Thursday, December 18, 2008
Co-opted or Co-opting?
Pastor Rick Warren, the pastor of Saddleback Church, where Barack Obama was sandbagged by John McCain, will deliver the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration on Jan. 20. While he is a recognizable celebrity and best-selling author, Warren also advocates a number of deeply anti-progressive views. He supported California’s anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 and has likened gay marriage to polygamy and incest. He is strongly anti-choice, and has equated abortion to the Holocaust. Warren also supports the assassination of foreign leaders. Appearing on Fox’s Hannity and Colmes on December 3, Warren agreed with Sean Hannity’s assertion that “we need to take him [Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad] out,” saying that stopping evil “is the legitimate role of government.” He added, “The Bible says that God puts government on earth to punish evildoers.” Watch the above video to hear Warrens own words.
Remember, this is the same Pastor Rick Warren who lied about the "Cone of Silence" that McCain was supposedly subjected to before his appearance. With in days of the Saddleback Conference, it was a proven fact that McCain was not in isolation and had access to Obama's answers to the same questions he would be asked.
I really wonder exactly what message Obama is trying to send by chooding this Anti-choice, anti-gay, pro-assassination pastor to give inaugural invocation?
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8 comments:
Maybe the same message he sent forward by being a member of a Black Supremacist Church for 20 years with complaint or issues given about that.
I think he simply sees himself as untouchable....and I don't know if he's wrong about that...
Just started reading today, and so far I like what I see. Still I don't see you communicating very well across the aisle using terms like "anti-progressive" and "anti-choice".
perhaps, because I consider my self as part of the "progressive" side of the fence and I am pro chice.
The pro choiuce part is very much a concern of mine.
I also am a supperter of gay rights.
I see most religious activiy and thought as being basically anti progressive so to speak.
I also think you buy into the extreme conservative press views by referring to Obama's church as Black Supremicist.
That is a big error in basically misunderstanding and misinterpreting the the feelings and expression of the black commuunity in America.
What was said and went on in Obama's church by the reverend wright was not much different that what is said in churches white and black all over the USA. There are white clergymen who espouse the same views...There are more clergymen who keep their mouths shut about social issues and tell the flock not to worry about the government.
Racism the lot of it, and I'm saddened at people's effort to mitigate obvious agendas of hate.
I'd agree that most Main-Stream Judeo-Christian churches are against Gay marriage. Too bad, as I see it as an extension of family values to a broader part of the community, and would get rid of one of the big boogie-men that fuels homophobia.
Still I live in Massachusetts, where we have gay marriage in Churches!
Meanwhile we also have high crime, high taxes, and massive corruption that appears to only be 2nd Chicago, all being done under the bastardized of "Progress", Its really an offensive term in that it implies that one side will never archive progress, while the other can not know regression (both are totally untrue)
As you might have gleaned from the discussion at Mike's place, I'm pro-life...but I'm also well aware that a ban on Abortion would simply kill more mothers in black-market procedures than infants saved from murder in the womb. So while I 100% agree that life begins at conception, I personally cannot support recognizing abortion for the murder that it is in the political theater.
Of course I can't call such a stance "Anti-Choice" any more than than our legal system is against my choice to kill the creepy guy at the office because he's interrupting my work and annoying me....or killing my wife because we're having a disagreement, or killing my born infant because we're in a recession and one extra mouth to feed is a burden.
Some choices just shouldn't be made.
Thanks for the great discussion!
I'm a little worried that Obama's decision to work with Rev. Wright is a bad sign. I supported Obama since before Hillary dropped out, but since the election I'm getting worried. We'll see soon enough.
Hey Wierd Beard! Is your moniker an homage to FooManchu?
Awesome band!
I, too, cannot figure Obama's decision to have the 'reverend' at his inauguration. Even though he wants to 'reach out' to the other side, there ought to be limits.
There are plenty of other pastors out there who bring a much more inclusive message.
Additionally, I am not happy with the Salazar selection for Interior. The oil, coal, lumber, mining and ranching interests cheered the selection.
Gaud!
I think Obama is trying to be "inclusive" but come on already. You can be inclusive while refusing to stoop to new levels of institutionalized stupidity and pandering to religious nuts.
I'm not so sanguine on Obama - it seems like we're continually getting set up over here. Who else were we going to vote for? Again, I liked Donald Duck, but compromised and voted (out of scant hope) for Obama.
Weerd...Let's face it, we aren't the ones to decide what a woman can do concerneing her health issues and her moral principles.
In an ideal world an abortion would only be a drastic health influenced decision, but this isn't by any means an ideal world.
The responsible attitude would be to promote a society that encouraged intelligent sexual attitudes and made bringing a child into the world a much easier proposition.
I don't see either of those conditions occuring in America.
Jimbo....I am an Obama supporter from the get go!
I want to trust him and his judgement and believe that by letting Warren administer the oath, he nails the coffin on the religious rights freak show concerning his true beliefs.
In this light, I believe he is co opting the wingnuts.
On the other hand, I wish the day of the influence of the mega churches and the politicization of religion or the religiousization of politics...what ever...was over and done with.
These jerks have too much power and to legitimatize them by giving one of the most powerful bigwigs this platform is potentially dangerous.
What ever Obama does...it's going to be different that what we have seen over the last and I hope the last 16 years.
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