Giving the Invocation/Benediction is not a cabinet post.

[undeterred]

Its a one time event. Its not like Obama is choosing a conservative to make policy for him.

[EFerrari]

1. That's right. It's also not the Queen Mary or your fifth grade report card.

It is a public gesture during a national ceremony when the whole country is watching. To put anyone on that stage is to promote them.

[anndash]

2. Exactly - it legitimizes bigotry

He should have a Buddhist "invoking" peace and tranquility and tolerance instead of a right-wing fanatic woman-hater.

[EFerrari]

4. Welcome to DU, anndash. n/t

[undeterred]

5. Who gave the benediction for Bush?

[EFerrari]

7. I didn't watch both times. Are you kidding?

And that's not really the point. We know who that man is and what he represents. There's no need to take this down to the lowest common denominator.

[undeterred]

9. My point is that most people don't pay that much attention

to this fleeting ceremonial role.

[EFerrari]

12. I know. But we can't believe it doesn't matter AND that it matters enough

for Obama to invite this @sshole to say the Invocation. It can't be both.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

19. Not only promoting Warren, it's a position of honor.

:puke:

[scarletwoman]

3. No. Obama's just giving a total asshole conman a big public stage at huge, historic public event.

No problem. Legitimizing xtian fundamentalism has always been high on my agenda.

[PurityOfEssence]

6. Yet.

Oh, ye of little faith...

Remember South Carolina: whether it was just tactically deft or deeply felt, the damage was still done. People who get away with things often tend to keep trying to get away with the same thing.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

8. Exactly. Because symbolic actions and gestures register nothing on the masses.

:sarcasm:

[undeterred]

10. The masses have already forgotten who Obama's running mate is.

The masses do not watch or pay attention to the inauguration.

[scarletwoman]

13. So, it's okay to give a public platform to a bigot if no one notices.

Um, any chance you want to re-think your point?

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

15. Wrong place

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

14. The masses watch the media. The media distills reality into soundbites.

People see the distilled memes. Meme reads "Obama okay with anti-gay, etc. pastor". The meme is transmitted orally and via the internet. The meme gets the potential to go viral. Meme causes further alienation among GLBT and sympathizers from the Democratic party.

[BostonMa]

So one time events of homophobia and anti choice is okay. It's just one time.

[kevinbgoode]

11. It's also not like Obama could have even considered

having a GAY minister give the invocation, either. After all, he "doesn't have to agree with the gay minister's positions."

Next we'll be told that the poor, victimized con-artist con-servative "ministers" deserve a prominent voice as balance to prevent Obama from keeping a single promise to the gay community. And then we'll be told to wait until the great heterosupremacist debate someday swings in our favor, while being fed daily doses about how important and sanctified our Constitution is (except for the gays who have to wait for their goddamn guaranteed rights).

And in record time, for the LGBT community, the man we once again sacrificed out rights for to support in the election becomes President "Separate but equal" Obama.

[Bravehammer]

16. Yes, but if it was, people like you would say

no big deal, Obama's in charge.

[Iggo]

17. Either he knowingly picks anti-civil rights preachers or he doesn't.

So he's either an asshole or an idiot.

Now that's change we can...wait a minute. Never mind.

[BR_Parkway]

18. Why are you offended that some of us are offended?