Showing posts with label RICK WARREN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RICK WARREN. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

WARREN explanation: “This Week” no-show

April 15, 2009

Explanation of Pastor Warren’s no-show on “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos as provided by a Warren aide’s email via Politico’s Mike Allen. FOX had asked that the church be spiffed up before the broadcast and evidently they got to it kind of late.

NewsPoliticsNews

Warren aide email to POLITICO:

I received a call from a Saddleback colleague (Pastor Rick’s chief-of-staff) [Saturday] morning that Dr. Warren awoke ill. He had already preached the first four services, beginning Thursday night. (Two of the Friday services were taped for broadcast six times over the weekend on the Fox News Channel.) I was informed that he would have to clear his schedule of interviews and preaching appearances yesterday in order to regain his strength to get back in the pulpit on Easter Sunday.

My understanding was that Dr. Warren’s condition was related to fatigue and exhaustion — which affected his voice — exacerbated by inhalation of fumes from the newly refurbished (but still drying) pulpit used in the televised services the previous night. After initially informing George Stephanopoulos of his inability to pre-tape on Saturday, I put him directly in touch with his chief-of-staff after doctor consultation to pursue the remote possibility of an early [Sunday] AM pre-tape. That turned out to not be a possibility as he had to cancel half of his sermons today, though he was able to preach several of the six services at which he was scheduled to preach.

There has been a lot of blog chatter trying to connect the dots with the interviews this weekend and comments Dr. Warren made on CNN Larry King Live, but his cancellations were related to health and fatigue…. I was looking forward to the opportunity for him to clarify his position with Messrs. Stephanopoulos and Huckabee (the latter with whom he was to interview live at 2:45 PM EDT on Saturday) to reframe the picture for television viewers the way we had been trying to do on a per-inquiry basis with print outlets by sending out the statement below.

A copy of the statement referenced was left in the comment section of our Larry King - Rick Warren interview post. See link below.

***
Larry King: Pastor Rick Warren
WARREN: I urge you to support Proposition 8
WARREN: Same-sex marriage like incest and pedophilia?
WARREN: “I’m naturally inclined to have sex with every beautiful woman I see”
WARREN: cancels “This Week” appearance
WARREN statements in a nutshell
Pastor Warren’s spokesman re: Larry King appearance
WARREN explanation: “This Week” no-show
***
CBS Poll: Same-sex marriage
Iowa legalizes same-sex marriage
GOP reacts to Iowa’s same-sex marriage ruling
Iowa to become “gay marriage Mecca”?
Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage
Larry King: Joel and Victoria Osteen

Pastor Warren’s spokesman re: Larry King appearance

April 10, 2009

I don’t know what happened to this post.

Here is a statement from Jim Anderson, presumed spokesman for Pastor Rick Warren that was left in our comment section on the post about Warren’s April 6th appearance on Larry King.

  • jimanderson1 Says:
    April 10, 2009 at 10:44 AM

    I’m providing this to you in an effort to clarify statements made by Pastor Rick Warren during his April 6th appearance on CNN “Larry King Live.” Several comments he made during that interview have caused confusion which I would like to clarify on his behalf as media representative for Saddleback Church.

    Throughout his pastoral ministry spanning nearly 30 years, Dr. Warren has remained committed to the biblical definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, for life — a position held by most fellow Evangelical pastors. He has further stressed that for 5,000 years, EVERY culture and EVERY religion has maintained this worldview.

    When Dr. Warren told Larry King that he never campaigned for California’s Proposition 8, he was referring to not participating in the official two-year organized advocacy effort specific to the ballot initiative in that state, based on his focus and leadership on other compassion issues. Because he’s a pastor, not an activist, in response to inquiries from church members, he issued an email and video message to his congregation days before the election confirming where he and Saddleback Church stood on this issue.

    During the King interview, Dr. Warren also referenced a letter of apology that he sent to gay leaders whom he knew personally. However, that mea culpa was not with respect to his statements or position on Proposition 8 nor the biblical worldview on marriage. Rather, he apologized for his comments in an earlier Beliefnet interview expressing his concern about expanding or redefining the definition of marriage beyond a husband-wife relationship, during which he unintentionally and regrettably gave the impression that consensual adult same sex relationships were equivalent to incest or pedophilia.

    ***
    Larry King: Pastor Rick Warren
    WARREN: I urge you to support Proposition 8 (video)
    WARREN: Same-sex marriage like incest and pedophilia?
    WARREN: “I’m naturally inclined to have sex with every beautiful woman I see”
    WARREN: cancels “This Week” appearance
    WARREN statements in a nutshell
    Pastor Warren’s spokesman re: Larry King appearance
    WARREN explanation: “This Week” no-show
    ***
    CBS Poll: Same-sex marriage
    Iowa legalizes same-sex marriage
    GOP reacts to Iowa’s same-sex marriage ruling
    Iowa to become “gay marriage Mecca”?
    Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage
    Larry King: Joel and Victoria Osteen

  • Rick Warren in a nutshell

    April 15, 2009

    Highlights that led to a canceled appearance and an explanation. See the links below for the full posts. Warren on Larry King April 6th.

    NewsPoliticsNews

    PASTOR RICK WARREN:

    I am not an anti-gay or anti-gay marriage activist. I never have been, never will be.

    During the whole Proposition 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued a statement, never — never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop 8 was going.

    The week before the — the vote, somebody in my church said, Pastor Rick, what — what do you think about this?

    And I sent a note to my own members that said, I actually believe that marriage is — really should be defined, that that definition should be — say between a man and a woman.

    I don’t know about a note. Though he changed his site after he was chosen by barry. Here’s a statement he issued in October 2008.

    RightWingWatchdotorg

    WARREN: I urge you to support Proposition 8.

    He said to Larry King.

    WARREN: I was asked a question that made it sound like I equated gay marriage with pedophilia or incest, which I absolutely do not believe.

    DrivingEquality

    12-15-2008

    Pastor Rick Warren interview with Steven Waldman, editor in chief of Beliefnet.

    WARREN: I’m opposed to having a brother and sister be together and calling that marriage.

    I’m opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that marriage.

    I’m opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage

    WALDMAN: Think those are equivalent to gays getting married?

    WARREN: Oh, I do!

    Then he sidesteps the Iowa decision.

    LARRY KING: Do you, therefore, criticize or not comment on the Iowa court decision to permit gay marriage?

    WARREN: Yes. I’m — I’m totally oblivious to — to what — that’s not even my agenda.

    [later] It just means that marriage is for a man and a woman.

    ***

    Larry King: Pastor Rick Warren
    WARREN: I urge you to support Proposition 8 (video)
    WARREN: Same-sex marriage like incest and pedophilia?
    WARREN: “I’m naturally inclined to have sex with every beautiful woman I see”
    Rick Warren cancels *This Week* appearance

    ***
    CBS Poll: Same-sex marriage
    Iowa legalizes same-sex marriage
    GOP reacts to Iowa’s same-sex marriage ruling
    Iowa to become “gay marriage Mecca”?
    Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage
    Larry King: Joel and Victoria Osteen

    Monday, April 13, 2009

    Rick Warren cancels *This Week* appearance

    April 12, 2009

    Pastor Rick Warren was slated to appear on This Week with George Stephanopolous, He wasn’t. He canceled at the last minute citing exhaustion.

    STEPHANOPOULOS: Happy Easter and Happy Passover. For those of you tuning in this morning expecting to hear from Pastor Rick Warren, we were too, but the pastor’s representatives canceled moments before the scheduled interview, saying that Mr. Warren is sick from exhaustion.

    It must have been complete exhaustion for him not to seize the opportunity to speak to the world on Easter.

    CBS Poll: Same-sex marriage
    Iowa legalizes same-sex marriage
    GOP reacts to Iowa’s same-sex marriage ruling
    Iowa to become “gay marriage Mecca”?
    Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage
    Larry King: Joel and Victoria Osteen
    Larry King: Pastor Rick Warren
    WARREN: I urge you to support Proposition 8 (video)
    WARREN: Same-sex marriage like incest and pedophilia?
    WARREN: “I’m naturally inclined to have sex with every beautiful woman I see”
    Rick Warren cancels *This Week* appearance

    Warren: "I'm naturally inclined to have sex with every beautiful woman I see"

    April 12, 2009

    Here he discusses the possible biological nature of homosexuality - whether if it were found to be genetic - would he change his position. The answer is no - but the reasoning is not the same…for the last 5000 years…every religion says 1 man 1 woman. He seems to have forgotten Mormons and the curious fact that there are homosexual animals.

    Instead he equates it to promoscuity and immaturity and lack of characters - all value judgments - not 5000 years of objective history.

    Ann Curry snippets

    AdvanceofFreedom1776

    ANN CURRY: Your position [on same-sex marriage] has raised the specter that you are homophobic.

    WARREN laughs, like you’re kidding me, right?

    CURRY: You laugh, but that is why gay people are angry.

    WARREN: Well, I could give you a hundred gay friends–

    CURRY cuts him off. Feigns anger: Are you homophobic?

    WARREN: I don’t know any church in America that’s done more to help the gay community, particularly with AIDS, than Saddleback. But the hate speech against me is incendiary.

    And the answer?

    CURRY: If science finds that this is biological, indisputably, not something that can be explained in any other way except that people are born to be gay, would you change your position?

    WARREN: No. And the reason why–

    CURRY false voice: Why?!

    WARREN: I’d be happy to tell you why. The reason why…We all have biological predispositions…

    CURRY: You’re saying if it’s part of your biology, it’s your job to struggle against - if in fact it is the wrong thing.

    He uses his gay friends to detour to promiscuity in gay folks. And yet he is supposed to be talking about marriage. He’s unknowingly endorsing it in a way.

    WARREN:..I’m naturally inclined to have sex with every beautiful woman I see. But that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.

    Here’s truest emotion I have heard him speak with during all of his meanderings.

    WARREN: And why should I reign in my natural impulses? And you say well because I have natural impulses toward the same sex I shouldn’t have to reign them in.

    Well, I disagree. I think that’s part of maturity. I think it’s part of delayed gratification. I think it’s part of character. CBS Poll: Same-sex marriage
    Iowa legalizes same-sex marriage
    GOP reacts to Iowa’s same-sex marriage ruling
    Iowa to become “gay marriage Mecca”?
    Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage
    Larry King: Joel and Victoria Osteen
    Larry King: Pastor Rick Warren
    WARREN: I urge you to support Proposition 8 (video)
    WARREN: Same-sex marriage like incest and pedophilia?
    WARREN: "I'm naturally inclined to have sex with every beautiful woman I see"
    Rick Warren cancels *This Week* appearance

    Warren: Same-sex marriage like incest and pedophilia?

    April 12, 2009

    LiBeRTiNi1954 -

    Here’s the footage you asked for. I thought I had posted all of this previous but I can’t find it. We didn’t come over here until mid-December and somethings imported - some didn’t.

    DrivingEquality

    12-15-2008 Pastor Rick Warren interview with Steven Waldman, editor in chief of Beliefnet.

    I’m opposed to having a brother and sister be together and call that marriage.

    I’m opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that marriage.

    I’m opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage

    Q: Think those are equivalent to gays getting married?

    WARREN: Oh, I do!

    One can assume he meant that incest, pedophilia, polygamy and same-sex marriage are the same. Or that incest, pedophilia, polygamy and same-sex marriage are the same in that it is not marriage between one man and one woman.

    I also remember him comparing it to pizza. Seriously. Something like just because he likes pizza doesn’t mean he should marry it.

    The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

    They can’t accuse me of homophobia. I just don’t believe in gay marriage.

    CBS Poll: Same-sex marriage
    Iowa legalizes same-sex marriage
    GOP reacts to Iowa’s same-sex marriage ruling
    Iowa to become “gay marriage Mecca”?
    Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage
    Larry King: Joel and Victoria Osteen
    Larry King: Pastor Rick Warren
    WARREN: I urge you to support Proposition 8 (video)
    WARREN: Same-sex marriage like incest and pedophilia?

    Pastor Rick Warren: “I urge you to support Proposition 8″

    April 12, 2009

    Wednesday, April 8, 2009

    Larry King: Pastor Rick Warren

    April 8, 2009

    Saddleback Chuch’s pastor Rick Warren was also on Larry King discussing same-sex marriage. He discusses barry’s pick of him, the surrounding controversy, faith in America and his ministry. He doesn’t have the glazed look of the Osteens and seems like an earnest guy who has devoted himself to doing good. Rev Rivers was quite a piece of work when he debated the issue with Mike Rogers. Really worth a watch. Rivers clearly does not care for gay folks which he refers to as a "particular crew".

    CNN Transcript

    NewsPoliticsNews

    KING: How did you handle all the controversy that resulted about the president selecting you?

    PASTOR RICK WARREN: Yes, you know, Larry, there was a story within a story that never got told. In the first place, I am not an anti-gay or anti-gay marriage activist. I never have been, never will be. During the whole Proposition 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued a statement, never — never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop 8 was going.

    The week before the — the vote, somebody in my church said, Pastor Rick, what — what do you think about this? And I sent a note to my own members that said, I actually believe that marriage is — really should be defined, that that definition should be — say between a man and a woman.

    And then all of a sudden out of it, they made me, you know, something that I really wasn’t. And I actually — there were a number of things that were put out. I wrote to all my gay friends — the leaders that I knew — and actually apologized to them. That never got out.

    So was he apologizing for public consumption or because he was sincere?

    WARREN: There were some things said that — you know, everybody should have 10 percent grace when they say public statements. And I was asked a question that made it sound like I equated gay marriage with pedophilia or incest, which I absolutely do not believe. And I actually announced that. All of the criticism came from people that didn’t know me.

    KING: Well…

    WARREN: Not a single criticism came from any gay leader who knows me and knows that for years, we’ve been working together on AIDS issues and all these other things.

    If that were the case, why the scrubbing of his website? Why the changing - softening - of words? Enlightenment or guilt? Now watch how he skirts the next question. For years he’s been working with gay leaders and yes he’s “oblivious” to the legalization of same -sex marriage in Iowa. He knew he was coming on this show and he knew the context in which he was asked to appear - but he’s oblivious. What is the “yes” in reference to?

    KING: All right. Do you, therefore, criticize or not comment on the Iowa court decision to permit gay marriage?

    WARREN: Yes. I’m — I’m totally oblivious to — to what — that’s not even my agenda. My agenda is two things.

    One, today is the 15th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. It’s a national day of mourning, which I — as you know, I’ve been heavily involved in — in Rwanda and helping rebuild that nation and I’m very concerned about that.

    And the second thing is, I’m interested in what the recession is doing to the spiritual climate of our nation. And as we start Easter week and Passover week, which is a really big week for those of us who are Jews or Christians, Passover and Easter, it’s our biggest week of the year. And it actually was the — the week that I started Saddleback Church 30 years ago this Easter Sunday.

    KING: All right. I — we’ll get to that and we’ll get to, certainly, the recession and faith in a minute. But have — by the way, have you talked to Obama since the inaugural?

    WARREN: No, I haven’t. I’ve talked to the White House staff several times. I haven’t talked to him. All — all I’m doing is trying to keep my head down on the things that I’ve got to do. And I’m — I know I’m — he’s trying to keep his head down on all the things he’s got to do. And we certainly need to pray for the president. I wouldn’t want to be president during what’s happening right now.

    KING: What’s your thoughts about how he’s doing?

    WARREN: I think he’s doing as best as he can. I think he is a — he’s a good leader. Every leader makes mistakes.

    What mistakes is he referring to?

    WARREN: So what? But he’s doing the best he can. And I think that — that the deck of cards he was given, no president has been given this in a long, long time, in terms of the crises that he’s having to deal with. It is so complex. And it’s not going to be solved overnight. And America has a very short attention span.

    KING: Were you surprised he asked you to deliver the invocation?

    WARREN: I was. I could have given you a list of 30 other guys I would have thought he would have asked.

    KING: How did it happen? Did he call you? Did somebody call — how did — how did it — how did the process take place?

    WARREN: I had just finished a week in New York City, when we were launching our “Purpose-Driven Connection” magazine. And I was actually sitting on the plane on a runway. And my associate said, there’s a cell phone call and it’s — it’s the president-elect. And sitting on the runway, he said, “Rick, I want you to do the inaugural — the inaugural prayer.” And I, of course, said, well, anything I could do. I was surprised.

    There were two back to back days there that were pretty amazing for me. The day before, I was invited to speak at the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s death at Ebenezer Baptist Church. And to me, he’s been a hero all of my life. I have a picture and a signed letter of Martin Luther King hanging in my — in my office with a picture of Gandhi next to it. And to be invited to speak at — at Martin Luther King’s memorial day service on the 40th anniversary and the 80th birthday of his — of his life was a big deal. And then to do the inauguration the next day was amazing.

    KING: It’s been quite a year, quite a time, quite an era for Rick Warren. We’ll be back with him in a moment. The decline and fall of Christian America — does a new poll indicate that that is happening?

    [commercial]

    KING: We’re back with Rick Warren. He’s in Irvine and we’re in New York. One other thing in the gay issue, while you said you were not an activist at all…

    WARREN: Yes.

    KING: Did you not encourage your flock to vote yes on Proposition 8?

    WARREN: Oh, yes. You know, I don’t think that the definition of marriage should be changed.

    KING: So you did ask your people who worship with you to vote that way?

    WARREN: Yes. I just never campaigned…

    KING: …because that’s an active issue.

    WARREN: I never campaigned for it. I never — I’m not an anti-gay activist — never have been. Never participated in a single event. I just simply made a note in a newsletter. And, of course, everything I write it’s — it’s (INAUDIBLE).

    KING: It’s not high on your road of issues?

    WARREN: No, no, it’s very low. In fact, I am working with a number of gay organizations on issues that we care about, in saving lives.

    KING: OK. Do you think Christianity is slipping in America? That’s the front cover of “Newsweek,” out today. Quite a loss occurring in the Christian community. There you see the headline.

    WARREN: Well, I would say it’s the best of times and the worst of times. First place, I don’t think that all of the questions that are asked in surveys are always as objective as they could be. For instance, if you ask people, are you a Protestant — and the number of Protestants has gone down dramatically in the last 30 years. I don’t even call myself a Protestant.

    So terminologies are changing. I don’t think faith is changing that much. I think that during a recession three things happen, Larry. Three things go up when money goes down. Church attendance goes up, bar attendance goes up, and movie attendance goes up, because people are looking for three things when they’re disappointed in materialism. They’re looking for meaning, and that’s why they start going to church. They’re looking for connections in relationships, and that’s why they go to bars. They’re looking for relief, and that’s why they go to movies.

    They discuss religion in America. Warren said he has had a record influx - baptizing 800 folks in one day. That “there are people who are hurting, people are also searching.”

    KING: The Obamas are searching, too, for a church, apparently in Washington. They don’t have one. Do you think it’s important for the public to see their leader go to church?

    WARREN: I think it’s important for the public to see our leaders having faith. I think it expresses a sense of humility that says, I recognize that I’m not the end all, be all. It’s a good sense of humility and a declaration of dependence upon god. And there are — I could recommend a dozen really good churches in Washington D.C. area. I have a lot of pastor friends of all different styles. You tell me the style you want and I’ll tell you a good church in Washington, D.C.

    [commercial break]

    KING: We’re with Rick Warren. An e-mail question from Mim in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. “Are you a consultant to President Obama as Billy Graham was to previous presidents? Is that a role you would want?”

    WARREN: No. In fact, I told the president that. I’m a friend and I’m a prayer partner, but I’m not a consultant. I’m not a pundit. And it’s not my role to do that. My role is to help people in their personal lives. I have helped a lot of leaders, both locally and globally, with issues about family and issues about personal stress. That’s a pastoral role. I’m a pastor, as you know, Larry. I’m not a politician and I’m not a pundit. I care about each person individually, whether I happen to agree with them or not. We all have the same basic needs. We all want to be loved. We all want to have a place of service. We all want our lives to count. We all want to know our purpose in life. These are things that everybody deals with.

    KING: Do you still give 90 percent away from what you take in?

    WARREN: Yes, sure do.

    KING: We have a phone call for Rick Warren from Orlando, Florida. Hello.

    CALLER: Hello, Pastor Warren, I have heard evangelicals believe that President Obama is the anti-Christ. Are you aware of this and if so, how do you feel about it?

    WARREN: Well, of course, I don’t agree with that. Thank you for the question. I don’t agree with that. You can’t label — saying Evangelicals believe is like saying Americans believe. I can show you all levels of spectrum in terms of political views and indoctrinal views. They just have in common the connection to Jesus Christ. So I don’t believe that and I don’t even think most Evangelicals believe that. In fact, I’m certain they don’t.

    KING: Obama has traveled to Turkey, first president to visit a Muslim country. He had this to say about the United States and Islam in a speech to Turkish parliament. Watch. I’d like you to comment.

    KING: What do you think of that?

    WARREN: You know, I think that’s the exact right tone, Larry. There are 600,000 Buddhists in the world. There are 800,000 Hindus in the world. There are a billion Muslims in the world. There are 2.3 billion Christians in the world. You have to get along together. That’s why I speak with Jewish groups. I speak to Muslim groups.

    We’re all human beings. We have to work on issues we don’t always agree on. I’m not really into what I call inter-faith dialogue. I think that’s a lot of wasted time. I’m interested in what I call inter-faith projects. In other words, I’m not going to convince a lot of people who have other beliefs to change their beliefs and vice versa. But we can work together on issues like poverty, disease, illiteracy and things that — problems common to all humanity.

    This week, for instance, tomorrow night, I’m going to a Seder dinner with my dear friend Elie Spitz (ph), who is a local rabbi. We’ll celebrate Passover together. And then later in the work, I’ll do Easter, which is — they’re both all about redemption. My next door neighbor is Muslim. I traveled with him to the Middle East. We’re dear, dear friends. And there’s no reason — what people don’t seem to understand is that you don’t have to agree with everybody in order to love them.

    WARREN: Well, it’s not my opinion. As a pastor, I just have to do what the Bible tells me to do. And the way I interpret it, I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. And that’s good for society. That doesn’t mean that people don’t love each other. It just means that marriage is for a man and a woman.

    [...]

    KING: A lot of comments on the below about tonight’s show. Our correspondent David Theall is here with some of what you’re saying about Pastor Warren.

    DAVID THEALL, CNN BLOG CORRESPONDENT: Larry, we’re hearing from people who are fans of the pastor’s work and we’re also hearing from people who are angry still at some of the positions that he has taken over the last couple years. Says this person, “Rick Warren saved my life, my marriage and my family with the ‘purpose Driven Life.’” He thanks the pastor. We heard from somebody who said this, “my son is gay, a veteran, and I resent people like Rick Warren using the Bible to tell my son who he can marry.”

    KING: Thank you so much, David. Rick, I guess that last comment doesn’t shock you, does it?

    There’s more to the interview, if you’re interested.

    CBS Poll: Same-sex marriage
    Iowa legalizes same-sex marriage
    GOP reacts to Iowa’s same-sex marriage ruling
    Iowa to become “gay marriage Mecca”?
    Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage
    Larry King: Joel and Victoria Osteen
    Larry King: Pastor Rick Warren

    Saturday, January 3, 2009

    Atheists against Rick Warren

    January 2, 2009

    barry has pist off the sect of non-believers with his pick of Rick Warren...and Rev Lowery. The self-proclaimed Grand Uniter has angered a lot of folks in his attempt to pander to the Evangelicals and now it's atheists. I wonder what their other political activism entails. Prayer in schools? Taking "In God We Trust" off those dollar bills barry absolutely resembles? Removing "One nation under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance? Banning the Ten Commandments from Courthouses?

    barry's does nothing unless it is politically expedient. He can name it transcending race, post partisanship, team of rivals, Change! and whatever else - it always comes back to one thing: political expedience. What can barry do to get by without having to make an actual declaration that will result in personal consequences. It will be interesting what he does on January 21st when he realizes that he can't hide behind anyone and that he will be the "one president at a time".

    He is trying to make history before he has actually done anything. He spent his campaign on documentary worthy presidential recreations. Now he's setting up his 2012 run. Have to applaud his foresight. He had his campaign strategy mapped out in his 1996 book.

    Thing is - his pick of Warren has highlighted how little say the LGBT community has and how folks continue to disregard their concerns of being prejudiced against. And if it were interracial marriage? This election has proven that racism is the only prejudice that matters and barry used his race-baiting to perfection - most notably in the primaries. If his race was not about race he doesn't win. Period.

    Barack Obama, Dreams of My Father:

    Black politicians less gifted than Harold (Washington Chicago's 1st mayor) discovered what white politicians had known for a very long time: that race-baiting could make up for a host of limitations. Younger leaders, eager to make a name for themselves, upped the ante, peddling conspiracy theories all over how the Koreans were funding the Klan, Jewish doctors were injecting black babies with AIDS. [sound familiar?] It was a shortcut to fame, if not always fortune; like sex or violence on TV, black rage always found a ready market....Blacks had no real power to act on the occasional slips into anti-Semitism or Asian-bashing, people would tell me; and anyway, black folks needed a chance to let off a little steam every once in a while - what do you think those folks say about us behind our backs?

    Interesting. He has a whole host of limitations starting with the fact that he has never made a unilateral decision of consequence. Look back on all the issues he has changed his position on since February 2007. And prejudice is okay because somebody else is doing it? Didn't work that way in the election. Misogyny and sexism - stop whining. Ageism - punch line. Homophobia - just shut up already.

    barry is anything but a uniter. Why did all three of his opponents (and Mr Bill) leave the campaign racists? Were they "letting off a little steam"? And what has he done to unite since he became president-elect? Absolutely nothing except anger more folks - mainly his own base.

    Anyway. Eleven non-theist organizations and 29 nontheists led by Micheal Newdow brought suit (12-30) against Chief Justice John Roberts, Sen Dianne Feinstein, Major General Richard J. Rowe Jr., Revs Rick Warren and Joe Lowery. It focuses on the unconstitutionality of "so help me God" as barry's hand rests on Lincoln's Bible. They allege that the use of the Bible during a government ceremony is fundamentally anti-atheist because the Bible condemns nonbelievers.

    And Rick Warren's website?

    Sunday, December 28, 2008

    Barnicle's insight into the Rick Warren issue

    December 22, 2008

    Hardball

    Mike Barnicle really is clueless. He of the Hillary reminds everyone of their first wife standing outside probate court comment. See his lack of spine hosting Mike Rogers vs Rev Rivers.

    courtesy of SwimmingPolarBear

    BARNICLE: If you took Cambridge MA, Georgetown DC, the Upper West Side of NY, Santa Monica and San Francisco, CA out of the Rick Warren debate... There would be no debate. Do you agree with that?

    BERNARD: [Laughs.] That is actually very true....

    BARNICLE: [Derisively] Well. We're all going to get together over Rick Warren.

    Shepard Fairey's thoughts on barry's choice of Warren

    december 19, 2008

    TIME Magazine named barry 2008 Person of the Year and used as its cover a poster made by Shepard Fairey. See his video interview on the making of the poster.

    Name Goeshere

    FAIREY: Tomorrow my illustration for Time Magazine’s “Person of The Year” hits the newsstands. While I’m very honored to be validated by a periodical that is nothing short of an American institution, the moment is bittersweet because I’m very disappointed by Obama’s appointment of Rick Warren to deliver his invocation during Obama’s inaugural address. Rick Warren is against gay marriage and reproductive rights, and he does not believe in evolution (maybe he offers himself as proof of lack of evolution). I understand that Obama is trying to appeal to conservatives and evangelicals, but this move is symbolically a slap in the face to many people.

    Warren is not a uniter, but a divider… he is intolerant in many of his views. I still think Obama is the best choice for president, but I can’t condone Warren’s involvement in Obama’s inauguration, no matter how insignificant it is. While I’m on the subject of gay marriage, I will be donating a chunk of the proceeds from an inauguration poster of Obama I was asked to create to the movement to overturn Prop 8. At first I was considering pulling my inauguration poster, but I think re-directing funds from it to put into a cause I care about is actually more constructive. Plus, I wouldn’t want withdrawing the image to come across as a blanket boycott of Obama. I’m sure I will ultimately disagree with Obama about many things, but I think I will agree with him on more. I think it is important to speak one’s mind, but also to not let the narcissism of petty differences sabotage our unity and progress.


    Saturday, December 27, 2008

    Quote of the day: "What do you mean by 'my community'?"

    December 22, 2008

    Hardball

    Barnicle, Rev Rivers and Mike Rogers are discussing barry's choice of Rick Warren and the impact on the LGBT community. Where is Keith Boykin hiding? How Warren is a divisive figure politically with his opposition to Prop 8 and the misinformation he promulgated. Rev Rivers thinks it's just a "pseudo-controversy". Listen to the righteous indignation in his voice and how he talks over Mike Rogers. His loud defensiveness and dismissive body language gives him away. He does not like gay folks. Why is there an extra stigma in the black "community" - especially for men? Mr Rogers sits there calmly explaining his position. Really quite remarkable. Kudos. I would have enjoyed watching him handle barama matthews.



    courtesy of firedoglake

    BARNICLE: What bothers you about Barack Obama inviting Rick Warren?

    ROGERS:...In picking Rick Warren, [barry] picked somebody who has basically used gays in the cultural war by attacking gay relationships in the Prop 8 battle. And I think he was a bad choice, not again because of his religious beliefs, but because of his political activity. I think that the community has a right and in fact mandate and a need to stand up and object to theat behavior.

    He mentions how Saddleback's website has toned down the previous openly homophobic language -- like Wright's did and barry did after Wright, Pfleger, New Black Panther Party...

    BARNICLE: We're already making progress here. Rev Rivers, isn't tolerance a larger issue here than Mr Warren's appearance at the Inauguration?

    RIVERS: Oh, absolutely! I think this is basically a pseudo-controversy that's been fabricated by the sorta anti-religious left. [Then he goes a'ranting - loud and angry.]...Anyone that has actually does their homework and researches what Rick in fact does...

    BARNICLE: Gene, are you saying that Mr Rogers hasn't done his homework?

    RIVERS: Obviously! Listen! Point of fact--

    Slaps his hand in his palm (3:30) and talks louder and louder and continues talking over Rogers. Barnicle can't host a show. Eventually he lets Rogers speak but Rivers speaks over him again.

    ROGERS: ...where you are forced to come on and defend Rick Warren- the very fact that this argument is happening shows the power if the gay community...

    RIVERS (4:11) laughs dismissively, shrugs and turns his head to the right. Power, yeah right...who cares. This sure reveals a lot about him. He goes beyond defending warren and barry - he shows his obvious disdain for the gay community. And he does so freely without any attempt to hide it. I've watched him a lot of times starting when he came out against wright and was pist at barry - but this is the most agitated I've seen him.

    Now this is absolutely ridiculous. Barnicle has spent the last two years referring to the African American *community*. They don't listen to their guests and it's clear not even to themselves. Don't they ever get embarrassed by their lunacy?

    BARNICLE: Hey, Mr Rogers, let me ask you a question. You just referred in your response to - you used the phrase *my community*. What do you mean by my community? Aren't we all part of the one community in this country? Or ought we not to be part of one community?

    RIVERS: Amen!

    Amen is right. How many times have we hear Rev Rivers say that white America doesn't understand the black community? That wright isn't so bad because whites just don't understand black churches. And what barry's election is doing for the black community - African American if you like. Why don't these folks listen to themselves?

    Rogers then makes his point that the gay community hasn't changed - but Warren has because he was confronted.

    RIVERS: Mr Rogers. Listen! Mr Rogers, if YOU are happy and feel better, president-elect Obama, Rick Warrren and myself are happy. It's a great advent experience. If you're feeling better that's a good thing. Issue resolved!

    What can you say to this? He interjects himself and puts himself on par with barry and Warren.

    ROGERS: I think it is an improvement. What I would like to see, and I'd like to hear you agree with it, is that Rick Warren convenes and sits down, again, behind closed doors, none of the showmanship up on the stage, and trotting everybody out. But sits down with the leadership of our community--the gay leadership--and says I'd like to build a bridge. Sit down with the Human Rights Campaign, sit down with National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Religious Roundtable and show me that your speech is really about reaching out and that it's really about uniting America. And if you can't sit down, and have those meetings with the community, then I think that really shows what you're really about.

    Barnicle tries to speak and Rivers cuts him off.

    RIVERS: (INDIGNANT!) No. No. No. No. Mr Rogers. Mr Rogers, listen ...

    ROGERS: (Calm) Sure.

    RIVERS: Uhm, it would be presumptuous of you to suggest that if Reverend Warren doesn't sit down with your particular CREW [He sits forward and shakes his body in a dismissive manner], that somehow that's an act of bad faith. That's a political trick.

    Imagine the black community being referred to as a "particular crew". Never happen. Nothing is taken seriously but race.

    ROGERS: If Rev Rick Warren is a so-called leader in the evangelical movement who represents the evangelical movement on a national level--

    RIVERS: White evangelical.

    ROGERS:...certainly it's appropriate for him to sit down with the national leaders of the gay and lesbian movement -- let's not parse the exact phrases-

    BARNICLE: We've got to wrap it up there.

    RIVERS: We're all happy now! [laughs]

    BARNICLE: We're all happy now.

    Yeah because they did their bit. What are the chances warren is going to have such a meeting? And what's the likelihood of the proobamedia making sure it happens and Rev Rivers is there?

    Quote of the day: "open homosexuality in the showers not a good thing for the discipline of the troops"

    December 22, 2008

    I am appalled at what gay code words folks use and get away with. The bashing that occurs right out in the open. Racism is the only prejudice that has been discussed. No other prejudice is taken seriously. First sexism - whining. Ageism - punchline. Homophobia - you can't be serious. How is this a step closer to a More Perfect Union? Bigotry is bigotry. Either all are offensive or none are.

    This election cycle has been a farce. barry's transcending race and partisanship? Bringing people together? Uniting the cosmos and transforming the world! Kumbaya my Lord, what are you people drinking?

    Hope is an individual choice. Change! is another sunrise. Reality requires action. barry has not yet made a single unilateral decision with personal consequence. The very first time he does it will be in the White House. You ok with that? At 3am or otherwise? Do you really believe he can make a decision in 15 seconds?

    Here's Pat Robertson doing what he does best while discussing Don't Ask Don't Tell with Suzanne Malveaux on CNN after he says "he's very pleased so far" with barry. So far the operative words. So far he has done nothing but appoint people. His most important appointment - his Chief of Staff - may end up being subpoenaed. barry may too...just like he was named on Rezko's indictment.

    Courtesy of SwimmingPolarBear

    CNN Transcript

    MALVEAUX: Are you looking forward to an Obama administration, a change?

    ROBERTSON: You know, I am remarkably pleased with Obama. I had grave misgivings about him, but so help me, he's come in forcefully, intelligently. He's picked a middle-of-the-road cabinet. And so far, if he continues down this course, he has the makings of a great president. So I'm very pleased so far.

    MALVEAUX: What do you think of the pick as Rick Warren, the evangelical leader, as the one to deliver the invocation at his inauguration? Obviously, a controversial pick. And there are some conservatives who believe that, perhaps, he's being used as a pawn. I want to give you this quote here by Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. He says, "Let's hope that Rick Warren will use his channel of communication to the new president to press him for more pro-family policies, rather than simply being used by Mr. Obama to make political inroads with evangelicals." [One of the enlightened few.]

    Do you think that Warren is being used by Mr. Obama?

    ROBERTSON: I don't think so. I think Rick is an extraordinarily able person....He's a very dynamic individual. And I don't think he's going to be anybody's pawn. He has his own agenda and I think he'll stick to it. But after all, all he's been asked to do is give an invocation. He isn't asked to endorse Obama. He's going to stand up there on the steps of the Capitol and he's going to say, "God, please bless this country," and he will do that very well.

    MALVEAUX: There are others who are upset by that pick. Obviously, there are some gay activists who have expressed concern about it because he's not for pro-gay marriage

    (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

    COLIN POWELL, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: We definitely should reevaluate it. It's been 15 years since we put in "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which was a policy that became a law. I didn't want it to become a law, but it became a law. Congress felt that strongly about it. But it's been 15 years and attitudes have changed.

    (END VIDEO CLIP)

    MALVEAUX: Do you think it's time to put that policy aside and to let gays serve openly in the military?

    ROBERTSON: Well, you know, I think I would leave that to the field commanders. And it seemed to be the unanimous decision of the military leadership that the question of open homosexuality in the barracks and showers and all the rest of it was not a good thing for the discipline of the troops...I'm not sure that we ought to change that. It's worked pretty well so far.

    That may be - but not for women in the military. Female soldiers are more likely to be raped than killed by enemy fire in Iraq. Gay men in the shower is a blip on the radar, especially when it is consensual.

    Monday, December 22, 2008

    What entails a hate crime?

    December 22, 2008

    Morning Joe

    They're discussing barry's pick of Rick Warren and the LGBT outrage.

    JOE: When you call people who don't agree with you're a bigot--

    MIKA: You're cutting off the conversation.

    JOE: If, I disagree with somebody on same sex marriage, then I'm immediately called a bigot. The conversation ends right there.

    Do they even listen to themselves? What did we hear from them during the election season? People not voting for barry were bigots. They couldn't get their heads around a black man being president. They weren't voting for another candidate they were automatically voting against barry and therefore bigots.

    This exhausts me.

    The Double Standard and hierarchy of -isms is alive and well. Racism has it's own rules and wins out over any other type of prejudice. What is "white racism"? Or "reverse racism"? When did racism become color-coded? Sexism, ageism and prejudice against homosexuals are ok in various forms. Women are whiny man-hating, sweatshirt and Birkenstock-wearing feminazis. Ageism is a punchline. And gays are being unreasonable because it's a moral not civil issue.

    Human rights are human rights.

    And barry can do no wrong. He's bringing people together...he's uniting America...he's the greatest president-elect who hides behind a federal prosecutor when they did nothing wrong.

    So why the silence?

    It's just another politically expedient decision. What else would it be? barry is most certainly not going to lose the LGBT vote and is pandering to the right. Didn't he used to be the most liberal senator when it suited his needs? Voting 97% time with his party with no dissenting votes of consequence? He is trying to ensure his place in history without having done anything but nominate people and the proobamedia is coronating him as the second coming of Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy and Reagan.

    Name one great senator he resembles - a job he has actually had.

    Anyone?

    Sexual "orientation" is not universally covered as a hate crime whereas race is. Matthew Shepard was savagely murdered 10 years ago and there is still no all-inclusive bill. Since then only 8 states have added sexual orientation. The Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 passed in the Senate 60-39 on September 27, 2007. All Dems yea - plus Coleman, Collins, Gregg, Lugar, Sanders, Smith, Specter, Snowe, Voinivich, Warner. McCain not present. It was eventually dropped mainly because Bush vowed to veto it. barry says it's going to be a priority.

    We'll see, won't we?

    2006 DOJ Hate crime statistics

    12,620 law enforcement agencies participated in the UCR Program's hate crime data collection. Agencies provided 1 to 12 months of data about bias-motivated crime, and of those agencies, 2,105 (16.7%) reported 7,722 incidents. 83.3% of the 12,620 participating agencies reported that no hate crimes occurred in their jurisdictions.

    Alabama and Mississippi reported ZERO cases. That's an absolute impossibility.

    51.8% racially motivated -- 64.4% anti-black

    15.5% sexual orientation -- 98% anti-homosexuals (transsexuals not categorized)

    Now consider that only 3% of the population identify themselves as homosexuals. So, from this data, hate crimes against homosexuals are disproportionately high and hate crimes in general are markedly under reported.

    And 45 states (+ DC) have statutes covering race, religion, and ethnicity but only 31 of them cover sexual orientation.

    The stats speak for themselves and the LGBT community should be allowed to speak. And to be heard. And not referred to as "fascists" like scarborough just did.

    ==============

    You may know about the gruesome torture and murder of Matthew Shepard.

    Now consider the case of the white female nurse's aide who hit a homeless black man with her car and then went home and had sex with her boyfriend while the homeless black man bled to death in her garage.

    The force of impact impaled him in the windshield - forcing his head and torso inside her vehicle. His right leg was fractured in two places and his left nearly amputated.

    It is unclear if she stopped and tried to extricate him. She would have had to pull on his legs.

    She drove several miles home, his face inches from hers as she apologized for hitting him and he moaned in pain and pleaded for help. She ignored him. She then pulled into her garage, shut the door and left him there to bleed to death. She didn't know how long it took him to die because she eventually stopped checking on him.

    He did not suffer a head injury or any type of internal injuries. He would not have died from his leg injuries. He knew what happened to him and was in severe pain. He begged her for help. She promised she would get him some. She never did - even though she continued to check on him. She did not give him the water he asked for. She did not render any type of first aid even though she was a nurse's aide and knew how to do so. She did nothing to cover him - his pants and underwear were hanging off his leg.

    She let him bleed to death, naked from the waist down, impaled in the windshield of her vehicle, with his mangled legs splayed on the hood of her car.

    Eventually he knew he was going to die. Alone. He knew help would never come. He knew the people he could hear inside the house weren't going to help him. He knew she had lied to his face each time she came out to see if he was dead yet. He knew he was going to die impaled in the windshield. He knew that his naked body would then have to be disposed of. He knew there was a chance his family would never know how or where he died. He knew he would never again see his son or attend his marriage. He knew he would never see his grandchildren or say goodbye to his family. He knew there was a chance his body would never be found and thus not receive a proper burial. He knew that the women who hit him and allowed him to bleed to death like an animal might never be found. And he knew that she might never be punished for killing him while withholding medical assistance and torturing him with assurances that help was coming.

    I don't know how someone can be so evil. What possesses someone to do this to another human being? How could she continue to go out and listen to him beg? How could she walk away? A nurse's aide? Pure evil.

    The case was broken after the nurse's aide giggled to her friend: "I hit this black man." And then she went on to say she had sex with her boyfriend while the naked homeless man moaned in agony. She later denied saying it. She said she was afraid to call for help because she was high on alcohol, marijuana and ecstasy.

    The woman's attorney, MIKE HEISKILL:

    [His client] not the animal or monster the police are portraying her to be. [She is] not this cold inhumane person that we've heard about. I think this is overreaching on the part of the prosecution and the police and, in the end, I believe the law will shake out that this was simply a case of failure to stop and render aid.

    Read that again.

    Her two male friends - both white - eventually yanked the dead homeless man's body out of the windshield - leaving behind his tissue and hair and a big pool of blood - took him to a local park and dumped him like garbage - still naked.

    The coroner said he could have been rescued even after he was inside her garage. He had no other life-threatening injuries. There were no head injuries that would have rendered him unconscious. It took approximately two hours to for him to bleed to death.

    Did you hear about this case?

    Did you hear Revs Sharpton and Jackson or Johnny Cochran in the news raging about the reckless disregard for human life? That a white woman allowed a black man to die in her garage impaled in her windshield and then threw him away like trash?

    No. You didn't. For a very good reason. Change the races on all the players. The woman was black and the man was white. It was not prosecuted as a hate crime. And if the races were reversed it most assuredly would have been.

    How can a crime be more heinous? How is what she did not extreme indifference for a human life? Why should there be a difference relative to their skin color?

    Her statement to the son of the man she lied to and allowed to die:

    MALLARD: I am so sorry, Brandon. I am so sorry for what I have caused your family. And I'm sorry for the pain that I have put my family through.

    The victim's son Brandon went on Larry King after the verdict and had this to say:

    BIGGS: Well, I believe there is something good in every situation. Positively, it's making me a stronger person. It's going to make me able to speak with other people who are going through a tragedy like this and not just with sympathy but with empathy. But negatively, there are probably too many to even list. He will not be around for the rest of my life and that's -- that's a very sad thing.

    CALLER: Brandon, I would like to know how in the world could your family sit back and let your father be homeless?

    Sick and heartless. Brandon was 18 at the time and his father had been homeless for approximately 2 1/2 years. His father struggled with bipolar disorder but Brandon had a relationship with him - seeing him at the shelter where he lived.

    KING: And what was it like for you and him?

    BIGGS: Well, it was great. We did a lot of fun things together. We went shopping. We went fishing. Just had a good time with each other....He would stay in a shelter on Lancaster Avenue in Ft. Worth and he would actually pay rent there. It was kind of a place for people who were down to get back up on their feet. And so, when he told me that he was living there, I would go visit him as much as I could and we would still go do the things that we had always done.

    KING: Did he -- was he able to look for work? Was he trying to get his life straightened out?

    BIGGS: Yes, he was, Larry.

    KING: So, you can say the two of you were very close?

    BIGGS: That's right.

    Brandon wants to be a pastor. He forgave the woman who allowed his father to suffer and die and be thrown away like garbage. He went to court everyday. He heard the testimony and saw the gruesome pictures. He heard how her accomplices "got rid of the dude". And he forgave her. He was 20 y/o at the time (2003).

    BIGGS: The forgiveness, well, it comes because I've been forgiven of so much. And I just -- I can't not forgive other people, no matter how grievous -- no matter how grievous. Life is too short to live with all the anger and the bitterness. It's just too short for that.

    She was found guilty and sentenced to 50 years. What would they have done to her in Iran?

    Gregory Biggs (37) and convicted murderer, Chante Mallard (27)

    Friday, September 26, 2008

    Presidential attacks: Adams & Jefferson

    When did politics become noble and honorable? Clean politics is an oxymoron. I like that word. barry's gonna change Washington? When? After he changes his mind on everything else? 3/4 work there: barry/Biden almost 40 and McCain 25. barry the egomaniac thinks the rules of a 232 y/o game should change for him. He seriously thinks the cosmos revolves around him. It's no longer a joke. And if I hear one more mention of the real great presidents of this country I'm gonna smack him. He has done nothing to earn anything. Who out there can detail his "community organizing"? What exactly did he do? Asbestos in the projects he never followed through on. Biggest accomplishment was the largest voter drive...and for whom? President Clinton.

    Is barry obambi an endangered species? He still can't tolerate a negative ad. He whines whines whines and his barrybotlets attack attack attack. These are clueless beings. Do they realize barry won't be able to have his staff of 2500 living in the White House? Or $66M to investigate his adversaries across the pond, across the sand and across the Great Wall. He still can't make a decision. He said that determining the moment of human life was "above his pay grade". And the MSM/Warren let him get away with it. Surprise? Not. Does he realize nothing will be above his pay grade? What's he gonna do when he has 30 seconds to push the button? Scan his mind for a presidential quote?

    Anyway I found these on CNN. Attacks between President Adams and VP Thomas Jefferson cover race, sexual orientation and (lack of) masculinity in one sentence - not a $45M television ads. Dirty politics?
    "Things got ugly fast. Jefferson's camp accused President Adams of having a "hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman."
    Hmm...neither the force and firmness of a man nor the sensibility of a woman.
    "In return, Adams' men called Vice President Jefferson "a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father."
    Hmm...mean-spirited biracial man.

    I wonder what never made it on the paper.