Saturday, October 11, 2008

Opinion

How Obama's 'Cling to Guns and Religion' Remarks Got on the Web

April 15, 2008 01:16 PM ET | Permanent Link | Print

Reader Comments

Obama

I had worked as a volunteer for Obama and contacted my extensive network of Penna. relatives, friends, and neighbors to support him.

Now I will not vote for him myself because of the offensive and ill-informed remarks on religion, faith, and minorities from the senator.

I told his campaign via email that he needs to do three things:

visit the Tower of Learning at the Univ. of Pittsburgh to see the rooms donated by all past and present immigrant groups proudly;

visit with game wardens to learn of the conservation in the state, funded by hunters' licenses; and,

visit the Moravian sector in Bethlehem to learn the religious traditions of the state.

Re: Obama

you are the exact bitter person that Obama is referring to when he says that people cling to religion or guns. I pray to the god of Hillary clinton that you get smart someday.

Surprisingly Good Job by Huffington, Disastrous Move for Obama

I'm impressed that Huffington published the article. Good show. Obama's response was extremely disappointing, and very inauthentic.

TX, that's an asinine generalization. I find it nearly incomprehensible that someone can esteem the ideals of tolerance and advanced intellectual acceptance of people while espousing the attitude you portray. Your combative elitist demeanor only undermines your cause, much as Obama undermined his.

Thinking for yourself:

You people who call yourselves Christian shoud be ashame of yourself. The Lord God is always forgiving people, but as soon as someone else make a mistake you are ready to dump him. The LORD of the bible is always forgiving people, what is wrong with you people. You will be the same one praying and asking the LORD for forgiveness, but you are so cold to forgiving anyone else.

No Obama

Obama's again named in Rezko trial!

FEDERAL COURT | The Obamas lied about attending bash for Iraqi crook Nadhmi Auchi. BY NATASHA KORECKI, CHRIS FUSCO AND TIM NOVAK

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama was again drawn into Tony Rezko's corruption trial when the prosecution's star witness placed Obama at a party for an Iraqi-born billionaire who was barred entry to the United States. Stuart Levine testified under cross-examination that Obama and his wife, Michelle, attended the reception for Nadhmi Auchi.

An Obama connection court testimony have linked presidential hopeful Barack Obama with Iraqi-born billionaire Nadhmi Auchi and Rezko. Obama met Middle Eastern bankers at the Four Seasons hotel in Chicago hosted by Rezko, who was courting potential investors for a 62-acre South Loop development. Auchi later took control of that project. Later Auchi attended a dinner party at Rezko's Wilmette mansion. Obama and his wife, Michelle, also were there, according to federal testimony at Rezko's corruption trial. The Obama campaign's responsed that Senator and Mrs. Obama have no recollection of attending the event.

Jan. 28, 2008 Rezko was jailed for withholding details of his finances -- including a $3.5 million payment from Auchi convicted of fraud in France in 2003. After visiting Chicago and Detroit in 2004, he wasn't allowed back into this country, according to a prosecution filing in the Rezko case gathering for Auchi took place at Rezko's mansion in Wilmette, with Mr. and Mrs. Obama there. Monday, Obama camp said Obama does not recall meeting Nadhmi Auchi but Obamas attended the Wilmette reception, which came less than a month after Obama's Democratic primary win for his U.S. Senate seat. Rezko had been a key fund-raiser for Obama with Auchi. Obamas relationship with Rezko who is accused of demanding kickbacks from people seeking Illinois government business is now under a federal microscope as he seeks the presidency. Obama particularly has drawn fire for buying property from Rezko's wife a strip of land adjacent to Obama's Kenwood home at a time when both Obamas knew Rezko was already known to be under federal investigation.

Gov. Blagojevich hosted a separate dinner party for Auchi two days earlier, at the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Chicago, the Sun-Times has reported. Auchi was named by prosecutors in the January court filing that led to Rezko's bail being revoked and his being jailed. Last April, an Auchi company wired Rezko $3.5 million in connection with a valuable 62-acre South Loop site, which Rezko didn't disclose to authorities. Auchi's General Mediterranean Holding now controls the land at Roosevelt and Clark. Prosecutors said Rezko appealed to the State Department in November 2005 to allow Auchi to enter the United States, after Auchi was unable to do so.

Huffington Post-William Ayers, in the age of terrorism, is Obamas Willie Horton said

Former counterterrorism expert Larry Johnson,

There has been sudden information linking Obama to a former member of the radical Weathermen Underground group that claimed responsibility for a dozen bombings between 1970 and 1974. The former Weatherman, William Ayers, told the New York Times. I don't regret setting bombs...I feel we didn't do enough. Obama and Ayers were members of the board between 92-02. In addition, Ayers contributed to Obama's election to the Senate. They lived within a few blocks of each other in the trendy Hyde Park section of Chicago and moved in the same liberal-progressive circles. Larry Johnson, a former counterterrorism official at the CIA and the State Department, predicts Republicans would seize on the Ayers case, and again raises questions about Obama's judgment. WHERES MAINSTREAM MEDIA LIKE CNN & MSNBC WHY ARE THEY HIDING THIS MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM VOTERS??

Bitter? Cling to Christ. Ephesians 4:29-32

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Read the whole speech

Obama's talking about people who've been left behind by the economy and don't like where we're going. Some hope things might change, and some of them support him. Others just find someone to blame.

He was speaking to an audience of volunteers in San Francisco, many of who were probably nervous about canvassing lower middle class voters who might not approve of their lifestyle. He was trying to inspire compassion in these volunteers.

When Obama says "cling to religion" he's talking about Faldwell attacking Teletubbies or Robertson blaming gays for Katrina. He isn't criticizing Christianity.

Most of all, Obama is saying people are right to be bitter, and their plight has been ignored unfairly. He's going to try to make things better for them.

If this is elitism, I pray for more elitists.

Thanks for interpreting "cling to religion"

OBAMA's statement is nearly identical to that statement made by the famous dictator KARL MARX, who said so famously: "RELIGION IS THE OPIUM OF THE MASSES"

Obviously, Obama was talking of the masses--NOT of just a couple of super-public figures--Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson! REaders BEWARE: be watchful of how others on this website twist things around.

...

Karen4091@yahoo.com

Clinging isn't healthy

I don't believe Obama has any problem with religion per se, but rather the way some Americans use religion. I agree with him on this. Many Americans are afraid of change, and they retreat to the safety net of religion. While religion may have it's place in daily life, there is a seperation of church and state. We must not let religion dictate policy.

Obama is simply saying that fear clouds our judgement. Don't look to God for all the answers, and don't run out and buy handguns because you're afraid. Use your head.

Add your thoughts

All comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.
Michael Barone is a senior writer for U.S.News & World Report and principal coauthor of The Almanac of American Politics. He has written for many publications—including the Economist and the New York Times.

The Numbers With Michael Barone

advertisement

NEWSLETTER

Sign up today for the latest headlines from U.S. News & World Report delivered to you free.

RSS FEEDS

Personalize your U.S. News with our feeds of blogs and breaking news headlines.

U.S. NEWS MOBILE

U.S. News daily briefings are also available on your mobile device.

Thomas Jefferson St.

Don't Buy the GOP Voter Fraud Talking Points

The Republicans' record on voter fraud is thin.

This Year's Voter Fraud is Democratic

The Democratic candidate's connections to the group raise questions.

The Republican Party's Time Is Up

It's time for the ruling party to reap what it has sowed.

Conservatives Slam Troopergate Story

A "New York Times" story provokes a backlash.

Sarah Palin's Plane Problems

A plane, a plane, my governship for a plane!

Is the McCain-Obama Race Over?

The Thomas Jefferson Street gang has weighed in—now you let us know what you think.

Obama May Not Have Election Locked Up

There are lots of factors that make a Democratic victory uncertain.

Sarah Palin—Feminist or Victim of Sexism?

This is what a feminist looks like? Let's not go there.

Public Opinion

Can McCain Come Back Against Obama?

Obama has a substantial lead in the polls. Is it too much for McCain to overcome?

Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.