The Atlantic's Ross Douthat has a post today -- "Thinking About Torture" -- which, he acknowledges quite remarkably, is the first time he has "written anything substantial, ever, about America's treatment of detainees in the War on Terror." He's abstained until today due to what he calls "a desire to avoid taking on a fraught and desperately importantly (sic) subject without feeling extremely confident about my own views on the subject."
RD recently had an op-ed over at NYT on how he couldn't compromise on "extreme" things like the Casey abortion ruling. The pro-life side, something he is more open about writing about, was said to be successful from the 1990s on because of their moderation (some naysayers noted national laws protecting abortion access helped and not committing violence is not really too big a sign you are "moderate"). Strangely, here I thought all the regulations Casey allows is evidence of "moderation." Or, that even without Casey (or Roe), most states (especially populated ones like New York, California and Florida) would have abortion rights anyway.
RD's "muddy" views here did not lead him to hold back on writing about the topic. Seems like a somewhat inconsistent respect for the life and liberty of human beings. On that front, some have been annoyed that Obama has not been totally consistent about the rights of homosexuals. I myself have noted that his reasoning on why he is against same sex marriage on public policy grounds (not just "I'm against abortion, but it's a personal call") was -- how to say this -- b.s. Audacity of Hope references his religious beliefs and the realization such public policy positions, how unfortunate, hurt some people's feelings.
Ditto having homophobes perform your invocation. But, hey, there aren't any religious leaders who are pro-gay rights, right? Dr. Rick Warren is a friend of Obama, has put for a pleasing face, and has said some nice things as to AIDS care, environmentalism and such. But:
Pastor Warren, while enjoying a reputation as a moderate based on his affable personality and his church's engagement on issues like AIDS in Africa, has said that the real difference between James Dobson and himself is one of tone rather than substance. He has recently compared marriage by loving and committed same-sex couples to incest and pedophilia. He has repeated the Religious Right's big lie that supporters of equality for gay Americans are out to silence pastors. He has called Christians who advance a social gospel Marxists. He is adamantly opposed to women having a legal right to choose an abortion.
The link adds more details that underline that this is not just about homosexuality (it's only equality; we are talking pragmatism here!). How about Warren going on right wing talk shows supporting violence against Iran and its leaders? How very Christian of him. Can't we show people that when you say "religious," you don't mean right wing hack? This will give prestige to the man and his cause. Some over at TPM whine about how this is much ado about nothing. This is sort of strange given that one value of Obama in the eyes of many in that camp is symbolic, his leadership and message. Some also might give more value to an invocation because they take it seriously. But, the focus on gays, as if this is all that the critics are upset about is particularly galling.
Finally, some point to the fact that the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is behind the appointment. This is a figleaf comparable to the "Obama didn't say anything about Lieberman" dodge, when it is clear he "said" quite a lot to the degree such things matter. And, this is just what many who used him as an excuse (well, Obama said we should focus on other things, not to player hate!) showed. Anyways, the fact members of my representatives, a governmental body, was "to blame" or whatever, does not make me feel any better.
It even raises some First Amendment issues in my eyes. TPM, who has been level-headed on Obama critics thus far, has it right here. This is wrong. The fact it isn't "shit how could I have voted for this guy" wrong doesn't change that.