'Today' Christmas Gift: Lauer's Apolitical Chat With Rick Warren

Photo of Mark Finkelstein.
  • Bookmark and Share

When during its first half-hour this Christmas morning "Today" moved to a conversation between Matt Lauer and Pastor Rick Warren, I braced myself.  Don't tell me, I thought, they're going to get into the invitation Pres.-elect Obama extended him to give the invocation at the Inauguration, and the reaction of some gay-rights groups. Well, surprise!  They didn't: not in word or implication.  Warren appeared strictly in his role as pastor, and the conversation focused exclusively on the meaning of the day.  

The video clip is of the portion of the conversation in which Warren describes the origin and practice of a Warren family tradition of holding a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Day.  

As you see, the segment ended with a friendly handshake between the two. In the coming year, there'll be plenty of time for politics. Kudos to "Today" and Lauer for taking a hiatus in the spirit of the day.


Comments Policy

All comments are owned by whoever posted them and are subject to our terms of use. They should not be assumed to represent the views of NewsBusters.

Viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Mark, to my surprise as

Mark, to my surprise as well, NBC of all networks was focusing on Christmas, and in a positive way.  I briefly watched GMA and turned it when I realized they were highlighting Santa over the meaning of Christmas... the icing on the cake was when Melissa Etheridge performed with an Obama-change sticker on her guitar strap.  Couldn't find the remote fast enough after that.  ABC had some crap on at that time too.  So, props to NBC for stepping up to the plate today.

Yikes!  I think I stopped

Yikes!  I think I stopped recording GMA this morning before Etheridge came on, but will see if I can find it. Thanks for mentioning.

There is a God

"NBC of all networks was focusing on Christmas, and in a positive way"

Next we'll hear the liberals screaming Jesus is taking over the airwaves.  While it is surprising that NBC is recognizing the true meaning of Christmas, I must skeptically say it's still early in the day.

 Merry Christmas to all here at Newsbusters.

Rovin

Where in the New Testament are the "Christmas" ...

... observation instructions?  I just finished reading through my New Testament and could not find any holy days we are instructed to observe as Christians except the 1st day of the week.

→ LJ

You are right.  There is no command to observe Christmas.

All I want is the right to celebrate it if I wish without somebody making a joke of it.

  • Fairness is not an attitude. It's a professional skill that must be developed and exercised. - Brit Hume

why right next

to the command to have central heat and air conditioning in our houses.

permissive will and yet "Rejoice and again I say rejoice" while "In ALL your ways acknowledge Him"     

----- Radical  Liberal

→ Flip him a fish

This is like thanking daddy for not getting drunk and slapping mom around.

There are 52 weeks in a year and just as many Saturday nights.  Lauer will be back to his metrosexual self Monday, if not sooner.

  • Fairness is not an attitude. It's a professional skill that must be developed and exercised. - Brit Hume

Taped before Rev Warren tapped by the Big O-Bob to give prayer

PawpawN I would suspect that this was taped before Rev Warren tapped by the Big O-Bob to give prayer.  Most all of the show seemed taped this morning.  Only the little one who tries to look like Katie Couric seemed to be live!  So my guess is that MATTIE didn't even know about the inagural prayer invite when they taped the session.  Any way we can find out? 

Yeah....kudos???

for Matt actually DOING what a news reader is suppose to do ?!?!

Thanks alot Matty.....

Viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.