Why Does Obama Want to Open Public Events With Prayers?
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
At USA Today's Faith & Reason blog, Cathy Lynn Grossman wonders why the White House would want to start President Obama's public events with prayers if they're not carried on national TV:
Of course, if the invocations, however bland, are just for local consumption, not for us all, why do it? Or should the argument be that no prayers are wasted because an audience of One is always tuned in?
Depending on your religious beliefs, the audience of One being tuned in is the best argument for Obama's opening events with prayers, even if they're not carried on national TV.
But there are more prosaic political arguments, too. As the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life's John Green explained in my earlier piece:
"Having prayers in places like Indiana where public prayers are commonplace would help the president. Whereas seeing it on national TV would cause controversy because there are places where these things are less popular."
The theory makes a lot of sense. Opening his events with prayers helps Obama with religious folks who are attending his events but also reaches a much wider audience through local news coverage. The invocation at Obama's recent event in Elkhart, Ind., for instance, was mentioned in a handful of local papers, helping brand the president as faith friendly in a battleground state. That branding campaign is all the more powerful because the locals delivering the prayers are respected community leaders. You can't buy that kind of faith-based publicity.
- Read more by Dan Gilgoff.
- Read more about the Obama administration.
Tags: Barack Obama | religion
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Reader Comments
Religious Lobby
Were objections raised before of Acorn people trying to get your vote for Obama, trying to get you to go to the voting place or their establishment to register to vote. Just what difference would a religious lobbiest hanging out in front of you home all day to get you to Praise The Lord the way they do, Sing Praise to Allah they way they do, even worse is to disturb the peace and broadcast on loudspeakers singing, chants, or worshiping & prayers. Has Lobby Rights Gone To Far? How about a Lobby that will 'Give Consumer's more Rights Against Price Gougers like the Big Three Automakers that owed the government money before they started receiving Bailout Money, and now they want more money - why - to have religion added to they product lines. The only time we may need a preacher on salary at the White House is to have him pronounce death to the Lord, and maybe to have a office to serve those whom are death but gosh whom dies more people at the White house or our Troops. Hasn't the Pentagon gone into this before and has support for religion as educational training for each military branch. Sure, either military branch will give you scholarship to become a religious man, they need to travel with a religious man after graduation. Is there anything wrong with a military religious man versus one from the White House? It just seems to be a new way to keep people from thinking they should go to a White House Event, much like the new use for Barry Manilowe. I know it sounds absurd but why not a live-in Santa Claus year round? I bet Obama has no preference if Santa was white or black but maybe his children might have a big say on it if Obama gave that a twirl instead of religious men in the White House.
I would like your opinion, Should a Publisher give me priority to publish my book - The Electric Vehicle Free Conversion Foundation (EVFCF) [http://jonalist.bravehost.com/articles/evfcf.html]. I see the mess Obama has created with our money and wonder how many people really know about the Industrial Revolution of 1839 when America lost all the banks. It does look more like what is happening today as Andrew Jackson pumped money into the financial system of banking and still the banks failed.
In God we trust
Maybe he just realizes the enormity of the problems we face and wants as much guidance as he can get. The thing that impresses me most is that President Obama is sincere in his concern for all Americans. He has reached out to the opposition and not held resentments despite the vicious attacks during the campaign. I am comforted that he has the humility to pray. And no one needs to apologize for praying. Those who do not believe can change the channel or ignore the prayers. They can not interfere with my or anyone's right to pray. God bless America, President Obama, and all who are suffering through these stressful times.
asking for God's help......
It may be a surprise to many of you, but President Obama is simply asking for God's blessings and guidance. We also need to pray to God, and ask for His blessing for our Nation and President Obama. When you hear people say they wish Obama fails, this is the mouth of Satan.
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