Wake-up America—Barack Obama and a World magazine article, part 10
My book—The Black Sword: The Secret U.S. Army in Vietnam—is available by mail (not yet in book stores). See post on July 31, 2008 entitled The Black Sword.
I suggest you check out the following website if you are a policy holder of Farmers Insurance Group or thinking about having them insure you in any capacity: www.farmersinsurancegroupsucks.com
.gif)
https://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=367
The above link is for a company—Vision Forum—that provides unique products for the family. I am an affiliate for the company and receive a small commission whenever someone uses this link and then makes an unreturned purchase while using the link. Check it out. I think you might like the products offered. I do. See my more complete explanation on my post of February 1, 2008 entitled “Affiliate program with Vision Forum.”
Based upon past historical data: 3,287+ UNBORN BABY MURDERS have occurred in the last 24 hours in the United States. See my post “BABY HOLOCAUST” posted January 22, 2008.
I’ve been involved in a problem one of my clients has with Farmers Insurance Group. My previous posts in relation to this problem were:
September 10, 2007 post: “Beware of Farmers Insurance Group”
September 11, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group’s response”
September 18, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Company received the requested list”
September 19, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Company’s response to the list”
October 16, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and my request for information”
November 27, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group does not respond to my request”
January 11, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group latest stall”
January 12, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group is sent a response”
January 14, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group pays some money”
January 19, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group continues to be obstinate”
January 26, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group receives another request”
February 11, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group shows how low they will go?”
February 12, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group: If I were going to respond to the final letter”
February 13, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and associated companies”
February 14, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and how others rate the company”
I will not be continuing my Creationism posts today. I do not plan to get to them until after the general election in November.
I do plan to discuss Iraq before the election. I am sorry for the change in plans. Plans, in reality, often are altered for one reason or another. “The best laid plans … often go astray.” Thank you for your understanding and patience.
How many unborn toddlers were murdered today because of the humanistic, paganish, barbaric decisions of the United States Supreme Court?
Stop the
Murder of
Unborn
Toddlers
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4: 17 (NIV)
www.farmersinsurancegroupsucks.com
www.childpredators.com
www.lifedynamics.com
www.libertylegal.org
www.alliancedefensefund.org
www.searchtv.org
Wake-up America!!! Who ultimately is in control—GOD or man? Who determines right and wrong—GOD or man? Who controls the weather—GOD or man? Who determines righteousness and sin—GOD or man? Who controls our economy—GOD or man? Who defines good and evil—GOD or man? Who controls what happens to the United States of America—GOD or man?
As a Christian, I believe that there are three crucial issues in this Presidential election. Tonight, I begin a series of transitional posts that will lead from the first most important issue in the campaign—the MURDER of UNBORN babies—to the second most important issue in the campaign. The following was originally posted by me on October 19th and October 20th of 2007. I combined the two posts and repeat them tonight as a beginning to that transition. The original two posts:
The following article is from World magazine which is the only weekly magazine that I read regularly. Because of the work I had been doing for my clients, I have fallen behind (once again) on my reading. I had just finished reading this article the other day. I was going to do material on Mr. Obama and after reading the article decided this was a good time to do just that. The two previous posts—Seven things GOD hates and MURDER on a MASSIVE SCALE—were preludes to this series.
I originally was going to just take sections from the article and comment on them but I decided that some might accuse me of trying to skew my presentation by taking material out of context. Therefore, I have ended up quoting the whole article. I was going to first post the article and then make comments the next post. However, I couldn’t resist making some short comments as I was typing it so (because of the increasing length) I have divided it into two sections. The first is this post and then the next post will be the second portion of the article.
The following portion of the article is from World magazine, October 6, 2007, pages 18-20. (Page 19 is a full sized picture of Barack Obama.) The first portion of the article:
“Moments before Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) bounded onto the stage at a campaign rally in downtown Atlanta late last month, retired minister and civil-rights icon Joe Lowery offered an opening prayer: ‘Lord, we are here tonight because when we sing ‘My Country ‘Tis of Thee,’ we see too much misery.’
The 2,200 supporters gathered in a ballroom at the Georgia World Congress Center responded with chuckles and scattered applause. But the chuckles turned into a resounding ‘Amen’ when Lowery, 82, compared Obama to John the Baptist. Lowery prayed for the success of his presidential run, concluding ‘in the name of justice.’
Obama finally took the stage two hours after the doors opened and delivered a well-worn stump speech with the enthusiasm and cadence of a preacher. The crowd cheered in agreement when the Democratic presidential candidate spoke of being ‘my brother’s keeper.’
Religious language and themes aren’t new for the Obama campaign. The Illinois Senator has compared himself to a modern-day Joshua who longs to lead the American people into the Promised Land. (There is only one Promised Land for Christians and it doesn’t come from the United States government!—my addition [Obviously, this is where I decided to start adding comments. Mr. Obama is clearly misusing the concept of the Promised Land and it is just as clear that he is implying that he is GOD inspired. NO ONE WHO IS GOD INSPIRED SUPPORTS and PROMOTES the MURDER of UNBORN BABIES—my additional addition]) Earlier this year, Obama told an A.M.E. congregation in Selma, Ala., that he draws encouragement from God’s Old Testament words to Joshua to ‘be strong and have courage, for I am with you wherever you go.’
Any candidate needs strength and courage for a presidential run, but Obama recognizes that he also needs faith. He protests the notion that faith and politics must remain separate, and chastises fellow Democrats for abandoning religious ideas in the public square.
Less than three months before the presidential primaries begin, Obama is trailing front-runner Hillary Clinton in the polls, but he is pressing religion more than any of his Democratic opponents: He openly offers his account of converting to Christianity, has delivered at least two major speeches on faith and politics, and is aggressively courting support from churches and individual Christians. (What happened to the “separation of church and State” nonsense that libertine Democrats including Obama are usually so quick to parrot???—my addition)
The Obama strategy is key to distinguishing himself from Clinton, who shares nearly identical policy positions on issues like health care, economics, and the war in Iraq. The goal is clear: Gain an edge by tapping into a segment of religious voters that Democrats have largely ignored in the past; insist that conservative Christians should compromise on principle for the sake of consensus. (Why??? He is not willing to compromise. He wants capitulation!!!—my addition) In his words, the ‘so-called leaders of the Christian right’ are ‘hijacking’ faith and ‘all too eager to exploit what divides us.’ (One of the major items that divide us is his insistence that it is proper to MURDER unborn babies!!!—my addition)
Apart from commending conservative evangelicals for drawing attention to the African crisis in Darfur and over AIDS, Obama makes it clear that he doesn’t often agree with the religious right. Yet he has sought consensus among Christian leaders well known in conservative circles—appearing late last year at a church-sponsored event to combat AIDS with mega-church pastor and Purpose Driven Life author Rick Warren.
Obama also strikes themes that resonate with conservative evangelicals. He speaks about the importance of family and individual responsibility in addressing poverty, AIDS, and unwanted pregnancies. He stresses the urgency of cultivating strong fathers in the black community and says the government is no substitute for good dads. (What do his policies speak to? Are his proposed policies and his uttered words the same or are they different?—my addition.) He also speaks about the importance of his own family, including his wife of 14 years, Michelle, a Harvard—educated attorney he met while working at a law firm in Chicago. The couple still live in Chicago with their two daughters, ages 9 and 6.
When Obama delivered a speech about faith and politics at the Call to Renewal conference organized by left-leaning evangelical Jim Wallis and others, he told the group that Democrats need to compete for the support of Christians. (Again, what happened to that “wall of separation of church and State” that libertine Democrats always trumpet? It seems they only believe that lie when it is convenient for their purposes!!!—my addition) ‘Secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering the public square.’ (He is right about that!!! The problem is, does he actually believe it or is this a convenience???—my addition) But he also challenges conservative Christians to ‘accept some ground rules for collaboration’ (Whose ground rules? His???—my addition) with those with whom they disagree.
Specifically, Obama believes conservatives should be willing to compromise on the issues of abortion and civil unions for homosexuals. (Doesn’t he really mean capitulate and reject and/or ignore the basic Biblical truth that both—the MURDER of unborn babies and homosexual practices—are GOD condemned sins!!!!!!!?—my addition) The candidate vigorously supports both.
In his political memoir The Audacity of Hope, Obama, 46, makes clear that his religious views, like his political ones, are progressive and liberal. (If he is a Christian, shouldn’t his religious views be to be obedient to GOD according to HIS will not according to his own views?—my addition) Nearly 20 years ago, he joined the United Church of Christ (UCC), a self-described ‘progressive’ denomination that was the first to openly ordain homosexuals. In 2005, the UCC passed a resolution supporting gay marriage. (Like other Democratic front-runners, Obama says he doesn’t support gay marriage, but advocates civil unions for homosexual couples.) [He may not advocate it now but homosexuals do. Do you think they will be satisfied with civil unions? If they achieve civil unions, you and I and they know that the next thing they will be demanding is homosexual marriage—they have mastered the art of incremental progression to achieve their ultimate goals. After marriage is allowed, they will no doubt attempt to achieve a lowering of the age of consent—you know the old “consenting adult” lie!!!—my addition]
Obama and his wife are long-time members of Trinity UCC, an 8,500 member congregation in Chicago that represents the largest predominantly black church in the denomination.
But Obama didn’t always identify himself as a Christian. The senator grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia, raised by grandparents and a single mother who later remarried. Obama’s father, a Kenyan whom he met only a short time before his death, grew up a nominal Muslim but embraced atheism later in life. Obama’s mother encouraged her son to learn about all religions—he attended both Islamic and Catholic schools—but was skeptical of religious systems.
Obama embraced his mother’s skepticism and didn’t seriously consider religion until after college when he took a job as a community organizer for a group of inner-city churches in Chicago. He visited Trinity UCC on a Sunday morning in 1988 and heard pastor Jeremiah Wright deliver a sermon called ‘The Audacity of Hope.’ ‘And during the course of that sermon, he introduced me to someone named Jesus Christ,’ says Obama. ‘I learned that my sins could be redeemed.’
Obama says he embraced Christianity and was especially drawn to Wright’s emphasis on black liberation theology: The pastor interpreted the Bible as a story of struggles of black people and emphasized social justice. (I don’t know of any portion of the Bible that discusses the specifics of the “color” of people. The Bible discusses languages but I don’t know of any discussion of “color.” Where exactly are those passages of Scripture?—my addition)
‘Inside the thousands of churches across the city, I imagined the stories of ordinary black people merging with the stories of David and Goliath, Moses and Pharaoh, the Christians in the lion’s den, (Daniel in the lion’s den is in the Bible. “Christians in the lion’s den” is not—my addition) Ezekiel’s field of dry bones,’ Obama wrote in his autobiography Dreams from my Father. ‘Those stories of survival, and freedom, and hope—became our story, my story.’
Obama’s story continued to unfold at Harvard, where he earned a law degree in 1991 and became the first black student to head the prestigious Harvard Law Review. (How did he get accepted into Harvard?—my addition) While practicing as a civil-rights lawyer and teaching constitutional law (As a constitutional law teacher you would think that he would know that the U.S. Constitution does not mandate a separation of church and State and that that same Constitution DOES NOT allow for the MURDER of unborn babies. You would think that he would know this!!!—my addition), Obama served in the Illinois state Senate for eight years. In 2004, he became just the third African-American elected to the U.S. Senate (This is somewhat misleading since his mother is Caucasian—my addition.) since Reconstruction, and his widely praised keynote address (praised by libertine Democrats and the libertine press—my addition.) at the 2004 Democratic National Convention established him as a rising star (What legislative accomplishments has he achieved???—my addition) in the party.
Today when Obama speaks about faith, he still focuses on human struggle and the need for social change, but he doesn’t focus only on race. And since running for the White House he has distanced himself from his pastor’s political views: Wright often preaches in scorching terms about ‘the Great White West,’ and he declared that 9/11 was the result of violent American policies.”
“The following portion of the article is from World magazine, October 6, 2007, page 21. The second portion of the article:
“Obama has said the Bible is not a ‘static text’ and says he ‘must be continually open to new revelations’—and he has acknowledged that those who believe the Bible is inerrant and that it teaches, for example, that abortion is wrong aren’t likely to accept his ‘ground rules for collaboration.’ So as the campaign reaches out to religious voters, the discussion typically steers clear of such controversial subjects. (Is it just me or does that seem somewhat deceptive in nature—I want your vote but I’m not going to discuss positions that you are probably going to disagree with?—my addition) On a recent Saturday morning at a campaign organized ‘faith forum’ in rural South Carolina, the subject didn’t come up at all.
About 20 people gathered in a meeting room at a small hotel in Greenwood, S.C., mostly from black Baptist churches in the area. At least six staffers from Obama’s state campaign met with the pastors and church members to discuss how faith affects politics, and to assure the group of Obama’s commitment to Christianity.
Most of the participants expressed concerns over issues like health care and unemployment in the economically depressed region. An elderly pastor with a strong voice and dark blue suspenders lamented his struggles to afford good health care: ‘Here we live in this big democratic country, and there ain’t no medicine for poor people.’ He spoke of choosing between buying food or prescription medicine. (If he is a working pastor, why isn’t his congregation providing him sufficient support and insurance that he supposedly has to make such a choice? Is it the government’s responsibility to care for its citizens as if they were children who need to be kept dependent upon gratuities? Are we trying to depend upon government largess rather than placing our dependence and faith upon GOD? Accepting “free” government largess which is never really free comes at a price. Perhaps the pastor should reread and apply Jesus’ parable about Lazarus and the rich man [Luke 16: 19-31 (NIV)]. I read nothing in that parable that says Lazarus should go running to the government for help. In fact, I read nothing in the Bible that says Christians should go running to the government for help. Isn’t our help suppose to come from GOD???—my addition) He recounted sometimes asking the pharmacist to fill only half a prescription so that he could afford it.
Campaign staffers told the group about Obama’s plan for health care. The candidate favors a universal health-care proposal similar to those of Democratic opponents Clinton and John Edwards: It requires employers to provide insurance to employees, but also allows individuals to purchase their own insurance from a regulated marketplace of competing health plans.
The plan would also offer incentives for improving preventive care, and provide subsidies for individuals who cannot afford health-care premiums. (Some day soon I hope to write a blog or two about health care.—my addition) Obama says the plan would cost the federal government $50 to $60 billion a year once fully implemented. (As a general rule, these figures should be automatically doubled or tripled as such estimates tend to be grossly low-balled. Also expect the cost to increase significantly year after year.—my addition) Like Clinton and Edwards, he says he’ll pay for the plan by allowing tax cuts to expire for those making over $250,000 a year. (Without actually researching it, I doubt that such a plan will actually come close to paying for the actual increased costs. But then, Democrats tend to be very good at spending money but not real good at having the money to spend.—my addition)
Obama concedes his plan is not substantially different from his opponents’ plans, except for one thing: The Clinton and Edwards plans would make coverage mandatory for all Americans. Obama says he wants to make sure coverage is affordable before it is mandatory. (Then, it will become mandatory and also less affordable? Which comes first the increasing cost or the restrictive provisions?—my addition)
Obama also proposes $80 billion in annual tax relief for lower-income Americans and senior citizens. He proposes eliminating taxes on seniors earnings less than $50,000 a year, a plan that would affect about 22 million elderly people. He says he would pay for the cuts by raising the rates on capital gains and dividends for wealthy investors.
All of that sounds good to Renea Little, who sits at a small table in the hotel conference room, talking about why she volunteered for Obama’s campaign. Little has lived in Greenwood her entire life and is currently unemployed in a region that suffered a severe economic blow with the decline of the U.S. textile industry. She thinks Obama ‘will bring us all hope.’ (Well, not quite everyone, he will bring NO hope to unborn babies who will continue to be MURDERED by their mothers.—my addition)
Little is a member of a nearby Baptist church and says it’s important to know that a candidate believes in God. (Is belief in GOD more important than obedience to GOD’S will?—my addition) She liked what she heard about Obama’s faith during the forum, but when asked if his positions on abortion or homosexuality are troubling to her, Little’s countenance slightly falls. She asks in a lowered voice: ‘Is he for those things?’ (YES, he is!!! Has she stopped working for his campaign? How can anyone claiming to be a Christian support a candidate who supports and promotes the MURDER of unborn babies and sinful homosexual activities??? “… and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” I John 3: 15b [NIV]—my addition)
Obama has consistently talked about reducing the number of abortions (If there is nothing wrong with abortions, why is that necessary???—my addition) and increasing the number of adoptions, but also consistently supported legalized abortion. As an Illinois state senator during 2001 and 2002, he voted against the Illinois Born Alive Infants Protection Act, a bill aimed at protecting babies who survive abortions. (His position: if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again???—my addition)
The senator cited concerns over the legislation’s provision for civil and criminal penalties for offending doctors. (Any concern for the MURDERED baby???—my addition) The legislation failed in Illinois, but a similar bill passed on the federal level in 2002.
Earlier this year Obama condemned the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the ban on partial-birth abortion, saying he feared it ‘will embolden state legislatures to enact further measures to restrict a woman’s right to choose.’ (A woman does not have and will never have the right to choose to MURDER her unborn baby. His very words CONDEMN him. Barack Obama received a 100% positive rating by Planned Murderhood in 2006.—my addition) But on the trail he rarely mentions abortion, instead focusing on issues more likely to drive the next election; chiefly, the war in Iraq.
Obama repeatedly reminds voters that he was the only leading Democratic candidate against the war from the beginning. He opposed the war in 2002 while still a state senator in Illinois. After winning a U.S. Senate seat in 2004, Obama initially hesitated about supporting a timetable for withdrawing troops. When Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) called for such a timetable in 2005, Obama resisted. ‘I’m not a military man,’ (and he wants to be Commander in Chief?—my addition) he told the Chicago Tribune. ‘I’m not running the war in Iraq.’
Last summer, Obama voted against a plan to withdraw troops within a year. One year later, as a presidential candidate, Obama has proposed a very specific timetable for withdrawal: Now he has called for withdrawing a brigade a month, with all combat troops withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2008. (I guess from 2005 to today, he has become a military man?—my addition)
Clinton and Edwards are also calling for troop withdrawals, and the three front-runners often compete to see who opposes the war most. As with health insurance and the economy, their plans are much the same. With such similar positions on so many issues so close to the Democratic primaries, Alania Beverly, Obama’s deputy political director in South Carolina, admits the race will ultimately boil down to the character of the man—or woman (ALL the Democratic presidential candidates support the MURDER of unborn babies!!! How are they defining character???—my addition): ‘It’s going to come down to who has the political will to get it done.’”
“Thus, in 1789 President Washington issued ‘The First Thanksgiving Proclamation of the United States,’ which he began with these words, ‘Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits and humbly implore His protection and favor ….’”
“But the forces of unbelief that have moved in to control American life, would remove every influence of God among us. We are reminded of the statement by William Penn that, ‘If we are not governed by God, we will be ruled by tyrants.’”
“Rather He pronounced a blessing on ‘the nation whose God is the Lord.’ (Psalm 33: 12)
“He promised that his eye would be ‘upon those who fear him.’” (Psalm 33: 18)
“He has said, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach (or a disgrace) to any people.’” (Proverbs 14: 34)
“‘Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.’”
“Without the influence of Divine Providence, believers will be disenfranchised and America will fall as other great societies in the past have done, from within.”
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6: 7-8 (NIV)
My book—The Black Sword: The Secret U.S. Army in Vietnam—is available by mail (not yet in book stores). See post on July 31, 2008 entitled The Black Sword.
I suggest you check out the following website if you are a policy holder of Farmers Insurance Group or thinking about having them insure you in any capacity: www.farmersinsurancegroupsucks.com
https://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=367
The above link is for a company—Vision Forum—that provides unique products for the family. I am an affiliate for the company and receive a small commission whenever someone uses this link and then makes an unreturned purchase while using the link. Check it out. I think you might like the products offered. I do. See my more complete explanation on my post of February 1, 2008 entitled “Affiliate program with Vision Forum.”
Based upon past historical data: 3,287+ UNBORN BABY MURDERS have occurred in the last 24 hours in the United States. See my post “BABY HOLOCAUST” posted January 22, 2008.
I’ve been involved in a problem one of my clients has with Farmers Insurance Group. My previous posts in relation to this problem were:
September 10, 2007 post: “Beware of Farmers Insurance Group”
September 11, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group’s response”
September 18, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Company received the requested list”
September 19, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Company’s response to the list”
October 16, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and my request for information”
November 27, 2007 post: “Farmers Insurance Group does not respond to my request”
January 11, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group latest stall”
January 12, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group is sent a response”
January 14, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group pays some money”
January 19, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group continues to be obstinate”
January 26, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group receives another request”
February 11, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group shows how low they will go?”
February 12, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group: If I were going to respond to the final letter”
February 13, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and associated companies”
February 14, 2008 post: “Farmers Insurance Group and how others rate the company”
I will not be continuing my Creationism posts today. I do not plan to get to them until after the general election in November.
I do plan to discuss Iraq before the election. I am sorry for the change in plans. Plans, in reality, often are altered for one reason or another. “The best laid plans … often go astray.” Thank you for your understanding and patience.
How many unborn toddlers were murdered today because of the humanistic, paganish, barbaric decisions of the United States Supreme Court?
Stop the
Murder of
Unborn
Toddlers
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4: 17 (NIV)
www.farmersinsurancegroupsucks.com
www.childpredators.com
www.lifedynamics.com
www.libertylegal.org
www.alliancedefensefund.org
www.searchtv.org
Wake-up America!!! Who ultimately is in control—GOD or man? Who determines right and wrong—GOD or man? Who controls the weather—GOD or man? Who determines righteousness and sin—GOD or man? Who controls our economy—GOD or man? Who defines good and evil—GOD or man? Who controls what happens to the United States of America—GOD or man?
As a Christian, I believe that there are three crucial issues in this Presidential election. Tonight, I begin a series of transitional posts that will lead from the first most important issue in the campaign—the MURDER of UNBORN babies—to the second most important issue in the campaign. The following was originally posted by me on October 19th and October 20th of 2007. I combined the two posts and repeat them tonight as a beginning to that transition. The original two posts:
The following article is from World magazine which is the only weekly magazine that I read regularly. Because of the work I had been doing for my clients, I have fallen behind (once again) on my reading. I had just finished reading this article the other day. I was going to do material on Mr. Obama and after reading the article decided this was a good time to do just that. The two previous posts—Seven things GOD hates and MURDER on a MASSIVE SCALE—were preludes to this series.
I originally was going to just take sections from the article and comment on them but I decided that some might accuse me of trying to skew my presentation by taking material out of context. Therefore, I have ended up quoting the whole article. I was going to first post the article and then make comments the next post. However, I couldn’t resist making some short comments as I was typing it so (because of the increasing length) I have divided it into two sections. The first is this post and then the next post will be the second portion of the article.
The following portion of the article is from World magazine, October 6, 2007, pages 18-20. (Page 19 is a full sized picture of Barack Obama.) The first portion of the article:
“Moments before Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) bounded onto the stage at a campaign rally in downtown Atlanta late last month, retired minister and civil-rights icon Joe Lowery offered an opening prayer: ‘Lord, we are here tonight because when we sing ‘My Country ‘Tis of Thee,’ we see too much misery.’
The 2,200 supporters gathered in a ballroom at the Georgia World Congress Center responded with chuckles and scattered applause. But the chuckles turned into a resounding ‘Amen’ when Lowery, 82, compared Obama to John the Baptist. Lowery prayed for the success of his presidential run, concluding ‘in the name of justice.’
Obama finally took the stage two hours after the doors opened and delivered a well-worn stump speech with the enthusiasm and cadence of a preacher. The crowd cheered in agreement when the Democratic presidential candidate spoke of being ‘my brother’s keeper.’
Religious language and themes aren’t new for the Obama campaign. The Illinois Senator has compared himself to a modern-day Joshua who longs to lead the American people into the Promised Land. (There is only one Promised Land for Christians and it doesn’t come from the United States government!—my addition [Obviously, this is where I decided to start adding comments. Mr. Obama is clearly misusing the concept of the Promised Land and it is just as clear that he is implying that he is GOD inspired. NO ONE WHO IS GOD INSPIRED SUPPORTS and PROMOTES the MURDER of UNBORN BABIES—my additional addition]) Earlier this year, Obama told an A.M.E. congregation in Selma, Ala., that he draws encouragement from God’s Old Testament words to Joshua to ‘be strong and have courage, for I am with you wherever you go.’
Any candidate needs strength and courage for a presidential run, but Obama recognizes that he also needs faith. He protests the notion that faith and politics must remain separate, and chastises fellow Democrats for abandoning religious ideas in the public square.
Less than three months before the presidential primaries begin, Obama is trailing front-runner Hillary Clinton in the polls, but he is pressing religion more than any of his Democratic opponents: He openly offers his account of converting to Christianity, has delivered at least two major speeches on faith and politics, and is aggressively courting support from churches and individual Christians. (What happened to the “separation of church and State” nonsense that libertine Democrats including Obama are usually so quick to parrot???—my addition)
The Obama strategy is key to distinguishing himself from Clinton, who shares nearly identical policy positions on issues like health care, economics, and the war in Iraq. The goal is clear: Gain an edge by tapping into a segment of religious voters that Democrats have largely ignored in the past; insist that conservative Christians should compromise on principle for the sake of consensus. (Why??? He is not willing to compromise. He wants capitulation!!!—my addition) In his words, the ‘so-called leaders of the Christian right’ are ‘hijacking’ faith and ‘all too eager to exploit what divides us.’ (One of the major items that divide us is his insistence that it is proper to MURDER unborn babies!!!—my addition)
Apart from commending conservative evangelicals for drawing attention to the African crisis in Darfur and over AIDS, Obama makes it clear that he doesn’t often agree with the religious right. Yet he has sought consensus among Christian leaders well known in conservative circles—appearing late last year at a church-sponsored event to combat AIDS with mega-church pastor and Purpose Driven Life author Rick Warren.
Obama also strikes themes that resonate with conservative evangelicals. He speaks about the importance of family and individual responsibility in addressing poverty, AIDS, and unwanted pregnancies. He stresses the urgency of cultivating strong fathers in the black community and says the government is no substitute for good dads. (What do his policies speak to? Are his proposed policies and his uttered words the same or are they different?—my addition.) He also speaks about the importance of his own family, including his wife of 14 years, Michelle, a Harvard—educated attorney he met while working at a law firm in Chicago. The couple still live in Chicago with their two daughters, ages 9 and 6.
When Obama delivered a speech about faith and politics at the Call to Renewal conference organized by left-leaning evangelical Jim Wallis and others, he told the group that Democrats need to compete for the support of Christians. (Again, what happened to that “wall of separation of church and State” that libertine Democrats always trumpet? It seems they only believe that lie when it is convenient for their purposes!!!—my addition) ‘Secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering the public square.’ (He is right about that!!! The problem is, does he actually believe it or is this a convenience???—my addition) But he also challenges conservative Christians to ‘accept some ground rules for collaboration’ (Whose ground rules? His???—my addition) with those with whom they disagree.
Specifically, Obama believes conservatives should be willing to compromise on the issues of abortion and civil unions for homosexuals. (Doesn’t he really mean capitulate and reject and/or ignore the basic Biblical truth that both—the MURDER of unborn babies and homosexual practices—are GOD condemned sins!!!!!!!?—my addition) The candidate vigorously supports both.
In his political memoir The Audacity of Hope, Obama, 46, makes clear that his religious views, like his political ones, are progressive and liberal. (If he is a Christian, shouldn’t his religious views be to be obedient to GOD according to HIS will not according to his own views?—my addition) Nearly 20 years ago, he joined the United Church of Christ (UCC), a self-described ‘progressive’ denomination that was the first to openly ordain homosexuals. In 2005, the UCC passed a resolution supporting gay marriage. (Like other Democratic front-runners, Obama says he doesn’t support gay marriage, but advocates civil unions for homosexual couples.) [He may not advocate it now but homosexuals do. Do you think they will be satisfied with civil unions? If they achieve civil unions, you and I and they know that the next thing they will be demanding is homosexual marriage—they have mastered the art of incremental progression to achieve their ultimate goals. After marriage is allowed, they will no doubt attempt to achieve a lowering of the age of consent—you know the old “consenting adult” lie!!!—my addition]
Obama and his wife are long-time members of Trinity UCC, an 8,500 member congregation in Chicago that represents the largest predominantly black church in the denomination.
But Obama didn’t always identify himself as a Christian. The senator grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia, raised by grandparents and a single mother who later remarried. Obama’s father, a Kenyan whom he met only a short time before his death, grew up a nominal Muslim but embraced atheism later in life. Obama’s mother encouraged her son to learn about all religions—he attended both Islamic and Catholic schools—but was skeptical of religious systems.
Obama embraced his mother’s skepticism and didn’t seriously consider religion until after college when he took a job as a community organizer for a group of inner-city churches in Chicago. He visited Trinity UCC on a Sunday morning in 1988 and heard pastor Jeremiah Wright deliver a sermon called ‘The Audacity of Hope.’ ‘And during the course of that sermon, he introduced me to someone named Jesus Christ,’ says Obama. ‘I learned that my sins could be redeemed.’
Obama says he embraced Christianity and was especially drawn to Wright’s emphasis on black liberation theology: The pastor interpreted the Bible as a story of struggles of black people and emphasized social justice. (I don’t know of any portion of the Bible that discusses the specifics of the “color” of people. The Bible discusses languages but I don’t know of any discussion of “color.” Where exactly are those passages of Scripture?—my addition)
‘Inside the thousands of churches across the city, I imagined the stories of ordinary black people merging with the stories of David and Goliath, Moses and Pharaoh, the Christians in the lion’s den, (Daniel in the lion’s den is in the Bible. “Christians in the lion’s den” is not—my addition) Ezekiel’s field of dry bones,’ Obama wrote in his autobiography Dreams from my Father. ‘Those stories of survival, and freedom, and hope—became our story, my story.’
Obama’s story continued to unfold at Harvard, where he earned a law degree in 1991 and became the first black student to head the prestigious Harvard Law Review. (How did he get accepted into Harvard?—my addition) While practicing as a civil-rights lawyer and teaching constitutional law (As a constitutional law teacher you would think that he would know that the U.S. Constitution does not mandate a separation of church and State and that that same Constitution DOES NOT allow for the MURDER of unborn babies. You would think that he would know this!!!—my addition), Obama served in the Illinois state Senate for eight years. In 2004, he became just the third African-American elected to the U.S. Senate (This is somewhat misleading since his mother is Caucasian—my addition.) since Reconstruction, and his widely praised keynote address (praised by libertine Democrats and the libertine press—my addition.) at the 2004 Democratic National Convention established him as a rising star (What legislative accomplishments has he achieved???—my addition) in the party.
Today when Obama speaks about faith, he still focuses on human struggle and the need for social change, but he doesn’t focus only on race. And since running for the White House he has distanced himself from his pastor’s political views: Wright often preaches in scorching terms about ‘the Great White West,’ and he declared that 9/11 was the result of violent American policies.”
“The following portion of the article is from World magazine, October 6, 2007, page 21. The second portion of the article:
“Obama has said the Bible is not a ‘static text’ and says he ‘must be continually open to new revelations’—and he has acknowledged that those who believe the Bible is inerrant and that it teaches, for example, that abortion is wrong aren’t likely to accept his ‘ground rules for collaboration.’ So as the campaign reaches out to religious voters, the discussion typically steers clear of such controversial subjects. (Is it just me or does that seem somewhat deceptive in nature—I want your vote but I’m not going to discuss positions that you are probably going to disagree with?—my addition) On a recent Saturday morning at a campaign organized ‘faith forum’ in rural South Carolina, the subject didn’t come up at all.
About 20 people gathered in a meeting room at a small hotel in Greenwood, S.C., mostly from black Baptist churches in the area. At least six staffers from Obama’s state campaign met with the pastors and church members to discuss how faith affects politics, and to assure the group of Obama’s commitment to Christianity.
Most of the participants expressed concerns over issues like health care and unemployment in the economically depressed region. An elderly pastor with a strong voice and dark blue suspenders lamented his struggles to afford good health care: ‘Here we live in this big democratic country, and there ain’t no medicine for poor people.’ He spoke of choosing between buying food or prescription medicine. (If he is a working pastor, why isn’t his congregation providing him sufficient support and insurance that he supposedly has to make such a choice? Is it the government’s responsibility to care for its citizens as if they were children who need to be kept dependent upon gratuities? Are we trying to depend upon government largess rather than placing our dependence and faith upon GOD? Accepting “free” government largess which is never really free comes at a price. Perhaps the pastor should reread and apply Jesus’ parable about Lazarus and the rich man [Luke 16: 19-31 (NIV)]. I read nothing in that parable that says Lazarus should go running to the government for help. In fact, I read nothing in the Bible that says Christians should go running to the government for help. Isn’t our help suppose to come from GOD???—my addition) He recounted sometimes asking the pharmacist to fill only half a prescription so that he could afford it.
Campaign staffers told the group about Obama’s plan for health care. The candidate favors a universal health-care proposal similar to those of Democratic opponents Clinton and John Edwards: It requires employers to provide insurance to employees, but also allows individuals to purchase their own insurance from a regulated marketplace of competing health plans.
The plan would also offer incentives for improving preventive care, and provide subsidies for individuals who cannot afford health-care premiums. (Some day soon I hope to write a blog or two about health care.—my addition) Obama says the plan would cost the federal government $50 to $60 billion a year once fully implemented. (As a general rule, these figures should be automatically doubled or tripled as such estimates tend to be grossly low-balled. Also expect the cost to increase significantly year after year.—my addition) Like Clinton and Edwards, he says he’ll pay for the plan by allowing tax cuts to expire for those making over $250,000 a year. (Without actually researching it, I doubt that such a plan will actually come close to paying for the actual increased costs. But then, Democrats tend to be very good at spending money but not real good at having the money to spend.—my addition)
Obama concedes his plan is not substantially different from his opponents’ plans, except for one thing: The Clinton and Edwards plans would make coverage mandatory for all Americans. Obama says he wants to make sure coverage is affordable before it is mandatory. (Then, it will become mandatory and also less affordable? Which comes first the increasing cost or the restrictive provisions?—my addition)
Obama also proposes $80 billion in annual tax relief for lower-income Americans and senior citizens. He proposes eliminating taxes on seniors earnings less than $50,000 a year, a plan that would affect about 22 million elderly people. He says he would pay for the cuts by raising the rates on capital gains and dividends for wealthy investors.
All of that sounds good to Renea Little, who sits at a small table in the hotel conference room, talking about why she volunteered for Obama’s campaign. Little has lived in Greenwood her entire life and is currently unemployed in a region that suffered a severe economic blow with the decline of the U.S. textile industry. She thinks Obama ‘will bring us all hope.’ (Well, not quite everyone, he will bring NO hope to unborn babies who will continue to be MURDERED by their mothers.—my addition)
Little is a member of a nearby Baptist church and says it’s important to know that a candidate believes in God. (Is belief in GOD more important than obedience to GOD’S will?—my addition) She liked what she heard about Obama’s faith during the forum, but when asked if his positions on abortion or homosexuality are troubling to her, Little’s countenance slightly falls. She asks in a lowered voice: ‘Is he for those things?’ (YES, he is!!! Has she stopped working for his campaign? How can anyone claiming to be a Christian support a candidate who supports and promotes the MURDER of unborn babies and sinful homosexual activities??? “… and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” I John 3: 15b [NIV]—my addition)
Obama has consistently talked about reducing the number of abortions (If there is nothing wrong with abortions, why is that necessary???—my addition) and increasing the number of adoptions, but also consistently supported legalized abortion. As an Illinois state senator during 2001 and 2002, he voted against the Illinois Born Alive Infants Protection Act, a bill aimed at protecting babies who survive abortions. (His position: if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again???—my addition)
The senator cited concerns over the legislation’s provision for civil and criminal penalties for offending doctors. (Any concern for the MURDERED baby???—my addition) The legislation failed in Illinois, but a similar bill passed on the federal level in 2002.
Earlier this year Obama condemned the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the ban on partial-birth abortion, saying he feared it ‘will embolden state legislatures to enact further measures to restrict a woman’s right to choose.’ (A woman does not have and will never have the right to choose to MURDER her unborn baby. His very words CONDEMN him. Barack Obama received a 100% positive rating by Planned Murderhood in 2006.—my addition) But on the trail he rarely mentions abortion, instead focusing on issues more likely to drive the next election; chiefly, the war in Iraq.
Obama repeatedly reminds voters that he was the only leading Democratic candidate against the war from the beginning. He opposed the war in 2002 while still a state senator in Illinois. After winning a U.S. Senate seat in 2004, Obama initially hesitated about supporting a timetable for withdrawing troops. When Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) called for such a timetable in 2005, Obama resisted. ‘I’m not a military man,’ (and he wants to be Commander in Chief?—my addition) he told the Chicago Tribune. ‘I’m not running the war in Iraq.’
Last summer, Obama voted against a plan to withdraw troops within a year. One year later, as a presidential candidate, Obama has proposed a very specific timetable for withdrawal: Now he has called for withdrawing a brigade a month, with all combat troops withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2008. (I guess from 2005 to today, he has become a military man?—my addition)
Clinton and Edwards are also calling for troop withdrawals, and the three front-runners often compete to see who opposes the war most. As with health insurance and the economy, their plans are much the same. With such similar positions on so many issues so close to the Democratic primaries, Alania Beverly, Obama’s deputy political director in South Carolina, admits the race will ultimately boil down to the character of the man—or woman (ALL the Democratic presidential candidates support the MURDER of unborn babies!!! How are they defining character???—my addition): ‘It’s going to come down to who has the political will to get it done.’”
“Thus, in 1789 President Washington issued ‘The First Thanksgiving Proclamation of the United States,’ which he began with these words, ‘Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits and humbly implore His protection and favor ….’”
“But the forces of unbelief that have moved in to control American life, would remove every influence of God among us. We are reminded of the statement by William Penn that, ‘If we are not governed by God, we will be ruled by tyrants.’”
“Rather He pronounced a blessing on ‘the nation whose God is the Lord.’ (Psalm 33: 12)
“He promised that his eye would be ‘upon those who fear him.’” (Psalm 33: 18)
“He has said, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach (or a disgrace) to any people.’” (Proverbs 14: 34)
“‘Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.’”
“Without the influence of Divine Providence, believers will be disenfranchised and America will fall as other great societies in the past have done, from within.”
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6: 7-8 (NIV)
posted by Christian Gunslinger at 4:42 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home