More on Rick Warren

Here are a couple of my favorite comments about Rick Warren's inclusion in the inauguration by Barack Obama.

Christopher Hitchens:

Is it possible that Obama did not know the ideological background of his latest pastor? The thought seems plausible when one recalls the way in which he tolerated the odious Jeremiah Wright. Or is it possible that he does know the background of racism and superstition and sectarianism but thinks (as with Wright) that it might be politically useful in attracting a certain constituency? Either of these choices is pretty awful to contemplate.

A president may by all means use his office to gain re-election, to shore up his existing base, or to attract a new one. But the day of his inauguration is not one of the days on which he should be doing that. It is an event that belongs principally to the voters and to their descendants, who are called to see that a long tradition of peaceful transition is cheerfully upheld, even in those years when the outcome is disputed. I would myself say that it doesn't need a clerical invocation at all, since, to borrow Lincoln's observation about Gettysburg, it has already been consecrated. But if we must have an officiating priest, let it be some dignified old hypocrite with no factional allegiance and not a tree-shaking huckster and publicity seeker who believes that millions of his fellow citizens are hellbound because they do not meet his own low and vulgar standards.

(Story: "If we must have an officiating priest, surely we can do better than this vulgar huckster", Slate)

Dan Savage:

I guess Obama—who also described himself as "a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans" in his press conference this morning—doesn't think there's anything disagreeable about Warren comparing the relationships of adult gays and lesbians to incest and child rape. But if we're all going to agree to disagree without being all disagreeable and shit, why not invite Sean Hannity to speak at the inauguration? Or one of the anonymous authors of those Obama's-a-secret-Muslim emails? Maybe that crazy "Obama's-a-scawy-Ayrab" lady from McCain's town hall meeting would like to attend the inauguration? Or how about a white supremacist who, while not at all happy about our first black president, happens to agree with Obama about the importance of early childhood education?

Or are only gays and lesbians required to tolerate people who refuse to tolerate us?

(From: "What? No Speaking Slot for Sean Hannity? Or the Guy Who Named His Kid "Adolph Hitler"?", Slog)