On Pastor Rick--Time for the Left to take a Deep Breath

So, Pastor Rick Warren is going to give the Invocation at the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20th? For many on the political left, this is beyond the pale. After all, they have been waiting patiently for some Liberals to be appointed to Cabinet positions, and have been hoping for some Liberal policy initiatives to be brought front and center during the "transition" period here. So far, they have been a little disappointed.

Now, to have to endure the Invocation ceremony, being led by someone who is vocally, and pro-actively anti-Gay Marriage, and Pro-Life? The Left is asking, "Why choose this topic, this time to do such a thing?" and more importantly, "Why give this guy 5 minutes of publicity, when he is such a symbol of this Evangelical movement has been so anathema to all that the Left holds dear?"

Each point is well taken, but here are a few reasons that everyone should take a step back, and take a deep breath:

1. Liberals, take comfort

• Inviting a Conservative, Evangelical Pastor to give an invocation isn't the same as having Rick Warren make policy, or run a Cabinet position. This is a man who will be off the Washington stage on January 21, and back to Saddleback Church in California, working on the next Sunday Seminar.
• This is a man who has twice invited Candidate Barack Obama into his church, and had sincere dialogue on topics that run the gamut. In many ways, his August 16, 2008 Q&A sessions with Obama and McCain were more substantive than the debates we saw in October.
• This is also a man who is deeply committed to issues that most Liberals also support--notably Environmental issues, AIDS and Poverty. This Pastor that is painted with only an intolerant brush is NOT Jerry Falwell. He is NOT Pat Robertson, nor is he James Dobson. He is opinionated, but he is more supportive of debate amongst his followers.
• Your President, Barack Obama, has decisions to make on Economics, Education, Foreign Policy, Supreme Court Justices, and countless other topics, that are more in line with your way of thinking than John McCain, Sarah Palin, or George W. Bush. Victories in American Politics are seldom as complete as those of Ronald Reagan in 1984. George W. Bush tried to impose his will in government, and he has probably set back his party for a generation. If you want to see a two year reign over Washington, followed by a Republican Majority in 2010 of Congress, just keep pushing for a totally Liberal agenda. Remember, Liberals do NOT make up a majority of this country either. Learn something from the overreach of the Conservative base in 2004.
• Gay rights supporters should still take comfort that this is an administration that will leave them in a better position in 2012 then they are in right now. Prop 8, while supported by Pastor Rick, is just not going to stand the test of time. Civil Rights continue to march to the left. Rick Warren is not going to single-handedly change that. Liberals may feel that they need to take more drastic actions to improve Gay rights, but in fact, continuing to push for legal status has been more effective than anything else. Don't let an Invocation speech knock you off your course.

2. Moderates, take comfort

• The battles of the Left and Right Extremes may be over. It looks like we have a President who is interested in listening to people (including Pastors) who have a point to be made. Pastor Rick looks like an olive branch to the Right in this country, that we are all have a seat at the table in THIS administration, even if we don't get everything we want.
• We have a President who has met with someone, found them to have a powerful voice, and has invited him to contribute to the overall conversation on a number of moral topics. Notice I said contribute, not dominate the discussion, but contribute. It is high time we had another leader in this country who was confident enough in his own convictions to listen to points of view he isn't always comfortable with.

3. Conservatives, take notice

• The Pastor giving the Invocation? Rick Warren. The Pastor NOT anywhere on the stage? Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Can we knock off the fear-mongering already?
• Your voices will be heard. We have learned that isolating a portion of the population is an extremely dangerous game. If it is to be played, it better be played PERFECTLY, or the minority will use mistakes to beat you over the head. Obama seems to have learned this lesson. Most Conservatives I know have commented that Obama has handled the transition practically flawlessly. Only the most partisan of my Conservative friends has complained about even the Blagojevich handling. This should be another reason to feel good about your new President.
• Liberals are not going to give up their battles for Abortion choice, just because Rick Warren is giving the Invocation. But Obama has been true to his word thus far, and he has spoken about the need to improve options for unwanted pregnancies, including adoption, better pre-natal care, and funding for Planned Parenthoods. Abortions went down under Clinton, and if Obama has his way, they will continue to drop during his term. Let's achieve results, rather than partisan victories, shall we?

In the end, Rick Warren is going to be a part of the American Moral Discourse for the foreseeable future. Like him or not, he has a tremendous following, with his church, organization, and books. As a country, we may not all agree with his positions, but he is the most representative face of a movement that started with a far more caustic, and exclusionary message presented by the leaders of yesterday (Falwell, Robertson). Obama recognizes this, and my hope is that he and Pastor Rick can use this moment to find a way to work together on the issues that bind us together as a nation. It would be the first time I have seen such a consensus.