There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that Hollywood was key to the historical win of President-elect Obama. Not long after his win, however, it seems that some of his Hollywood supporters are already feeling awry about the turn of events. Their main bone of contention? The fact that Barack Obama has chosen pastor and author Rick Warren to lead the inaugural prayer.
So why are they so disappointed in this choice? After all, Rick Warren heads his own mega-church and is an award winning author by his own right. The reason behind the discontent is that Rick Warren was a huge figure in the recent issue of the ban on gay marriages. The LA Times has this story:
Obama’s selection of Orange County mega-pastor and bestselling author Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his swearing in has hit liberal Hollywood in one of its sorest spots: the passage of Proposition 8, California’s ban on gay marriage, which Warren strongly supported. In fact, he has compared same-sex nuptials to approving polygamy and pedophilia.
Reaction in the entertainment industry — where interestingly, Warren has his own powerful ties — has been swift, angry and bitter. (And nothing undermines a good party quite like disappointment and hurt.)
“Barack Obama is a very smart student of history,” said longtime celebrity publicist and gay activist Howard Bragman. “He saw that Bill Clinton did damage to his early presidency by appearing to pander to the gay and lesbian community. Obama has chosen a different tack.
This is indeed an interesting turn of events, especially in the eyes of the liberals. Is this a sign of discontent with the new president in Hollywood’s neck of the woods?
Originally posted on December 20, 2008 @ 3:00 pm