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Gay Leaders Furious With Obama

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Spinach, Dec 18, 2008.

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  1. Spinach

    Spinach New Member

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    http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081217/pl_politico/16693

    Barack Obama’s choice of a prominent evangelical minister to deliver the invocation at his inauguration is a conciliatory gesture toward social conservatives who opposed him in November, but it is drawing fierce challenges from a gay rights movement that – in the wake of a gay marriage ban in California – is looking for a fight.

    Rick Warren, the senior pastor of Saddleback Church in southern California, opposes abortion rights but has taken more liberal stances on the government role in fighting poverty, and backed away from other evangelicals’ staunch support for economic conservatism. But it’s his support for the California constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage that drew the most heated criticism from Democrats Wednesday.

    “Your invitation to Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at your inauguration is a genuine blow to LGBT Americans,” the president of Human Rights Campaign, Joe Solomonese, wrote Obama Wednesday. “[W]e feel a deep level of disrespect when one of architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination.”

    The rapid, angry reaction from a range of gay activists comes as the gay rights movement looks for an opportunity to flex its political muscle. Last summer gay groups complained, but were rebuffed by Obama, when an “ex-gay” singer led Obama’s rallies in South Carolina. And many were shocked last month when voters approved the California ban.

    “There is a lot of energy and there’s a lot of anger and I think people are wanting to direct it somewhere,” Solomonese told Politico.

    The selection of Warren to preside at the inauguration is not a surprise move, but it is a mirror image of President Bill Clinton’s early struggles with issues of gay rights. Obama has worked, and at times succeeded, to bridge the gap between Democrats and evangelical Christians, who form a solid section of the Republican base.

    Obama opposes same-sex marriage, but also opposed the California constitutional amendment Warren backed. In selecting Warren, he is choosing to reach out to conservatives on a hot-button social issue, at the cost of antagonizing gay voters who overwhelmingly supported him.

    Clinton, by contrast, drew early praise from gay rights activists by pressing to allow openly gay soldiers to serve, only to retreat into the “don’t ask, don’t tell” compromise that pleased few.

    The reaction Wednesday in gay rights circles was universally negative.

    “It’s a huge mistake,” said California gay rights activist Rick Jacobs, who chairs the state’s Courage Campaign. “He’s really the wrong person to lead the president into office.

    “Can you imagine if he had a man of God doing the invocation who had deliberately said that Jews are not going to be saved and therefore should be excluded from what’s going on in America? People would be up in arms,” he said.

    The editor of the Washington Blade, Kevin Naff, called the choice “Obama’s first big mistake.”

    “His presence on the inauguration stand is a slap in the faces of the millions of GLBT voters who so enthusiastically supported him,” Naff wrote, referring to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. “This tone-deafness to our concerns must not be tolerated. We have just endured eight years of endless assaults on our dignity and equality from a president beholden to bigoted conservative Christians. The election was supposed to have ended that era. It appears otherwise.”

    Other liberal groups chimed in.

    “Rick Warren gets plenty of attention through his books and media appearances. He doesn’t need or deserve this position of honor,” said the president of People for the American Way, Kathryn Kolbert, who described Warren as “someone who has in recent weeks actively promoted legalized discrimination and denigrated the lives and relationships of millions of Americans.”

    Warren’s spokeswoman did not respond to a message seeking comment, but he has tried to blend personal tolerance with doctrinal disapproval of homosexuality.

    “I have many gay friends, I’ve eaten dinner in gay homes. No church has probably done more for people with AIDS than Saddleback Church,” he said in a recent interview with BeliefNet.

    In the same interview, he compared the “redefiniton of a marrige” to include gay marriage to legitimizing incest, child abuse, and polygamy.

    Obama’s move may deepen some apparent distance between him among gays and lesbians, one of the very few core Democratic groups among whom his performance was worse than John Kerry’s in 2004. Exit polls suggested that John McCain won 27% of the gay vote in November, up four points from Bush’s 2004 tally – even as almost all other voters slid toward Obama.

    But despite the symbolism of picking Warren, Obama is likely to shift several substantive policy areas in directions that will please gay voters and their political leaders, including a pledge to end “don’t ask, don’t tell” in military service.

    And some gay activists were holding out hope that they would either persuade Obama to dump Warren or Warren to change his mind.

    “Rick Warren did a real disservice to gay families in California and across the country by casually supporting our continued exclusion from marriage,” said the founder of the pro-same sex marriage Freedom to Marry, Evan Wolfson. “I hope in the spirit of the new era that’s dawning, he will open his heart and speak to all Americans about inclusion and our country’s commitment to equality.”
     
    #1 Spinach, Dec 18, 2008
  2. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    No invocation is needed at all. It is an inauguration, not a church service. I suppose there are some on this board who are disappointed it isn't a Muslim Imam or Rev. Jeremiah Wright. :laugh:
     
    #2 Magnetic Poles, Dec 18, 2008
  3. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    It is impossible to make everyone happy.

    If Obama did not have an invocation he would catch flack from many and as we see he is criticized for having an invocation on this BB.

    I bet there has been an invocation at every inaguration in our history.

    MP, I expect you are right there are some who are disappointed that he is not having a Moslem give an invocation as this means they cannot critize him for having Moslem there.

    Give the man a break.
     
    #3 Crabtownboy, Dec 18, 2008
  4. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    I am sure that there will be some reason for conservative believers to criticise the president elect for his choice - just hold on.
     
    #4 NaasPreacher (C4K), Dec 18, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 18, 2008
  5. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    That didn't take long...

    I was wondering how long it would be before CNN turned on Obama.

    I was watching Anderson 360 last night, and a couple CNN contributors were really criticizing Obama. And were calling Warren a bigot for speaking out against homosexuality, and they were aligning him with the far right... which made me laugh. I guess I don't see Warren as far right.

    But it seems that anyone that goes against the precious homosexuals in this country will be defamed on CNN Because on another segment, Christians were being called names.. .

    One of the contributors said something like, "I guess all the millions that loved Purpos Driven Life are bigots?"

    But the overall tone last night was, "How dare Obama line himself with bigots.'

    Well if aligning myself against homosexuality and gay marriage is bigoted, let the name calling begin.
     
    #5 tinytim, Dec 18, 2008
  6. targus

    targus New Member

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    This is a non-issue.

    When voting for President, I am not looking for a religous leader.

    Obama can pick anyone he wants to say a prayer at his inauguration - it wouldn't impress me either way.

    And I don't see what the gays are upset about. As the author of the article pointed out:

    "But despite the symbolism of picking Warren, Obama is likely to shift several substantive policy areas in directions that will please gay voters and their political leaders..."
     
    #6 targus, Dec 18, 2008
  7. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    Rick Warren- the 21st century's Billy Graham. May his tribe increase.

    Even if I do not agree with all of his teachings and methods.
     
    #7 Mexdeaf, Dec 18, 2008
  8. Spinach

    Spinach New Member

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    #8 Spinach, Dec 18, 2008
  9. North Carolina Tentmaker

    North Carolina Tentmaker New Member

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    Obama defends choice of evangelical pastor

    More on Obama's response:

    http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D95591H00&show_article=1

    From the link:
    I did not vote for him, but Barack Obama is about to become MY president. He now represents all of us, even those of us who did not support him. And from what he is saying he recognizes and respects that.

    Now he has his own agenda and own ideas and he is going to try to advance that, but I am encouraged that a variety of views will at least be listened to by his administration.

    I know, its all still talk, but there are things I am starting to like about him.
     
    #9 North Carolina Tentmaker, Dec 18, 2008
  10. just-want-peace

    just-want-peace Well-Known Member
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    Frankly, the man scares the bejeebers out of me. There are times that I would love to be proven wrong, however, and should he surprise me with far less socialistic governing than I expect, well, I'll be most happy to be proven wrong.

    One of the points that is a stickler for me though, is the fact that he came from total obscurity to POTUS in such a short time. This tells me that there is some power(s) behind him that are calling the shots, and not knowing WHO, or their agenda, scares me.

    But I'm at peace in any case, cause I know who is really in charge.

    (I've also read the last chapter in THE BOOK, so I know how it all ends.:jesus::godisgood: )

    The term "scare", I guess, should more aptly be "concerned"!!
     
    #10 just-want-peace, Dec 18, 2008
  11. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    It's just a smokescreen to blind everyone while he secretly takes his oath on the Koran, with a copy of the Communist Manifesto in his left hand.
     
    #11 Bro. Curtis, Dec 18, 2008
  12. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    BTW, you guy's "wondering" about conservatives is just an oblique way to slander us before we even post anything. It's childish. Even if other people do it.
     
    #12 Bro. Curtis, Dec 18, 2008
  13. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    Another point, gay leaders are always miffed at someone.
     
    #13 Bro. Curtis, Dec 18, 2008
  14. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    I think Obama's choice is consistent with his view of using former opponents or people he has not sided with in his administration, like Hillary and many of her people. Have you noticed all the Clintonites he's appointing? Some Obama supporters are upset because they think this is not "change."

    It seems to be his way. I heard on NPR today that he is a "reconciler" who likes to bring those with differing views together.
     
    #14 Marcia, Dec 18, 2008
  15. Bible-boy

    Bible-boy Active Member

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    The NPR quote should have also said that he is a "reconciler" who likes to bring those with differing views together, in an attempt to convince everyone to side with his Liberal Socialist agenda, and if they refuse at least he will have "listened" to them as he plowed ahead with his Liberal/Socialist agenda.
     
    #15 Bible-boy, Dec 18, 2008
  16. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    Note to President Elect Obama.

    Welcome to the oval office. Looks like the honeymoon is over and you've yet to get the keys.

    Your nation,

    the US of A
     
    #16 LeBuick, Dec 18, 2008
  17. Gold Dragon

    Gold Dragon Well-Known Member

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    I like this quote from Obama.
     
    #17 Gold Dragon, Dec 18, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 18, 2008
  18. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    I don't know how evangelical this Rick Warren dude is. I do know I can't find out where he stands on a lot of issues that are important to me without paying for it. I notice he's got about twenty books out, as well. Perhaps that is what this is about.
     
    #18 Bro. Curtis, Dec 19, 2008
  19. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    Having given this thought, I see Obama choice of Warren as his way of helping the GOP broaden their horizon and obtain a more viable platform in the future of American politics. Most evangelical preachers only speak about two “hot-button” issues, abortion and g@y marriage. Warren is different and his selection by Obama may get him viewed as a political leader amongst evangelical clergy. Warren believes Christians have a duty to advocate for more than just abortion. He believes the Church should also focus on world poverty and social injustice. I think it’s a win-win for Obama and the evangelicals if he can get their leadership expand their view of moral atrocities and start addressing other issues like AIDS and poverty. This will allow both sides of the equation to ultimately benefit.

    I don’t think many evangelicals will look past their hatred of Obama to see what he’s done for them, but this is really a good thing in the end. I watched this thread and noticed it didn't get as much interest as the Obama allowed a g@y band in the parade thread. Having a g@y band and an anti g@y clergy in the same program is truly a man trying to bring the nation together on common ground.
     
    #19 LeBuick, Dec 19, 2008
  20. JustChristian

    JustChristian New Member

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    Lincoln came from obscurity to President in a short time. What nefarious organization was supporting him? The people whom he championed in an historic way. Harry Truman owned a Hat Shop and yet has come to be thought of as another great American President.
     
    #20 JustChristian, Dec 19, 2008
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