Jane

So this morning Lizzie asked me what I think about Obama’s choice of Rick Warren as the pastor to give the invocation at his inauguration.

Lizzie

about the Rick Warren thing…coming up for inauguration. You heard about that?

Jane

Oh Lizzie, what makes you think I have much to say about Obama’s choice of a pastor for the invocation who is anti-choice, anti-gay and anti-stem cell research? Someone who insists that when anyone speaks out about gay civil rights, they are automatically stomping on the Freedom of Speech Rights of pastors?

WHY would you think I have anything to say about that?  Because Mr. “To those of you who did not vote for me, I am your president too” chose the beginning moment of his presidential term to reach out (or PANDER) to evangelicals and the Religious Right? If that is even what he is doing? What, was Jeremiah Wright busy that night?  This is a guy who has dissed the whole of mainstream Protestantism by calling the Social Gospel “Marxism in Christian clothing.”  This is Purposely Driving me crazy…  heh heh

Lizzie

So…I take it you’re not happy about this choice, Jane???  Barack’s not warming the cockles of your heart with this gesture of peace and goodwill towards (straight, mega-church-attending, purpose-driven) men?

Seriously, I’m glad to see it’s got you a little exercised, because, for my part, I’m just having trouble making any sense of this decision–and the message it is intended to convey.

Because here’s the thing.  Politically, it’s foolishness.  Anger and alienate your most loyal supporters just so that you can hear the justified skepticism of your most vocal non-supporters?  I thought Obama was supposed to be a one-man brain trust.

Indeed, as this morning’s Washington Post reported, the Human Rights Campaign “sent a blistering letter to Obama (D) in which it called the choice of Warren ‘a genuine blow’ to gay Americans, who supported Obama overwhelmingly in his race against Republican nominee John McCain.”

Now, to be fair to the President-elect, I will say that it appears that he and Warren have a congenial and mutually respectful relationship.  And, as Obama himself was quick to point out, Warren has invited Obama to speak at his church  despite his and Obama’s ideological differences.  So it’s not as though the political pandering means inviting someone Obama personally loathes to do the inaugural invocation.  That sort of pandering would demonstrate a cynical shrewdness with decidedly Machiavellian overtones.  No, this is just a silly, mediocre, misguided sort of pander.

Furthermore, Warren is no fire-and-brimstone Evangelical.  Honestly, as Southern Baptist preachers go, he’s something of a milquetoast.  I mean, heck, have you read any of The Purpose Driven Life?  Warren is a pragmatist–he’s rather more interested in staffing church committees (for isn’t a committee where each of us can best find our life’s purpose?) than he is discussing the damnation of souls or the sins of Sodom.

The fact that Warren is a “nice, friendly Evangelical,” however, begs the question of who else Obama might have invited besides a trendy, slick, insanely wealthy celebrity pastor to give his inaugural invocation.  Is Obama assuming that members of the Christian right get Holy-Ghost-goosebumps only when one of their own is leading public prayer?  If so, I believe he is grossly underestimating the very folks he seeks to win over.

People who flock to Warren’s Saddleback Church–and who form study groups around his books–are, I would submit, not that provincial or shallow.  When it comes to spiritual leaders within the broader Christian tradition, here’s a little-known secret. Evangelicals, like most Americans, can respect and admire leaders (including lefties!) who have labored, persevered, and suffered in the upholding of their faith and the pursuit of human rights.

What is more, not all conservative Christians think Rick Warren is da bomb.  Some actually recoil when they are invited to participate in a “40 Days of Purpose” event. and prefer not to use groovy paraphrase Bible translations in their study of the Scriptures.  Conservative columnist/blogger Matt Lewis, for example commented today: “There are several reasons many conservatives question Rick Warren: 1. Many believe him to be a self-promoting opportunist who is seeking to become the 21st century’s version of Billy Graham.”

But, really, don’t you think that even those who adore Warren can gladly pray along with one who doesn’t use their particular jargon or have a bestseller on bookstore shelves.   I surely do!  And if I am wrong, then I guess the pandering will find its intended mark–and everyone will be happy.  Oh yeah, except for the people who worked the hardest to get their guy elected.