For inauguration prayer, Obama splits ticket

Crabtownboy · Dec 20, 2008

The clergy chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to pray at his inauguration fill separate symbolic roles: One is a nod to the civil rights activists who made Obama's election possible. The other is an overture to conservative Christians who rankles some Obama supporters.

The Rev. Rick Warren, who will give the invocation, is the most influential pastor in the United States, and a choice that has already caused problems for Obama.

Warren is a Southern Baptist who holds traditional religious beliefs and endorsed California's Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage. But he also wants to broaden the evangelical agenda to include fighting global warming, poverty and AIDS.

The Rev. Joseph Lowery, 87, is considered the dean of the civil rights movement. For the benediction at the Jan. 20 swearing-in, he says he will pray that the "spirit of fellowship and oneness" at the inauguration endures throughout Obama's presidency.

"He gets a lot with these choices," said David Domke, author of "The God Strategy: How Religion Became a Political Weapon in America."

"Here's a guy who wants to run a progressive administration getting a substantial lift in his wings from the nation's most popular evangelical," Domke said. "But he balances that with Joseph Lowery, who speaks to the more liberal, social justice and African-American heritage."
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http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hTbyRNWAPcFqAtQshEEA9ZT6jGDwD955G2C83

Obama is doing what he said he would, trying to bring all sides together. After all, we are all Americans and it is much better to work together and to split and squabble and divide.

targus · Dec 20, 2008

Crabtownboy said:

Obama is doing what he said he would, trying to bring all sides together. After all, we are all Americans and it is much better to work together and to split and squabble and divide.
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Two Christian pastors is hardly all sides.

What about Jews, atheists, Muslims, Buddists, etc.?

Why are their beliefs being ignored?

Aren't they American too?

Trying to satisfy everyone is never a good idea.

If Obama's idea of leadership is trying to satisfy everyone - even if only symbolically, which is what this is - then he has a long four years ahead of him. Because you can't please everyone.

Besides, this just seems like he caved in to negative pressure after picking Warren.

I hope that is not an indication of his future leadership style.

For inauguration prayer, Obama splits ticket

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For inauguration prayer, Obama splits ticket

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