Maddow wants Warren after flood of ignorance drowns DC over Uganda's 'gay death bill'

Last night, Rachel Maddow personally invited Rev. Rick Warren to come on her show and denounce Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality bill, according to USA Today.  The so-called  "gay death bill", and those allegedly associated with it, have come under harsh scrutiny over the past week since revelations came to light that several US Evangelists and Congressmen helped orchestrate the whole thing.

Rev. Rick Warren (AP Photo)

It all started when Jeff Sharlet, author of The Family:  The Secret Fundamentalism At The Heart Of American Power, went on NPR last week and told the nation that the secretive, 70-year-old, D.C.-based group of global power players known as "The Family" was behind the most hate-filled piece of genocidal legislation since the Nuremberg Laws in Germany during WWII.  The Family's current leader, Douglas Coe, has been labeled a Fascist sympathizer, saying Hitler was evil, but that he "undersood the meaning of power."

Warren was standoffish when he was first asked about his connections to the proposed Ugandan law this week, saying he couldn't interfere with another nation's politics.  Many considered this no good excuse for not speaking out, since Warren leads the PEACE plan, which works with politicians in several nations in Africa, particularly in Uganda.

Then came the deluge of denials.  Several high-profile Congressmen in D.C. started coming out of the woodwork (all of them mentioned in The Family) particularly Senators James Inhofe and Chuck Grassley, all claimin ignorance about the proposed Ugandan law.   Next thing you know, the bill was "toned down" from imposing an automatic death penalty on a person with HIV/AIDS and life imprisonment for failing to report a gay family member. 

The revised draft bill no longer imposes an automatic life imprisonment or death penalty, but it does include three years in prison for knowing someone is gay and not reporting them to authorities,  and seven years in prison for attempting to commit homosexual acts. Any person convicted of homosexuality would be subject to extradition (as is the current law in Uganda).

US Christian leaders, at the behest of Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schor, united to officially denounce the Ugandan bill, saying, "Attempts to export the culture wars of North America to another context represent the very worst of colonial behavior.  We deeply lament this reality, and repent of any way in which we have participated in this sin."

Following the collective rush to save face, yesterday Warren issued his own denunciation of the proposed Ugandan law to his conregation via satellite, denying rumors that he's ever supported it or anyone associated with it.  Warren made the following statement:

All life, no matter how humble or broken, whether unborn or dying, is precious to God. My wife, Kay, and I have devoted our lives and our ministry to saving the lives of people, including homosexuals, who are HIV positive. It would be inconsistent to save some lives and wish death on others. We're not just pro-life. We are whole life.  Finally, the freedom to make moral choices and our right to free expression are gifts endowed by God.

That sounds an awful lot like the "homosexuality is a choice" argument espoused by the most vehemently anti-gay protesters, who feel they are demonstrating God's love by showing up at equality rallies carrying their hateful signs and shouting their hateful words.  It also lumps LGBT people in with the "humble, broken, dying"  subclass that Warren sems to so desperately want to help (thanks, but no thanks).

Whether or not Warren will accept Maddow's invitation to come on her show remains unclear.  It would seem the man who gave the convocation to America at President Obama's inauguration would jump at the chance to clear his name to Maddow's considerable following and not devote so much of his time to Fox News. 

Or maybe he's scared of Rachel.  If I were him, I would be.

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