Obama picks Rick Warren for inaugural invocation

[Sean]

Setting the specific issue of gay marriage aside for a moment, I believe that it's simply another example of Obama finding ways to achieve real progress. Time and time again, he's shown that his governing style is to engage people he's in ideological opposition to by finding a foundation of trust and respect to build the possibility of change on. For example, Lieberman embraced and perpetuated the idea that Obama "pals around with terrorists" during the campaign. Democrats wanted retribution, but Obama voiced his support for Lieberman to retain his chair on the Homeland Security Committee. You can bet he'll be able to work more effectively with Lieberman now than had he continued the chain of tit-for-tat squabbling.

Regarding the social acceptance of equating gay marriage with paedophilia and the like, yeah, that's completely wrong. But if welcoming Warren into the fold means Obama may be able to work more effectively with him in ultimately changing some of those views for the better, then it's worth it to me.