STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN FRANK ON PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA CHOOSING RICK WARREN TO GIVE INAUGURATION INVOCATION
"I am very disappointed by President-elect Barack Obama's decision to honor Reverend Rick Warren with a prominent role in his inauguration. Religious leaders obviously have every right to speak out in opposition to anti-discrimination measures, even in the degrading terms that Rev. Warren has used with regard to same-sex marriage. But that does not confer upon them the right to a place of honor in the inauguration ceremony of a president whose stated commitment to LGBT rights won him the strong support of the great majority of those who support that cause.
"It is irrelevant that Rev. Warren invited Senator Obama to address his congregation, since he extended an equal invitation to Senator McCain. Furthermore, the President-Elect has not simply invited Rev. Warren to give a speech as part of a series in which various views are presented. The selection of a member of the clergy to occupy this uniquely elevated position has always been considered a mark of respect and approval by those who are being inaugurated."
What, Pat Robertson was already booked on Inauguration Day? Or does this President-elect prefer his hatred and discrimination to be more subtle? Don't get me wrong; I still support President-elect Obama, but I am beyond disappointed that the preacher he chose to deliver the invocation at his inauguration- the very first public act of his Presidency- is someone with a reputation for being willing to deny an entire minority class of American citizens the same rights that he enjoys.
When any of us are treated as second-class citizens, then ALL of us are second-class citizens. You'd think that with the tone of his campaign rhetoric and his emphasis on inclusion we'd deserve better than this. I can only hope that this is a momentary lapse of reason and judgment and not a portent of things to come. Part of me still hopes that "CHANGE" is not merely lip service that translates as "MORE OF THE SAME".
I really want to stop writing about politics. I really do. I keep hoping that come 1.20.09, I'll be able to begin writing about life, the universe, and everything- ANYTHING but politics. I also keep hoping that I'm not being horribly naive.
WE DESERVE BETTER. Hatred is not a family value, and it certainly is not an American value. Or is it??
