Since this is the issue of the day: Why do you think Obama asked Warren to deliver the invocation?

[MoonRiver]

Personally, I don't have a clue. I'm concerned about the McClurkin stuff, but does that signify anything more than trying to pull in all the fundie votes he could during the primary?
:shrug:

[Shakespeare]

1. Obama likely had nothing to do with it.

The committee who organizes the actual inaugural ceremony is completely separate from Obama's team.

However, Obama may be in a position to request they ask someone other than Warren, if we let him know it's unacceptable.

[MoonRiver]

3. Thanks, I didn't know that.

We definitely need to bombard him with demands to stop this absurd pick.

[EFerrari]

5. Not really. He and Biden had choices:

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/12/aretha_yoyo_and_rick_warren_at.html

(Sorry, had to fish for the right link.)

[saracat]

6. The buck stops with Obama. If he didn't want him he wouldn't allow him to be chosen.

[Runcible Spoon]

8. oh bullshit. we can't simultaneously commend Obama...

for having an excellent PR team, organizational strategy, he's on top of his team, he calls the shots so we shouldn't fear some of his more questionable appointments....

and then somehow give him a free pass because he had no input. Uh uh, sorry.

[IndianaJones]

2. maybe their religious views are a close match. nt.

[grantcart]

4. I think that they were probably focusing on other issues

and didn't think that the invocation would be a particularly significant part of the day.

[Runcible Spoon]

10. ummmm...no sorry

a very image-conscious and groomed politician like Obama would certainly recognize the importance of the inauguration of this historic magnitude.

[grantcart]

12. possibly though I am not sure that they thought that many people would care about the

invocation.

If they were really that image conscious they would have gotten somebody less controversial.


But you could be right.

[Neshanic]

7. Well first he was not in control, then now we have the in control theory, now

we will be discussing the items by line he could be involved in:

Parking tags? Obama decision.

Salad at Ball? Obama decision.

Who speaks? Not Obama decision.

Who sings? Not Obama decicion.

Parade? Obama decision.

Gay band in parade? Not Obama decision.

You get the drift.

[Runcible Spoon]

13. yeah, I get your drift that giving a sexist, homophobe wingnut legitimization in front of the whole

country is the same as deciding how much mayo in the Inaugural potato salad. Thanks for making your ignorance known so clearly, it's refreshing.

[QC]

9. He's just kissing fundamentalist butt again, like he's been doing since the campaign began.

Why do people find this so surprising? It's like Captain Renault, who was shocked, shocked! to find that there was gambling at Rick's.

[mattclearing]

14. Dingdingdingding!!!nt

[QC]

16. We are his Sister Souljah. n/t

[alwysdrunk]

11. Because he wants to be the President of ALL Americans.

And this is a demonstration of his commitment to that effort.

[QC]

15. So when's he reaching out to the Grand Dragon? n/t

[Runcible Spoon]

17. oh I love this one.

So why can't we get David Duke up there? Why is anti-gay and anti-choice bigotry any less offensive and more deserving of recognition by the President?

[EFerrari]

18. Oh, please. He's not having ALL Americans on that stage. n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

19. I think it was stop the garbage that has been spewing

from fundamentalist pulpits since Obama was the nominee. I still hear this garbage today--"Obama is a Muslim", "Obama is the Anti-Christ". Sort of hard for them to keep saying that if Warren gives the invocation--unless Warren tells his sheep that he was there to try and "Christianize" Obama or something like that--which I wouldn't put past him. I think this selection will come back to haunt Obama in more than one way--he's already angered the Left, and I think he won't reap the benefits he hoped to from the fundamentalists.

[Hanse]

20. Well, he picked Clinton for Secretary of State.

Despite what she did during the campaign.