God Bless Barack Obama
You may remember. A couple of years ago, I wrote a book about how the Republicans stole religion -- and how Democrats should steal it back.
Well, Hallelujah! Barack Obama is doing just that -- by standing up to the religious right.
When James Dobson, speaking for many evangelists, says we should govern based on the tenets of the Bible, Obama fires back no, no, no.
We are not a Christian nation, Obama points out. Therefore the Bible isn't common ground for all Americans.
And, besides, there's a problem. When you look for guidance from the Bible, where do you turn? Do you go to the Old Testament and Leviticus, where it's forbidden to eat shellfish, work on the Sabbath, or sleep with a person of the same sex?
Or do you go to the New Testament and the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus praises the peacemakers, for they shall be called the Sons of God?
The answer, of course, is: In making the laws that govern our nation, we don't turn to the Bible at all. We base our laws on the only sacred text all Americans worship: The U.S. Constitution.
It's about time some Democrat put church and state in their proper place.
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If all Americans worship the Constitution, then it really is like a holy text, in that many would happily die defending it without knowing what it says.
We base our laws on the only sacred text all Americans worship: The U.S. Constitution.
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Not any more! We used to, but 9/11 Changed Everything.
And the FISA debacle reveals that Obama's supposed unwavering belief in the Constitution evaporates when crowded by circumstances.
Not wanting to open up a new FISA debate.. (I am involved in 3 already and it's rude to Mr Press to hijack his commentary) ... but I cannot let completely and utterly wrong information pass unchalleng
The FISA measures have ZERO conflict with the US Constitution. In fact, within these new measures are provisions that actually STRENGTHEN the 4th Amendment protections for Americans.
As I said, I don't want to be rude to Mr Press and debate this issue in his commentary. All I will say is that, if you don't believe me, I invite you to read the measures yourself and you will see that I am right.
What could be more logical and rational than that??
Michale...
Thank you for clearing that up. I dont think many people understand this.
Carol
I heard the other day that as it stands the FISA deal isn't really in effect that today if Bush Co wanted to. The passing of this bill will not allow for these things to happen. I noticed that their is immunity for the phone companies, but they say it is conditional,but no one will tell us what the conditions are, and how is our fouth amendment being violated if this bill will restore it. Now i understand it has been violated in the past. and they do need to be taken care of, but from what i heard, these phone companies can still be prosecuted, but i agree to some degree, get the bill removing their right to spy on the books first and then pass that amendment to strip the immunity out. You mean to tell me you would rather have the current FISA bill that will restore those rights back to us fail and let them continue to do what they have been doing, just to prove a point or get it restored and go back and strip out what they need. i agree that they need to be punished, but i want to make sure they can't do it anymore and then deal with them accordingly. like i said, some news people said that they can still be prosecuted so they are not necessarily off scott free
I'm a Christian. But I've got to say that when I visited the National Archives and stood before the US Constitution, I got a lump in my throat that I've never gotten from reading Leviticus.
Another reason for me to vote OBAMA this November
Personally, I think religion has NO right to be in government at all...
For me, Obama's faith is a strike against him..
I want a president who's feet are firmly planted on the ground and doesn't have to have the crutch that religion provides..
It would be great if we can have a president who stands up and says, "I don't believe in a god. I believe in science."
Michale...
"For me, Obama's faith is a strike against him.."
What is Obamas faith?
"It would be great if we can have a president who stands up and says, "I don't believe in a god. I believe in science."
What's wrong with a president that will stand by the constitution and leave god and science out of it altogether?
Obama has brilliantly expressed the fact that he can be, and will be a president for ALL PEOPLE, with or without FAITH in any religion!
Sorry you didn't understand O's very clear, elaborate talks on that!
that's a pretty stupid strike.
its not like hes planning a war against islam
While I agree that church and state must be separate, I personally do not want to hear a presidential candidate say they don't believe in God. There must be balance, God doesn't cancel science out. But science does not replace God.
I believe that everything science has discovered or proven was created by God.
One cannot exalt the created over the Creator.
Hay, it's just my opinion.
I don't like the crutch that religion represents
Michale...
Even religious people are disgusted with the triumverate of Dobson, Robertson and Falwell (yes, I know Falwell is dead, but his degenerate character has infected plenty of his followers). Those people have claimed to represent Christianity for so long that eventually people believed it. They never did, and never will, represent Christianity; they are simple fundamentalists, the same way Osama Bin Laden is a fundamentalist. They use different tactics from Bin Laden for sure, but they have the same strategy - to use a religious position to attain political power. It's about time someone called them what they are - people who make political statements "for their own purposes", as Obama said.
And think about it, these fundamentalists are no better than Osama Bin Laden whose guiding principle is intolerance to any one that holds an opposing religious view. They do not understand God and the purpose of creation. If God wanted, we will all be created Christain, White, Black, or Pink without any DIVERSITY. If they claim to know and understand God, they would have found out that He will NOT create any thing that is either DEFILED or that He DOES NOT WANT.
So, why do these "CHRISTIAIN TALIBANS" arrogate themselves the ownership of the voice of GOd?
Jesus' enemies were, the Pharisees and Sadducees, i.e. the religious leaders of his time.
What of the Phillistines ... weren't they God robbers too ... more Godly than God!?
Amen.
The U.S. Constitution is far closer to the will of a Universal Creator than the Bible.
The Bill of Rights is more useful in administering truth and justice to a civilized society that the 10 Commandments.
Dobson knows not of what he speaks. Barack has to be president of ALL Americans. I have no idea or Nader or Dobson get off telling anyone anything? Their both has beens.
Have we not realized that it would be disastrous to have a theocratic nation?
Look at the oppressive governments of some Islamic countries ...
Senator Obama was entirely right about this.
I will agree if he eliminates the unconstitutional Faith-based Initiative once elected. Early on he and Hillary both refused to denounce it.
Amen Bill and that's coming from an agnostic. When Obama came to Cleveland last March I was impressed with the fact that he addressed the fact the civil liberties agency in the federal government had basically been disbanded and that he would bring it back. He also addressed habeas corpus and restoring The Constitution (my personal bible).
I'm glad he put the religion/state issue into context, it's been too long since we had a politician brave and smart enough to address it. Believe it or not there are even some Republicans who are bothered by the influence of the religious right on our government.
But...(the
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