Sunday Comment on Rick Warren

My initial opinion on Rick Warren giving the invocation at the inauguration to Barack Obama's Presidency was mild. I thought, I don't like it, but if it pulls more conservatives into the Obama camp, no big deal. However, after finding that many conservatives don't want Warren to read the invocation, I have changed my mind. Having Rick Warren read the invocation is not going to help Obama with conversative citizens. Warren may be mainstream, but he is also a controversial figure. Many consertaive Christians view him as a "rock star" preacher out for fame and fortune. Its great that Warren believes in helping the poor and eradicating aids, but choosing him to read the invocation for minimal, if any, political leverage, upsets many people and rightfully so. Why make this a political issue? Why not pick an uncontroversial candidate and move on? Obviously people will get over this, but it is offensive to so many people who worked so hard to get Barack Obama elected. In the next four years there will be many political concessions made. Why make one for a day that should be a celebration?

It seems to me that the pick for who is to read the invocation is actaully more imporant for Obama politically than more serious cabinet positions. Does Obama want to make himself look more like an ordinary politican than the mysiah some people take him for? If so, he's doing a good job. The move looks political and on a spiritual issue, however minor, that does not seem like a good decision. Most liberals wouldn't bat an eye over most administraion appointments, however the invocation pick is extremely symbolic. More than cabinet level appointments it should take the base into consideration. The cabinet has to run the government and work with people from a variety of perspectives. The deliverer of the invocation simply does that, but for many people its a very important portion of the ceremony. If anything why not throw one to the base?

Lets consider that maybe Barack Obama isn't making a political decision, maybe he actaully agrees with Warren? Well that's not good politically either. As already stated, I don't think this is going to win Obama any political favors from conservaties in the future. So, great he's offending his base and not getting anything for it.

Obama ran on a message of unity, not compromise and there is a distinct difference between the two. Politically, compromise, tending towards the middle so as not to please anyone, tends to be scuicide. Unity, or inclusivness is open to everyone, but is tough to stick by. Obama should stick with with the inclusive definition of unity. He'll do better politically if he does.