Given that Rick Warren has compared gays to bestiality, pedophilia, incest, etc, one must ask Pr. Elect Obama if he has forgotten how his own people were considered little more then economic assets - just like farm animals, by those people who were Warrens 'Christian' predecessors during slavery and segregation. Oh, but for when the census was taken, during slavery times, they were counted as three fifths of a person, to garner more representation in the House of Representatives.

Obama should publicly, in a news conference, fire the person most responsible for this choice. It would be a true message of inclusion for LGBT people, the new [n-words] to the religious conservatives, for whom there always has to be someone to defile and hate, to support their 'rush' of power. Just as hitler scapegoated the Jews to gain absolute power. And perhaps this would be a message to Mr. Warren, delivered subtly as well as behind the scenes directly - go have a 'medical emergency' so you can't come to the inauguration.

And on the stage with President Elect Obama at the inauguration should be the perfect choice to give the invocation - Bishop Gene Robinson of the Episcopal church. A man whose elevation brought death threats "in the name of God". As well as Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who was imprisoned for decades for being Black and speaking out against Arpatheid, and whose reformist government helped bring gay marriage to the long suffering Republic of South Africa.

The people who need inclusion at this point in time are our nations LGBT citizens, so often terrorized into the 'closet', the religious rights new version of segregation when they can't identify easily who are their newest victims.

Is it possible that Obama etc don't realize that people like Warren are as frozen into their views on gays, as the southerners were, and some still are, re their views on blacks as inferior.

But for our Black citizens, victims of another of America's great (and religiously justified by the bible) crime, Obama's win is more then just a final slap in the face of the right wing christians who gave us slavery and segregation. For Obama, a mixed race man, is an example of what America will look like in some decades. The census bureau projects our nation will be majority non-white by 2042.

And America's next challenge in the social justice, social acceptance area, is to bring our LGBT citizens to full equality under the law.

And you don't do that by talking with people whose whole life has been spent spreading blind faith that degrades these people.

Shame on you, Pr. Elect Obama. Fix this problem re Warren.

People on the left can be forgiven for experiencing discomfort or even resentment at Obama's selection of Rick Warren.

(In recent years, many of our leaders haven't earned our trust.)

But I believe that the Pres-elect is an extraordinary politician and person and, given the chance to lead, he will lead us away from intolerance. He already publicly opposes the Defense of Marriage Act and supports equal rights.)

We should give him more time to influence the debate.