Rick Warren: very disappointing choice

I have to add my voice to the chorus of disapprobation over the selection of Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the Innaugural. This sends entirely the wrong message. Couldn't the president-elect have chosen someone who has not expressed bigotry towards Gay and Lesbian citizens, and who has not endorsed the assassination of foreign leaders as a tool of foreign policy? Warren no doubt has done some good things, but there are plenty of alternate possible choices who have not stained their records in this manner. Selecting Warren telegraphs that these serious defects in his character and message are no big deal.

Update: I hope this is a bit of hyperbole, but I'm afraid I'm not sure: [Digby].

Later Update: [1/21/09] Rick Warren's invocation was obnoxious, but not overly so. Coulda been worse. Bad choice, bad signal, just basically unfortunate, but it didn't ruin the parade. And then there was Rev. Joseph Lowery's benediction, which stole the show and made up for any amount of self-congratulatory fatuousness on the part of Warren.