The Purpose Driven Inaugural

President-elect Obama will have Pastor Rick Warren give the Inaugural Invocation.

Why does this matter?  Well, there are many on the left -- as John Cole at Balloon Juice points out -- who are torqued over this.

I understand their anger.  Warren is a homophobe.  He doesn't believe in a woman's right to choose.  Politically, he and I probably wouldn't get along. 

But the simple truth is, this isn't about politics.  It's about offering a prayer at the start of a new administration. 

That being said, I think that Obama has made a shrewd political move, here.  We can agree that Obama ran a nearly flawless campaign.  A lot of folks said his "low point" was at the Saddleback Forum ("that's above my pay grade," with regards to a question regarding when life begins).  I didn't happen to think so, but then again, I'm not a person well attuned to the language of religion.

So Obama was "beat" at the Saddleback Forum -- I guess.  And, not for nothing, here gang, but Obama also lost the evangelical vote to McCain 73% to 26%.  But who does he ask to give this important, high-profile prayer?  Rick Warren.  See?

He doesn't have to agree with Warren on gay rights.  He doesn't have to agree with him on choice.  In fact, he could think Rick Warren is a total asshole.  Maybe he does.  But Rick Warren represents the views of a lot of people -- granted, a lot of people that are dead wrong, but a lot of people nonetheless.

This election -- change -- was about including all of these voices.  It's tough, sometimes.  And especially tough for people who are gay, but I would say to my gay friends: this is how we get them to listen.  We start changing minds by opening doors, not closing them. 

Finally, let's pick our battles, here.  John's got a good point on this as well.  Obama didn't just make him the White House Chief of Staff, or something. 

We'll win the battles we need to -- but we need to use our resources carefully, and strategically.  I think that is what Obama is doing now.