Obama's Faith Pushed To The Front In New Ad

A young, politically progressive religious organizations is out with a highly personalized television ad propping up Barack Obama on issue of faith and values.

The Matthew 25 Network will air their spot, "Families," on national cable during Saturday's values forum between the presidential candidates. The ad, which will appear on CNN and possibly MSNBC, plays up Obama's marriage, his Christianity and his intrinsic understanding of family issues.

"As a pastor I knew you could learn a lot about a man's character based on how he treats his family. Barrack is a strong man of Christian faith who has been married to his wife Michelle for 16 years. And he is the proud father of two beautiful daughters. He understands the pressure families are under and what it takes to help families thrive. Throughout his entire career Sen. Obama has stood by families, including his own. And as president he'll stand by yours."

This is the organization's first television spot this cycle (they've done radio and print ads as well) and the choice of forum seems highly appropriate. On Saturday, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama will appear together at Pastor Rick Warren's 20,000-member mega-church for a discussion on values and social issues.

Traditionally, religion is a dicey topic for Democratic candidates. But the dynamics of the current election seem wholly out of step with political history. According to a recent survey of religious voters, Obama is leading McCain in every Christian denomination, save evangelicals. This comes despite concerns that the controversial musings of his own pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, would rub some religious voters the wrong way.

Mara Vanderslice, the organizing force behind Matthew 25, painted her organization's efforts as part of a broader, evolving shift in the intersection of faith and politics.

"We are raising a new Christian witness in politics to counter the right-wing Christian voices that have dominated the discussion this past decade," said Vanderslice, who served as a religious outreach director for John Kerry in the 2004 campaign.

"It is really about a compassion gap," she added when asked about the current play between the two presidential candidates. "[The GOP] has talked about compassionate conservatives in the past, and we just feel like McCain has been the compassion-less conservative."

Comments

[liltweety]

obama is for the people and that is what i am tryin to get my mom to understand b/c she is for MCCAIN and he isn't for the people

[JackNasty]

Wouldn't it be better to push Obama's "faith" to one side for the duration of the campaign?

The wall of separation between church and state in the US is in desperate need of maintenance. Even the word faith describes the Christians' belief. It is not a universal religious concept.

Hasn't the world had enough of the always polarizing and toxic mix of government and church?

[cmp]

Religion doesn't belong in politics. Did anyone listen to Hucklebee ? That man sounded no different than the Ayatollah. Scary ! Both candidates are doing nothing but putting up a good show for votes. And I could care less who goes to church and who doesn't. But given both their track records, it should be obvious to all you "christians" that Obama has compassion, integrity, and morality. McCain doesn't have any of those qualities given his vicious attacks.

[massie]

This is one of the best campain family pictures,it will be nice to see again little kids living in the white house,it will so family and not only partisan politics in this great country.

[JLee]

The thought of those two beautiful, happy little girls playing on the White House lawn makes me melt inside.

[rickmv]

Actually it will be McCain's adopted daughter.

[SEQUOIABISON]

I like it, could be better but I like it.

[keepemhonest]

McCain NEVER wears a Flag pin, is he anti-American?

McCain NEVER goes to any church, is he anti-God?

McCain favors Hagee & Parsley who beg for the US to invade Iran so they can destroy Israel and begin Armageddon, is McCain the anti-Christ?

.... just wondering ...

[KNadine]

McCain is a PHONY!!! You can tell those who walk with faith and those who do not. McCain only claims faith because it fits into the "Conservative" manual. I could see through John Edwards and I surely see through McCain.

[JLee]

He's also an open adulterer who abandoned his first wife for a young, hot heiress. Is he anti-marriage?

[Clevelanded]

Hey Morning Person and German Tool,

You have been entertaining and at least cogent and not too obtuse, so I say tip of the hat, wag of the finger and good night to all.

[MourningDude]

“I can no more disown [Wright] than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother.." BHO March 18,2008

That's what I like. A candidate with principles.

[Clevelanded]

I like McCain's stance on cheating on your wife and the marrying a woman who feeds her addiction to prescription drugs by stealing from charities. Also his quid pro quo approach to dealing with corrupt bankers.

[Hammerkraut]

Guess which candidate is getting the bulk of the donations from Wall Street in this election.

Hint: It's not John McCain

[abby4ever]

You are so wicked!!!

[FebM]

Yes because face it, Obama will be president for ALL Americans, conservatives, liberals, neocons, fundamentalists and all. Racism is not Obama's problem it is an American problem that will not be wished away. And he must hold them ALL equal under the law. Yes, thats a president who knows, understands, and believes in the constitution.

[conradplan]

I can readily second the comments that these fellow pastors have made regarding Obama, his life of faith as a Christian believer, and his faithfulness to his wife and family.
I don't understand how Republicans think they have the "Christian" market cornered, when their standard bearer cheated on his wife just so he could get a younger extremely wealthy troffy wife. And they dare suggest that Obama is the elitist of the two.
Do any of the religious right actually read Matthew 25, where Jesus describes what will separate the righteous from the lost? The manner in which we treat the weakest in our midst. The poorest. The most vulnerable.

[Clevelanded]

Exactly! And I have been seeing consistent polling saying Obama is leading McCain among Christians. But no one seems to speak of it outside of the Post.

[hlechols]

Amen!

[MourningDude]

Let me guess, your Bible says "Pay thine taxes to Ceasar, and let Ceasar care for thy poor..."

Charity is the pure love of Christ. It is the highest ideal of the Bible. A government bureaucracy can't have charity. It can never replace true charity, which is a loving act between people.

When a government bureaucracy attempts to supplant and supercede charity, it destroys charity. It's axiomatic.

I have a hard time believing that as we stand before the judgment bar of God, we will be asked if we lived in a "compassionate" enough bureaucracy or not. However, I have little doubt that we will be asked how we personally demonstrated compassion to others around us. And I'm guessing that saying "Hey, I voted Democrat, and they said it was being taken care of" is going to cut it.

[Clevelanded]

I agree with one of your points, but not the main one.

Simply put, a government can be charitable and may be the most effective way for individuals to be charitable. Consider what happened in the aftermath of Katrina. There was no charity, not even the Red Cross large enough or prepared to respond on that scale.

Separately, I think we are individually responsible for being charitable. That may include pressuring your congressmen to increase efforts to fight malaria, AIDS and poverty.

[Liberal2]

"...Charity is the pure love of Christ. It is the highest ideal of the Bible. A government bureaucracy can't have charity. It can never replace true charity, which is a loving act between people..."

Un-huh, yeah. That's why the elderly had several years added to their lifespan after the government program called Medicare went into effect. Where were you "christian" blowhards when the elderly needed your help?

[Sparty1]

Well, may I ask if you don't want our government doing Christian charitable things why do you make it such a prerequisite that a Rep candidate be Christian?

[cheforacle]

So Bush and Congress were acting in violation of Christian principles when they authorized and sent billions to Africa in the PEPFAR program to combat the spread of AIDs. You oppose that use of taxpayer money?

[Hammerkraut]

Face it folks, if Obama is going to air TV commericials that sell himself based on his religion then his religious life becomes fair game, and Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Trinity Church are a major part of his religious life. He can't just bring up the subject and expect to restrict the discussion only to the facts that are agreeable to him.

Simple rule: if you don't want a full discussion of a subject then don't bring up any part of it.

[Clevelanded]

He didn't make or approve that commercial. Outside PAC.

[Hammerkraut]

Doesn't matter one iota in Obama's case. He forfeited all moral high ground on this issue when he used conservative 527's and PAC's as a pretext for ditching public campaign financing. He even went so far as to blame their attacks on John McCain after McCain said he wouldn't try to control independent groups, which is not even feasible. I'm happy to apply Obama's own self-righteous logic to him and hold him responsible for this ad unless his campaign makes an honest effort to quash it. I very much doubt he'll do that.

[athenasword]

Wouldn't matter.... Rev. Wright, etc. will be brought up whether or not O makes his family and religious life a subject. He might as well get out ahead of it. He has a lovely family and it indeed tells people something about his character. It is a selling point.

[highlyamused]

I see in some of the posts people are questioning his faith.

So do this.........stipulating that every move either of the candidates makes is photographed and controlled
(after all any little human like thing that the rest of us get a pass on is grounds for losing the election they both want to win) between O's walking on the beach with his daughter or Mc's throwing his wife to the 'buffalo chip queen' wolves.........

which one represents being a person of faith to you?
I'm not christian but isn't there a verse about telling a person by the fruit of their actions?? or something like that...

[Clevelanded]

No one is actually unsure about his faith.

That is just code speak for "In my heart of hearts, I'm racist."

[rollingdivision]

Vote for me I'm a friend of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Oh and by the way I'm good to my wife and children and that makes me special. Throughout this campaign what the candidates feel compelled to tell the public in their advertising is always telling .

[MizLiz]

You too? Here's what you need then....

http://www.northernsun.com/n/s/2181?mv_pc=gbase

[Liberal2]

Based on your past comments, I'd say you follow a heretical strand of the FSM. But, at least you're no follower of the damnable Invisible Pink Unicorn. (Them little hooves..."tap, tap, tap" all the darn time.)

[lunchbag]

Trying to push W.r.i.g.h.t into the background I see

[Hotshortie]

I thought that was a lovely commercial. They have such respect for each other, a strong bond.
Their intelligence! The way they look at each other. The way they seem to care about their faith & their family. I feel they are united as a couple. A loving couple. A wonderful family.

I think it's a lovely commercial.

Here is a you tube that also shows their love and affection for one another.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPYMaF2vAmg

[rickmv]

I've got your love and affection right here.

[highlyamused]

Oh look.......the kids got on mom and dad's computer for their friday night 'puter hour.

[Citizen08]

Beautiful, something real for a change in politics!
Not just a political marriage or marriage of convenience, how refreshing.

[joeyp404]

What's your proof of that exactly? Is there anything this man has done that hasn't been calculated?

[rickmv]

For a democrat, yes.

[joeyp404]

It's a commercial. You act like it's the Rapture.

[hlechols]

I have seen that one before and after veiwing again it is just too beautiful. I simply love how he is always so attentive to his wife and kids. That tells you something about him. I just did not see that genuine affection and closeness with Bill and Hill and certainly not with John and Cindy.

[pie8ter]

If Obamas were a white family, McCain has absolutely no chance of winning this election. He might even be considering dropping out right now.

[rickmv]

If Barry was white he would have never gotten 99% of the black vote, would have never gotten such easy treatment by the MSM, would never have been able to play the race card against the Clintons........in short, he would be "organizing" whatever that is, back in Chicago.

[tubette]

you are so wrong..... listen to him speak rickymv. much more talent than this country is accustomed to. if anything his heritage and name has held him back..... especially with people like you.

[joeyp404]

He's black? Holy Sh'ite.

[kcam44]

if "Barry" was white he would be more "credible"...the fact that he's black (people like you sitting at your computer with your white hood on) makes him less "credible" to you people.

[Clevelanded]

Blacks are the most reliably democratic constituency voting at least 82% democratic in each of the last three presidentials. Get your facts straight.

[aware4O]

" organizing " got him this far.
" organizing " beat the clinton machine and notoriety
" organizing " simply put means smart planning and looking forward, having a vision, a broad one, not an impulsive one.
" organizing " means just that : organizing fellow citizens to get involved in THEIR future and take ACTION.,

thank you very much.
Obama08/13

[joeyp404]

Yeah, like the Edwards' family. Bring them back.

[mexicanamerican1948]

Maybe if that's true another reason to have Hillary Clinton on the Ticket(as President, and Obama as vp) that would be a winner. It was obamas time,the result will be a debacle for no real reason.

[sherrzinpa]

get over it. she's not going to get the nomination. after the shenanigans she pulled in the primaries and the ones she's still pulling, she'll be lucky if she even keeps her seat in the senate.

[Clevelanded]

If If If If.... If Obama was white, he wouldn't be Obama. If Hillary was black, she wouldn't be Hillary. I know what you are driving at, but unfortunately this country is far, far, far, far, from colorblind.