Obama defends choice of evangelical pastor

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Rev. Wright's schedule is open on Jan. 20th.

I'd invite him too.

[Dan J 277]

I like this summary of his choice

Obama has chosen pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inaugural. Liberal groups are already up in arms over this choice. It was a brilliant move on Obama's part. By reaching out to a relatively moderate evangelical who has focused on AIDS and world poverty and getting liberals to react angrily (because Warren is antichoice and antigay) Obama has accomplished two things. First, a lot of evangelicals will come to require Obama as not so bad after all, which will surely help him when he actually starts to govern. Second, by getting liberals visibly furious with him before he is even inaugurated, he will be much better able to defend himself against right-wing cries that he is a "liberal" (a pejorative in some circles). The move costs him no political capital at all. Warren gets a few minutes to speak on national TV. He's not going to use it to bash gays if he has any expectation of becoming the new Billy Graham. But later when Obama does controversial things--like pushing for some kind of national health insurance--he can claim to be balanced by saying: "I am a centrist, look, I let Warren speak and I support national health insurance, something for everyone." That is hardly an even trade but it will get him a lot of mileage in the media. Despite what some people may think, Obama is a very clever politician and fully understands that making small gestures to the right, however meaningless, generate good will he will need later. The incident brings to mind Richard Nixon's famous comment: "Watch what we do, not what we say."

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I like this summary of his choice

Obama has chosen pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inaugural. Liberal groups are already up in arms over this choice. It was a brilliant move on Obama's part. By reaching out to a relatively moderate evangelical who has focused on AIDS and world poverty and getting liberals to react angrily (because Warren is antichoice and antigay) Obama has accomplished two things. First, a lot of evangelicals will come to require Obama as not so bad after all, which will surely help him when he actually starts to govern. Second, by getting liberals visibly furious with him before he is even inaugurated, he will be much better able to defend himself against right-wing cries that he is a "liberal" (a pejorative in some circles). The move costs him no political capital at all. Warren gets a few minutes to speak on national TV. He's not going to use it to bash gays if he has any expectation of becoming the new Billy Graham. But later when Obama does controversial things--like pushing for some kind of national health insurance--he can claim to be balanced by saying: "I am a centrist, look, I let Warren speak and I support national health insurance, something for everyone." That is hardly an even trade but it will get him a lot of mileage in the media. Despite what some people may think, Obama is a very clever politician and fully understands that making small gestures to the right, however meaningless, generate good will he will need later. The incident brings to mind Richard Nixon's famous comment: "Watch what we do, not what we say."

That makes sense, although I would hope Obama is not as calculating as that piece suggests. Hopefully he invited Rick Warren because he genuinely wants to be inclusive and open to different viewpoints.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Rev. Wright's schedule is open on Jan. 20th.

I was thinking the same thing. I would actually prefer him. It would certainly liven things up a bit.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

That makes sense, although I would hope Obama is not as calculating as that piece suggests.

Why is that?

Would you rather have Forrest Gump for President?

[*Robert* 2]

Rev. Wright's schedule is open on Jan. 20th.

Rev. Wright is SOOOOO last year.

[HAL 9000 96]

That makes sense, although I would hope Obama is not as calculating as that piece suggests.

Why is that?

Would you rather have Forrest Gump for President?

Don't we already kind of have him in office?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That makes sense, although I would hope Obama is not as calculating as that piece suggests.

Why is that?

Would you rather have Forrest Gump for President?

"Lahf is liek a box of choclits. You nevah know what yer gonna git!"

[one...two...tree 2,762]

That makes sense, although I would hope Obama is not as calculating as that piece suggests.

Why is that?

Would you rather have Forrest Gump for President?

Doing what he believes is right vs. doing what will be perceived as right are two different things and granted, good leaders have to consider how something they do is perceived....a great leader must follow his conscience.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

....a great leader must follow his conscience.

pie in the sky idealistic bs.

with all due respect, of course

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

....a great leader must follow his conscience.

pie in the sky idealistic bs.

with all due respect, of course

I would agree - perception (or rather perception management) matters a lot.

[Dan J 277]

That makes sense, although I would hope Obama is not as calculating as that piece suggests.

Why is that?

Would you rather have Forrest Gump for President?

Doing what he believes is right vs. doing what will be perceived as right are two different things and granted, good leaders have to consider how something they do is perceived....a great leader must follow his conscience.

I think he is making the right moves. In politics, a good idea can be killed simply because of what party supports or puts forward the idea. If Obama doesn't play into the Right's stereotypes, he stands to accomplish much more than he could otherwise.

Any sort of national health care program, even if it makes more economic sense than the one we have now, would have a very difficult time making it through congress. If he can score points with the other side, Obama will likely get Republicans to look at the plan for what it is, rather than as a liberal agenda.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Yeah, a sufficient number of wingnuts have to be convinced he isn't Stalin reincarnate.

If that means getting in bed with homophobes and neocons, so be it.

If he gets heathcare reform through, that's what he'll be remembered for. Not for Warren or Gates or Hillary.

Big picture.

Edited December 18, 2008 by A.J.

[rclouse 0]

Doing what he believes is right vs. doing what will be perceived as right are two different things and granted, good leaders have to consider how something they do is perceived....a great leader must follow his conscience.

Sure... after he's used his brain and thought about it for awhile.

/confident Pres. Obama will do exactly that

[one...two...tree 2,762]

....a great leader must follow his conscience.

pie in the sky idealistic bs.

with all due respect, of course

Not really. I think Bush followed his conscience by going into Iraq....albeit, it was a faulty conscience, but if you don't follow through on the principles by which you stand, then you've lost yourself. I realize that in reality, politicians must make compromises, but there is a careful balance. For example, Hillary Clinton, during the Primaries was perceived as being overly-calculating.