Obama said that he would be "[their] President too".

[Barack_America]

And Rick Warren seems to be "their" leader.

As a Democrat, I loathe, despise and am positively infuriated by Obama's choice of Warren to give the invocation. But that seems to be Obama's goal here (pissing us off, that is).

Yet in the small "d" democratic sense, I understand Obama's goal, even though I can't agree with him on it. I'd rather pretend that the Religious Right doesn't exist or at least ignore everything they have to say. But does that approach really change their beliefs or political influence? Probably not.

With regards to this Warren thing, perhaps Obama is just more noble and democratic than I...or maybe he's just flat out wrong. For me that decision will be made by what Warren says in the invocation and the role Obama plays in shaping what he says. For all of our sakes, let's hope that the Obama team does a better job handling him than they have these people in the past (i.e. in early primary states).

So I'm just sitting here in the corner in wait-and-see mode, with my arms folded and a scowl on my face. I'm pissed, but I'm going to reserve my final judgment until I hear what Warren has to say.

I'd be interested in hearing what DUers who regularly interact with fundies think about this. (I'm in Philly so I don't)

Apologies for the rambling, disjointed post, but that pretty much accurately reflects how I feel about this. grr, meh, !, etc.

[tyne]

1. Jaysus

"As a Democrat, I loathe, despise and am positively infuriated by Obama's choice of Warren to give the invocation. But that seems to be Obama's goal here (pissing us off, that is)."

Can we be any more childish? It's a frigfin invocation.

[TankLV]

22. You assholes just don't fucking get it...

and yes - assholes...

[Cali_Democrat]

2. That's one of Obama's goals?

To piss us off?

:rofl:

[Barack_America]

5. With this move, yes.

Enraged liberals will be a very intriguing thing to the Religious Right.

[oviedodem]

14. Yes, it helps with getting repulican support for his agenda.

[thenam]

21. Success n/t

[bunnies]

3. Yeah. Obama does things just to piss you off.

Thats his entire goal right now. :banghead:

[Cali_Democrat]

4. Obama doesn't like General Discussion: Presidential

He wanted to create havoc in this forum and he has succeeded.

Obama is a friggin evil genius :P

[bunnies]

6. Today GD: P....

Tomorrow... The Woooorrrrld! mmmwwahahaha! :rofl:

[Barack_America]

10. Not me, "us". Liberals.

And yes, IMO, Obama will (and already has) made moves that he knows that will anger liberals in part because he knows that angered liberals will be very intriguing to moderates and conservatives, whose support he is keen to receive.

[bunnies]

12. And what, exactly, would be the purpose of that?

He's already been elected. He doesnt need their support any more than * needed liberal support.

[Barack_America]

13. Getting legislation passed.

Being elected President isn't the end of needing support, it's the beginning. Democrats do not have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate and many congressional Democrats are from conservative districts/states. If Obama has any hope of achieving his rather ambitious agenda, he's going to need to have the support of moderate Dems and some Republicans. That isn't going to happen if their constituents demand that they oppose Obama at every turn.

[bunnies]

15. But I doubt that Rick Warren will have any effect on that.

Obama has an 80% approval rating - he's already got what he needs. The constituents are already on his side.

[Barack_America]

20. That's not going to hold.

Unless Obama keeps playing to the center, that is.

[winter999]

16. Any move he makes to try to unite the vast majority of the U.S. citizenry

will always anger the far Left and Right. If you're on the fringe, get used to being disappointed. The only way to "win" is be convincing the Majority of your position. Any other way always leads to failure.

[Barack_America]

19. The trick is to see beyond your personal feelings.

It's perfectly fine to be anger.

It's not fine to expect your anger to be catered to.

Obama's choice of Warren angers me, but I recognize that the choice may serve a purpose and I don't expect Obama to alter his decision to accommodate my personal feelings.

[mtnsnake]

7. Yeah I suppose he's returning the favor because of how Bush was our president too (snicker)

[Barack_America]

8. No, he actually seems determined to do it.

[mckeown1128]

9. The office of president isn't about payback...

I know some of you want to nail it to the republicans to repay bush's unleadership style... but Democrats are bigger people than that and Obama is reaching out...even if the republicans will never return the favor.

[Barack_America]

11. Yup, that's the small "d" democracy I was referring to.

I don't like the Warren move, but I do understand that it may serve a purpose.

[alwysdrunk]

18. No, that's the difference. That's the CHANGE

Obama is NOT the liberal Bush. Get used to it.

[uponit7771]

17. He can be "thier" president too without accepting the worst aspects of "thier" cutlure.