Barack Obama/Rick Warren Update: Barney Frank issues a statement, Rachel Maddow discusses and more!

Congressman Barney Frank (Getty Images/Alex Wong)

Fallout from President-elect Barack Obama's decision to have Pastor Rick Warren deliver the invocation at Obama's inauguration next month continued this week with the story getting a great deal of ink from the traditional press. Earlier in the week, Obama issued a statement regarding his choice while yesterday MSNBC's Rachel Maddow weighed in and out Congressman Barney Frank issued a statement. 

Read all the details after the jump!

During a press conference Obama answered questions about the controversy by again reiterating he wants to bring all Americans to the table so we can create an atmosphere where we can disagree without being disagreeable. That's easy for Obama to say. I wonder how he'd feel if some other president-elect invited a racist to his inauguration so we could all happily disagree together. Obama also pointed out that he also invited Dr. Joseph Lowery to speak who has very different views than does Warren. 

Ann Curry, Rick Warren

As for Warren, he told NBC's Ann Curry that he's not homophobic and even has gay friends! Does every homophobe really think they can just say this and think that it somehow excuses their behavior? I guess as long as the traditional media doesn't call them on their BS they can.

Curry also infuriatingly let Warren get away with the lie that had Propostion 8 not passed, he might be at risk of legal prosecution for speaking out against homosexuality. I guess that's the difference between being an actual journalist and a talking head. 

Dan Savage over at The Slog notes that Warren's Saddleback Church websites says that while gays can attend their church they can't be members unless they repent their lifestyle. Again, imagine the outcry if the person delivering Obama's invocation belonged to an organization that said the same thing about Jews, women, Hispanics or African-Americans. 

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow also weighed in:

Some folks hold hope that Obama will appoint a gay Secretary of the Navy, an idea being pushed by some Democrats, but not anything Obama has yet addressed himself. 

Finally, Barney Frank issued a statement stating:

I am very disappointed by President-elect Barack Obama's decision to honor Reverend Rick Warren with a prominent role in his inauguration. Religious leaders obviously have every right to speak out in opposition to anti-discrimination measures, even in the degrading terms that Rev. Warren has used with regard to same-sex marriage. But that does not confer upon them the right to a place of honor in the inauguration ceremony of a president whose stated commitment to LGBT rights won him the strong support of the great majority of those who support that cause.

It is irrelevant that Rev. Warren invited Senator Obama to address his congregation, since he extended an equal invitation to Senator McCain. Furthermore, the President-Elect has not simply invited Rev. Warren to give a speech as part of a series in which various views are presented. The selection of a member of the clergy to occupy this uniquely elevated position has always been considered a mark of respect and approval by those who are being inaugurated.

Amen, Barney.

Look, I'm not ready to write-off Obama as a turncoat, typical politician or as a fraud. Nor do I think the gay community should go after him guns completely blazing. Maybe this is some part of a deeper game and Obama plans to use Warren to cover his ass so that once he's in office he can rescind Don't Ask/Don't Tell, get rid of DOMA and enact other gay rights legislation. Or maybe Obama just goofed and feels like he can't back down.

But whatever the reason for the choice of Warren, I will say Obama just cashed in a big chit. Once he's sworn in, he better actually do something to prove those of us in the GLBT community who put so much faith in him didn't make a big mistake.