A Little Talk with the Man Who Prayed for Obama's Death

Even by the nut case standard of the assorted pack of neo-Nazi unreconstructed Klan members, Aryan Nation haters, and the legion of loose screw religious cranks and loonies, the Reverend Wiley S. Drake's public prayer for the death of President Obama stretched far past the outer limit of credulity. The unrepentant Drake did not back away from the prayer when asked about it by Alan Colmes on Fox News Radio on June 2. He pleaded that he didn't understand why people were upset with his comments.

Drake is not just a garden variety religious crank. In 2006, he reigned as the second vice president of the nearly 20 million strong Southern Baptist Convention. The group is by far the nation's biggest evangelical denomination. He pastors a bonafide church, the First Southern Baptist Church in the middle-class bedroom city of Buena Park, California. Drake has his own popular radio show on the Crusade Radio Network. In April, Southern Baptist Convention spokesperson Richard Land even had kind words for Obama for his family values emphasis.

Convention officials, though, were far less forthright about Wiley's death prayer death for Obama. It issued a perfunctory statement saying that his views were his and his alone. It did not vigorously denounce those views, especially his Obama death prayer.

Wiley skirted the legal definition of what constitutes a threat to the president by attributing the death prayer to a phony, made up prayer from God. The operative term is willful in the federal statute that makes it an offense to threaten the president. It's punishable by up to five years in prison. Every year, the Secret Service investigates about 1500 reported or discovered threats to the president. Drake's God attribute threat didn't escape their attention.

But Drake doesn't just speak for Drake, and a handful of cranks, but says what more than a few ultra conservative, religious fundamentalists actually think and belief, and in their scariest and darkest moments the violence they actually wish for. With the murder of Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, the Holocaust Museum shoot-up, the recent report from the Southern Poverty Law Center on a surge in hate groups, and the demand by a worried US Attorney General Eric Holder for a tougher hate law, death threats against public figures can't be shrugged off.

This writer, however, couldn't let Drake's purported death prayer on Obama lightly pass. So I had a little talk with him mostly to give him another chance to back off his prayer.
Here's an excerpt from the June 19 talk with Drake:

"Did you actually pray for President Obama's death?"

"No, I was merely citing an imprecatory prayer which in scripture is a prayer mandated by God to smite down the enemies....those that do evil."

"So you're saying that you did not actually call for Obama's death?"

"I was asked in an interview about the murder of Kansas doctor George Tiller and I said in an imprecatory prayer that Tiller who was responsible for the murder of thousands of children was given a chance at salvation and that didn't happen so he was condemned in prayer to die. I had no regrets about his death. I was then asked if the imprecatory prayer for the death of evil doers could even extend to the president. I said yes. I was merely citing a prayer."

"Do you stand by that?"

"Unfortunately in the interview I said Obama. I'm not wanting (sic) the president dead. The prayer for his death is not my prayer but comes from God."

Drake said since the story hit he's gotten personal death threats and threats to picket and even burn down his church. The unrepentant Drake laughed them off saying he had nothing to fear since he was doing God's work.

A final question:

"Pastor will you come on my weekly radio show and explain to listeners the reason for citing a prayer against the president?"

"I'd better talk to my attorney first."

Stay tuned on that one.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His weekly radio show, "The Hutchinson Report" can be heard weekly in Los Angeles Fridays on KTYM Radio 1460 AM and live streamed nationally on ktym.com

Comments

[iyamchazz]

This man Drake and his ovine flock are anything but christian.
He is consumed by hate and they follow blindly into the abyss.

[tbone99]

So we see that a Christian prefers punishment and revenge over conversion any day.

Wouldn't a person of true spirituality pray that those they think are"evil" see their errors and turn to goodness, instead of praying that they DIE?

And what about Our Father who art in Heaven "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us "

I guess the modern Baptist version is Our Daddy who art in the militia -" KILL , KILL, KILL"

[lovable]

why was this not breaking news. why was fox hosts not asked to denounce this. where is oreilly on this . why are repubs not asked about this. where is limbaugh on this. where is hannity on this. I SEE WHY FOX IS NUMBER ONE. IF THIS WERE A DEM IT WOULD BE ALL OVER FOX

[Thelma Richards]

If we believe that terrorists who kill on God's behalf are crazy, then the same mindset should apply for those who believe the way Drake does. I can't even call him a reverend. He doesn't even have the attributes of a christian.

[luvangelHussein330]

So this pastor is calling for the murder of another human being...an­d since he belives whole heartedly in the power of prayer would he then be commiting murder? Guess he's going to skip over that whole Tho shall not kill comandment­....
As for about as many praying for the demise of the President there are twice as many some who may not agree with him, but are praying for his safety.
This is what gives organized religion a bad name. People in it who chose to take what was written in the bible and turn it around to suit thier needs.

[kwinter]

Taking "what was written in the bible and turn it around to suit thier needs" is exactly what the xians do ..... all of them!

[rektruax]

For every "love thy neighbor" type passage, there is a "kill thy neighbor if..." passage. The xtian, jew, and muslim alike find perfect absolution in their respective books of utter nonsense.

Oh well...

[dakotawoman]

Seems to me that way too, too many Christian fundamentalists have latched onto the dark parts of the Old Testament, completely abandoning Christ's messages of love, forgiveness, peace and brotherhood. Don't Christ's teaching trump the OT? No where do I recall Jesus telling anyone that it is OK to pray for the death of someone, even "in the name of God." I thought that Jesus told us to spend more time getting the vision-obstructing beams out of our own eyes and NO TIME AT ALL on inspecting the eyes of "evil doers" for specks.

In fact, I think claiming to know God's will about who is and is not an "evil doer" and who deserves death and then actually publically proclaiming such a thing as God's will and in His name IS A SIN!
Especially when such a sentiment is clearly personal, political and ideological. Not to mention hateful and fascist.

Of course, who am I to know God's "will" on this, but IMHO, I have a suggestion for Jesus. When he comes back home to judge and kick some evil doer butt, I think he should speak first to Drake and his ilk, saying "You got some 'splain' to do, Lucy!"

But that's not MY opinion!! (Wink! Wink!) I'm just pointing out what Christ said in the Bible. It's not ME!! (Wink! Wink!)

[kwinter]

The god of the bible is a pretty hateful, ruthless, vengeful character. And whenever this is pointed out, there are always many believers who are quick to point out that "that's the OT god, Jesus was different".

Isn't the god of the new testament the same god of the old testament? Or did the god change? Most believers say that their god is perfect. If something is perfect, and then changes, it becomes imperfect. If something is now perfect, but it has changed, then it must have been imperfect before. If you believe the god of the bible has changed, then either that god is imperfect now, or was imperfect when you believe he created the universe.
Or is it that your bible is so seriously flawed, that it cannot be relied on to have any credibility? And if that's the case, what do base your belief on?

[dakotawoman]

What the hell is this "imprecatory prayer" crap anyway?

I hung around with fundie types for three decades and never heard anything like this garbage. There is intercessory prayer, where one prays for someone else, but usually in a helpful form. I'm not certain that imprecations (curses) are at all Christian. Sounds more like what the Opposition (Satan) would do, don't ya think. I mean, God is supposed to be all holy and all powerful, right? Then why do we puny humans have to defend Him by cursing his "enemies", especially since our identification of who is God's enemies is limited to our own personal biases?

I'm pretty sure we were instructed by Christ to leave that part up to God.

"Judge not lest ye be judged." "Vengeance is mine, sayth the Lord." I was taught that we worry about our own evil doings and let God take care of the rest.

[JohnFromCensornati]

"I'm gonna have to say a little prayer against you" - The Church Lady

[SusanStoHelit]

"Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"

Fascinating - we've had our own religious leader put out a fatwa on our President.

[JoeSausage]

Yes, and I'm sure that the irony is lost on the flock. It's funny; you can openly call for the assasination of the President in America, but don't light that joint, or you're screwed!!!

[MajorKong]

I would think that if the omnipotent God wants a certain individual dead he's quite capable of doing it without the Reverend Drake's help.

[JoeSausage]

If there really was a God, he would have struck down the Satanists who carry out hatred and intolerence in His name, a long time ago.

[javajava]

Why?

[olmossy]

The bible says " and many will be fooled " I believe by the antiChrist. Been a long time.

So when you see people calling themselves Christians following a War/Biz Machine, Try to imagine JC and the Gang following a Roman Army into battle. " fooled "?

[Tulsaslim]

Oh, those compassinate non-judgmental Christians! Religion is more dangerous than all the atom bombs on this earth.

[S1m0n]

Praying for someone's death isn't a threat, and it's dishonest to pretend otherwise, or to claim that the distinction is nothing but a loophole. Neither are the case.

[minimalist syntax]

It is if you are a leader of an organization that has previously incited actual violence before in similar ways.

[SusanStoHelit]

"Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"

It's a long standing form - and no one who is honest can fail to understand what is being said here. To suggest God is calling for Obama's death, that you pray to God for it to happen - is an obvious incitement for any of your followers to take on God's command, God's work.

[JoeSausage]

Dear God, please let Simon die a million painful deaths. He is a theat to society and should be shot in cold blood while leaving his house on Tuesday morning. He lives at 123 Hatemonger Lane, and heads to his car at 8:15 a.m. Thank you God for answering my prayers.

[kwinter]

I'm passing along an e-mail I received from a friend last week.
BTW, 'freind'. if you read this blog, please don't hesitate to jump in, and take credit for your well reasoned words.
..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­.......
If the good pastor truly believes in the power of prayer, it this not a
clear admission of "Conspiracy to Commit Murder"?

If the same man met a co-conspirator in a dark alley and asked that
person to kill someone for him (no financial transaction needed), would
that not be "Conspiracy to Commit Murder" and wind his a$$ in jail? And
if this threat/conspiracy is against the POTUS, it would be very serious.

If he seriously believes in prayer, has a true full expectation the god
can and will answer his prayers, it should be treated the same way as if
he asked the person in the alley to do it. Secret Service, you listening
here? Go check this nut out.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Now, now. The president wants you to find common ground with "people of faith".

[jhamm1]

That's right. He really needs to think about putting limitations on playing both sides of the fence.

[luvangelHussein330]

furthur alineating those who are of good heart and sound mind won't do anythign but give fotter to thos like drake

[been2there]

Define "people of faith." Drake et al are not.

[AuntSally]

Hmm. A high-placed religious leader telling his congregation of millions that Obama's death has been sanctioned by God. Who wants to bet there's more than a handful who take it as a "mission from God" and act on it?

Outrageous? No, it's just another day in the world of confused, ignorant, frightened INSANE nutballs in the good 'ol US of A. I just thank the good Lord for sending us these men of peace to tell us what He wants.

[Saidas]

If you just changed the names, it would sound just like the numerous statements from good 'ole Middle East instead of the good 'ole US of A. As Pogo said, "We have met the enemy and his us".

[tm22]

An inprecatory prayer is meant curse, send harm to an evil doer. Where do they get this stuff?

Harry Potter?

That's what it sounds like to me...it sounds like those Dementors have persuaded the American evangelized into living in an imaginary world of robes with hoods, secret underwear, rituals of Wesson oil streamed around buildings, neighborhoods to bind evil spirits so they can't get out...astr­al projection (yes, the Joyer ministry is into this) so they can see things, like angels who talk to them, create massive ritual rallies that have teens crying and writhing on the floor from sensory over-load.­..and they have the nerve to pray for the death of the POTUS, plus talk about it openly as if this is some how normal, religious, acceptable civilized behavior?? WTF!

Remember, it's not about the belief, it's about the behavior..­.

[pueblocolorado]

I grew up in the Episcopal church...t­he usual - baptism, confirmation etc. I loved going to church as a kid and as an adult, though not always a regular churchgoer, I always carried a generally good feeling for Christianity.

But THIS Christianity is just unrecognizable. Now when I hear someone talking religion or read about this kind of "prayer", it feels very uncomfortable and I turn away. How the heck did this happen? I've been horrified since "religion" started seriously campaigning in politics over the past two decades or so.

[Morcat]

It isn't Christianity. I call the people who practice this religion of hatred "Christian­ists." They have a form of religion, but their lives and preaching is a denial of the principles taught by Christ. They deceive a lot of people, not the least because media doesn't draw any distinctions between far right radicals and mainstream Christians. Jesus said that "many would say 'Lord, lord,' but their hearts are far from me."

All Christians shouldn't be tarred with the same brush.