My Australian blogger friend Bill doesn't let Warren off the hook.

I am encouraged that President-Elect Barack Obama invited pro marriage & pro life, and not just in rhetoric like Jim Wallis & Sojourners but in real action both in service, AND with political votes and action privately and yes in rhetoric and consistent instruction, Rick Warren to speak at Obama's inauguration service. I DO empathize with my Australian friend Bill's convictions expressed on his blog. I also feel the pull of the argument of Al Moehler quoted by Bill.

I thank God for Bill and his perspectives. But I am glad for this Obama/Warren development on other, hereto unmentioned grounds. Here is one of those hereto unmentioned grounds. The political heat and hate from Barney Frank and the Kennedy's (the latter being great 'friends' of George W. Bush during some of W's worse spending prodigal moments). Fickle friendships. Sometimes a person like Obama can benefit and has a genuine need-to-know the true nature and level and same-party, fickle- functionary depth of some friendships. He may not fully discern such yet. Frankly he seems a little slow on such matters, Hillary positioning excepted.

If he watches the way fellow party partisans privately speak of Al Gore, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, Geraldine Ferraro, or John Edwards... it will become very clear that Obama's populace-feigned messiah-ship is not so much about melanin levels, making history on the basis of identity-group, emotional reparations by the electorate, or the wielding of Illinois political powers, nor is it even about how much wealthy Hollywood or Soros loathe all things Bush, but it is precisely about abortion and homosexuality. The powerful in the party-of-death can even forgive his putting war supporting Hillary as Secretary of State or keeping Gates and company in the war room, but these issues (abortion and homosexuality) are THE religion of the culture of death. Good thoughts Bill (read him here) but I think I'm leaning toward GLAD that Warren is speaking, if he really gets to speak his mind and heart on a wider angle of justice and prays and behaves justly in doing so. In short, the jury is out.

Joel doesn't allow the media favorites a 'free pass'.

Good one, Joel.