Well I'm kind of a C on this one... I do think people are freaking out a little much, but Warren was a terrible choice. He's not going to win over conservative evangelicals and a lot of people are pissed off. If he wanted an evangelical for the thing, it's not like the talent pool consisted only of Rick Warren. How about Jim Wallis? He's a reasonably well known evangelical leader, only he cares more about helping poor people than making sure the gays don't go around, y'know...gaying up the place. Which is also how the young evangelicals, whose votes Obama wants/has any chance of grabbing, feel. Sure some people would complain about any choice, but there wouldn't be this kind of uproar.

Go team C!

There is also a group D, who really just wants a cup of coffee and maybe some toast.

Warren claims he knows a lot about gay men because he talks to (gay friends?) regularly about their sex lives. As Sarah might ask, "What is he doing "paling around" with gays?"
Secondly, wondering about his enormity, isn't gluttony one of the seven deadly sins? And lust? He said he wants to have sex with every beautiful woman he sees.

On a more serious note, Warren is critical of gay men having multiple partners, yet seeks to deny them the right to establish traditional monogamous relationships through the sanction of marriage. He proves gays are unstable by assuring it. A self-fulfilling prophecy!

I was about to introduce a Group C - but you beat me to it, Mystico!

So I think there is a Group F: people who may agree with either Group A or B but think that the arguments have lost direction and are simply going 'round and 'round over the same topics. I love both you and Bob but my eyes are starting to glaze over about this whole thing.

And I know I skipped E. F is just the beginning of so many of my favorite words.

How about 'Group F" for go Fuck himself(Rick Warren and his purpose driven life to irritate me).

Oh man is this supposed to be the final word on the topic? Because wow.

I already claimed F, Joe. Go find your own letter!

Stop it Kat! We have to stop this now.

Yes kat you win. I was honestly posting that at the same time. I demand an investigation into Bob timer.

OMG, this is dumb. i feel dumber for just reading this one.

How about a Group D?
People who used to give a fuck about what a piss-poor idea it was to have Rick Warren give the inaugural benediction, but are so fucking tired of the specious debate on the subject that they just don't give a rat shit anymore, and think that maybe just reading this lofty(?) debate makes everyone a few seconds dumber.

Make that Group "E" for esoteric.

jen, if that is you I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pXfHLUlZf4

I'm with Kat's Group F and Packy's Group S(ick-of-it)--we're running out of letters with the Bob timer being wonky. I care, I have an opinion, I think I even briefly stated it once early on, but I'm staying out of it because I really think it has turned into a war among what was once a really great united front. And the right is sitting back and enjoying the show. We finally got here. Let's not kill each other over the details of the ceremony.

Amen, DP. This has divided the liberal front more than anything else and I am sure the Right is loving it.

I'm in group "H" which strongly feels that everyone will be placated by replacing Rick Warren with Sam Harris.

I'm definitely between B and C

Lee, I don't understand why you won't let this go, it's been -- what? --three, four days now? I'm trying to think of reasons that you keep posting about Warren even though there's a lot of other stuff to post about, and I've come up with a few. Maybe you're more of a conservative-brain than we know and you enjoy people arguing and getting pissed off at each other. Maybe you're too lazy to come up with something else to post about. Or maybe you think that if we all talk about this enough, one group will convince the other group and everyone will be a united front once more. I like you, so I'll give the benefit of the doubt and assume that you think we'll all just talk it out. But no one has changed their minds, and everyone but (apparently) you is tired of this topic. So let's talk about Cheney saying everything's legal in war, or Obama's window shades once he's in the White House or something.

Well, it seems to me that the right is just as irritated with Warren accepting the invitation as the left is with Obama's invite.

Also, it looks like this is one of those "agree to disagree" moments. I suppose I'm a combination of Groups B and C - Warren is a bad choice, but it isn't that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.

My (hopefully) final thoughts on the matter. My apologies for the blog link plug, I just couldn't bear to write anymore on the subject. I hope we can all have a group hug after this is all over.

theo - I thought this post was a fair, calm summary of the two main points of view - to sort of wind things down with some perspective - a recognition of the fact that it's played out. It wasn't an attempt to convince anyone of anything.

Lee -- That's fair.

Lee -- Also, at the top of the post, you spelled your name "Stranaan."

I'm solidly in group A, or should I say I'm on the A team.

I think Warren is an absolutely piss poor choice and I'm disappointed in Obama.

In my opinion Warren is touted as being the most moderate of Evangelicals. The problem is that's like trying to point out a "moderate" leader of the effing Taliban!

Obama got this one wrong! But I noticed in one of Warren's recent ramblings he said basically, "call it something else (other than marriage)".

OK, lets call him on that one. Lets give a new name to gay marriage and make damn sure that it includes every single legal right defined by marriage!

Group H - if only it wouldn't cost Obama re-election and start a revolution of armed-to-teeth Evangelicals. Or basically letting them finally act out their deepest, most passionate lifelong dream.

"Finally, missing football to sit in church paid off! *click click*"

Carl, be careful in teh group hug with Lee. I hear he takes those pretty seriously...

Here it is:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28240700#28240700

"Use another word"!

Of course you have to disregard his total ignorance, but just focus on that! Lets give gay and lesbian marriage a new name and write a law ensuring that it includes every single right allowed to those who "marry"!

Oh, and then get Warren to back said new law!

I think all marriages should come with term limits! :) or at least renewals.

theo - my eyesight is really in bad shape for the past three days. Couldn't read a menu last night - my son had to...

Lee, this says what I was trying to say to you yesterday, except, y'know, better.

Just to clarify, what I meant was "better and not written by me."

i am definitely A!

warren is a rabid vulgar gaybasher.

this choice is indefensible.

why not joel olsteen?

if warren, then why not david duke?

shame on obama!!!
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