This morning I listen to Barack Obama speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast. He was eloquent, as usual, but he should never have been there at all. By his presence he gave credence to The Fellowship, an extremist pseudo-Christian group, also known as The Family, that operates C Street House, infamous for attempts to cover up Republican scandal, and that supports the attempts in Uganda to legislate the death penalty for being gay.
Obama was warned and asked not to attend.
For more than 50 years, the National Prayer Breakfast has served as a prime networking event in Washington, bringing together the president, members of Congress, foreign diplomats and thousands of religious, business and military leaders for scrambled eggs and supplication.
Usually, the annual event passes with little notice. But this year, an ethics group in Washington has asked President Obama and Congressional leaders to stay away from the breakfast, on Thursday. Religious and gay rights groups have organized competing prayer events in 17 cities, and protesters are picketing in Washington and Boston.
The objections are focused on the sponsor of the breakfast, a secretive evangelical Christian network called The Fellowship, also known as The Family, and accusations that it has ties to legislation in Uganda that calls for the imprisonment and execution of homosexuals… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <NY Times>
CREW also asked him not to go.
Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) called on President Obama and all members of Congress not to attend this year’s National Prayer Breakfast. The event is scheduled for tomorrow. The breakfast, while designed to appear as a government-sanctioned event, in reality serves as a meeting and recruiting event for the shadowy Fellowship Foundation.
“The National Prayer Breakfast uses the attendance of elected leaders to give the Fellowship greater credibility and facilitate its networking and fundraising,” said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. “President Obama and members of Congress should not legitimatize this shadowy group with ties to scandal-ridden politicians and hateful and discriminatory positions against gays.” Sloan continued, “It is all the more important that American political leaders avoid this event in light of the murder of prominent Ugandan gay activist David Kato.”
The Fellowship, also known as “The Foundation” and “The Family,” is run by Doug Coe, a spiritual advisor to some government officials, who uses the organization to push his brand of Christianity. The Fellowship owns and operates the infamous C Street House, a congressional residence and meeting place on Capitol Hill that has been a frequent haunt of some ethically-challenged elected officials identified by CREW, including Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <CREW>
Obama may have feared being perceived as anti-Christian, if he refused. But the hatred of these Republicans against gays is truly anti-Christian, and by attending, Obama added to the confusion about Christianity in America. Authentic Christians do not hate others, despite Republican claims to the contrary.
21 Responses to “Obama Was Wrong to Pray with Hate Mongers!”
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Tom I couldn’t agree more, then again I’m opposed to the whole process. I understand that this “prayer breakfast” nonsense goes back to the Eisenhower days but I still think it’s a load of crap. The reasons are legion, including the fact that I’m a happy Atheist, but it is much deeper than that and you have addressed it in your post. Secondly, I think when the leader of the country speaks it belies the whole separation of church and state doctrine.
Mike, I have no problem with a President expressing his individual; faith, as ling as its doctrines does not interfere with his governance.
There was no way for Obama to win on this one. He’d be damned if he didn’t, and damned if he did, attend this event. As you say, he was in the presence of and lending credibility to hatemongers. But he had not gone to the prayer breakfast, all the pseudo-Christian hatemongers criticize his every move anyway would have launched a ginormous amount of emails saying the “Muslim” President hates Christians and wouldn’t attend a prayer breakfast. Those who hate him would distort and lie about him anyway.
Agreed. Well put.
Jack that’s an excellent point. However several progressive organizations offered alternate events. American Prayer Hour was created as an alternative to the NPB. All, including the LGBT community were welcome and honored. He could have attended there.
One would think if Obama could lecture the Chinese on human rights, he could lecture the Cult as well. But, no, as with AIPAC, the pious subservient facade needs to be maintained at all costs.
Dave, Obama appears to be in a highly non-confrontational mode, too much so for my taste.
I guess I feel nobody should attend.
I agree.
Dave writes:
“….the pious subservient facade needs to be maintained at all costs.”
Brilliant!!!
See my note to Dave, Mike.
There’s no doubt that The Family is comprised of a bunch of Talibangelical christianists; and there’s no doubt that Pres. Obama would be damned if he attended and damned if he didn’t attend.
But I would sure like to learn more about that piano-playing pig (Pigegrace) that one of the speakers shared tales of:
Source:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/president-prays-for-peace-in-the-mideast/?ref=politics
Well, the pig was clearly straight. Had he been gay, they would have barbecued him.
Fortunately, I’ve got my atheism to protect from these ass souls.
My congrats. The atheist belief requires the most faith of all.
Two words for the president. SECULAR NATION.
Mark, I agree. Put another way, “Render unto Caesar…
Still hard to know exactly what this guy stands for because he works so hard to please everybody.
Benji, what am excellent observation that is. I think you nailed him.
Obama aside, I’m glad that more people know about “the Family” and are holding it accountable for its actions. I think we have the books of Jeff Sharlet and good networking among progressives to thank for this awareness.
Ahab, I fear that too few know about them despite Sharlet and those pf us who have spread the word. It’s a message we need to keep repeating.