Hmm...
I'm caught up with this discussion. I know I'm in the complete minority here, but I APPLAUD Obama for doing what he did. He knows exactly what the hell he's doing. He's a shrewd politician.
He spends two years campaigning on the importance of a UNITED States of America, and the first time he reaches out to a demon, you guys are all immediately all jumping all over him.
I say you're all wrong.
OK, I agree, it's OK to be upset. It's OK not to like Warren. It's OK to feel disgusted that he's going to give the invocation.
But in my opinion, Obama did NOT make a mistake. Period.
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Originally Posted by scaeagles
It's funny how everyone wants a big inclusive tent until there's something that's offensive to them, then it's no longer something that can be discussed in a raitonal manner. This goes for all extremes of the political spectrum.
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Exactly. What do you think Obama meant when he said "there isn't a red America or a blue America"? He didn't say "The people who have been ignored for the past 8 years under the Bush administration want to be acknowledged that we exist, too! Include us in the dialog!" Did he say that? No. He said EVERYBODY TOGETHER. That includes progressives acknowledging that conservatives have just as much a right to sit at the adults' table.
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Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight
1) He was not paying enough attention to the Prop 8 reaction to realize the impact of his selection of Rick Warren.
2) He knew full well what the impact would be and decided, "Eh, those whiners aren't important enough."
3) Conscious of the unsurprising drop in momentum after the initial surge of protests, Obama wanted something the movement could rally around and get energized again, so he selected Warren knowing it would piss people off and get them to the streets again.
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Or how about a Harvey Milk-like option #4: He invited Warren knowing that Warren has a HUGE following ("I'm your President, too"), as a way to start rebuilding the bridge towards learning about the "other side," humanizing people again, helping people on the opposite ends of the spectrum to see that perhaps the other side ain't quite so evil.
Listen, Prop 8 passed. Telling other liberal people to support gay marriage until you're blue in the face isn't going to help. You need to convince the people who voted YES to CHANGE THEIR FRICKEN MINDS. If you dig in your heels and refuse to even be a part of the ballgame, how can you expect to win?!?
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Originally Posted by JWBear
Rick Warren isn't merely someone with an "opposing viewpoint"; he is someone who has actively fought against the rights of gays and lesbians.
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YES -- and maybe that was his plan all along! On purpose!
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Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser
True, and he is also someone who has enormous influence on many people.
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Ding ding ding. "That Obama guy is socialist and he scares he. He wants to keep abortion legal... why did my beloved Warren accept the invitation? What is it that made him say yes? Maybe Warren knows something we don't. Maybe this Obama man isn't quite so bad about everything after all. Maybe I won't oppose everything he wants to pass."
Anyway, I don't care if you think I'm wrong. I think Obama continues to impress me with this shrewdness.