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Obama’s ‘Purpose Driven’ Pastor Draws Heat
December 17, 2008 5:06 PM
ABC News’ Teddy Davis Reports: Barack Obama is taking heat from his left flank for tapping the Rev. Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” to deliver the invocation at his presidential inauguration.
“It is a grave disappointment to learn that pastor Rick Warren will give the invocation at the inauguration of Barack Obama,” said Kathryn Kolbert, president of the liberal People for the American Way, in a statement e-mailed to reporters. “[T]he sad truth is that this decision further elevates someone who has in recent weeks actively promoted legalized discrimination and denigrated the lives and relationships of millions of Americans.”
Kolbert says Warren, who moderated an August forum between Obama and John McCain, enjoys a reputation as a “moderate” based on his “affable personality” and church’s work on issues like AIDS in Africa.
She goes on, however, to slam the pick for multiple reasons including differences with Warren on abortion and gay rights.
While Obama was chided on Thursday by the “People for the American Way” for his selection of Warren, the selection was hailed as smart strategically by David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network who wrote that the pick makes “a whole lot of sense.”
“Even though Warren and Obama disagree on the life issue, they do see eye to eye on many social justice issues,” wrote Brody on his “The Brody File” blog. “This move is also classic Obama because it is a signal to religious conservatives that he’s willing to bring in both sides to the faith discussion in this country. Obama has never shied away from that.”
Here is the full statement from the People for the American Way:
“People For the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert responded today to the news that Rev. Rick Warren of Saddleback Church will deliver the invocation at the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama:”
“It is a grave disappointment to learn that pastor Rick Warren will give the invocation at the inauguration of Barack Obama.”
“Pastor Warren, while enjoying a reputation as a moderate based on his affable personality and his church’s engagement on issues like AIDS in Africa, has said that the real difference between James Dobson and himself is one of tone rather than substance. He has recently compared marriage by loving and committed same-sex couples to incest and pedophilia. He has repeated the Religious Right’s big lie that supporters of equality for gay Americans are out to silence pastors. He has called Christians who advance a social gospel Marxists. He is adamantly opposed to women having a legal right to choose an abortion.”
“I’m sure that Warren’s supporters will portray his selection as an appeal to unity by a president who is committed to reaching across traditional divides. Others may explain it as a response to Warren inviting then-Senator Obama to speak on AIDS and candidate Obama to appear at a forum, both at his church. But the sad truth is that this decision further elevates someone who has in recent weeks actively promoted legalized discrimination and denigrated the lives and relationships of millions of Americans.”
“Rick Warren gets plenty of attention through his books and media appearances. He doesn’t need or deserve this position of honor. There is no shortage of religious leaders who reflect the values on which President-elect Obama campaigned and who are working to advance the common good.”
December 17, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (146)
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Who cares what this Kolbert thinks?
Give BHO a break.
He can have Warren if that is who he wants.
Posted by: Lashanda | Dec 17, 2008 5:23:18 PM
This decision is worrisome to me personally as well ...
With the fact that African Americans contributed a large part to passing anti-equal rights legislation in Prop 8, it will come as a Larger slap in the face with this choice of Rick Warren as the inaugural invocation officiate considering his role in the divisive campaign ...
Posted by: Bloggette | Dec 17, 2008 5:24:48 PM
Wow, Kolbert hasn't even heard the prayer yet. Talk about narrow.
Posted by: Natisha | Dec 17, 2008 5:29:22 PM
Some people can never be happy.
Posted by: Bones | Dec 17, 2008 5:32:57 PM
C'mon
This is Obama we are talking about.
Has he even done anything With out a stir, controversal or a Scandal?
Maybe Obama is trying to reach out and lure the conservatives into his sect.
This is Mr Obama the man who's campaign was like a Hyperactive kid with out their Ritalin.
Does Mr Obama truly beleive in anything other than himself?
He can always use Rev Wright of Father Plefger or Jessie Jackson. They would jump on the occassion.
Mr Obama is a cold and calculated person and makes his choices for a specfic reason.
Posted by: seah | Dec 17, 2008 5:35:39 PM
IS OBAMA SETTING THE STAGE FOR INTRODUCING THE MUSLIM RELIGION?????
AFTER ALL, HE PROMISSED HE WOULD CAMPAIGN IN ALL 57 STATES ----ISLAM HAS 57 STATES ----- AND HE DID TELL GEORGE STEPH. THAT HIS RELIGION WAS MUSLIM...
AND HE SAID THE BELLS FROM THE MOSQUES WERE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SOUND IN THE WORLD.....
AND HIS MIDDLE NAME - WHICH HE NEVER USED - IS MUSLIM- SAID HE WOULD USE ALL THREE NAMES WHEN HE IS INAUGERATED BECAUSE IT'S TRADITIONAL----WHERE ? CERTAINLY NOT HERE......
IN COLLEGE HE WAS JUST BARRY TIL HE MADE THE TRIP AROUND THE WORLD IN '81
AND WHEN HE CAME BACK SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE CALLED BARRY ANYMORE = - IT WAS TOO AMERICAN......
Posted by: MY WORLD | Dec 17, 2008 5:36:56 PM
I really do not care what religion Warren, Kolbert, Obama or anybody else link themselves to!!!
No man or groups have any say so over me!!!!
I just care that, I and I alone believe and worship the Almighty, Jehovah, GOD that governs over me and all of us!!!!
Posted by: sisterdearest09 | Dec 17, 2008 5:48:17 PM
The Borgen Project has informative statistics on addressing global poverty.
$30 billion ends world hunger
$550 billion is the US Defense budget
This organization has the ability, resources, and policy-makers to suppress the threat of global poverty by enacting legislation here in the US, which is tied to the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals. Please support organizations such as The Borgen Project so that we may rid the world of poverty.
Posted by: Abel Tsegga | Dec 17, 2008 5:59:34 PM
If the liberals have their way anyone who doesn't think like them should be cast aside for after all they know hat is best for everyone. Kathryn Kolbert and people like her hurt all Americans.
We are nation of laws not men, I suggest if these liberals don't like our system to move on to another country or change the laws. Oh no say them for no country would put up with thier big mounths.
This is America where a person can have another view, a personal view and not be worried about organizations such as the one represented by Kathryn Kolbert.
I am sick of people like her blah blah - I suggest she spend her energy if she has any and go to work to change things the American way.
Posted by: a citizen | Dec 17, 2008 6:02:41 PM
May God have mercy on all of us americans.
Posted by: William K | Dec 17, 2008 6:05:28 PM
People need to realize the majority of America is moderate to conservative, why do you think Prop 8 passed?? The rest of you are out of touch with reality.
Posted by: david | Dec 17, 2008 6:08:41 PM
Good choice Obama. So far, he's making great choices in who he surrounds himself with. Who cares if he doesn't completely agree with everything Warren believes. I doubt the Clintons believe everything Billy Grahm believes. Especially the do not commit adultery thing. Some, (SOME NOT ALL) liberals need to grow up.
Posted by: juju | Dec 17, 2008 6:20:23 PM
I see nothing in Warren's history to speak of healthy God-centered theology. I see a history of using his church, his pulpit, his entire congregation to posit political & campaign operations, including the media circus of candidate interviews.
How much money did his congregation have to pay in order to be in the audience for those candidate interviews? Just ask....$2k-5k per person.
Rick Warren simply uses whatever he can for his self-agrandizement.
Barak, sorry, but I think you fell for it.
Posted by: joyce | Dec 17, 2008 6:22:03 PM
Way to go Barack Obama!!!
Posted by: afgirl | Dec 17, 2008 6:22:28 PM
What is wrong with Rev Warren? He seems to have a very positive message about faith for everyone. I just don't understand the extreme liberal mind... Obama is now going to be President for ALL Americans, not just the most liberal fringe of the Democratic party! Obama's mandate is for fixing the corrupt and harsh political climate - things that would bring most of the country together, not advancing some sort of extreme agenda! Many people I know who voted for Obama are looking for that type of change, not some sort of Socialist utopia!
Posted by: Joe C | Dec 17, 2008 6:26:08 PM
Who in the hell is Kathryn Kohlbert, and why on earth would she think America's needs her approval or dissaproval on matters pertaining to the President Elect's personnal choice. Bitch and moan somewhere else.... Whiner.....
Posted by: Commander Bond | Dec 17, 2008 6:26:22 PM
MY WORLD.. what the rass you talking about.. Islam has 57 states. BHO did not want to be known as Barry because it was too American. What tree did you fall from my world?
President Elect Barak Hussain Obama has a right to choose whomsoever he wants and for whatever reason. Give the man a break. The truth is, no matter who is chosen to give teh invocation, some will always be unhappy with the choice.
If kathryn Colbert was the President Elect, then she could have had anybody or nobody do the invocation. But SHE was not not the chosen one. I/We did not vote for Obama or McCain because of who will be giving the invocation. We just want the darn ECONOMY fixed! People are losing jobs and homes left and right. heck, Rush Limbaugh can give teh invocation for all I care, but can he fix the economy?
Posted by: Bobby | Dec 17, 2008 6:27:52 PM
Hey "My World", stay away from the brown acid.
Posted by: Mike M. | Dec 17, 2008 6:30:28 PM
America so badly needs to raise its educational standards.
People need to chill, over NON-ISSUES!
So much time and energy are wasted on INSIGNIFICANT issues; such as, who shares religious mumbo jumbo with Obama.
America is fighting THREE HOT WARS!
Educational standards need to be improved URGENTLY.
Economy is in the tank!
Criminality is about to explode, unless the economy is fix post haste.
And we worry about the religious mumbo jumbo of some religious nut?
Are those, like Warren, suffering from childhood religious brainwashing, lost as adults? You betcha!
But so to are lost those who suffer from the birth/behavioral defect of homosexual tendencies.
And even more lost are those who become so perverted that they act on, condone and promote the unnatural and abnormal, and societally worthless homosexual tendencies.
Homosexuals should be thinking about CURE, instead of making worse their birth/behavioral; because deviant behaviors ARE NEVER EVER going to be accepted by a representative sample of humans or of human societies, for as long as humans shall live!
Truth is: Better dead than gay!
Posted by: Patriot | Dec 17, 2008 6:33:42 PM
Patriot sounds like he may be hiding something. What say you patriot? Care to come out of the closet?
Posted by: Mike M. | Dec 17, 2008 6:36:28 PM
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