Obama Defends Warren Pick

Stressing the need “for Americans to come together” even when they disagree about particular issues, Barack Obama responded on Thursday to the outcry over his decision to give Pastor Rick Warren the honor of delivering the invocation at Obama’s upcoming inauguration ceremony.

The Washington Post:

Although Warren’s views are not far from those of other clergy members who could have been asked to deliver the invocation, Obama found himself emphasizing his own record as “a fierce advocate of equality for gay and lesbian Americans.”

“It is important for America to come together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues,” Obama said.

He emphasized that Joseph Lowery, a founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, will give the benediction and has “deeply contrasting views to Warren on a whole host of issues.”

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Obama says he doesn’t agree with Rick Warren, pictured, on every issue and emphasized the need for “dialogue” among Americans.