the Online NewsHour
E-mail This Page   Print This Page  
the Online NewsHour EXTRANews for Students AND Teacher Resources MAIN: ONLINE NEWSHOUR
7 - 12 grade level
SEARCH
ALL OR STUDENT VOICES LESSON PLANS VIDEO GO
Main: NewsHour ExtraU.S.WorldScienceEconomicsHealthArts and MediaStudent VoicesTeacher Center
Posted on December 19, 2008

Conflict Over Inauguration Pastor

President-elect Barack Obama has angered many of his supporters this week by selecting the evangelical pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church to speak at his inauguration.

While Warren, the leader of twenty thousand member church in Orange County, California is highly praised for his work with AIDS in Africa, social justice and the environment, he holds opinions contrary to the president-elect on some social issues. Warren has equated gay marriage with incest and abortion with the Holocaust.

Analysts Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a think tank, and Harry Knox, director of the religion and faith program at the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign, discuss the decision and its implications for the inauguration.

"Well, we were profoundly disappointed in the president-elect's pick because he chose someone who is a divisive person, who has attacked our community and attacked our families." -Harry Knox, Human Rights Campaign

"I think one of the interesting things we're going to see in the next few days is actually Rick Warren is going to have critics from his right for identifying and, in fact, in agreeing to do this, to give the invocation." - Michael Cromartie, Ethics and Public Policy Center

"Well, we have been trying to reach out as a community to Rick Warren for a long, long time and got so frustrated that many people have now protested in front of his church." --Harry Knox, Human Rights Campaign

"You know, Ray, Harry is trying to make Rick Warren out to be this sort of right-wing bigot. And it just -- it won't wash. It won't work. The man's got an amazingly good reputation in numerous communities around this country and around the world, as a person who opens his own wallet. He gives away 90 percent of his own income." - Michael Cromartie, Ethics and Public Policy Center

1. When is the inauguration?

2. What is the importance of the inauguration?

1. Why do you think the president-elect chose Rick Warren? Do you think it was a good choice? Why or why not?

2. Who would you like to see speak at inauguration? Why?

3. President-elect Obama stated that he knows "we're not going to agree on every single issue, but what we have to do is to be able to create an atmosphere when we -- where we can disagree without being disagreeable." Are there opinions that you do not have to tolerate?

Comments

Post a Comment:

This is a teacher community that thrives on your thoughts, suggestions and comments. We would love to have a free ranging discussion in this space about the resources and how we can all encourage young people to think about current events and the world around them.

So, dive in. Tell other teachers what you like about this video, what you wish was different and what you hope to accomplish.

Especially helpful? Come back after using the video and let us know how it worked!

To ensure a productive and civil discourse, we pre-moderate comments, so it might take a little time for your comment to appear.

Thanks for waiting.

Name: (required, pseudonym ok)
E-mail address: (required, will not be published)
Comment:
 

 
Welcome
Video Packages
Compiled from over 30 years of NewsHour archives, video packages provide historical context to topical issues.
Black Monday

NewsHour Coverage of Financial Turmoil

A selection of NewsHour coverage of past turmoil in financial markets.

Oil

Oil Prices: a Brief History

Four decades of NewsHour coverage on the price of oil.

NewsHour Coverage of Immigration Issues

As an increasing number of people enter the U.S. illegally, the United States has struggled to address the immigration issue.

Bridge

Examining the State of U.S. Infrastructure

Ray Suarez examines the state of bridges, ports, airports and roads across the U.S. in Blueprint America, a collaboration with WNET New York.

More resources: Blueprint America

Hurricane photo

A Look Back: Hurricane Katrina

NewsHour reports from the days immediately following the hurricane, detailing the storm\'s damage, broken levees, evacuations and the relief efforts.

Mao watch

NewsHour Coverage of Modern China

This video package focuses on modern Chinese history and how some of the biggest developments from the country have influenced the world.

Mars lander

NASA Celebrates Fifty Years

NASA was established on July 29, 1958. Watch recent NewsHour interviews with NASA scientists and reports on NASA research.

Radovan Karadzic

NewsHour Coverage of Radovan Karadzic

A collection of NewsHour coverage of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, who was captured in July 2008 on war crimes charges.

Benazir Bhutto

NewsHour Interviews with Pakistani Leader Benazir Bhutto

A series of interviews with assassinated Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto, the first woman elected to lead a Muslim country.

 
FRIDAY
A Timely Drop in Gas Prices for Memorial Day Trips
News Wrap: SpaceX 'Dragon' Reaches Space Station
Partial Vote Count in Egypt Reveals Public Rift
What a Muslim Brotherhood Win Might Mean for U.S.
The Legacy of Etan Patz
Are U.S. Nuclear Plants Ready for a Meltdown?
Brooks, Marcus on Coming Economic 'Chaos,' Bain
When the Ancient Past Reaches Out and Touches Us
An hour-long daily news broadcast.