Hilary Rosen on Anderson Cooper 360 rose to our defense last night, succinctly and passionately describing the outrage of many in the LGBT community over Obama’s choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation for the inauguration.

Hillary Rosen: “First the glibness, that, well it’s just a bunch of gays being unhappy that people don’t agree with them, is wrong. You know, (at) one time the Bible was used to justify slavery. If this was a preacher, out there, using more weapons against African-Americans we wouldn’t even be having this conversation, so second of all, the fact that we’re even having a conversation, means that this is a mistake in choice. This is a day when people are to be brought together. There are hundreds of preachers across the country with stature and thoughtfulness and other ways to bring this country together on an inauguration day for the new president. That’s the choice he should have made.”

Watch the clip.

As expected, here is the defense circulated by the Obama campaign this morning:

“This will be the most open, accessible, and inclusive Inauguration in American history.

In keeping with the spirit of unity and common purpose this Inauguration will reflect, the President-elect and Vice President-elect have chosen some of the world’s most gifted artists and people with broad appeal to participate in the inaugural ceremonies.

Pastor Rick Warren has a long history of activism on behalf of the disadvantaged and the downtrodden. He’s devoted his life to performing good works for the poor and leads the evangelical movement in addressing the global HIV/AIDS crisis. In fact, the President-elect recently addressed Rick Warren’s Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health to salute Warren’s leadership in the struggle against HIV/AIDS and pledge his support to the effort in the years ahead.

The President-elect disagrees with Pastor Warren on issues that affect the LGBT community. They disagree on other issues as well. But what’s important is that they agree on many issues vital to the pursuit of social justice, including poverty relief and moving toward a sustainable planet; and they share a commitment to renewing America’s promise by expanding opportunity at home and restoring our moral leadership abroad.

As he’s said again and again, the President-elect is committed to bringing together all sides of the faith discussion in search of common ground. That’s the only way we’ll be able to unite this country with the resolve and common purpose necessary to solve the challenges we face.

The Inauguration will also involve Reverend Joseph Lowery, who will be delivering the official benediction at the Inauguration. Reverend Lowery is a giant of the civil rights movement who boasts a proudly progressive record on LGBT issues. He has been a leader in the struggle for civil rights for all Americans, gay or straight.

And for the very first time, there will be a group representing the interests of LGBT Americans participating in the Inaugural Parade.”

And Obama’s response to the controversy this morning.

I suppose we should be thankful the inclusiveness doesn’t extend to Fred Phelps. Or David Duke.

President-Elect Obama has unfortunately chosen Pastor Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church to give the invocation at the inauguration in January.

Pastor Warren is a rare gem of a human being/Christian. He has compared abortion to the Jewish Holocaust, equated gay marriage to incest and pedophilia, and previously cut a video in support of Proposition 8. See below:

I struggle desperately not to be a one issue voter, but like so many in the LGBT community, I am deeply disappointed by this choice, and at the expense of all the positives I have witnessed in the presidential transition thus far.

In what can only be called a calculated effort to reach across the aisle and placate the religious right, Obama has succeeded only in alienating some of his most fervent supporters, who have remained steadfast despite missing the “Hope Train” when Proposition 8 passed last month. Frankly, my wallet is still aching from all the contributions we made to the Obama campaign as well.

Unfortunately this isn’t the first time Obama has stepped in it. I gave Obama the benefit of the doubt the first time around, but don’t know if I can now. Not since Prop 8.

I’m sure many will argue that Barack Obama personally doesn’t support gay marriage in the first place, but nor does he think it’s appropriate to write discrimination into law. Constitutions enable rights, not redact them.

If it’s any consolation, there are some on the right who aren’t too happy with Pastor Warren either. Let them give him as much grief as we give Obama.

I’m reminded of a line from the Song “Down to Earth” by Peter Gabriel as I write this.

Do you feel you were tricked, by the future you picked?

The answer’s not yes. At least not yet.

The L.A. Times obtained an internal White House memo today which provided talking points to Bush Cabinet members. The memo paints a rather rosy and unsurprisingly revisionist slant on the Bush legacy. On tonight’s Countdown Keith Olbermann put together a succinct “reality check” for those of us who may have forgotten some of the events of the past 8 years.

Not because of bad memory… but because there were so damn many…

California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) announced today that they would investigate allegations that the LDS Church did not fully disclose non-monetary contributions to the Prop 8 Campaign.

Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate called for the investigation last week, writing a letter to the FPPC detailing many of the allegations, including:

• Church organized phone banks from Utah and Idaho
• Sending direct mail to voters
• Transported people to California over several weekends
• Used the LDS Press Office to send out multiple News Releases to promote their activities to nonmembers
• Walked precincts
• Ran a speakers bureau
• Distributed thousands of lawn signs and other campaign material
• Organized a “surge to election day”
• Church leaders travel to California
• Set up of very elaborate web sites
• Produced at least 9 commercials and 4 other video broadcasts all in support of Prop 8
• Conducted at least 2 satellite simulcasts over 5 Western states

These allegations are on top of the $22 million raised by Mormons in support of Prop 8, and according to Karger are in violation of the Political Reform Act.

While the LDS Church has not yet commented on the announcement, they have previously stated that they “fully complied with the reporting requirements of the California Political Reform Act” and that “any investigation would confirm the church’s full compliance with applicable law.”

Roman Porter, executive director of FPPC said today that an investigation doesn’t necessarily mean there was any wrongdoing, and asked everyone to “reserve judgement.”

For more information…

• Karger’s letter to the FPPC
• Probe into LDS Church’s Prop 8 donations
• Why Catholic involvement in Prop 8 needs to be scrutinized as well