Controversy Continues Over Rick Warren

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Pastor Problems

We told you Thursday President-elect Obama’s selection of prominent Evangelical Minister Rick Warren to give the inaugural invocation has caused an uproar in the gay community. Mr. Obama defended his decision Thursday — and Warren applauded his efforts.

"I commend...his courage to willingly take enormous heat from his base by inviting someone like me, with whom he doesn't agree on every issue...hopefully individuals passionately expressing opinions from the left and the right will recognize that both of us have shown a commitment to model civility in America."

The National Organization for Women is asking the president-elect to change his mind about Warren.

"His delivering the invocation would be an insult to all of us... who support women's rights to self-determination... (and) who support equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people."

Bah Humbug!

The Conservative Culture and Media Institute has announced its list of 2008 Christmas Grinches.

Number one is Playboy Magazine — which depicted the December cover girl of its Mexican edition — as the Virgin Mary. CMI says casting a porn star as the mother of Christ gets "10 Grinches plus 2."

Also on the list is Washington State Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire. She allowed an atheist group Freedom from Religion Foundation to place a sign next to a nativity scene in the state capitol which read "There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell.... religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

Rounding out the top three is the American Humanist Association which ran an ad campaign on public buses here in Washington asking "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness sake."

Sole Mates

The Iraqi reporter who threw his shoes at President Bush will have no problems finding a wife. The head of a large Palestinian family in the West Bank says if Muntadhar al-Zeidi is interested, he will send one of his daughters to Iraq — along with her dowry. He also says the 500-member family has raised $30,000 to pay for al-Zeidi's legal defense.

Meanwhile, Saad Gumaan -- an Egyptian man -- says, "I find nothing more valuable than my daughter to offer to him, and I am prepared to provide her with everything needed for marriage."

His daughter Amal Saad Gumaa agrees. "This is something that would honor me. I would like to live in Iraq, especially if I were attached to this hero."

It is not yet known if al-Zeidi has responded to the proposals.

What's in a Name?

And finally, the father of a New Jersey three-year-old who was denied a birthday cake with his son's name on it is asking for a little tolerance. That is because his son's name is Adolf Hitler Campbell. Heath Campbell and his wife are upset because a local supermarket refused to personalize the cake, calling the request inappropriate.

"They need to accept a name. A name's a name. The kid isn't going to grow up and do what Hitler did," Heath said.

Another store agreed to make the cake. The couple's daughters also have odd names — Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell and — Joyce-Lynn Aryan Nation Campbell.

— FOX News Channel's Zachary Kenworthy contributed to this report.