Obama and Warren: Keeping our priorities straight

[silverojo]

No, I'm not homophobic. Yes, I believe gays and lesbians deserve the right to marry. I hate Warren, and think Obama's an idiot to deal with him at all.

But we need to get real, and prioritize.

It doesn't matter if one is gay OR straight...marriage is far less urgent than so many more issues facing us today.

We need to fix our economy first, or else there will be nothing left for ANYONE to have, no matter what sexual persuasion you are.

People are dying from lack of health care. When it comes between a dying person, and someone (gay OR straight) wanting to get married, the dying person comes first.

When a country is in as big a mess as ours is, you have to fix the "basic needs" issues first, THEN work on social issues.

I'm NOT saying Obama did the right thing, nor am I being an apologist for him. I'm just saying that we, as Democrats, are letting one issue sidetrack us from the urgent life-or-death issues that are facing us.

Case in point: Everyone's pissed about Warren, because he's homophobic. But he's also sexist and anti-Semitic. WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE ABOUT HIS BELIEFS ABOUT WOMEN AND JEWS? This is what I mean, about people here being too focused on just one issue, and not the big picture. Homophobia is just one of "Reverend" Warren's bigoted beliefs. Can we please show some concern about his bigotry toward women and Jews?

The passage of Prop 8 has (mistakenly) made everybody think that, somehow, this will prevent gay marriage forever. All civil rights movements faced setbacks. They are to be expected, not received with the shock and dismay that Prop 8 has. A setback is NOT a defeat! It just means that more effort and time is required, to reach a goal. Please, try to be patient and understand that justice WILL eventually prevail.

Right now, there are issues that need to be dealt with IMMEDIATELY. Jobs must be created right away. Medical care must be given to everyone as soon as legally possible. Foreclosure evictions must be stopped before homelessness reaches epic proportions. These are issues that mean the difference between people living and dying. Things that must be dealt with NOW.

Gay/lesbian marriage WILL happen. Don't ever lose faith. The Prop 8 disaster only happened because of confusing wording. The American people become increasingly more tolerant, and THAT'S why the Right has become so radical.

Consider how long the Far Right has worked to gain power. I remember in the late 1970's, Fundie organizations advertised in TV Guide. WKRP in Cincinnati even had an episode about a Jerry Falwell type character trying to ban records. They've been working for about 30 years, toward their goals.

That's why we, as Democrats, can't allow this sort of hysterical dismay to make us lose sight of the big picture. We must keep working as hard as the Far Right does, to defeat their bigotry.

I know that's precisely why the selection of Warren is so offensive to us. But the bigotry isn't just about gays, when they hate women, hate Jews, hate people of other religions...anyone who isn't just like them.

So we need to be complaining about ALL these issues, to show people how truly offensive Rev. Warren is. He's not just homophobic...he's an equal-opportunity bigot.

I'm the first to say that Obama really f***ed up on this one. No, we can't forgive him for being so stupidly, overly eager to reach out to the Right. But we do need to support him on all the other issues that are of desperate urgency.

Because if we don't get this country back on track, we'll all be too sick, broke, and starving to fight for ANY issue...including gay marriage.

--------------------

P.S. -- Before anyone accuses me of being homophobic, be aware that I'm a lesbian. I simply realize that averting a depression is the #1 priority issue in this country right now.

[emilyg]

1. Good words.

[mondo joe]

2. He can deal with those priorities without giving a position of honor to an outright

bigot, as you know.

[silverojo]

5. I know...that's what I said. - n/t

[mondo joe]

6. So I don't get what the issue is with priorities. They don't conflict. NT

[my2sense]

3. K & R

I think you meant to type "Warren" not "Wright".

:hi:

[silverojo]

4. You're right

Thanks for pointing that out. :)

[lapfog_1]

7. Uh... you might want to rethink your position here...

"People are dying from lack of health care. When it comes between a dying person, and someone (gay OR straight) wanting to get married, the dying person comes first."

You see, a great number of Americans have come before you, like my brother, who went off to war to fight (and die, like my brother) for our rights. So, while starving people are definitely important, others choose to die so that we can have our freedoms and our rights. For all of us.

You are asking us to make the same trade that Bush/Cheney asked... that we trade in our Freedoms and Rights for security. You are asking it in terms of our health and economic security, Bush/Cheney were asking in their twisted understanding of our national security. Freedom from terror in exchange for Freedom to speak or Freedom to travel, or even, in the abstract, freedom to live our lives and marry who we choose.

We rejected (finally) their call to make that trade.

And we will reject your offer as well. No matter how well intended.

In the end, we are all going to die. So while we yet live, we will live in freedom and secure in our equal rights under the law. That goes for everyone, not just some, not even a majority. Otherwise, what is the point in living? This is why our soldiers fight for this country, and die for it. No other reason could be compelling enough. Sometimes those lives (and that sacrifice) are used by the unscrupulous, but it doesn't cheapen the sacrifice.

If we don't fight for our freedoms and our rights, what does it matter that we are broke, sick, or starving?

Do you think that this country was founded by people who were rich, healthy, and fat?

When the First Republican Great Depression came, did we give up our rights and our freedoms for more soup from the soup kitchen? We didn't do it then and we won't do it now.

[ColbertWatcher]

12. Bravo! You should consider posting that as it's own thread! n/t

[scarletwoman]

8. The point for me is that Rick Warren is a plastic, self-aggrandizing, huckster with no genuine

spiritual chops whatsoever. He's just an egoistic opportunist. Giving Rick Warren a national stage for doing his schtick is akin to nominating Paris Hilton for Treasury Secretary.

To me it betrays an alarming lack of inner depth and principle in Obama.

sw

[Creideiki]

9. Because, say, 30 minutes of time to ensure every citizen

has the same rights is way too much time.

Let me know what's important for you, so I can decide where it fits on my list of priorities. If it's not high enough, then, well, your priorities will just have to wait.

[sandnsea]

10. Nothing is more important than my family

If I felt like my kids could be ripped from me at any moment because the legal system doesn't like who I love, well, I suppose I wouldn't think there was much of anything more important than that.

We ALL need to be careful how we move forward.

[ColbertWatcher]

11. The priority should be to consider that this is literally the only time ...

... America will elect its first black president.

A man who has made his career based on hatred towards women, gays, Jews and any and every other person targeted by Warren's stealth dominionism will be involved in this opportunity.

His words are filled with hate for people who are not in the majority.

To simplify this opportunity into a false choice between averting an economic disaster created by the GOP or appeasing that same GOP by giving one of them the stage is intellectually dishonest.

We do not have to choose between our liberties and our safety and we do not have to choose between averting an economic disaster and recognizing every citizen's rights.

Instead of arguing, I suggest everyone help with Operation "Make Rick Warren Eat His Words" http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4680741&mesg_id=4680741

[alittlelark]

13. I made a similar post last night and was attacked...

I'm hoping the initial reactionary stuff will dissipate soon.

[Luminous Animal]

15. What reactionary stuff?

Details are important. Link?

[alittlelark]

16. Here is a link to thread I posted in for quite awhile last night.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4672529#4672563


The 'reactionary' is immediate, a limbic response .... I was asking those responding to look at a chess game.

We, as a country are in a dire predicament. I believe he is trying to pry 10's of millions of McCain voters into the 'WE can do it fold'

[Luminous Animal]

17. And you think featuring a bigot

is going to change bigots minds? Rather it gives bigotry legitimacy... "You like me! You really like me!"

Where are the racists, Mr. Obama?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4675654&mesg_id=4675654

[pnorman]

18. "Chess game" is the image that was in my mind when I read this posting.

I don't play any board games (Chess, Checkers, Go, etc.), but I can appreciate what being able to "think 3 or 4 moves ahead" would mean for a national (and also world) leader. In my opinion, Obama has that ability, and he's amply demonstrated it these past two years. I believe he's using that in this issue. And if you like me believe that he's basically GOOD rather than EVIL, then cut him some slack fercrissakes!

pnorman

[Luminous Animal]

14. We do not defeat their bigotry

by featuring a bigot at one of the most historic moments in our nation.

Your post is bullshit.

By the way, you accuse Warren of "hating Jews"... proof please?

[Political Tiger]

19. I'm not happy about Obama having Rick Warren deliver the inaugural invocation

but I believe that Obama is sincere about trying to bring the country together. And it occurs to me that if he's going to do that he's bound to make people mad on both sides, including me.

[WritersBlock]

20. Good post. n/t

[HamdenRice]

21. A Grownup! Writing on DU! Groundbreaking! k&r

Nicely articulated.

[MineralMan]

22. I understand where you're coming from, but...

this is not a zero-sum game. As several have pointed out, it would have been easy for President-elect Obama to have avoided this storm of criticism. He would only have needed to not invite Warren to give the invocation. That was a serious mistake.

While you are right that there are a number of priorities that may immediately outrank GLBT issues, and some that included everyone, the choice of Warren was not a wise one, in that it made some people believe that Obama didn't respect GLBT issues at all, which is probably not true. But...the inference is easily made.

What does Obama do now? I don't know. The mistake has been made.