State of Protest

Is he merely catering to the small minority of Christian fundamentalist fanatics whom he threatens to depose by his mere accession to the presidential seat? Is he secretly homophobic? Is this subtle humor to show us what life would have been like under a McCain/Palin administration? Did all the hundreds of other potential choices have something scheduled on January 20th? Or was Obama just not thinking straight when he decided to invite the notorious fundamentalist homophobe Rick Warren to offer an inaugural prayer next month?

Yes, this is what everyone is jabbering about right now. Oh my God, you picked Rick Warren!?!?! Out of all the people! Well, I was jabbering, among a few others, about Obama’s pro-Christian, to the point of making me nervous about him, attitude way back in July, when I wrote “Thank God Obama Worships the “Right” God.” I mentioned that in light of rumors that Obama was Muslim, because he had attended a Muslim school for a short time as a child, Obama’s “Factcheck” web page, devoted to quelling such rumors, spent an inordinate amount of space not only just simply denying Obama’s Muslimhood, but also wildly exaggerating Obama’s Christianity. I was worried that what appeared to be wild exaggeration was actually a sign that Obama was a closet fundamentalist, or at least has a strong preference for the Christian religion and beliefs. My examination of the statements he’s made to that effect in the past, coupled with his selection of Rick Warren, have solidified my doubts about his demeanor with regard to Christian partisanship.

Regarding Warren, vjack at Atheist Revolution sums the pastor up nicely:

-Warren supported the ban on gay marriage in California.
-Warren opposes reproductive rights.
-Warren is clearly outside mainstream America and has been compared, fairly I believe, to James Dobson. Hell, he’s compared himself to Dobson!¹

Now, we probably shouldn’t jump on the guilt by association bandwagon (as Obama’s opponents were wont to do during the election), but there are significantly safer, more neutral, and more politically correct (forgive me) selections for an inaugural companion. And this news of the Warren selection is right on the heels of other questionable behavior by Obama — notably, his cabinet choices. Having a cabinet and set of advisors that even Cheney agrees with should send up little red flags all over America.

Someone should ask Obama about what part of “change” we must have misunderstood. Is this country about to be run by the old administration in sheep’s clothing? Instead, how about… A bit of change away from the status quo of treating Christians and most other mainstream religions with preference; a change away from the Bush Doctrine; a change away from civil rights destruction (including the Patriot Act and its relatives); a change away from arbitrary discrimination in the guise of morality, promoted and perpetuated by religious groups; a change from the useless war on drugs (that ends up leaving the U.S. with the highest ratio of inmates in the entire world); a change from sexual discrimination in every form; a change away from criminalization of that which does not hurt, but is criminalized solely because of puritan influence; a change from pointless wars or wars fought for oil, or dominance, or whatever; a change from homophobia and the perpetuation of tradition that used to sit comfortably next to slavery and treating women as chattel. This isn’t change for the sake of change. It’s a change to improve our lives, get us out from under the foot of oppression, and help make this entire world more livable and, gods forbid, lovable.

Where’s that change, Obama? I don’t see it. I see, again, falling in line.

-Procrustes (pissed)

—

Who else has something to say about this issue?

Christopher Hitchens, at Slate, says we can do much better than Warren. If we must have an officiating priest.

Rob Boston at the AU Blog says that although Warren poses as a moderate, he’s really just another Falwell wannabee.

Vjack, as mentioned above, has a few things to say, including the wise advice to not sweep this one under the rug. He’s also indirectly supplied me with a few of these links to other articles, as well as bringing to my attention the contact information for Obama’s team.

The Atheist Experience is calling this Obama’s first big screwup.

Pam Spaulding, at Pam’s House Blend, suggests that although it’s a good idea to let the Obama camp know how we feel about this issue, it’s unlikely to be reversed.

Dave Silverman, at American Atheists, reminds Obama that he’s supposed to be a Democrat. (however, I say, look at the behavior of the rest of the self-proclaimed Democrats in Congress)

Bligbi nails the point in that by choosing Warren, Obama is making the pastor his representative. And, better yet, calls Obama out on his claim to be a fierce advocate of the LGBT community.

CNN has an interview of Rick Warren by Kiran Chetry.

Greta Christina (recently featured at BoingBoing) worries that Obama just wants everyone to like him, and in his attempt to eschew intolerance, he will become too tolerant.

Daily Kos acknowledges that there may be a silver lining in all this — that Obama will now be forced to continue to affirm his stance of equality with regard to LGBT rights.

Olbermann on Warren:

Rachel Maddow:

More to follow soon, as the theatrics roll.

1. http://www.atheistrev.com/2008/12/obamas-inaugural-blunder-rick-warren.html [<]

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