Editore"s Note
Tilting at Windmills

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April 6, 2009

DUNGY'S TURNOVER.... When the White House invited former football coach Tony Dungy to serve on the president's Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, there were quite a few groans from progressives. My friends at Americans United for Separation of Church and State and People for the American Way issued statements noting Dungy's associations with religious right groups and vocal opposition to gay rights.

It appears the matter was resolved today, however, when Dungy withdrew from the advisory board.

Former NFL coach Tony Dungy has fumbled his invitation to serve on President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, according to CBN's David Brody. A White House source tells Brody that Dungy couldn't make two of the four faith council meetings.

"Because of the time commitment needed I have respectfully declined," Dungy said in a statement to Brody.

The announcement comes the same afternoon as the White House unveiling the official list of the 25-member Advisory Council is part of the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

I don't recognize every member of the council, but skimming over the names, it looks like a fairly good mix of diverse figures. There's at least one high-profile conservative -- Dr. Frank S. Page, President emeritus of the Southern Baptist Convention -- but there are also some left leaning voices (who take church-state separation seriously) in the mix, including Nathan Diament, Harry Knox, Melissa Rogers, Rabbi David Saperstein, and Dr. Sharon Watkins.

Yes, Jim Wallis is one of the 25. No, Rick Warren isn't on the list.

Steve Benen 4:45 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (5)
 
Comments

Dungy's a piece of shit. A real homophobe. Good riddance.

Posted by: Lee Gibson on April 6, 2009 at 4:51 PM | PERMALINK

Some relief about warren and dungy, but I wish we coould have gotten rid of the council in toto.

aimai

Posted by: aimai on April 6, 2009 at 5:08 PM | PERMALINK

I am a football fan and have always respected Dungy, but to hear he is anti-gay really ticks me off. Just another hack in the NFL I used to respect.

Posted by: ScottW on April 6, 2009 at 5:09 PM | PERMALINK

Dr. Sharon Watkins is a terrific leader and a very sharp person; I hope there are lots more like her on the list.

Posted by: Spanky on April 6, 2009 at 9:00 PM | PERMALINK

If they took church-state separation seriously, they wouldn't be on this panel.

Posted by: Tree on April 7, 2009 at 11:10 AM | PERMALINK




 

 
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