There has been a wealth of media coverage regarding liberal outrage over Obama picking Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. However, the MSM has predictably ignored the other side of the story. Many Pro-life activists are upset with Rick Warren for accepting Obama's invitation.
David Brody of CBN News reports on this:
Liberals and gay activists aren’t happy with Barack Obama for choosing pro-life and prop 8 supporting pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at Obama’s inaugural. But pro-life readers seem to be equally upset at Rick warren for agreeing to it.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓The Brody File has been flooded with emails and most of them absolutely rip Pastor Warren for doing this. Below is but a very small sampling. I can’t reprint all of them but let me just say that pro-lifers are NOT happy with Warren at all.
Rick Warren is, after all, a pro-life leader and Barack Obama is a fervently pro-choice politician. But Brody doesn't like the attitudes causing the controversy surround the invocation:
While I understand the justifiable concern coming from pro-lifers and liberals, the bottom line is this: why can’t a pro-life pastor pray for a pro-choice candidate? Are politics and past prejudices clouding our judgment here? Warren isn’t up there to speak out against homosexuality or push the pro-life issue. Sometimes we all get caught up so much in demonizing the other side that we don’t see the forest from the trees.
Brody certainly has a point here. This is, after all is said and done, still a prayer. It has no significant political meaning and it ought not cause any controversies when rivals pray for each other. Thus, Brody's final point is something we should all try and remember:
Just because Rick warren supports proposition 8 doesn’t mean his prayer for Obama isn’t sincere. Just because Warren prays for Obama at his inauguration doesn’t mean he marginalizes the pro-life agenda.
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Praying for Obama
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 17:47 ET by nkviking75For decades Billy Graham was chosen for these situations without much controversy. There were undoubtedly times when Graham ministered to presidents with whom he disagreed, but he went anyway. Warren's invocation isn't a stamp of approval on Obama's policies. It's a prayer for Obama and the nation.
Welcome to the era of unity, you racist!
You got it
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 17:52 ET by Stephen GutowskiExactly
Okay, which leads to the question:
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 18:11 ET by Chris NormanI don't really care one way or the other, but is Warren jockeying for Billy Graham's old position as defacto "Pastor to the Presidents"?
Chris... That's what I
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 18:23 ET by bigtimerChris...
That's what I think too.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
bt, I hate to be so
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 18:32 ET by Chris Normanbt,
I hate to be so cynical (I really do), but one thing kind of leads to the other, and the question is begged.
Billy Graham was never
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 18:05 ET by MidAmericaBilly Graham was never controversial because being Christian was not controversial and in fact, at least giving the appearance of being Christian was almost a necessity for anyone in public office. But now, of course, being Christian is to be bigoted, mean spirited, narrow minded and superstitious.
Liberals can't look at
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 19:09 ET by motherbeltLiberals can't look at anything other than through the lens of ideology. They spout tolerance, but won't have anything to do with someone who doesn't agree with them.
We are all supposed to pray for each other; not just for those who agree with us.
I do not like Barack Obama, but I will pray for him like I've prayed for every other President: that he lead our country well.
Pro-Life believers do not
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 23:18 ET by kgPro-Life believers do not have any kind of voice in the MSM. They are completely ignored.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
If I were Pastor Warren
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 20:20 ET by CobraManIf I were Pastor Warren, I'd be praying for Obama too. Why is this so controversial amongst pro life supporters? It makes more sense to pray for the opposition than for your supporters. After all, you don't NEED divine intervention for your supporters, as they are already on your side.
I think that the majority of those"pro-lifers" are actually pro-choice LIBERALS creating sock-puppets (aka false credentials and identities) in order to give the impression that many pro life supporters are angry with their fellow pro-lifer.
Infiltrating the opposition and protesting their leaders is a time-tested method of sowing decent amongst that leader's supporters, is it not?
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
inauguration day
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 20:35 ET by candanceObama originally invited James Dobson, but Dobson replied that the job was above his paygrade.
As for Bill Graham doing it for past presidents, even the Clintons were never as abrasive to pro-lifers as Obama, and it's telling that Billy chose this year to retire and his son Franklin declined to carry on the tradition.
Rick Warren has never been very inspiring to me, and this isn't a good way for him to curry favor with his critics. Out of all the influencial ministers out there I personally don't appreciate Warren being chosen as our de facto leader.
I'm a typical white person.
it's telling that Billy
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 20:58 ET by motherbeltit's telling that Billy chose this year to retire and his son Franklin declined to carry on the tradition.
candance, do you know for sure that Franklin Graham was asked and declined?
I have to say that if I did, I don't think it's right, because then he would be acting the same way that the liberals are acting over Obama for inviting Warren, and pro-lifers are, being upset at Warren for accepting.
It's about praying for the President and the country, and has nothing to do with politics. One does not have to agree with a Presidents's policies to offer a prayer for him and for the nation.
That said, I maintain as I said the other day, that it's about appearances. Obama wants the best-known preacher in the country; that's why he asked Warren.
well mother
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 21:25 ET by candanceI remember hearing that but am too lazy to research and could vbe mistaken.
Nonetheless I still maintain my low opinion of Warren, and I think that's what really bothers me. He may be the best-known minister in America but that doesn't mean I appreciate him "representing" me and I have my suspicions that he's doing it as much as an opportunist as to really be a spiritual leader.
As you can see I really dislike him so my opinion should be taken as such. ;-)
I'm a typical white person.
Well then don't consider
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 21:38 ET by motherbeltWell then don't consider him as "respresenting" you.
I certainly don't consider him as representing me!
In my eyes, he's just the preacher saying the prayer at the inauguration. Doesn't have anything to do with me.
They are both opportunists. Obama wants to bask in Warren's glow as much as the reverse.
Muslim Right
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 21:01 ET by TjexciteIf the left thinks it has problems with the Christan right just let them wait until the Muslim right gets going. Being pro choice is not an option. they would just stone the mother for having an affair and hang the nearest gay from some portable crane. But as the left is the left they will not see that until it is too late and claim buyers remorse and blame Bush
Long live George W. Bush
Long live John McCain
GOP 2010
Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal, Michael Steele 2012
Go Old Testament on him.
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 23:46 ET by pinadpullerWhat happened to Prophets like Elijah or John the Baptist? We already have tons of liberal "Reverends" such as Sharpton and Jackson. There are a lot of religious people who think that President Bush is a murderer. I don't agree but if I did I wouldn't go to some event in his honor. Barak Obama supports the most extreme pro choice position this side of Godwin's Law. My personal opinion is that Rick Warren likes the spotlight. Isn't it great that America has another class of celebrity? Since Warren is going to be there when Obama's pay-grade changes maybe he can do an abortion follow up interview.
pina... ...or maybe a few
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 23:56 ET by bigtimerpina...
...or maybe a few words on infanticide to-boot.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Be kind of fun...
Sun, 12/21/2008 - 00:08 ET by JPR1to have Reverend Warren suprise everyone with a Reverend Wright/Fr. Phleger style prayer. Over-the-top anti homo, hell-fire & damnation admonishment of the heathen liberals.
Could it really damage his stature?
Silence of the aborted fetuses
Sun, 12/21/2008 - 02:06 ET by pinadpullerMaybe Rick Warren rips off his face at the end and he's really Rev. Wright.
Don't know much about Rick
Sun, 12/21/2008 - 03:39 ET by RR GOPDon't know much about Rick Warren, and don't care really. He seems like a decent sort, but though I be a Christian and anti-abortion I'm pretty darn sick of hearing about the Evangelicals. No offense meant, but a lot of the Evangelicals I've run into and have heard about through others make me understand that they don't need to be running the country anymore than the Liberals do.
Actually, if I had my druthers, I would take the Evangelicals.
But, seeing the Leftists ticked off at Obama, and seeing Obama realize that the country is divided (thanks to our Liberal friends) so the need to get Warren on board does have its entertainment value.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
you can't heal the lepers....
Sun, 12/21/2008 - 19:38 ET by clinging to my guns and my religion...unless you go among the lepers. (Luke 17)
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." Edmund Burke