by matttbastard
Is he serious? Rick “politicians have to believe in God” Warren? Rick “cone of silence” Warren? Rick “Prop 8 is great” Warren? Rick “take out the evildoers” Warren? Rick “Dobson-lite” Warren? That’s the kinder, gentler hatemonger who the President-elect The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (see update below edit: and second update) has selected to give the Inaugural Invocation?
I’m with Libby Spencer:
If there was ever a time to reach out to the side of the fence that didn’t oppose him tooth and nail all the way to the White House, this is it. I would suggest people might want to leave a suggestion at change.gov and ask him to rethink this choice. Frankly, I don’t know who to suggest as an alternative, but there has to be someone more neutral than Warren.
Thunderbird is go, kiddies — remember, keep it civil (edit: and make sure to read the update below before crafting a response).
Update: Mike Madden at The War Room reports that Obama wasn’t [edit: solely–see Update 2] responsible for Warren’s selection:
[T]he decision to get involved with Saddleback was actually not Obama’s. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, run by the House and Senate, put together the program for the swearing-in ceremony. Congress, not Obama, invited Warren… .
Still, I’m sure the Committee could be convinced to reconsider their decision, were Obama to sic Rahmbo on them. So keep those suggestions coming.
Update 2: Well, so much for the Committee dodge (h/t Greg Sargent):
The program participants were invited by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and chosen by the Chairman, the Presidential-elect and the Vice President-elect.
So whether or not Warren was directly selected by Obama, the President-elect obviously had a big say regarding Warren’s inclusion in the program. Wonderful. BarbinMD is exactly right:
What a spit in the eye to the GBLT community in particular, and to anyone who supports equality, dignity and justice under the law.
Todd Beeton @ MyDD has more info on who else to contact regarding the decision to include Warren in the inauguration ceremony:
If you’d like to register your displeasure with the pick, calling Dianne Feinstein’s office might be a good place to start. As the Chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, Feinstein announced the line-up — including Warren — today, calling it “superb.”
LA: (310) 914-7300
SF: (415) 393-0707
DC: (202) 224-3841
Click here to contact Feinstein via email. Again, keep it civil. Rather difficult, I realize, when one sees the following brand of shiny happy hatred being rewarded by a nominal ally:
(h/t Todd for the Warren Prop 8 vid, by way of Teddy Partridge)
bastard.logic 
Man. That is a culture with a whole lot of problems.
Do you think that it will make any difference, mattt, if a Canadian writes to say that this will make the U.S. look absurd in the eyes of the world?
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I doubt it would hurt, especially if Obama is serious about wanting to restore America’s reputation abroad.
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On it. Srsly.
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Rick Warren is a real low life and a bigot and should not be allowed to take part in Obama’s inaugural ceremonies. Its like inviting the Grand Dragon of the Klu Klux Klan to take part in it. Its a slap in the face to civil rights. I believed in Obama and voted for him, now I wished I had not as I can no longer support a president who would ask a low life bigot as Rick Warren to speak during his swearing in ceremonies as president of the United States.
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Comparing Warren to the Grand Whatever of the KKK is a bit of a stretch and not helpful.
Agreed that it is a giant slap in the face to civil rights and the millions of GLBT and progressives who worked our ever lovin’ asses off to get the man elected.
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