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Rick Warren
Eschaton —
Can Democrats go back to staying away from this horrible creep?
12/16: Caroline Ain't So Sweet To The Netroots
Blogometer —
December 16, 2008 12/16: Caroline Ain't So Sweet To The Netroots The political blogosphere is abuzz over the news that Caroline Kennedy told NY Gov. David Patterson that she is interested in being appointed to the Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton . Although a few liberal bloggers want to see Kennedy tapped for the seat, most of them are uncomfortable with the idea, and several prominent bloggers ( Markos Moulitsas and Jane Hamsher ) strongly oppose the idea. First of all, these bloggers don't think Kennedy deserves the Senate appointment, since she has never run for office and "basically her only qualification would be her family name" . ...
Some of his best friends are gay
Political Animal —
... , and the subject turned to Warren's opposition to gay rights. Warren rejected any notion that he might be homophobic, pointing to his work combating AIDS and his willingness to have dinner in "gay homes." Sarah Posner noted how unpersuasive Warren's arguments were. Warren dodged Waldman's question about whether he supported civil unions or domestic partnerships, answering instead, "I support full equal rights for everyone in America," adding that he only opposes a "redefinition" of marriage. He went on to say he's opposed to gay marriage the same way he is opposed to a ...
Let Cao In
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan —
Joe Cao, a newly elected Vietnamese-American representative for a heavily African American district, looks like he is going to try to join the Congressional Black Caucus. Ta-Nehisi supports the move: It's one thing to have a Caucus specifically interested in the welfare of African-Americans. It's another to have a private, race-based, social club. The whole "reverse discrimination" deal has about as much truck with me Newt Gingrich fear of "gay Nazis." But this fight is stupid on two counts. 1.) As Adam points, tactically, you have absolutely nothing gain. 2.) You're just wrong. ...
Rick Warren Strikes Again
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan —
What to make of this:
Warren claimed he supported Proposition 8 because of a free-speech
issue -- asserting that "any pastor could be considered doing hate
speech . . . if he shared his views that homosexuality wasn't the most
natural way for relationships." Well, yes, you could be considered as engaging in hate speech. But so what? As long as there are no criminal or legal penalties for religious speech - as guaranteed by the First Amendment - being called a hater is part of living in a democracy. I should say that I would not use the term "hate" for a principled theological defense of heterosexual normativity. And I have engaged very ...
Liars For Jesus
Eschaton —
Aside from the bigot part, Rick Warren is, you know, a liar. Warren claimed he supported Proposition 8 because of a free-speech issue -- asserting that "any pastor could be considered doing hate speech . . . if he shared his views that homosexuality wasn't the most natural way for relationships." That's some lying we can believe in, my friends. ...more complete quote: And the reason I supported Prop 8 really, was a free speech issue. Because if it had…. First, the court overid the will of the people. But second, is, there ...
Obama picks anti-gay, anti-choice pastor for inauguration ceremony
Feministing —
... What?! Surely Obama could have found a non-bigoted religious leader to give the invocation. Warren, despite being considered a nicer-and-friendlier "new evangelical," equates ...
Rick Warren?
Daily Kos —
Rick Warren is offering a prayer at the inauguration of Barack Obama? Was there some reason the transition team couldn't find someone who wasn't a homophobe? Warren dodged Waldman's question about whether he supported civil unions or domestic partnerships, answering instead, "I support full equal rights for everyone in America," adding that he only opposes a "redefinition" of marriage. He went on to say he's opposed to gay marriage the same way he is opposed to a brother and sister marrying (that would be incest), a man marrying a child (that would be statutory rape), or someone having multiple spouses (that would be polygamy). Pressed by Waldman, Warren said he ...
Obama hearts Rick Warren
Crooks and Liars —
Say,what?
President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony will feature big names like minister Rick Warren and legendary singer Aretha Franklin, the Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies announced Wednesday. Warren, the prominent evangelical and founder of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, will deliver the ceremony's invocation.
Right Wing Watch outlines many of the reasons why he should not have been asked to perform this function. I guess Obama doesn't mind that Warren sandbagged him at the Saddleback Forum, (cone of silence) and Warren still gets the nod. PFAW have issued a statement. ...
WTF?
Shakesville —
... mistaking the Bible for the Department of Defense handbook. And if that weren't bad enough, as my friend Steve points out: Warren is opposed, on religious grounds, to abortion rights, gay rights, stem-cell research, and euthanasia. In 2004, he described these issues as "nonnegotiable" and "not even debatable." What's more, just this month, Warren supported Prop. 8 in California for absurd reasons.Those "absurd reasons," by the way, entailed Warren conflating same-sex marriage with polygamy, incest, and rape. ...
Anti-choice, anti-gay, pro-assassination pastor to give inaugural invocation.
Think Progress —
Pastor Rick Warren will deliver the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration on Jan. 20. While he is a recognizable celebrity and best-selling author, Warren also advocates a number of deeply anti-progressive views. He supported California’s anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 and has likened gay marriage with polygamy and incest. He is strongly anti-choice, and has equated abortion to the Holocaust. Warren also supports the assassination of foreign leaders. Appearing on Fox’s Hannity and Colmes on December 3, Warren agreed ...
Rick Warren: The Wrong Choice
Comments from Left Field —
WPvideo 1.10
Is he serious? Rick “politicians have to believe in God” Warren? Rick “cone of silence” Warren? Rick “Prop 8 is great” Warren? Rick “take out the evildoers” Warren? Rick “Dobson-lite” Warren? That’s the ...
Obama Picks Pro-Life Homophobe Rick Warren to Deliver Inaugural Invocation
Tennessee Guerilla Women —
Obama has chosen Homophobe Rick Warren to deliver his inaugural invocation. Warren was a big supporter of California's Proposition 8, the ballot initiative -- outlawing gay marriage in California -- which passed on the same day that Obama won the election. Warren says he's not a homophobe. Warren says "has gay friends and has even eaten dinner in 'gay homes.'" And over at Firedoglake, this is rightly judged to be "another Donny McClurkin moment." Extreme Hillary hater Andrew Sullivan says: . . if anyone is under any illusion that Obama is interested in advancing gay ...
The Warren Factor
Matthew Yglesias —
I’m going to outsource my version of the inevitable Rick Warren post to my colleague Matt Duss:
Pastor Rick Warren will deliver the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration on Jan. 20. While he is a recognizable celebrity and best-selling author, Warren also advocates a number of deeply anti-progressive views. He supported California’s anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 and has likened gay marriage to polygamy and incest. He is strongly anti-choice, and has equated abortion to the ...
More Warren Blowback
Shakesville —
... Of course, a fuckneck who compares same-sex marriage to rape doesn't really seem to have given a whole lot of thought to either, now, does he?
Unacceptable
Suburban Guerrilla —
For Obama to invite Rick Warren to be part of his inauguration ceremony is, quite simply, disgusting. I’m so appalled, I don’t even know what to say. It would be the equivalent of John McCain asking David Duke to say a few words.
Symbolism and the Rick Warren pick
Newshoggers.com —
by Jay McDonough
I've not been too critical of President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet
choices. I think, in a post a while back, I noted some disappointment
so many of his choices seemed old guard Clinton Administration
officials. But I believed that, at the end of the day, it's about
implementing the Obama agenda the American people endorsed and if, in
choosing folks with ...
Happy on the left
Ben Smith's Blog —
There's some rejoicing on the left over the Solis pick, because though she's not a big name, she's a true labor ally.
Writes Harold Meyerson:
What does Rep. Hilda Solis, Barack Obama's selection for secretary of labor, bring to the job? Only a record of passionate commitment to working people, a high level of political smarts, and some genuine displays of raw guts that could make her a star of American liberalism.
Labor Leaders Hail Obama's Pick For Labor Secretary
TPM Election Central —
... Incidentally, Stern said that the person who knows Solis perhaps best is writer Harold Meyerson, and as it happens, Meyerson has already weighed in with his take right here. ...
Dennis Blair: Director Of National Intelligence?
The Huffington Post | Full News Feed —
... The American Prospect's Tim Fernholz notes that while Blair is "an interesting character who is considered smart about the possibility of engagement, not conflict, with countries like China, and he has made the right noises on terrorism reduction" he isn't perfect. "It seems that Blair, while serving as head of Pacific Command in 2000, had some unpleasant dealings with Indonesian leaders and displayed some remarkably poor judgment on intelligence about violence in East Timor." ...
Dennis Blair: Director Of National Intelligence?
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com —
... The American Prospect's Tim Fernholz notes that while Blair is "an interesting character who is considered smart about the possibility of engagement, not conflict, with countries like China, and he has made the right noises on terrorism reduction" he isn't perfect. "It seems that Blair, while serving as head of Pacific Command in 2000, had some unpleasant dealings with Indonesian leaders and displayed some remarkably poor judgment on intelligence about violence in East Timor." ...
DAY'S END ROUNDUP
News —
DAY'S END ROUNDUP Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) earns rave reviews from liberals after news that President-elect Barack Obama intends to nominate her as the nation's next Labor secretary, while conservatives voice skepticism of Obama's statement that Americans of different political persuasions need to "come together" for his inauguration. Solis is a strong pick to head Obama's Labor Department, Open Left's Matt Stoller declares, commending her as someone who can build coalitions among different groups of constituents. Solis has earned high ratings from labor organizations during her time in Congress, MyDD's Todd Beeton notes, while TAPPED's Harold Meyerson ...
Random Cabinetry
Political Animal —
Random Cabinetry I love this quote from Ezra: "Word is that Congresswoman Hilda Solis is to be named Labor Secretary. I'd write a long post on this, and maybe I will later, but I think most of what I'd say is better expressed by the fact that Harold Meyerson just ran into my office doing everything but clicking his heels in the air." I love this anecdote from Harold Meyerson even more: "In 1996, when she was a back-bencher (and the first Latina) in the California State Senate, Hilda Solis did something that no other political figure I known of had done before, or has done since: She took money out of her own political account to fund a social justice campaign. Under California law, the ...
Random Cabinetry
Obsidian Wings —
by hilzoy
I love this quote from Ezra:
"Word is that Congresswoman Hilda Solis is to be named Labor Secretary. I'd write a long post on this, and maybe I will later, but I think most of what I'd say is better expressed by the fact that Harold Meyerson just ran into my office doing everything but clicking his heels in the air."
I love this ...
Payback Time
The American Spectator —
Labor unions shelled out well over
$100 million (pdf) in donations to political candidates
during the 2008 election. More than 90 percent of that total went
to Barack Obama and the Democrats. With President-elect Obama's
nomination of Rep. Hilda Solis to be his secretary of labor, the
payback has begun. Solis, a liberal Democratic congresswoman from
Los Angeles, is one of big labor's best friends.
Don't take my word for it, however. Listen to the chorus of union
leaders and labor-friendly progressives praising her nomination.
"Hilda Solis is an outstanding choice," Retail, Wholesale and
Department Store Union President Stuart Applebaum said in a
statement. "She ...
Progressive Breakfast: Bush Serves Up Auto Rescue
LiberalOasis : The Blog —
Progressive Breakfast is created for OurFuture.org, and is the morning roundup of what progressive movement members need to know to start the day.
Auto Rescue Finally Announced
NYT reports this AM:
President Bush on Friday announced $13.4 billion in emergency loans to prevent the collapse of General Motors and Chrysler, and another $4 billion available for the hobbled automakers in February...
Mr. Bush also said that bankruptcy was not a workable alternative for the troubled automakers. 'Chapter 11 is unlikely to work for the American automakers at this time,' he said, noting that consumers would be unlikely to ...
Censuring and Moving On
TPMCafe —
My initial reaction to Obama's Rick Warren announcement was horror. After what seems like weeks of intense back-and-forth, but in fact is only a day's worth, I'm still appalled. It's one thing to invite the adversary into the tent the better to defeat him with a smile--neutralize him, in colder terms--but it's quite another to give him a throne, even if a purely symbolic throne. Warren's political interventions are mostly terrible (AIDS and environment are the exceptions). The argument that this was crass political calculation--triangulation, as another president once said--comparable to FDR making nice to segregationists and Stalin, falls afoul of the fact that this overture to Warren was ...
Hoorays for Hilda: Secretary Designate Solis Embraced by Labor, Progressives
Firedoglake —
It’s official, President Elect Barack Obama has tapped Hilda Solis to be his Secretary of Labor. And, unlike the “on the one hand, on the other hand” reaction progressives have had to so many Obama appointments, Solis is someone most embrace with both arms.
UNITE HERE President Bruce Raynor: ...
