Here's a compromise on Rick Warren.

[Pab Sungenis]

So Obama doesn't want to make a big scene and uninvite Rick Warren. Yet, at the same time, by maintaining the invitation, he insults all of his gay and lesbian supporters.

Here's a compromise proposal, which would really underline the idea that Obama wants to be inclusive to all points of view.

Let Rick Warren deliver his invocation at the Inauguration, but follow him up immediately with another prayer....

...from Bishop Gene Robinson.

Inviting the openly gay Anglican bishop would not only show that Obama embraces all points of view, but also would emphasize that the religious right does not have a monopoly on faith in this nation, and that all are welcome in our society.

Thoughts?

[HEyHEY]

1. Better yet, have Don Rickles come up after and lay into him

[grantcart]

6. now that would make pay per view and help the auto bailout

[graywarrior]

9. That is the BEST suggestion ever.

[avaistheone1]

13. It's really a good comprise.

LOL

[graywarrior]

16. Followed by Steve Wright....lamenting.

Join the Army, meet interesting people, kill them.

[avaistheone1]

22. I wish George Carlin could be at the podium. He would blow every last one of them away.

[graywarrior]

24. I know. No one else compares to him.

Lewis Black is a close second.

[avaistheone1]

27. He would cetrainly cut through alot of the BS and have us all cracking up besides.

[graywarrior]

31. And have others tugging on their collars writhing in discomfort

[avaistheone1]

39. In this case, that would be good. A little bit of consciousness raising, eh? lol

[ruggerson]

35. Now that I like

[Marrah_G]

2. What is done is done

He never should have picked him, but he can unpick him now without aq backlash I know he is unwilling to bear.

Many of us will not be watching the inauguration now.

Perhaps he can make amends in the future, if he has the courage to do what is unpopular but right.

[Critters2]

3. After what he did to Wright, I simply don't see why he can rescind the invitation.

It really is the honorable thing to do.

[tsuki]

21. He'll look weak. Don't want to cave in to all those women and LGBT

that worked for him. Sends the wrong message to his new friends at Saddleback.

[avaistheone1]

43. Yes, it is weak to do the right thing.

Obama cozy up to Saddleback instead. Yuck.

[polichick]

4. Nice idea, but it's not just gays who are insulted.

[lostnotforgotten]

12. Yep - Many From The Straight Community Are Equally Offended

eom

[polichick]

14. Even my 70+ straight Christian mother is horrified.

[Hansel]

15. I'd be one of them. n/t

[Stardust]

18. Atheist insulted here...which begs the question of who would an atheist

want giving an "invocation" anyway? Bill Maher??? :rofl:

[polichick]

19. LOL - that would liven things up!

[NoPasaran]

5. Jeez, how many freekin' prayers must we endure?

This is an inauguration, not a pray-in!

[QC]

7. Inviting +Gene would negate this very skillful little bit of triangulation.

It might even make an evangelical somewhere uncomfortable!

I don't think we're going to see that happen.

[BeyondGeography]

8. That would just compound the original error and make Warren and gay rights the centerpiece

of Inauguration Day.

Barack fucked this one up bad enough as it is. He needs to ride it out and let the focus turn back to HIS speech, which it will, if all those who are most offended by this push it as hard as they can for the next four weeks, which it appears they will.

[meowomon]

10. It would be a start...

But he'd need to back it up with support for our civil rights.

[madeline_con]

11. And a Buddhist chant, Muslim prayer, etc. etc....

All or none, IMO. This is a state event.

[Captain Hilts]

17. He has condemned Jews and Catholics, among others, to Hell. It's not just about gays. nt

[tsuki]

23. Don't forget that he is a misogynist as well. nt

[Captain Hilts]

32. What? You gotta problem with obeying the men in your life, or what?

[tsuki]

42. Well, I got a letter asking for a donation, but I asked my husband

and he said no, so I decided to be submissive and wrote them such. See, he is right of center, and I guess that being only a woman I must obey.

[crappyjazz]

20. I don't compromise on bigotry

sorry

[jberryhill]

25. Warren should be persuaded to decline the invitation

It would be big of him to say that he doesn't want this controversy to detract from the day, and decline.

[BlooInBloo]

28. I think THAT'S something that's guaranteed not to happen. He's loving this.

[jberryhill]

36. I don't believe in guarantees

It probably won't happen. I'm simply saying it would be the most graceful way out.

I wouldn't say it is impossible, because I don't believe in impossible.

[BlooInBloo]

37. That's nice.

[jberryhill]

38. I call it "preserving at least my own sanity"

I've actually changed my mind on this Warren thing. At first, I could think "Well that was pretty stupid, but this too shall pass."

I'll hold out hope that Warren has maybe a tiny shred of decency, or even ego, that he doesn't want to be the turd in this punchbowl.

[BlooInBloo]

26. I don't have much sympathy for not wanting "to make a big scene"...

Just uninvite the the fuckwit already.

[madmadmad]

29. NO COMPROMISE WITH HATRED.

[mentalsolstice]

30. Invite Ellen DeGeneres to speak at the podium

Nobody can do it as graciously and humorously as she...and Obama has been on her show before.

[Rockholm]

41. Maybe she could do a little dance too.

[kenny blankenship]

33. That would work for me

However I'd much rather that the choice of officiating Inaugural witch doctor have been non-political and neutral in the first place. Some neutral, intellectually respectable but non-famous cleric, for example a Chaplain from some respectable non-fundy University or Seminary lecturer. There are MANY highly educated, intelligent, thoughtful, literate men and women who climb into their pulpits each weekend to offer hope and guidance to their flocks without any thought of fame and fortune for themselves. I know this because I was baptized by one in a very stuffy and proper Presbyterian church, and became a questioning liberal in large part thanks to his Sunday sermons.

(Q: Why does "spiritual leader" always seem to equal televangelist huckster or comical buffoon with Obama?)

Next best would have been a Dean or lecturer from a respected Seminary, such as the Union Theological Seminary. No doubt Pat Robertson would be spitting blood and vomiting brimstone. He would call them radical leftists, but to my eyes they appear simply non-Fascist and as earnest imitators of Christ. I recommend my fellow atheists follow that link and investigate what can be found there, in case they think all Christianity or all religion is politically regressive and oppressive.

Next best after that would be a Rent-A-Reverend out of the phonebook. No partisan baggage, no political aspirations. Just happy to be there. Grinding no axes, settling no scores. A few quick words and on to the main event.

Next best after that would be a confrontational juxtaposition like you propose: dueling prayers from Warren and Bishop Robinson. I mean if you're going to invite a hatemonger up there, and coyly hide behind cyncial phrases like "reaching out", and "inclusiveness" why don't you be REALLY inclusive?? Bring the object of his hatred along, so the world can see them together in one place and draw their own conclusion!

As for the proposal that there be no Invocation at all, as far as I know there's always been one. As far as I can see there'll probably always be one. And I have no objection as long as the Invocation is not used to deliberately insult a group of people and push them out of the party that they have worked very hard to support through some terribly difficult times.

[lligrd]

34. I Actually Liked The Idea

But it looks like we are in the minority.

[BlooInBloo]

40. If I thought the "cause a big scene" thing was a significant problem, I might agree....

EDIT: On second thought, no I wouldn't. To whatever degree it would cause a big scene, it's a problem of his own making - and it was predictable. I don't have any sympathy for THAT - the person who made the mess should clean it up.