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Thursday, Dec 18, 2008 7:37 PM UTC

Obama’s response to anger over Warren

The president-elect says it's important to be disagree agreeably.

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Topics: Barack Obama, War Room,

Asked today about the controversy surrounding his announcement that Rick Warren will be giving the invocation at the inaugural ceremonies, particularly as it relates to Warren’s views on gay rights, President-elect Barack Obama said:

Let me start by talking about my own views. I think that it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans. It is something that I have been consistent on and something that I intend to be consistent on during my presidency. What I’ve also said is that it is important for Americans to come together even though we have disagreements on certain social issues. I would note that a couple of years ago, I was invited by Rick Warren’s church to speak despite his wariness that I held contrary views…. that’s what this campaign was about….We’re not going to agree on every single issue…but what we have to do is be able to create an atmosphere that we can disagree and not be disagreeable….

What say you, Salon readers, to that?

Thomas F. Schaller is professor of political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the author of "Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without the South." Follow him @schaller67. More Thomas Schaller.

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