Answer:

I'm troubled also. I took some time to look at video interviews of Rick Warren, including the one where he endorsed Proposition 8.

I simply don't agree with him--limiting the definition of marriage because of a modern perception of "5,000 years of tradition" is a fallacious argument. For most of that 5,000 years, slavery was a tradition, as was the complete limitation of women's rights. Further, polygamy is also in the Bible and is STILL a tradition in many parts of the world. I'll also note that chemotherapy and MRIs have not been a tradition for 5,000 years.

It's clear to me from watching the videos that he's uncomfortable with gay people. This is underscored by his tendency to talk about his charitable work regarding people with AIDS when asked about gay people, as if there is a connection between a disease and orientation.

There are some things I like about Rick Warren, but he has a long way to go to represent the kind of change that I think most of the country voted for in this election.

To a large degree, I think this election was a response to the repercussions of how our country lost its way over the past eight years. You cannot be an American and believe in rendition, torture and eliminating constitutional protection against illegal search--and I see a direct connection between the destruction of constitutional values and the out-of-control predation of brokerage companies in the subprime-mortgage disaster that sparked a worldwide recession.

Our government derives its power FROM the people; it does not give power TO the people. Our LGBT citizens deserve the same rights as our heterosexual citizens. Extending human and civil rights STRENGTHENS our country.

As an American and as a veteran, I'm disappointed in President-elect Obama for making this choice. I think he has a lot of soul searching to do over LGBT rights.

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