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[[Image:Obama inauguration 1.jpg|300px|right]]

[[Image:Obama inauguration 1.jpg|300px|right]]

The '''Obama presidential inauguration''' signaled the conclusion of the Bush administration with the swearing-in ceremony of president-elect [[Barack Hussein Obama]], and [[Joe Biden|Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.]] as Vice President, on Tuesday January 20th, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. EST. 1.8 million people came to [[Washington D.C.]] to watch the ceremony, the largest crowd ever assembled for a presidential inauguration since Lyndon B. Johnson's inauguration speech in 1965.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012103884.html/13/2009-01-13_obamas_inauguration_is_most_expensive_ev.html D.C.'s Inauguration Head Count: 1.8 Million] NY Daily News, January 14th 2009</ref>

The '''Obama presidential inauguration''' signaled the conclusion of the Bush administration with the swearing-in ceremony of president-elect [[Barack Hussein Obama]], and [[Joe Biden|Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.]] as Vice President, on Tuesday January 20, 2009 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. EST. 1.8 million people came to [[Washington D.C.]] to watch the ceremony, the largest crowd ever assembled for a presidential inauguration since Lyndon B. Johnson's inauguration speech in 1965.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012103884.html/13/2009-01-13_obamas_inauguration_is_most_expensive_ev.html D.C.'s Inauguration Head Count: 1.8 Million] NY Daily News, January 14th 2009</ref>

==Hypocrisy==

==Hypocrisy==

==Cost of the Inauguration==

==Cost of the Inauguration==

According to an article by Gregg Walker, publisher of the Lakeland Times, the cost of Obama's inauguration may have exceeded $160 million dollars; in comparison, the cost for George W. Bush's 2005 inauguration was only $44 million.<ref>Lakeland Times, ''The American people need a leader'', by Gregg Walker (Publisher), 1/30/2009[http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=10&ArticleID=9029]</ref>  

According to an article by Gregg Walker, publisher of the Lakeland Times, the cost of Obama's inauguration may have exceeded $160 million dollars; in comparison, the cost for George W. Bush's 2005 inauguration was only $44 million.<ref>Lakeland Times, ''The American people need a leader'', by Gregg Walker (Publisher), 1/30/2009 [http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=10&ArticleID=9029]</ref>  

Walker notes the comments from the liberal mainstream media regarding Bush's 2005 inauguration:  

Walker notes the comments from the liberal mainstream media regarding Bush's 2005 inauguration:  

*"Historic Obama Inauguration will cost only $120 million"

*"Historic Obama Inauguration will cost only $120 million"

Fox News' Sean Hannity agreed, saying, "the cost of Obama's inaugural will dwarf past celebrations and make those of President Bush's look like budget bashes".<ref>FOXNews.com, ''Obama Inauguration Price Tag'', by Sean Hannity, Tuesday, January 20, 2009[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,480863,00.html]</ref>

Fox News' Sean Hannity agreed, saying, "the cost of Obama's inaugural will dwarf past celebrations and make those of President Bush's look like budget bashes".<ref>FOXNews.com, ''Obama Inauguration Price Tag'', by Sean Hannity, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,480863,00.html]</ref>

[[Image:Obama inauguration 2.jpg|240px|right]]

[[Image:Obama inauguration 2.jpg|240px|right]]

However, Factcheck.org states that "Claims of a huge disparity are untrue. Actually, an apples-to-apples comparison shows that the two inaugurations likely cost about the same."<ref>FactCheck.org, ''Q:  Did Barack Obama's inauguration really cost 4 times as much as George Bush's 2005 inauguration?'', by Joe Miller, January 21, 2009

However, Factcheck.org states that "Claims of a huge disparity are untrue. Actually, an apples-to-apples comparison shows that the two inaugurations likely cost about the same."<ref>FactCheck.org, ''Q:  Did Barack Obama's inauguration really cost 4 times as much as George Bush's 2005 inauguration?'', by Joe Miller, January 21, 2009

[http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/did_barack_obamas_inauguration_really_cost_4.html]</ref>

[http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/did_barack_obamas_inauguration_really_cost_4.html]</ref>

In a column for MediaMatters.org<ref>mediamatters.org, ''The media myth about the cost of Obama's inauguration'', by Eric Boehlert, Jan 17, 2009[http://mediamatters.org/columns/200901170003]</ref>, Eric Boehlert explains that the $44 million figure cited for the Bush inauguration did not include the federal government's spending on security for the event.  The New York Times notes that, "In 2005, Mr. Bush raised $42.3 million from about 15,000 donors for festivities; the federal government and the District of Columbia spent a combined $115.5 million, most of it for security, the swearing-in ceremony, cleanup and for a holiday for federal workers."<ref>New York Times, ''Obama’s Inauguration Fund-Raising Tops $24 Million'', by KATHARINE Q. SEELYE, published January 5, 2009 [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/us/politics/06donors.html]</ref>  According to Boehlert, the combined total of Bush's 2005 inauguration was $157 million, a cost similar to that projected for Obama's inauguration.

In a column for MediaMatters.org,<ref>mediamatters.org, ''The media myth about the cost of Obama's inauguration'', by Eric Boehlert, Jan 17, 2009 [http://mediamatters.org/columns/200901170003]</ref> Eric Boehlert explains that the $44 million figure cited for the Bush inauguration did not include the federal government's spending on security for the event.  The New York Times notes that, "In 2005, Mr. Bush raised $42.3 million from about 15,000 donors for festivities; the federal government and the District of Columbia spent a combined $115.5 million, most of it for security, the swearing-in ceremony, cleanup and for a holiday for federal workers."<ref>New York Times, ''Obama’s Inauguration Fund-Raising Tops $24 Million'', by KATHARINE Q. SEELYE, published January 5, 2009 [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/us/politics/06donors.html]</ref>  According to Boehlert, the combined total of Bush's 2005 inauguration was $157 million, a cost similar to that projected for Obama's inauguration.

==Controversy==

==Controversy==

*While inviting a [[Christian]] to give an inaugural prayer is not so controversial, the [[gay]] community is in an uproar over the invite to [[evangelical]] pastor [[Rick Warren]]. Pastor Warren voted for [[Proposition 8]] in his home state of [[California]]. <ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4BH7DR20081218 Obama's next pastor controversy - at inauguration] Reuters, December 18, 2008</ref>

*While inviting a [[Christian]] to give an inaugural prayer is not so controversial, the [[gay]] community is in an uproar over the invite to [[evangelical]] pastor [[Rick Warren]]. Pastor Warren voted for [[Proposition 8]] in his home state of [[California]].<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4BH7DR20081218 Obama's next pastor controversy - at inauguration] Reuters, December 18, 2008</ref>

*Rev. Sharon Watkins of [[Protestant]] Christian denomination gave an an opening prayer. She is the first female pastor to give an inaugural prayer. <ref>[http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-obama-prayer-service,0,7764780.story Female minister to deliver sermon at inaugural prayer service, a first] AP, January 11, 2009</ref>

*Rev. Sharon Watkins of [[Protestant]] Christian denomination gave an an opening prayer. She is the first female pastor to give an inaugural prayer.<ref>[http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-obama-prayer-service,0,7764780.story Female minister to deliver sermon at inaugural prayer service, a first] AP, January 11, 2009</ref>

*Openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson from [[New Hampshire]] prayed at a concert held two days before the inauguration.  Bishop Robinson was among those responsible for the breakup of the [[American]] [[Episcopal]] Church over the issue of gay pastors. <ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/13/gay-bishop-to-offer-obama-inaugural-prayers/ Gay bishop to give Inaugural prayer] Washington Times, January 13, 2009</ref>

*Openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson from [[New Hampshire]] prayed at a concert held two days before the inauguration.  Bishop Robinson was among those responsible for the breakup of the [[American]] [[Episcopal]] Church over the issue of gay pastors.<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/13/gay-bishop-to-offer-obama-inaugural-prayers/ Gay bishop to give Inaugural prayer] Washington Times, January 13, 2009</ref>

*Ingrid Mattson, president of the [[Islamic Society of North America]], was invited to give an inaugural prayer. Mattson's group says it does not condone [[terrorism]].  The Holy Land Foundation and five of its former leaders were convicted of funneling millions of dollars to [[Hamas]], for which the ISNA funded and supported. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/17/feds-say-obama-prayer-leader-group-linked-hamas/ Feds Say Obama Prayer Leader Is From Group Linked to Hamas] Fox News, January 17, 2009</ref>

*Ingrid Mattson, president of the [[Islamic Society of North America]], was invited to give an inaugural prayer. Mattson's group says it does not condone [[terrorism]].  The Holy Land Foundation and five of its former leaders were convicted of funneling millions of dollars to [[Hamas]], for which the ISNA funded and supported.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/17/feds-say-obama-prayer-leader-group-linked-hamas/ Feds Say Obama Prayer Leader Is From Group Linked to Hamas] Fox News, January 17, 2009</ref>

*In an additional break with Obama's predecessors, no [[Catholic]] or [[Jewish]] speaker was invited to give an inaugural prayer.

*In an additional break with Obama's predecessors, no [[Catholic]] or [[Jewish]] speaker was invited to give an inaugural prayer.