Pop Quiz! Name the last five persons to give the inaugural invocation

[Political Heretic]

It shouldn't be hard, seeing has how I've been hearing for the last two days about how it is the most sacred and cherished honor that will practically redefine America, transform the universe, fight bad breath and get 35 MPG highway....

Oh wait... no one knows (except Google of course) because it doesn't matter.

[Mari333]

1. well, I bet none of them were outspoken racists. n/t

[glowing]

2. Warren would not be as big of a deal had he not worked to divide families.

[BR_Parkway]

3. You are right - it won't matter - just like it wouldn't matter if it was Rev

Thomas Robb. Here's the point you just aren't getting

Some people would never get invited because of what they represent and who they hate. Others get invited in spite of it. It all depends on the group being hated.

[Fumesucker]

4. If reaching out to one set of bigots is good and productive..

Why does Obama not reach out to other bigots, say racists?

Why will there not be an outspoken racist on the podium for Obama's inaugural?

I've seen this question asked hundreds of times by now and no one who thinks Warren is no big deal has yet answered it.

[BeFree]

6. Why no racists?

Well, it's kinda obvious. Not that racism is over and done with, but just the fact that Obama is going to be our president (really?) kinda mutes racism. But rest assured, there will be racists on the stage.

Thing is: when the aliens land, they will tell us: Take Us To Your Leader.

Obama has gone right to the leader of the fundies. Ya know, those two faced idiots, Well, Obama has already begun the wheels turning and exposing the whole damn ugly situation. It is a brilliant political move and is motivating people to become aware and begin participating. Just what Obama said he needed: People waking up and taking action.

[Fumesucker]

8. Name an open racist that is going to be on the stage..

Since you are so sure they are racists I'm sure you can name one.

[BeFree]

10. Just about everyone there...

.... to one degree or another has some racism in them. It is human nature.

Too think no racism would be be on that stage is to expose a mind that thinks only in black and white.

[Fumesucker]

11. That was non responsive..

Name an *open* racist bigot that has been invited to speak.

[BeFree]

13. Warren?

Why are you being so damned absolute?

Frankly, I hardly care who gets up and talks. Its what they say up there that matters, and the only one I'll be listening to is my man Obama. You may choose otherwise.

What's happening is that people are talking about all this. For the first time ever folks are becoming aware of the whole shebang, and that's a good thing.

I always did cringe when I saw a two-faced fundie in politics. Seemed for years that I was the only one who did. Now I see I'm not all alone this time. And that, too, is a good thing. EH?

[Fumesucker]

14. I'm being absolute because you are...

You asked a loaded question, I ask a loaded question also.

One which you refuse to answer.

[BeFree]

16. But you know the answer.

And you brought out of me some good ideas. Thank you.

[Fumesucker]

17. No I don't know

You claim that "reaching out" to those with whom we disagree is important. Obama clearly disagrees with openly racist bigots so I'm sure he is going to put one on the podium at his inauguration.

I just am not aware of who this person might be.

[BeFree]

19. Ok

I guess the answer you are looking for is this: Wage War on your fellow citizens. Do unto them as they have done unto you.

Well, that is no answer, and I would never recommend it. But you seem hell bent on that course. So.

[Fumesucker]

23. Again that was non responsive..

You claimed there were open racists going to be on the podium, please name one.

[Political Heretic]

21. Actually I have answered it. :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4688627&mesg_id=4688829

[Phentex]

5. Oh, ouch, you really got us there!

Too bad the front of the bus is already full.

[ropi]

7. here is your list with links

2004
At his 2005 inaugural, George W. Bush tapped Rev. Dr. Louis Leon to deliver the invocation.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/18/obamas-talking-points-on_n_152056.html

2000
On January 27, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that "Jesus was a popular figure at President Bush's inauguration." The invocation by the Rev. Franklin Graham was closed with a prayer "'in the name of the father, and of the son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit.'"
http://www.pluralism.org/news/article.php?id=917

1996
Billy Graham, 90, who is known as the "pastor to presidents" for the number of times he has been called on to officiate at an inauguration, gave the invocation for both of president Bill Clinton's swearing in ceremonies in 1992 and 1996.

1992
Billy Graham, who delivered the invocation at Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993, was decidedly more conservative than the president he prayed for, but Graham was such a fixture at presidential inaugurations that Clinton naturally included him. (So eminent was Graham that in 2001, when he was too ill to attend George W. Bush's inauguration, the president-elect tapped his son Franklin Graham to deliver the invocation.)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-warren19-2008dec19,0,5062530.story

1988
Billy Graham for George H W Bush...


Reagan Era


INAUGURATION FACTS




First Inauguration as President (January 20, 1981)



Singer: Juanita Booker (amateur singer from Los Angeles)



Invocation and Benediction: Rev. Donn Moomaw, Senior Pastor, Bel Air Presbyterian Church



This was the first Inaugural ceremony to be held at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. (All previous Inaugurations at the Capitol had used the East Front.)

President Reagan’s Second Inauguration

Second Inauguration as President (January 20, 1985)



Invocation: Rev. Timothy Healy, S.J. (President, Georgetown University)



Singer: Jesse Norman



Prayers:



After Ms. Norman’s song: Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk (President, Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati)

Just prior to the swearing-in: Rev. Donn Moomaw (Senior Pastor, Bel Air Presbyterian Church)



Benediction: Rev. Peter Gomes (Chaplain, Harvard University)



There was no poem read at either Inaugural.

[Political Heretic]

22. Again, thanks... but I know how to use google already.

If it was such an earth-changing honor, I wouldn't have to.

[LaydeeBug]

9. Dr. Louis Leon, Franklin Graham, Billy Graham, Billy Graham, Billy Graham.

Just so you know. :hi:

[BeFree]

12. Yeah

See, these were the leaders of the fundies. This time, much to their chagrin, the fundie leader is being exposed as a two-faced hate monger.

Graham slinked by time and again. Not this time, eh? This time there will be a Change. Make it happen.

[Nikki Stone1]

15. Nicely done

The idea of Warren being the next Billy Grahams is just frightening. Franklin is a bigot too.

[Political Heretic]

20. I already used google before you, just to satisfy my curiosity

So I beat you to it.

[Lifetimedem]

26. And Billy graham

has said he wants no part of being a spiritual mentor to Barrack

[shadowknows69]

18. Groucho, Chico, Harpo, Laurel, Hardy.

Oh wait, that was a surreal black and white dream I had last night. Nevermind.

[NoPasaran]

28. Harpo really turned Clinton's 1997 inaugural into a clusterfuck

When he felt up Hillary and chased Madeline Albright off the stage.

No wonder no harpist has ever been on the program before or since.

[Fireweed247]

24. I was thinking the same thing...

Did someone publicize this information early and constantly to get all of us pissed off at Obama(not that I am excusing Obama) because I don't recall ever knowing or caring about this before.

[JNelson6563]

25. Indeed, it is inconsequential.

How many are going cold and hungry as I type this? But little else matters on DU besides this!

The end of the world is upon us! (again)

Julie

[LWolf]

27. I believe that the most recent was the guy who said

that Clinton did not have the "moral authority" to lead the nation. A Luis somebody.

In 2000 it was Franklin Graham, son of Billy, who did the "in Jesus' name" thing, shifting the prayer from the broader, more general invocations in previous years to a narrower one.

And of course, before that, it was Billy Graham himself, for several succeeding presidents.