stand by what I said. She is full of shit, but she happens to be right, as is Barney Frank. Warren is an homophobe, a sexist, and an antisemite (my guess is he is probably a racist as well, but well hidden under a mantle of Christian charity, but I do not have quotes to this effect).

[ProSense]

27. I don't have to cherry pick Schlussel's statement to understand her point.

And I stand by what I said. I don't need that racist asshole to validate my opinion.

[stillcool]

49. What's this about Jews in Syria?

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/20/africa/ME-GEN-Syria-Jews-Passover.php

Syrian Jews celebrate Passover with ritual prayers in Damascus
The Associated Press
Published: April 20, 2008


DAMASCUS, Syria: A handful of Syrian Jews celebrated the start of the Jewish Passover holiday Sunday with prayers at Damascus' only synagogue, saying they feel free to openly practice their religion just as Muslims and Christians do.

There are only about 100 Jews left in Syria, after the late President Hafez Assad permitted Jews to leave the country in 1992, said Albert Qameo, a Jewish community leader in Syria. In the past 16 years, some 3,700 Jews have left Syria for Israel and the United States.

The remaining Syrian Jews live in the capital, Damascus, the northern city of Aleppo and in the northeastern city of Qamishli.

"Here I was born, studied and worked. Here is our history, and we have our holy sites that we have to look after," Qameo said.

Qameo, 59, led Sunday's prayers, which were attended by only seven Jews at Al-Feranj Synagogue in the old Jewish quarter in central Damascus.


Jews who worship in the Syrian capital do so without a rabbi, after their chief rabbi left Syria for the U.S. in 1994.

"I'm happy in Syria where I perform my Jewish rituals like Muslims and Christians do," Qameo said, speaking in Arabic. "Marking Passover here in this synagogue is a proof that Jews in Syria are living peacefully and in security."

Another worshipper at Sunday's prayers, Joseph Hamdani, said he lives peacefully in Syria and maintains good relations with his Muslim and Christian neighbors.

"I don't feel like I'm being treated differently," said Hamdani, 41, who also speaks Arabic.

While Syrian Jews celebrate Passover, which commemorates the exodus of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt, their government has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

Syria supports the Palestinian militant group Hamas, as well as Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. Both groups have claimed responsibility for attacks that have killed hundreds of Israelis.

U.S.-sponsored Israel-Syria peace talks broke down in 2000 over final border and peace arrangements. Syria demands the full return of the Golan Heights, the territory seized by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.

[democrattotheend]

5. So suddenly DUers are concerned about Israel?

This should be pretty interesting...

[IndianaGreen]

9. Warren is an anti-Semite

Jews are going to burn in Hell, and compares abortion to Holocaust.

[Swamp Rat]

8. "Mmmm... Jee tinka Jewdai inkabunga leah lickmoomoo... hahahahaaa!"

"Hohohoho!! ... Jee panwa waffmula chone patogga che lickmoomoo Jewdai bunkydome .. ha hah!!"

[LittleBlue]

13. Again, what is wrong with his statement?

I don't see any antisemitism in this statement. He simply stated that Jews are allowed to live their lives normally in Syria.

This seems anti-Arab to me. We have guys like Virgil Goode as part of our government, but that doesn't represent our people as a whole or the government as a whole.

[Shiver]

16. Translation:

The outrage is subsiding slightly and civil discourse is returning to DU. Here's a post to throw more fuel on the fire.

The OP has had an anti-Obama agenda for some time now. This post is nothing new.

[IndianaGreen]

21. My only criticism of Obama was related to his selection of Rick Warren

I supported Obama after Biden dropped out.

But thanks for showing the extend to which you are prepared to defend the likes of Rick Warren.

[Shiver]

28. I do not defend Rick Warren in any way

He is a bigot, against everything I believe in, and has nothing but my contempt. I would appreciate you not putting words in my mouth.

Admittedly, I have not been here long (I joined sometime during the DNC, after years of reading only the Top Ten Conservative Idiots on a weekly basis) but in that time, I have yet to see you say anything positive about Obama, or hell, about ANYTHING. I would love to be proven wrong on this, but I can only go by what I have seen.

[Douglas Carpenter]

25. so now the ravings of an extremist homophobe and racist are okay as long as they are anti-Obama?

this is getting too much!

[IndianaGreen]

30. Was Rick Warren cavorting with Syria's Assad? A simple Yes or No.

Obama must renounce and denounce his own selection of Rick Warren as the invocator, with the same vigor by which he denounced Farrakhan (after much prodding by Hillary).

[Douglas Carpenter]

35. Dennis Kucinich, Nancy Pelosi, Jimmy Carter and countless others have met with Assad

And I am sure they exchanged all the usual diplomatic niceties.

I'm just surprised to see a source on par with Ann Coulter being used.

[Political Tiger]

37. Debbie Schlussel on "the gays":

"As you've probably heard by now, today is the "Day Without Gay," on which gays are encouraged by gay activists to "call in gay" and not show up to work or buy lattes, so that we will see how the world would allegedly collapse without the Liberaces, George Michaels, Clay Aikens, male hairstylists and stewardesses, er . . . flight attendants of the world. Oh, and a day without attacks on Mormon churches......I say, please make every day a "Day Without Gay."

and her followers:

"Beside the fact that untold billions of dollars are wasted each year on AIDS research when, in fact, the disease could be permanently eradicated in one generation simply by having infected carriers abstain or use prophylaxis, simply so that male homosexuals can have the freedom to fornicate into each other's anuses, a particularly heinous distinction is one of recruitment by "attrition." I.e., since homosexuals cannot reproduce, the one mainstay of inccreasing and replacing their numbers is by recruitment. A well-hidden fact by PC MSM is that approximately 40% of child sexual abuse in this country is at the hands of gays."
***
"By all means, let's make every day a day without gays. Fewer people would get sick eating in restaurants, and fewer kids would get indoctrinated in our schools and colleges. Just like the day without illegal aliens a few years ago. It ended too quickly."
***
"How about a century without Gays?"
***
"Now that I've got the thing working...what a wonderful world it would be without gays, muslums and illegal aliens. But alas, we are stuck with them and of the three, I can accept the illegals better that the other two since they aren't always crying about wanting something that they have not earned. What a world?!!!!!!"
***
"Its one thing to say people should be allowed to live as they wish. Its another thing to force people to accept others lifestyle choices when they go against their moral beliefs. Its not funny, its not even annoying; its downright belligerent, condescending and rude. And it doesn't make it right when its Jews who are trying to force the gay lifestyle down the throats of Jews who want nothing to do with it."
***
"You need to realize, DS does not always bash the gays--and I will point out that gay behavior is called "an abomination to the L--d" in the Torah. My point stands, bro--she is pretty tolerant. What say you, DS?

I have learned to be tolerant of gays in general--but (by inference only) I totally agree with DS that the line is drawn at the point where gays force us to accept their behavior--pushing for gay marriage, gay protest marches with lewd displays, domestic "partners" benefits etc.

If you are gay, please do not publicize it and expect me to say you're just fine. You're not."
***

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2008/12/coincidentally.html

[IndianaGreen]

38. She is as unacceptable to give the invocation as is Rick Warren

Yet, here we are and Obama remains silent on Rick Warren's selection.

[Political Tiger]

41. Yet you give her a platform

and legitimacy anyway.

[IndianaGreen]

42. A thread on DU is neither a platform nor legitimacy. The Inaugural Invocation, on the other hand

does both quite well.

[Political Tiger]

44. The man is giving a prayer

not a sermon on the evils of homosexuality.

Just like Joseph Lowery will be giving a prayer and not a sermon on the evils of bigotry.

[Solon]

46. Uhm, he's still going to be elevated onto the national stage, isn't that bad, all by itself?

Its not what he will say during the inauguration, its what the man represents that matters.

[Political Tiger]

48. Warren's been on the national stage for years now

I just don't think him being on stage for 2 minutes saying a prayer is going to suddenly turn him into some sort of mega-superstar or that anybody is going change their views on homosexuality or abortion just because Warren says a prayer.

[IndianaGreen]

51. Obama's message is: This guy, Rick Warren, he's okay with me!

That's the message conveyed by having Warren give the invocation!

[stillcool]

47. Is Syria the "bad guy"?

Shit..is it too late for Bush to bomb them?

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/International_War_Crimes/Taking_Down_7_Countries.html
Syria, despite its cooperation with the U.S. against al-Qaeda, has been systematically vilified by a U.S. administration that now refuses to even talk to its government. Soon after Bush's infamous "axis of evil" speech in January 2002, John Bolton added a second tier of Syria, Libya and Cuba to the "evil" list. The anti-Syrian propaganda campaign has been relentless ever since. When no WMD were found in Iraq, some (following an assertion by Ariel Sharon as early as December 2002) suggested that they'd been removed to Syria. Immediately after the assassination of Rafik Hariri in February 2005, Washington -- with no evidence whatsoever -- pointed the finger at Syria. It demanded the withdrawal of Syrian troops in Lebanon, depicting them as an unwelcome oppressive force although they had been deployed there at the request of the Christian-led Lebanese government to help end a civil war.

When the Syrian forces expeditiously withdrew, the U.S. expressed its continued dissatisfaction, accusing Syria of continuing to maintain an intelligence network in the country (as though the U.S. doesn't). The U.S. has consistently accused Syria of harboring former Iraqi Baathist officials (as though there would be anything wrong with providing refuge to officials fleeing an illegally invaded country) and of allowing Arab fighters to cross its border into Iraq. The Syrians reply that they've strained their resources to better police their border, but that the Americans, who cannot adequately guard their own border with Mexico, are asking the impossible.

For many years Washington has designated Syria a terror-sponsoring nation because of its support for Palestinian resistance groups and Hizbollah, Lebanon's most popular political party. Although Syria has repeatedly offered to negotiate a peace agreement with Israel, it has been targeted by the neocons for regime change. A key step towards that end was obtained by the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003, passed overwhelmingly by Congress and signed into law by the president. This makes it official U.S. policy that "Syria should bear responsibility for attacks committed by Hizbollah and other terrorist groups with offices or other facilities in Syria, or bases in areas of Lebanon occupied by Syria" and gives the president broad discretion to take punitive actions.

In late 2005 Richard Perle -- one of the most important neocon architects of Washington's regime change policy -- hosted Farid Ghadry, the head of something called the "Syrian Reform Party," in his suburban Washington home. Last June Ghadry met the neocons' chief sponsor, Vice President Dick Cheney, to strategize about regime change in Syria. This gentleman has told the Wall Street Journal that Perle's buddy Ahmad Chalabi "paved the way in Iraq for what we want to do in Syria." Robert Dreyfuss writing in the American Prospect calls Ghadry "a pro-Israeli Syrian who's maintained ties to neoconservatives in Washington and who is close to Wurmser and his wife, Meyrav Wurmser, the director of Middle East affairs for the Hudson Institute."

In his most recent speech to the nation, President Bush virtually announced his intention to "take down" Syria: "Succeeding in Iraq," he declared, "also requires defending its territorial integrity . . . and stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq."