Obama asked about Warren at presser

Yeah, exactly

Basing it in my own experience, here's how I phrased it in the emails I sent out last night:

As a Jew, the closest analogy I can come up with is if an anti-Semite, who had just helped pass laws stripping Jews of their rights, was invited to play a major role in President Obama's inauguration -- and when people protested, they were told that the desire to be inclusive meant that the new administration welcomed anti-Semites.  Do you think a marching band and Reverend Lowery would be enough to placate people?  If not, why do LGBT's get less consideration?

jon

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by: jonpincus @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 11:32:33 AM CST

Maybe an advocate, but...

by no means "fierce."  His support has been tepid at best.

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by: bgkev @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 11:33:24 AM CST

I think John Aravosis just said it pretty well in response

Great, then where are the racists, Mr. Obama? We don't see you embracing too many of them in the name of learning to agree to disagree. Or does your desire to create a new "atmosphere," and reach out to our enemies, stop when it's your own people, your own children, you'd be betraying? Funny how you only reach across the aisle when it's someone else's family, gay families in particular, getting the shaft.

http://www.americablog.com/200...

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by: Scott_NC @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 11:36:03 AM CST

Racists simply aren't , at the moment, a powerful enough contituency

At this point, I wouldn't give him the benefit of the doubt on making a principled decision there, either.

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto

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by: Sportin' Life @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:42:10 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Thanks but no thanks, asshole

I think it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans. It is something I have been consistent on and something I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency.

During the election a lot of people got upset when I commented on "the black man is telling us that separate but equal is okay." Too bad I was right, this is his official position, and will be so the rest of his Presidency. If this is the kind of help we can expect from Obama, we may as well have elected Bible Spice. At least she knows who her base is. I'd rather an honest christofascist bigot than a lying hypocrite any day.


God save ornery old queens! - kevinchi

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by: Keori @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:00:04 PM CST

Gosh, John is upset?

Why? I mean , after all, Obama has a gay band in the parade. We're represented

To remind Mr A of his own policy ideas, this is "incrementalism."

We have never had any gay participation in any inaugural before so the presence of a marching band out of the hundred or so units is a huge incremental step forward.

After all, John A loudly defended incrementalism during ENDA. Well, john, this is incrementalism. We get a band.

And just like you told the trans-people and butch Lesbians that they are really not part of the "gay community," well, the LGBT's are not really part of the Democratic party.

Obama, by the way, is strongly in favour of gay and Lesbian rights(apparently the trans are already beneath the bus). Strongly in favour of all of our rights with one exception: true full equality and citizenship.

I tell you Chica that no greater abomination exists than women denying their spirit of sisterhood and instead becoming the oppressor. -Rebeca, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

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by: MauraHennessey @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:03:22 PM CST

Following up on Pam's question last night...

...I've been trying to think of a song to suggest that the band play.  Something that would cleverly indicate protest as they marched down Penn. Ave. in their minstrel uniforms.

Did H.L. Mencken write any songs?  Too bad the various musical versions of Elmer Gantry are not more widely known.

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto

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by: Sportin' Life @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:50:13 PM CST

[ Parent ]

He makes it clear

that he believes gay "issues" are social issues and not civil rights issues.  Nuff said.

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by: Narra @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:03:39 PM CST

If this is fierce,

I'll take a pass.

Fiercely advocating for gays doesn't not include making a man who consistently calls us a blight the pre-eminent pastor of America.

b

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by: rhetor1999 @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:06:15 PM CST

Enough is enough

I think it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans.

If that's fierce advocacy, I'd hate like hell to have his lukewarm sympathy.

I will never again vote for any candidate who doesn't support full equality under the law -- and I don't mean separate but equal, either -- for LGBTIs.  

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by: earthlingblues @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:08:08 PM CST

It is not the same! Say it ain't so, Barack!

"And I would note that a couple of years ago I was invited to Rick Warren's church to speak, despite his awareness that I held views entirely contrary to his when it came to gay and lesbian rights, when it came to issues like abortion."

Warren invited you to his church, a private organization holding a private event.  You are inviting him to your inauguration, which is not a private event.

Inviting Warren to deliver a prayer at the inauguration is a slap in the face to the many gay and lesbian Americans who worked so hard to get you elected, Mr. President-elect.

Rick Warren is a hatemonger, plain and simple.  So long as he uses his pulpit to promote hatred and bias against gay and lesbian Americans, he has no place at the inauguration of a progressive president.

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by: jpopphan @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:12:03 PM CST

Everybody get that?

If you think someone who equates you with a pedophile is unsuitable for the implicit role of "America's Pastor", you're "being disagreeable".

Pretty clear.  Hey, it's just a "contrasting view".  What's wrong with you?

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto

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by: Sportin' Life @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:32:50 PM CST

fierce advocate, my butt

I just can't "get past" this. It is OUTRAGEOUS. I know other folks have said it already, but inviting Rick Warren to lead the invocational prayer is equivalent to inviting a known racist, anti-Semite, anti-immigrant "pastor" to lead a prayer-- and then hoping the addition of a progressive/of color pastor at the end of the night will somehow erase the presence of the bigot at the beginning.

Obama has got to be kidding when he equates being invited to speak at the Saddleback Church with inviting "Reverend" Warren to share the stage at a NATIONAL event.

So, Rev. Warren has some nice ideas about AIDS and global warming. Well, it's about f'ing time the fundies were on the right side of something, but it sure as hell doesn't erase the fact that he equates the queer community with pedophiles and people who commit incest.

This sends a message about how Obama sees "GLBT issues"--as "issues", and not fundamental human and civil rights. Well, I am not an ISSUE. I am a person, an American, a wife, a mother, and one PISSED OFF QUEER.

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by: elizabethws @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:34:54 PM CST

"...not a secret..."

Right, more of an urban legend.

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto

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by: Sportin' Life @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:38:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Sorry, you're not "a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans"...

...if you oppose marriage equality or any other equal rights under the law. You are a liar and a hypocrite.

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by: johnbinpt @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 12:42:56 PM CST

Fierce...

...in this instance may simply mean he can vogue well.

Obama, after all, does hail from Chicago.

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by: Jim @ Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 00:08:43 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Social Issue

I'm a social issue?  Really?  And this whole time I thought I was a fellow American and a human being.

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by: Gay In Maine @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 13:00:33 PM CST