Lehrer News Hour: Controversy Emerges Over Obama's Choice of Inauguration Pastor

RAY SUAREZ: Does this choice represent all of American religious thought, Mr. Cromartie?

MICHAEL CROMARTIE, Ethics and Public Policy Center: Oh, no, of course it doesn’t. But what it does say is that — what we need to know about Rick Warren is that he has become sort of the next Billy Graham in our country, sort of America’s pastor.

In fact, I think if Billy Graham’s health was better now, he would probably be the person doing this. But Rick Warren has become that person.

RAY SUAREZ: But it didn’t sound like Harry Knox is too happy about the idea that this might be America’s pastor.

MICHAEL CROMARTIE: No, that’s right. And I would just remind Harry this is not a cabinet appointment. This is an invocation, a short prayer that will be a very nonsectarian prayer.

Rick Warren, by the way, has an amazingly great reputation with ministers of compassion around the world. He’s an incredibly magnanimous man. And I think that President-elect Obama picked him because he likes him personally.

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Posted in * Culture-Watch, * Economics, Politics, * Religion News & Commentary, Evangelicals, Other Churches, Religion & Culture, US Presidential Election 2008

5 comments on “Lehrer News Hour: Controversy Emerges Over Obama's Choice of Inauguration Pastor

  1. Larry Morse says:

    I watched it all last night. What we saw was a homosexual demanding and threatening and whining, demonstrating once again that this agenda, roughly three-four per cent of the population, is trying to force the whole dog to allow itself to be swung by this minority. Mr. Knox made no bones about his intentions, that President Obama should allow his choices to be governed by a small (but powerful) minority.

    This should be a lesson to all, even liberals, who listened, but it will not be. So much for tolerance by the left. The rule is TEC’s rule: Do as I want you to do….or else. Larry

  2. Irenaeus says:

    [i] This should be a lesson to all, even liberals, who listened, but it will not be. So much for tolerance by the left. … Do as I want you to do….or else [/i] —Larry Morse [#1]

    Larry: One-fifth of American adults identify themselves as liberal. This is not the way they act. Indeed, they are no more likely to act like this than people at the right end of the political spectrum. Remember the Ninth Commandment.

  3. The_Archer_of_the_Forest says:

    Rick Warren is no Billy Graham. I’m sorry, but that’s how I view it.

  4. Words Matter says:

    I agree with you Archer, but 50 years ago, Billy Graham wasn’t Billy Graham. In fact, he wasn’t even Rick Warren.

    Does this choice represent all of American religious thought, Mr. Cromartie?

    But really, isn’t that the stupidest question to ask! I don’t know a nicer word than stupid.

  5. Larry Morse says:

    Sorry Irenaeus, I do not understand your answer. Larry