Update on Rev. Rick Warren

Today, Obama defended his pick of evangelical pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration next month as one of "a wide range of viewpoints that are presented."

"And that's how it should be, because that's what America is about," Obama said responding to a question at a news conference about his and Warren's differences on social issues. "That's part of the magic of this country is that we are diverse and noisy and opinionated."

I agree that it's part of the magic of this country that we are "diverse and noisy and opinionated," but the magic of Obama, on the campaign trail, and as he prepares to take the office of President of the United States of America, is that he professes to be (and we believe he is) a uniter, and not a divider.

A diverse political discourse is precious and not to be taken for granted, but at a time when Obama is working double time to move us forward as a united nation, the selection of Warren absolutely sends the wrong message.

The Human Rights Campaign sent a letter to Obama yesterday, urging him to reconsider the invitation to Warren.

"By inviting Rick Warren to your inauguration, you have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place at your table," says the letter by HRC President Joe Solmonese. "We feel a deep level of disrespect when one of the architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination."

The letter ties Warren to James Dobson, chairman of Focus on the Family and a vocal leader in the social conservative community. "Rev. Warren cannot name a single theological issue that he and vehemently, anti-gay theologian James Dobson disagree on," Solmonese says. (You can read the full letter here)