I was at a friend’s house this evening and, for the third time over the holidays found myself in a crowded room, pressed against a gaily lighted Christmas tree, listening to a conversation about Barack Obama’s choice of Rev. Rick Warren to lead the invocation at his inauguration. On all three occasions the feelings expressed have been outrage, and unhappiness because it did not respect … fill in the blank. This response it seems to me is very short sighted. Here’s my take: The choice of Rick Warren was an act of political genius. The legalistic Christian Republican base puts great store by symbolic gestures, and is very touchy about getting what it believes is its due of respect. In one gesture Obama has both given the Religious Right increased dignity and arranged to have one of the new generation of leaders of this large fundamentalist minority basically say grace over him and his administration. And I believe that is how it will be seen by the Christian Right. Witness the criticism Warren has received from even more conservative quarters. In another gesture largely overlooked, Obama ends the public celebration of […]