Sometimes, principle matters. We cannot ignore it just because it seems trivial. I realize that this one issue is small. But, it upsets people for a reason. Perspective doesn't change this.
There is a lot of debate on how Obama is a symbol of a new way, one which this invite is an attempt to further. It is in a fashion a tool in his promotion of a vision that led many to vote for him. But, symbolism works in various ways. The use of Rick Warren particularly rankles because of the symbolism of the event. As Rachel Maddow (a lesbian, not usually an issue, though she informed us her family was in the audience because of a special show her partner is having) noted in her opening last night, Obama set up a false (b.s.*) analogy -- that is, even if RW invited Obama to "his" church, the inauguration is not Obama's ("my") church. It is not even a prayer breakfast that has a public flavor. It is in large part "ours."
And, it is offensive to bring such a person to give "our" invocation. The actual event is also essential in understanding the ire here. Some have annoyingly noted that it simply is rather trivial, so use of RW (surely for a pragmatic purpose) is simply not worth the noise. Just the news that Obama might pick a homosexual naval secretary is enough to stop worrying about it. Problem. Some are -- I know this is weird -- rather touchy about using the inauguration of the first black President, no, the person chosen to provide a prayer to God during said event, to give legitimacy to someone who promotes bigotry, violence, and ignorance.
Sorry Obama, this is a reason to be "disagreeable." To add insult, the benediction is being said by a eighty something leader of the civil rights movement, who spoke at the funeral of Coretta Scott King. [Having such a representative of the group that made his success possible is also basically required. And, on some basic level, not controversial. How can it be? So, why do intelligent sorts seem to give it so much play? Reminding us MLK was a pacifist is useful, but only so much.] This is said to be "balance" by some defenders. How offensive is that? Rick Warren, who honestly looks like some sort of goofball (the shirts don't help) has gotten his fame largely from being a writer of Dr. Phil like self-help books with a religious message. Not the same thing.
The distaste is underlined by those who actually take invocations seriously. Others, who yell when such "ceremonial deism" (that turns out to be sectarian in practice, proof here) is threatened, want us basically to see this as nothing too important. Religion is important, God is important, as but a show. Let's not take it too seriously. This defames what is said to be holy, it is a blasphemy. The fact some who are not traditionally deemed "religious" seem to care more about this than those who are suggests the term has many sides. And, yes, those who are upset realize Obama will do a lot of good that RW will strongly oppose.
But, sometimes, you draw a line. Sometimes a group should not be treated as but a means, insult deemed not as important as if Rick Warren was a racist. [His support of violence against Iran suggests even that is true.] Sometimes, even when you know someone is your friend, you have every right to be pissed at them. [But, he held my head when I was drunk! she kept me from dating that jerk! how can I be pissed? hell, let her invite the asshole to say something at my wedding! big deal! oh shut up.] And, when it involves an invocation to God, in effect by our proxy, it even is more touchy. Are we supposed to assume that this is just old tired divisive politics? It seems more like basic human nature.
New politics or not, certain rules still apply. That is the bottom line. Even if people want to change the subject.
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* Another uncomfortable fact is that on the issue of same sex marriage, as compared to a national one size fit all ban or Prop 8 itself, the two are on the same side, even if they use very different rhetoric overall is promoting it. This only promotes the idea that RW really isn't all that bad, a large subset rather uncomfortable about homosexuals anyway.
This is also why it annoys me that people make it all so easy -- they ignore that this is not just symbolic. Aiding RW aids his cause. This includes adding to the divisiveness that this is supposed to help stop. A tad bit too ironic for my tastes.