> Those who think the Warren invitation is merely "symbolic," muse on
> this. Diaz is a reactionary (and somewhat crazy-sounding) Dem who's at
> the forefront of blocking SSM in NYS.
>
> Doug
>
> ----
>
> <http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/12/diaz-fans-the-flames.html
> >
>
> Diaz Fans The Flames
> [Elizabeth Benjamin]
>
> December 22, 2008
>
> Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., who infuriated gay advocates for tying his state
> Senate leadership vote to the issue of same-sex marriage, released a
> statement yesterday praising Barack Obama for picking Rick Warren to
> deliver his inaugural invocation - a move that is unlikely to improve
> the conservative Democrat's standing with the LGBT community.
>
> By selecting Warren, the Evangelical pastor of the Saddleback Church
> and an opponent of what Diaz refers to as "homosexual marriage," the
> president-elect has "set an example that many leaders of the
> Democratic Party should follow," the senator said.
>
> Some in the gay community have deemed Obama's selection of Warren, who
> publicly supported Proposition 8, which amended the California
> Constitution to ban gay marriage, as tantamount to "endorsing
> bigotry." Both Obama and Warren have defended the decision.
>
> Diaz sees Obama's move as something more personal - a confirmation of
> sorts that anti-same-sex marriage, anti-abortion rights Democrats like
> himself have a role to play in the party.
>
> "Obama has sent a message to the world that 'Yes We Can' has a
> Democratic Party where everyone should be included," Diaz continued.
>
> "It has been the belief that the Democratic Party is owned exclusively
> by certain groups, and if you do not believe in nor follow the
> ideology of these groups and their agendas, then you will be a
> registered outcast. You will never be invited to official Party
> activities. You will not get their support, and they call you names
> and do everything possible to push you out of the Democratic Party."
>
> "To some people, if you oppose homosexual marriage and abortion, you
> are not a Democrat and you are certainly not be invited to deliver an
> inaugural invocation."
>
> "To those people, it does not matter how hard you fight to protect
> human services by creating job opportunities for your community,
> bringing low income housing to the poor, fighting against the closing
> of health services, protecting the immigrants, and opposing the
> Governor of the State of New York and the Mayor of the City of New
> York for cutting needed services when they try to balance their
> budgets on the backs of the poor and less fortunate families and
> senior citizens."
>
> "By rejecting the call to dis-invite Reverend Warren and by welcoming
> him to deliver the inauguration ceremony's invocation in Washington,
> DC, Barack Obama has sent a message of inclusion...that we should be
> welcome all the time, not only to be used when they want our votes,
> support and participation in coalitions to benefit others.
>
> The time has come for a change. The Democratic Party should not be a
> party of only two issues: Abortion and homosexual marriage. Everybody
> should be accepted: Orthodox Jews, Evangelical Christians, Catholics,
> Muslims, and those with religious beliefs that oppose abortion and
> homosexual marriage. YES WE CAN!
>
> Thank you, President-Elect Obama for setting the example."
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>
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