Inaugural Clergy

January 12, 2009 10:33 AM

The incoming Obama Administration has caused some controversy (previously) by inviting Rick Warren -- a conservative evangelical pastor who opposes gay marriage -- to give the invocation at Obama's inauguration. Now he's invited openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson to speak at the inauguration. By doing so he seems to respond to criticism from leftist Democrats, the netroots, and of course the gay-rights constituency of the party, but others are not convinced.

From the article:

Robinson has called the choice of Warren a slap in the face. But he said on Monday he did not believe Obama invited him in response to the Warren criticism.... He said he believed the invitation, which came about two weeks ago, was made because he endorsed Obama in May last year.

What do you guys think? Is Robinson just being tactful? Naive? Or is he right?

In any case, I'm sure a lot of people are relieved to see Warren de-emphasized.

posted by jock@law (24 comments total)

Even if he canceled the anti-gay he's still doubled the religiosity.

(No, I am not ever satisified. Why do you ask?)
posted by DU at 10:38 AM on January 12 [2 favorites]

Fair and Balanced.

Is anyone else worried that the bigot and the antibigot will collide and release a dangerous amount of energy?
posted by sixswitch at 10:41 AM on January 12

Is anyone else worried that the bigot religious person and the antibigot other religious person will collide and release a dangerous amount of energy tedium?
posted by rusty at 10:43 AM on January 12 [2 favorites]

Now we just need a Satanist to balance those two out. Too bad they're all hiding away in their mom's basement reading hentai.
posted by stavrogin at 10:44 AM on January 12

In a country where church and state are meant to be separate, maybe it would be better if neither individual is putting his artificial "blessing" on the ceremony, in the first place.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:44 AM on January 12 [3 favorites]

Is anyone else worried excited that the bigot religious person and the antibigot other religious person will collide and release a dangerous amount of energy tedium sexy?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:45 AM on January 12 [4 favorites]

I agree with DU. Obama needs to invite two atheists now. I vote for Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens (for the lols).
posted by diogenes at 10:48 AM on January 12

Mmmm, you know this cake I have? It's really tasty too.
posted by The Whelk at 10:49 AM on January 12 [1 favorite]

Despite the fact that given the poster's comment history it is clear this post is a troll/wedge...

Now we just need a Satanist to balance those two out.

...Satanists and Christians aren't opposites. They just believe in a different fictional entity.
posted by DU at 10:50 AM on January 12

Who gives a fuck? This whole "story" doesn't make the list of things that really, truly matter about the incoming administration and problems they actually need to address.

If you get up in arms about this, you're only hand-waving and being part of the distraction.
posted by Mikey-San at 10:50 AM on January 12 [2 favorites]

Is anyone else worried excited that the bigot religious person and the antibigot other religious person will collide and release a dangerous amount of energy tedium sexy hugry?

Did I do that right? Maybe I should just have a snack.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:50 AM on January 12 [1 favorite]

(Sorry, I meant the thread poster, not the comment poster is trolling)
posted by DU at 10:51 AM on January 12

I thought the tensions of Rick Warren being both gay himself and politically anti-gay was enough for the ceremony. Now there are two gay religious officials? Wow. That's quite a statement.
posted by allen.spaulding at 10:51 AM on January 12

Also: This is how you do it nopey-naysayers. Intolerance is rightly combated through the blithe continuance to do your own thing rather than an equal and opposite intolerance.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:52 AM on January 12

I think it's cute how "liberals" think that Democrat politicians are "on their side" and then get all surprised and bent out of shape when, as always, it turns out to all be just politics.

(Full disclosure: I am also a little surprised and bent out of shape by Obama's post-election/pre-inauguration political antics.)
posted by The World Famous at 10:54 AM on January 12 [1 favorite]

I'm still not happy about Warren's presence, but Robinson's invitation will send the right-wing Jesusians into (even more of) a fury, and the pisser-off of my enemy is my friend.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:56 AM on January 12

What do you guys think? Is Robinson just being tactful? Naive? Or is he right?

This is not MetaFilter.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:57 AM on January 12

i guess if you don't like who he invites to his inaugural this time that you ought to run against him in 2012 so you can invite who you want
posted by pyramid termite at 10:59 AM on January 12

Now he's invited openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson to speak at the inauguration.

To be accurate Robinson will not be speaking at the inauguration (on Tuesday), but will be giving the invocation at Sunday’s inaugural concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
posted by ericb at 11:00 AM on January 12

Is anyone else worried excited that the bigot religious person and the antibigot other religious person will collide and release a dangerous amount of energy tedium sexy?

LMAO. Funniest line I've ever read on this site.
posted by ornate insect at 11:01 AM on January 12

...Satanists and Christians aren't opposites. They just believe in a different fictional entity.
posted by DU at 1:50 PM on January 12

Actually, they believe in the same fictional entity.
posted by Pastabagel at 11:01 AM on January 12 [2 favorites]

It is going to be awfully hard for Obama to govern if every little decision he makes is to be judged through a microscopic lens of if it suits some people's politics or not. I'm going to wait for him to do something that is meaningfully wrong before I step in to criticize, not argue about who he invites to a show.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:03 AM on January 12

[BTW -- Bruce Springsteen reportedly will be playing at Sunday's Inaugural Concert.]
posted by ericb at 11:03 AM on January 12

dear
worldFamous

fret not. Most of us--that is progressives, liberals, lefties, are not "surprised" that politics is politics. any antics will be a vast improvement upon what we have had in the way of antics from the Bush gang.

Sad that transvestites will not have someone to ask for god's blessings, but a loving god, who created gays and straights will make sure that constituency is taken care of...might even make sure they get health coverage like the rest of the country under Obama.

full disclosure: I am not a trasvestite
posted by Postroad at 11:06 AM on January 12