L vs R: A Telling Contrast In Inaugural Reactions

The news that evangelical minister Rick Warren will deliver the invocation at Obama's swearing in is actually the second inaugural-related announcement the media has robustly unleashed hoping to gin up passions among the masses, both on the Left and Right.

The first was that President-elect Obama would use his full name, Barack Hussein Obama, when he is sworn in. I imagine the media could hardly wait for the screams of rage and pain from alleged "Islamophobes," now convinced the announcement confirmed their darkest fear - that Obama was some "stealth candidate" and betrayer of America's Judeo-Christian tradition.

But the screams and protests never came. After all, it is his given name. Aside from some bemusement and ranting from those who earn their living at it, Sullivan's so-called "Christianists" mostly remained mum. They took it in stride as believers in democratic principles generally do with results of an election they might not prefer.

A worn Sullivan just wrings his hands acknowledging the betrayal in Ugh! But then all his energies have been zapped, what with him off chasing maternity questions in the foreign and un-American land he seems to think Alaska represents. Maybe his metro-sensibilities simply can't abide a place where men are men and even women shoot deer.

The rest of the Left is not quite so resigned.

Politico tells us the Left is "furious". "Homophobe" shouts homophobe-phobic blog Firedoglake.

At least Think Progress believes Warren does actually stand for something: Anti-gay, anti-choice, pro-assassination pastor to give inaugural invocation.

Geesh.

It seems to me that for the most part the Right does get impassioned about some things, freedom, genuine Rights and protections. Post-election they bascially return to those values, trying to apply them equally no matter who won or lost.

Contrasted with a Left that seems to harbor a free-floating anger and even rage ready to sieze upon any target should it dare to raise its head - and the contrast couldn't be more revealing or any more stark.

As he moves forward with his Presidency, Obama may just discover that his most consistent ally when he acts prudently and responsibly will be on the Right and not the Left. As to how that might influence his decision-making the jury is still out.

If the two choices tell us anything about Obama it's that for now he is trying to remain true to his word to invite both sides under his tent. And perhaps that he wants to be re-elected in 2012.

How much that Big Tent comes to represent Big Government may or may not be the real predictor of a sort of detente with Right. As for the Left, we'll just have to wait and see what it is they choose to be enraged by when they wake up in the morning, I guess.

Comments

[jharp]

Rick Warren is a liar and a fake Christian. And I'm very disappointed Obama has selected him.

Rick Warren... ..."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 were all kinds of threats that if you… that did not pass, then any pastor could be considered doing hate speech if he shared his views that he didn’t think homosexuality was the most natural way for relationships."

http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/12/16/7415

[Roy Mustang]

So the guy who believes in the Bible is a fake Christian. But the guy who believes 'that if God is not on the side of blacks, he must be destoryed' is a real Christian.

I guess it works in the same way that Ayers is a patriot who stood up against an evil entity while McCain is a war criminal because he bombed innocent civilians.

What a bizzaro world liberals like in.

[jharp]

"So the guy who believes in the Bible is a fake Christian."

No. The guy who purposely lies to mislead is a fake Christian. He obviously does not believe or he wouldn't lie. That's all.

It's one of the top ten.

[Pink Pig]

Rick Warren? Rick Warren?

[daveinboca]

Libtards will be screaming a lot more, I believe, if my next-door neighbor, a four-term FL State Rep [R] is correct. He told me in September that Obama was less liberal than Hillary and more reliable than John-Boy McCooked-Stick-a-Fork-in-Him.

Ah, the screeching and whining is music to conservative ears!

[mark l.]

can't bring myself to punch in msnbc...

but i am very curious to hear rachel maddow carry water for obama, in light of her openly gay persona.

If there is a crack in the media wall at msnbc/obama, she's the one who would come pouring out of it. (no 'dyke' jokes, please.)

[North Dallas Thirty]

"No. The guy who purposely lies to mislead is a fake Christian."

Unfortunately, jharp, we know you don't believe that, because you don't apply it to Obama.

After all, why would you be "disappointed", unless Obama had misled you to believe that he didn't support those you deem to be "homophobes"?

Meanwhile, Rick Warren is perfectly correct. Gay liberals have already used the law to attack and punish ministers (Christian only, of course) for "hate speech", and are constantly suing churches and religious organizations.

http://www.steynonline.com/content/blogsection/14/128/

[Jabba the Tutt]

Maybe Obama enjoyed his Saddleback Forum appearance. Maybe Obama liked the even-handed way Rick Warren asked him and McCain questions, even though that was the site of one of Obama's few goofs on the campaign with his "above my paygrade" remark about abortion. Maybe Obama appreciated the fair and welcoming way he was treated by Warren's congregation, even though most there probably wouldn't vote for him.

Just thinking.

[Reynolds Jones]

Well, firstly the article is wrong -- I saw a considerable amount of hand wringing and screaming on the Right when it was revealed that Obama regularly consulted his Eminence, the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire on religious matters. His Eminence is, of course, a partnered gay man.

Secondly, Christianity historically has nothing to do with the Bible, it has to do with belief in Jesus Christ. That's all. The Bible was an afterthought with its canon created at the Synod of Hippo in 393 AD and approved at the Council of Carthage in 397. The books were selected by committee and a vote of bishops determined the official canon, with approval from Rome. Prior to that thousands of canons had existed in various places -- and many churches had no "book" at all. There still were multiple canons after Carthage, but they were gradually subsumed, until now there are only 3 canons that matter.

Christ is the faith, the book (Bible) is a joke.

Finally, many Leftists are behind Obama all the way, including myself and all but one person on the Left that I know. The screaming masses that the author of this puff piece predict, do not exist except in the minds of the MSM -- Obama knows that, and by simply parroting what the MSM already is trying to say - this author simply proves himself no better than they, and probably a conservative shrill, to boot.

Regards,

Reynolds Jones

[Philip McDaniel]

“Rick Warren is a liar and a fake Christian.”

Ah…Pope Narcissus, aka jharp, has spoken. All bow down to his sacred pontification. After all, as the saying goes, ‘it takes one to know one’… or is that ‘a skunk always smells his own…’ Whatever.

[Cherie]

I'm not really sure why the Left is making such a big deal about this. I don't know too many far Right Christian conservatives that support Rick Warren in my neck of the woods.He is viewed to be part of the emergent church movement, which is not accepted by the conservatives here.

[Bobby_B]

"Christ is the faith, the book (Bible) is a joke."
- - -

I'm an atheist, so I have no god . . . er . . . dog in this fight, but your statement above just triggered old memories of The Church Lady looking prim as she responds "how conveeeenient!"

[seekeronos]

(a) Rick Warren is hardly a fundamentalist Christian... he teeters on the border of being an apostate and a heretic.

(b) The Bible is no joke. It is divinely inspired, written by men after God's heart, and it has EVERYTHING to do with Jesus Christ, for He is the One who is the very Word of God:

"-----
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

...

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
-----"

(John 1:1-4,14; KJV)

[david zoschke]

An excellent statement, well worded with wise insight: "...the Right does get impassioned about some things, freedom, genuine rights and protections. Post-election they basically return to those values trying to apply them equally no matter who won or lost." Thank you!
In my opinion, the Christ principle (which includes "freedom, genuine rights and protections") will truly operate in the hearts of those who know Him irrespective of who won the election.

[Ed-words]

Keeping religion out of politics is like keeping ants out of the picnic basket!

"Barack, you know better than this. You don't have to kiss up to those you soundly
defeated. Don't snatch defeat from the jaws of victory."

[JPH]

Simply put "THE TRUTH HURTS" The gay rights people scream for equal rights for themselves which flys in the face of biblical truth. Then they scream FOUL when Obama asks the other end of the gay spectrum to come to his side of the tracks just as Rick Warren did when he invited Obama and McCain to his side for their meeting at his church. Name me ANYBODY who was able to get the two men in the same place before Rick Warren did so we could see them both on equal ground??? This is simply a reach across the table and not a publicity stunt by either man. The bible says hate the sin and Love the sinner. Put down your stones and embrace the sinner as well as the Christian. When we sin their is a price for it just as when we don't their is a reward. The choice is yours which you choose.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

"Ah, the screeching and whining is music to conservative ears!"

Just wait for the cacaphony!!

[WAHOO WILLIE]

Got me damned invite for the ignorable parade. I'd sell the thing to the highest bidder if I could. I wouldn't be in that mob or march that far for Teddy Freekin' Roosevelt!!

[Zeigenbach Tapper]

"Ah…Pope Narcissus, aka jharp, has spoken. All bow down to his sacred pontification. After all, as the saying goes, ‘it takes one to know one’… or is that ‘a skunk always smells his own…’ Whatever."

I see that sniveling sanctimonious douchebag jharp gets as much love and respect as he did at his previous lair Patterico before he became so insufferable he got the boot. harpy is a really interesting personality type - it really is fascinating how one becomes such a self-absorbed clod.