Rick Warren the Invocator

Am I surprised that Barack Obama chose Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration? Well, yes and no. I guess I was hoping that he would branch out beyond the circle of evangelicals who have dominated the scene the past several decades. But, Warren has become something of the new Billy Graham. Yes, he's conservative on issues like abortion and homosexuality. But he's also taken the lead on a number of social justice issues. He has provided a couple of forums for Obama to speak -- though I did feel that the forum with McCain was stacked against him.

Am I pleased? Nor really. Like I said, I would have preferred someone more progressive, someone more in tune with where Obama is theologically, perhaps someone like Peter Gomes. Choosing Joseph Lowery to give the benediction is a nice balance, for Lowery is an important civil rights leader with impeccable progressive credentials, but why not involve a Rabbi or an Imam? Why not reflect the broader religious horizons of our nation?

Do I understand? Yes. Remember that Obama doesn't get to decide this on his own. The inauguration committee includes Republicans as well as Democrats. Besides, he needs to tell the conservatives in the country that he will be their President as well.

More on this issue can be read about in a piece by Sam Stein at the Huffington Post.

But before we start declaring that Obama is a traitor or has betrayed the Progressive movement, let's give the Inauguration Committee a chance to explain themselves. I don't think that in making this choice Obama is saying that Rick Warren is his new spiritual advisor.


Comments

Anonymous said…
Obama wants conservatives to hold their fire and let him do what he wants. Conservatives and obama all know that he is not going to represent their interests as president, but obama would like to silence his critics, or at least confuse them.

I laugh at liberals who are upset about warren's "prayer" and insist that he is a conservative Christian. I consider myself to be a conservative Christian, and I don't see warren as belonging to my camp. One of the many disagreements I have with liberals is how to define "conservative Christian".

In my view, warren is making a mistake to accept the invitation. Personally, I wouldn't get within 100 miles of obama, or his inauguration. But then, birds of a feather flock together.
Anonymous said…
I sort of agree with Gary.. because you disagree with abortion and homosexuality, suddenly you are just like James Dobson. Wait a second!

It seems like the liberal media is spinning this one out of control. I don't see the big deal on either side. Its not like Obama is going to have Rev Wright to it.. here is a quick, easy, and very visible way to put away one of your big issues in the campaign. PLEASE, its an invocation, not a cabinet spot. Liberals are sadly showing their stripes as whining... and I am the conservative one!! :)

-Chuck
Anonymous said…
I agree with you--this is an attempt to open a dialogue with conservatives on a shared vision, not Warren becoming Obama's spiritual advisor. But I can understand folks on both sides who find themselves let down.
roy said…
I understand what Obama was trying to accomplish, not only in choosing Warren here but other centrist to right leaning folk for cabinet and staff positions... but I'm afraid he is over playing his hand and may end up alienating his strongest constituency.

Gary, Obama is not trying to confuse anyone. He is reaching out.

As for Warren... let him define himself. I'm positive he would say that he is a conservative Christian.

You're right Bob, Warren is trying to position himself as the current "Billy Graham" and be the pastor to those in power. Unfortunately he is blowing it when he castigates Obama for his stand on abortion and refuses to call Bush on the carpet for torture. He says it isn't his role to raise those kinds of issues with Bush but doesn't shy away with Obama. He is losing credibility when he tries to embrace a prophetic role yet refuses to bring any prophetic imagination to the table.
Anonymous said…
If obama is reaching out, it is for the purpose of neutralizing his opponents.

If Warren were really a man of God, he would have refused obama's invite and publicly stated the reason is because he does not want to try to invoke God's blessing on the undeniably wicked obama agenda.

Warren might as well tell jokes during the "invocation". God isn't about to bless obama or his presidency, even if Warren asks Him to.
Anonymous said…
Warren is a bigot and should not have a platform. He is not centrist or moderate--he just has a good PR operation. He has compared same-sex marriage to pedophilia, bestiality, polygamy, and rape! Suppose any other minority were so besmirched--say, Jews. Suppose Warren were one of those anti-Semitic preachers who regularly claim that Jews are the root of evil, etc. Obama wouldn't dream of inviting him to give the invocation--not even if he were balanced by a rabbi or pro-Jewish Christian preacher giving the benediction.

I keep hearing conservatives ask, "Would you prefer Rev. Wright?" As a matter of fact, yes. The controversy over Jeremiah Wright was manufactured by the media and the Right. I have heard him preach and I have spent enough time in Black Churches to understand. Wright is a social gospel/liberation preacher--Warren preaches private faith and self-help. That's a terrible move for Obama.
Anonymous said…
Usher: Deak, these people really don't get it - all except the one guy who sees that Warren is just a PR dude that thrives on the attention.

Deacon: Yep, kind of like the post you wrote a couple days ago - that's what's really under the covers.

http://deaconandusher.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/saddleback-one-card/

Popular Posts