Jesus? Is That You?
From The Raw Story:
Obama defends his stance on Christian right ‘hijacking faith’
Michael RostonDemocratic Senator and 2008 presidential hopeful Barack Obama defended his criticisms of conservative Christian leaders in an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network reporter David Brody.
“When you have pastors and television pundits who appear to explicitly coordinate with one political party; when you’re implying that your fellow Americans are traitors, terrorist sympathizers or akin to the devil himself; then I think you’re attempting to hijack the faith of those who follow you for your own personal or political ends,” the freshman Illinois Senator said at The Brody File.
Brody had asked Obama about his critique of Christian right leaders given in a June 23 address to a convention of the United Church of Christ, the senator’s denomination.
“[S]omewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together…Faith started being used to drive us apart. Faith got hijacked,” the New York Times reported.
The Senator also argued to Brody that America is not a ‘Christian nation.’
“For my friends on the right, I think it would be helpful to remember the critical role that the separation of church and state has played in preserving not only our democracy but also our religious practice,” Obama wrote to Brody, pointing to early American leaders who fought to include the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
He went on, “Whatever we once were, we’re no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of non-believers.”
In an analytical follow-up, Brody implied that Obama’s stance could pose political risks.
“So while he tries to make the distinction by pointing out problems with these leaders, in the process, by proxy, millions of Evangelicals may take that criticism personally as well,” he wrote.
*Dumbfounded*
That stuff seriously came out of a presidential candidate’s mouth. Like…he said that out loud. In an interview, knowing that other people would hear it!
“In an analytical follow-up, Brody implied that Obama’s stance could pose political risks.”
No shit.
July 31st, 2007 at 4:17 am
See you guys yell at me for voting for Nader and he takes up almost 2%. Obama stole about what, 60% of his own potential voters by bashing Christians? All the more reason to vote Nader… 3 1/2 years ago.
July 31st, 2007 at 11:21 am
Ohhhhh, Chris:
That whole time we all thought you were talking about Nader Shah Afshar, the powerful Asian military conqueror who ruled as Shah from 1736-1747 and created the great Iranian Empire. I kept thinking “I know Chris votes on principle, but why is he wasting a vote on a warlord that’s been dead for 250 years? What does that prove?”
You should have made yourself a little clearer.
Oddly enough, the mixup was anything but uncommon, and Nader Shah Afshar only received a couple thousand fewer votes than Ralph Nader.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Quit lurking on Wikipedia entries, nerd.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I had to look up alternate Naders for the joke, tough guy. It’s not like I REALLY knew anything about a Nader Shah Afshar. Duhhh!!
July 31st, 2007 at 8:27 pm
How does anyone NOT know the history of Nader Shah Afshar?
August 1st, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I was obviously actually talking about Moroccan footballer Hassan Nader, you know the top scorer in the 94/95 Portuguese championship.