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12/17/2008

McClurkin 2.0?

by Jeremy Hooper

Here is mega-pastor Rick Warren directly comparing same-sex marriage to both incestuous and paedophilic marriage, passing off the incredibly flawed conservative talking point that civil marriage equality will lead pastors to be prosecuted for "hate speech," and justifying why he supports tyrannical votes on minority rights:

(particularly egregious part begins around 2:10)

So how will our incoming Democratic administration stand in strong opposition against this way of thinking? Well....

Aretha Franklin and Dr. Rick Warren, an author and leader of the Saddleback Church, are among the select group of people who will participate in Barack Obama’s inaugural swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20.
...
Dr. Warren, of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Cal., will deliver the invocation, followed by musical selections by Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who sang “Someday We’ll All Be Free” and “Respect” at a concert for Bill Clinton in 1993, but not at the inaugural ceremony.

Rick Warren To Deliver Invocation at Inauguration [Right Wing Watch]

Wow. Ya know, we thought it would be at least spring before we found bus tire marks on our face! What an early Christmas present you've just given us, Obama transition team!!!

We promise we'll have more to say on this. First, however, we must go flip a coin and see if we'd rather marry our sister, a newborn baby, or the adult human being with whom we share our lives, our loves, and our souls. [:: disgusted sigh::]

**SEE ALSO: Let's not that forget the Ricky recorded a strongly stated pro-Prop 8 video. In it, he even tried to make it sound like Obama was in favor of Prop 8 by highlighting the president-elect's refusal to support the word "marriage." He of course neglects to mention that Obama came out against Prop 8:

**UPDATE: Outraged? Well Jim Burroway has an email list of some peeps you can contact.

**UPDATE2: Both HRC and PFA have issued official responses:

Letter to Pres-Elect Obama on Choice of Rev. Rick Warren to Deliver Invocation at 56th Presidential Inauguration [HRC]

People For the American Way 'Profoundly Disappointed' that Rick Warren Will Give Invocation [PFAW]

**UPDATE3: NGLTF has hopped on the stern press release train:

Task Force denounces selection of Rick Warren to give invocation at inauguration [Taskforce]

**UPDATE4: Andrew Sullivan offered these sobering thoughts:

"Warren is a man who believes my marriage removes his freedom of speech and cannot say that authorizing torture is a moral failing. Shrewd politics, but if anyone is under any illusion that Obama is interested in advancing gay equality, they should probably sober up now."
Ugh [Daily Dish]

**UPDATE5: After having some time to process, we've added these thoughts to the mix:

Why the Warren thing matters [G-A-Y]

space gay-comment gay-G-A-Y-post gay-email gay-writer-jeremy-hooper


Your thoughts

I guess I should be ready to be disappointed. No chance in getting my money back from the campaign eh?

Posted by: John Ozed | Dec 17, 2008 4:11:09 PM

Jeremy,

I hate to say it (and I will wait and see how this plays out) but still in my heart I DO NOT yet trust Obama. Fortunately I have no television so I won't be listing this garbage if he speaks. I suppose its "wait and see". I can almost feel those bus tire tracks, though.

Posted by: tom | Dec 17, 2008 4:28:13 PM

Anyone surprised by this was not paying attention during the campaign before the conventions. Obama has principles he will not betray when it comes to discrimination based on race or gender or religion, but when it comes to discrimination against gays and lesbians, we are all under one big tent and need to learn to just get along. Donnie McClurkin should have told anyone that.
It will be a cold day in hell before we see ANY pro-gay initiatives or efforts or even nods of the head from Obama or his administration. We will be told that there are just too many other things crowding us out of the way (economy, war), that "everyone" has to be brought on board first (DADT) or that it is simply up to Congress, not the President (DOMA).
We won't hear anything from this administration about gays and lesbians until our votes are needed again, and since he won't be running in any more Democratic primaries, that will probably be never.

Posted by: Roy | Dec 17, 2008 4:28:23 PM

I feel that Obama is just as pandering as the Governor of California. If 2012 becomes competitive the president is going to have to remember to keep the LGBT community together in the collation. If the Republicans do not nominate a wingnut, the Republicans might get maybe 35 percent of the LGBT vote next time.

Obama could of had an inclusive pastor invited and help reach out to the religious and gay communities at the same time.

However, if we can have the president add some monumental legislation such as adding the Employment Non Discrimination Act, and removing Dont Ask Dont Tell and integrate the LGB soldiers in our armed forces, then we probably would not care what our president believes in.

Posted by: Matt from California | Dec 17, 2008 4:39:33 PM

This is so disappointing, it makes me want to cry. I understand his desire to be "inclusive" and to communicate that his administration will represent all of America but surely there had to be someone other than this guy.

Gays are not anti-christian and most would have gladly accepted without batting an eye a Christian minister who was inclusive giving the invocation. But was it necessary to pick anti-gay minister to give the invocation. Would Obama have selected an anti-semitic or anti-Catholic minister to give the invocation as a means to be inclusive?

Sad. Very sad.

Posted by: Ed | Dec 17, 2008 4:39:41 PM

He keeps throwing "5,000 years" around, as if the length of an injustice can mitigate its unfairness. Trust me, there were gay people back in Ancient Whereverthefuck too, and I'm sure they would have liked to marry who they loved instead who their family chose, who they could afford, who they could procreate with, etc. Marriage used to be a property arrangement; it has changed already. Five thousand years has made marriage unrecognizable from what it was, except for the fact that the genitals of the two parties still come in interlocking sets.

Who cares how long it's been going on? If it's wrong, change it. Why hold on to dead people's baggage? We're not talking about 5,000 years ago, we're concerned with the rights of people right now who have children and families that need equal protection under the law. I can't stand this stagnant pond rhetoric; the essence of America, and life, is to grow and change and progress. Fuck!

Posted by: L.A. Fields | Dec 17, 2008 4:53:42 PM

I'm dissapointed, but not surprised. This falls right in line with the McClurkin fiasco, and probably will continue throughout his presidency.

Posted by: Claire | Dec 17, 2008 4:53:43 PM

This is why LGBT people need to STOP supporting these spineless centrist democrats!!!!!!

Posted by: TheRadicalRealist | Dec 17, 2008 5:40:16 PM

Obama took only a few more days to disappoint me than most politicians.

Posted by: Chris | Dec 17, 2008 5:40:29 PM

I went to Box Turtle Bulletin and got the email addresses and sent the following:
Thank you for picking someone, RICK WARREN, who equates same sex marriage to pedophilia and incest to say the magic words also known as the invocation during the inauguration.
I WILL NOT BE ATTENDING THIS INAUGURATION FOR I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE WHO SAYS THAT THE ONE I CHOOSE TO LIVE MY LIFE WITH IS NO BETTER THAN A CHILD MOLESTER.
I hope you are happy with the support and money I gave to the Obama campaign. I suppose there is a lesson learned and that is to never volunteer again for anyone, much less someone I truly believed in.
At least Obama showed his cards before he even sat at the table...

Fed up and disgusted,
John Ozed

I am very upset.

Posted by: john ozed | Dec 17, 2008 6:28:46 PM


Gays are not anti-christian and most would have gladly accepted without batting an eye a Christian minister who was inclusive giving the invocation....speaking for yourself I presume.

I am NOT EVEN GAY...and I am HORRIFIED!..but not particularly surprised. So...we have one month to come up with the proper response to this...other that JoeS mealy mouthed letter.

What guys? Who of you are going to the Inauguration do you want a demonstration or not! ?

Posted by: LOrion | Dec 17, 2008 8:00:52 PM

Normally, I'd support Obama moving to the middle. But this is too much. It's one of the most dastardly political calculations I've seen in years, throwing us under the bus in order to win points with the fundys. This better have been a mistake. If he doesn't reverse the decision, we'll know that the liberal talk during the primary was all lies. It's chilling to think of what else he might be capable.

Posted by: WillBFair | Dec 17, 2008 8:08:29 PM

Thanks to you and Box Turtle...I have already sent out over 20 direct emails..I want to know what Join the Impact is going to do about this? We can turn out the same MILLION we did on Nov. 15!...Though it is a bit nippier...even here in CA it was 25 where I live.

Posted by: LOrion | Dec 17, 2008 8:24:19 PM

...and here's what PeteyPP of PHB is 'feeling':

Here's what I'm feeling....janis joplin's...Piece Of My heart
You're out on the streets looking good, and baby,
Deep down in your heart I guess you know that it ain't right,
Never never never never never never never hear me when I cry at night.
Baby, I cry all the time!
And each time I tell myself that I, well I can't stand the pain,
But when you hold me in your arms, I'll sing it once again.
I'll say come on, come on, come on, come on, yeah take it!
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby. (break a..)
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, (come on...)
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby, yeah.
Well, You know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good

Posted by: LOrion | Dec 17, 2008 8:36:16 PM

LOrion, I have a beginning response to this. Just this week I pledged money to the DCC. When the envelope arrives I will send it back sans money. Instead I will include a note saying that I will no longer contribute to any Democratic organization until the LGBT community is treated more fairly. It probably won't have a big effect, but it will make me feel better and a little richer.

Posted by: Mike in the Tundra | Dec 18, 2008 3:42:32 AM

I never saw any substance in Obama's message throughout his campaign, so it's no surprise that he chose a pastor that gives lgbt kids (2-6 times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers) no HOPE in life unless they CHANGE their orientation.

Posted by: Jonathan | Dec 18, 2008 9:35:34 AM

I was a huge Obama fan - particularly because he has been working towards different groups finding 'common ground' and bringing about some reconciliation in this divided country.
I can understand the politics of his choice of Warren.
Initially, I shrugged it off and it didn't bother me..

But... I hadn't really heard the filthy, non sensical things he has spewing irresponsibly ....

Warren say:
"Gay marriage is like incest" 'Gay marriage will lead to allowing marrying a child", "It will lead to bigamy"....
And - we have a 5,000 year tradition of marriage already..

Well, excuse me Mr Warren.. I am a Christian... and I know that in the 5,000 year history of the bible, that many marriages were incestual, many marriages were of older men to 13 year old girls... older men with many child wives... It was a contract, alright, but a contract between the husband and the father-in-law.

If you want to use a 5,000 year old historical precedent, then you better use it correctly.


Mr Warren serves himself.

Jesus said, 'Whatever you've done unto the least of these, you've done unto me'...

Call me a humanist if you want.... We shall see if God calls you a pharisee because your message and tactics are identical.

I still hope Mr Obama will work for common ground. But, Mr Warren is blind to our commonality.

Posted by: Joe | Dec 21, 2008 2:06:23 PM

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