Obama ticks off a lot of people who voted for him with this choice

All I can say is for those of you who opposed Obama because you thought he was pro-gay marraige.... welcome to reality. Same can be said for those who supported him because they had some kind of delusion he would support gay marraige. It's out of his hands. These issues are for the American public. No one man can be the end all and be all of our social conflicts.

While I understand the reasoning of those who are angry about the choice of Warren to deliver the invocation, I also understand Obama's reasoning for making the choice- in his own words, not speculation from other sources. As he said when asked about it, Rev. Warren invited him to speak in Warren's church even though he knew there were significant differences of opinion on many major issues. Inviting him to deliver the invocation at the Inauguration doesn't mean that Obama agrees with him on all issues. He also pointed out that there will be many others speaking throughout the event and Warren's invocation will be balanced by many others. More interesting to me, I think, is that many on the religious right are at least as outraged with Warren for agreeing to deliver the invocation. Where Prop 8 supporters and gay rights activists see the choice as Obama "validating" Warren's views by giving him the honor, Warren's critics are upset that he is validating Obama's pro-choice stance by agreeing to deliver the invocation. Guess you can't really please anyone, can you?

As long as the guy is not being appointed to a position of power in the Obama administration where he'd have influence over those two practices, I fail to see the problem. He's giving a speech - not making laws. I think it's an interesting attempt on Obama's part to show that he is willing to 'reach across the aisle', as some have put it. Perhaps he's trying to gain some small bit of favor with the religious right with this act.

hahaha when will we ever learn? We always fall for a pretty face and glib words....

I think he is reaching across the aisle. Obama is using the Abraham Lincoln approach. Contrary to Bush who surrounded himself with yes men. Lincoln chose a cabinet of people who didn't always share the same political views and opinions. These people kept him on his toes, so to speak, with healthy discourse. I read Obama's book and I believe he really cares and wants change and he has some good ideas. Whether the Old Boy Network will allow him to upset the status quo in Washington remains to be seen.

Is his choice on who hes wants to deliver the invocation next month if you like it or not. He is not going to please every one. Also the first post you got said it was going to be another 4 years of dissapointments and let downs. How many presidents that heve been electied actually fullfilled everything they said they would or at least do it?

I voted for the guy and I like him enough to try not to hold this against him too much. It just seems Obama has awful taste in Pastors. First, Rev. Wright and now this. I'm personally more interested in how he governs than I am in who prays at the inauguration but I can see how this is a real slap in the face for a lot of the people who supported him.

I'm not sure "a lot of people" would be accurate, depending on your definition of "a lot" in relation to how many people voted for him. I've heard some commentators and guests on news shows all day today who are strongly pro-choice and pro gay marriage who have no problem with this choice because they realize Obama DID promise to unite us rather than divide us (where have we heard THAT before?) and to include those who disagreed with him in all areas of his Presidency. Of course, there have been others who aren't so happy about it with the reason most have given being that htey feel Reverend Warren has been preaching "hate" against gays. My own opinion about Rick Warren is while I disagree with some of his views I still like and respect him. I strongly disagree with his equating gay marriage with polygamy, incest and pedophilia. That really smells of Rick Santorum, my state's former embarrassment of a Senator, and I don't consider Rick Warren to be at all like Santorum. My personal view is that since we know someone will deliver the invocation and the Inauguration and we know that any member of the clergy will be controversial and unacceptable to somebody, Obama was wise to tick off a small number of his own supporters instead of his enemies because he'll have four years to help them get over it! I'm more surprised and puzzled that Obama invited "Focus on the Family" to participate in the National Day of Service for Martin Luther King Day, the day before the inauguration. http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2008/12/17/for-focus-on-the-family-a-tricky-invitation-from-president-elect-obama.html Annie

I think now that he is elected you will see more of the same stuff coming out of him, things that he was for before the election and now showing what he thinks of gays now that the election is over. I think he wears 2 faces one that he had before the election, and one that he has now. Apparently he thinks the same way as the preacher or he would not of gotten him to do the invocation.

I'm gonna chalk this one up to the "You can't please everyone" rule. You have extremists on the left who deluded themselves into thinking that Obama was pro-gay marriage. He's not and he never claimed to be. He and McCain were pretty much on the same side with that issue. For that matter the vast majority of pastors and priests are against gay marriage as well. I think these extremists would only be happy if a gay Wiccan druid delivered the inaugural. Maybe some just thought he'd bring an atheist to do the job. Either way, those people weren't going to be happy no matter what.

I dislike Warren too. Obama has to pull a lot of groups together, from the left, the right, and bring them together. He may be doing this because he knows Warren is influential with these religious groups. He needs the cooperation of all these influential leaders no matter what side they lean to help us get out of this mess. I think it's just his way of demonstrating his willingness to sit down with all sides. Again, I can't stand Warren and I wish Obama had chosen someone else. But I would rather see Warren deliver the invocation instead of holding some office where he can deliver U.S. Policy.

I think it could be an attempt to reach across the isle, though it could be that he is genuinely fond of him. I do not think it is that odd. I think a lot of people have ideas of Obama that were not even really stated, or denied. He isn't an athiest, but many people seem to want to believe he is. This choice does not affect his position as another leader that will look to religion to guide them at times. There is a lot of things he alluded to during the debates, that now as his administration is forming and his intentions are coming out, seems he will neglect.

I think he's just trying to please everyone which most of us know isn't possible. I also think it's just a cover up to try to get people to believe he's a Christian. He's really worried for some reason about being called a Muslim...

Who would you like better? McCain or Obama, even though Obama ticks everyone off, he's an individual who will change America's economy for the better!

I had to put my opinion of him up a notch over his decision. Still wouldn't have voted for him though.

Well, I think he is going to say the prayer. I was upset about the choice but then I began to wonder where he was going to get any minister or religious to say the prayer who was not a twisted bigot. They are all against anything that has to do with women or gays or any others who do not fit their narrow margins. Even the Pope would be a bad choice. And Sarah Palin's minister burns witches. So I guess it is like everything else - just wrong but what can you do? Maybe someone out there has a better idea about who the prayer sayer should be...

Good for Obama for not letting any particular group dictate to him. Of course, I would probably be as upset as the homosexual community if he had chosen someone like V. Gene Robinson to give the invocation. We all need to realize that Obama cannot be everything to everybody. What he needs to do is live up to the Presidential oath of office. No president will ever satisfy everyone and the day will probably come when the religious community is angry with him for some perceived slight.

I wonder if some groups believe or believed that having a liberal in the White House was tantamount to a free ride. They're seeing that it isn't. Really, if you think about it, getting bent out of shape because Obama ask Rick Warren to deliver the invocation, is silly. Warren isn't going to be a part of Obama's cabinet and I doubt that Obama has changed he mind about the issues of homosexuals or choice.

I believe Barrack is trying to be fair to everyone, despite their opinions. All I care about is he creates jobs in America, ends the Iraq war, helps those who have little or no income, and helps turn our current situation around. I am a Christian and I voted for him. I am mostly pro-life, and believe that the country can't control people's lifestyle choices as it wouldn't be free anymore. Obama can't just leave out one group because it offends another--as he wants everyone to be involved and no one left out.