If you want to talk about the Warren imbroglio, here are some rules you should follow:
Don't say it doesn't matter that he's speaking, that nobody cares. Of course it matters, because the guy's one of the most prominent ministers in America, this platform--on TV before probably a couple hundred million people worldwide--will elevate him closer to Billy Graham status, and it will broaden his appeal and give him more credibility. So don't act like this is just some schmoe, some voice that we hear in the background announcing the participants in an event.
Don't say this means Obama doesn't give a shit about gay people. His record clearly shows that he's been on the right side of just about every gay issue before him in his public career. Like most other politicians, including most progressive office holders, he has not embraced marriage equality. But he has been good on just about everything else, advocates civil unions, has pledged to work toward repealing DOMA, and said he was opposed to Prop 8. Is he the best politician in America on gay issues? No. But as a President--think about it, he's talking about repealing something signed by Clinton and passed with something like 92 votes in the Senate!--he's pretty damn good.
Don't say that Obama's past record on GLBT issues and his pledges for things in the future means that it doesn't matter whether he is giving this platform to Warren. As I said already, this will legitimize Warren even more than he's already been legitimized.
Don't talk about how this means Obama is "throwing gays under the bus" (or whatever other tired cliche you may be tempted to employ). This pick wasn't done because of Warren's positions on gay issues, it was done despite it, and most likely without any consideration given to where he stands on GLBT issues. That certainly doesn't make it right, but to think someone plotted this out as a way to screw over the GLBT community is lunacy. It's bad enough it was done without proper regard to what it says to supporters of gay equality that it most likely wasn't considered. Don't overreach and say it was done purposefully to screw over the GLBT community.
Everyone, knock off the tendency to have this decision become symbolic of everything you [love/hate] about Barack Obama, and knock off the tendency to confirm that it's proof he's [horrible/perfect]. It's a not-insignificant choice, sure, but it's a hell of a lot less important in the long run that who he's been picking for some of the posts already announced.
Regarding the Reverend Joseph Lowery, don't forget that this man has a tremendous record of support for GLBT rights, which is NOT typical of black pastors of his generation. However, don't try to make it somehow wipe out the problem of having Warren involved. As many have quipped, it wouldn't be alright to have an anti-miscegenationist up on the dias as long as you have a supporter of racial equality to balance out the racist.
There are other annoying examples of how people are talking past each other that I'm not thinking about right now. Maybe other folks can add some examples in the comments. But I'm going to end this with a comment made last night by Kossack John Campanelli:
Here is my hope (27+ / 0-)
I have taken Obama at his word: he says he wants to bring America together and I see his reaching out to Rick Warren as his putting his words into practice. Bush said he wanted to be a uniter, not a divider. Just the opposite happened. Considering the anger the Warren invitation has generated, I can understand that trying to be a uniter is easier said than done.
I'm waiting to see how this plays out, but this is what I am hoping to see: Rick Warren sees the anger and hurt that his inclusion has generated and, if Warren is as "moderate" as some claim, he reaches out to gays and lesbians and listens to how appalled we are when our wanting to get married is compared to incest and pedophilia. I would not expect him to necessarily support gay marriage but I could hope he sees that words have consequences and his hateful and ridiculous comparisons are un-Christian.
Now, I am not holding my breath that this will happen. But I'd rather try this whole uniter thing and see whether it bears any fruit.
It's my hope to. And maybe some people can keep the righteous anger but drop the cynicism to share that hope.