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[fictionaut12]

I've been slowly gaining an appreciation for Obama during his transition. His Cabinet choices have been interesting, his transition team works smooth as butter, and he's been showing an intelligence and class that sharply contrasts with the bufoonery of the Bush administration

Comments

[androgen07]

I think I'm maybe the only gay man on the planet who isn't really bothered by Rick Warren doing an invocation at the inauguration.

I think everyone getting upset about it gives Rick Warren more clout than he deserves.

He's going to be doing the functional equivalent of your uncle saying grace at Christmas dinner.

He won't be dictating any policy, and Obama has, even as recently as this morning, iterated quite clearly that he truly believes in disagreeing without being disagreeable. And finding common ground on things people do agree upon. He also stated quite clearly that he is and will continue to be a supporter of the gay community.

Obama is doing something markedly different than Bush, bringing in closer people who do not agree with him on everything. For me, after eight years of cronyism and group think, watching someone who is willing to try to lead the country forward by bringing people together and finding common ground is a breath of fresh air.

[allamericanboi]

My problems with this line of thinking are:

1.) I agree about bridging the gap, having a debate, bringing different views to the table. But civil rights aren't really up for debate. It's not as if they have differences on funding social programs or tax policy.

2.) Obama is not exactly a model gay rights advocate, so he doesn't exactly balance out Rick Warren.

I'm with you, though, on the uncle at Christmas dinner analogy.

[fictionaut12]

This isn't Christmas dinner. The reason your crackpot old uncle says grace at Christmas dinner is because of the odd melange of societal custom and familial duty. There actually isn't much real choice about your uncle saying grace