what if the president spoke at a neo-nazi, kkk prayer breakfast?

[arely staircase]

and what if while he were there he spoke about tolerance and compassion and brotherly/sisterly love? wouldn't that be a wonderful world in which to live? obviously it would never happen in the real world as we know it (security, politics and so on.) but just imagine such an awesome thing.

the reason i offer this idea is, obviosly, as a response to those who say the president's speech at the national prayer breakfast is equivelent to speaking before such white supremacist groups. if it is, however, one must also include in that hypothetical what message he would deliver. and to be consistent in the analogy it would have to be the message mentioned above.

personally i have longed for a president who would give a speech like the beautiful, eloquent, loving christian one the president gave at the national prayer breakfast. and as far as the first black president addressing neo-nazis and otherwise white supremacists in a manner that confounded their misguided world views, i can only say - i pray to live in such a world.

[ZombieHorde]

1. Then the Ron Paul crowd would like President Obama a little bit more.

http://www.care2.com/causes/anonymous-hacks-neo-nazis-finds-ron-paul.html#ixzz1lIsSvIS7

[TheWraith]

2. Funny how Steven Colbert gets huge points for doing the WH Correspondents' Dinner...

...and in doing do basically giving the finger to Bush, but Obama is a collaborator for going to the National Prayer Breakfast and reminding everyone what they're SUPPOSED to believe in.

[arely staircase]

3. + many nt

[limpyhobbler]

4. that would be horrible.

If any president gave a speech before the kkk I would question his or her sanity.

I pray I never live in a world where a president of the United States would go speak before a white supremacist group.

[arely staircase]

15. please read my whole post. nt

[limpyhobbler]

16. I read it and understand what you're saying,

but I just disagree. I wouldn't want a president to speak to the KKK in an attempt to try to confound them with the power of love or anything like that. My preference would be to skip the kkk meeting altogether. I just don't think they can be convinced by a good speech. Some people don't deserve to be given the time of day. I don't know much about the prayer breakfast thing. I'm not implying anything with regard to that. I was just referring to the part where you said it would be cool if the president spoke to a white supremacist group.

[arely staircase]

18. ok. well my post only makes sense (i hope) in the context of the prayer breakfast.

if i were to call on the president to address the kkk apropos of nothing it would be insane. sorry for any confusion.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. The analogy is not accurate, as in this case the speaker identifies as a member of

the ideological group himself. He is not there as 'the other' he is there as one of them, rhetorically and in many of the shared opinions on equality and such minor issues as that. They don't treat us equally and say that's their religion, then they meet to congratulate each other on 'treating others as we want them to treat us'. It is if nothing else,ironic.
Jesus said only hypocrites pray in front of others. I agree with him.

[arely staircase]

7. etjesus himself prayed in front of others - so it's a bit more complex than

that.

[TheKentuckian]

26. The President identifies as a prosperity cult member devoted to theocracy?

I am a Christian and am not one of them. I take great offense in it being implied that I am and am even more offended at such being made an excuse for "paling" around with that sort of scum.

[arely staircase]

27. well you can stop being offended

turns out nobody has implied that about you and the president doesn't pal around with scum any more than he pals around with terrorists as sarah palin once said. feel better?

[MattBaggins]

6. And I long for the day

when a President gave a truly compelling speech on science, logic and rational thought without all the voodoo.

I notice you are happy specifically because the speech was a christian speech, which is exactly why it shouldn't be portrayed as official or national.

[arely staircase]

8. he has given those too - so rejoice. nt

[librechik]

9. To understand the context of the Nat'l Prayer Bkfst, read The Family by Jeff Sharlatt

The topic title is really not that far off from reality I hate this thing and I don't think the President should be involved with this group.

But Oh well, the fascists have won whoop de doo . I did like the President's speech, and was glad he got up in their faces about their hypocrisy. They don't care, though. God gave the Family a special dispensation to be as evil and hypocritical as they want, all the way to raping babies (I'm quoting here) and it's God's will since they are God's blessed warriors.

[Major Hogwash]

10. It's easy for someone to complain about President Obama at the DU . . .

. . it's so easy, even a caveman can do it!

Boo-yah!!

LoL

[arely staircase]

11. lol nt

[riderinthestorm]

12. The C Street Family that hosts this prayer breakfast IS analogous to your KKK, neo-nazi group

THAT'S what has so many people squicked out.

It's not the message he delivered (for me at least). It's that he went and delivered any message to this group at all.

If you haven't read Jeff Sharlet's book on The Family and the Dominionest plans for taking over America and turning it into a theocratic state, then you are not speaking from any level of knowledge. This group is dangerous and that the President is even going there is pretty bad.

[Dragonfli]

28. He lends them credibility, which they have used to influence foreign law, possibly making

being gay a death sentence. When even the president honors your power and your functions, it gives the impression to those "the Family" would influence that our country or at least our president supports them and their views.

They are a pretty evil group to justify like that, has anyone considered he is just as he says, a christian like them, with a similar Calvinistic outlook?

[libodem]

13. He'd be George Bush

[arely staircase]

14. i don't remeber george bush preaching tolerence and anti-bigotry to the kkk. do you have a link? nt

[riderinthestorm]

17. Exactly because even the dimmest President on the face of the planet, avoided toxic groups

knowing that even showing up and speaking before them gives them credibility and power that they NEVER should have....

Obama is smarter than this, or he's beholden to the theocratic Dominionest elements that are as toxic to our civil society as the KKK....

[arely staircase]

19. that's just it - pres. obama's speech was 180 degrees of their agenda.

bush spoke to this prayer breakfast and so has every president in my lifetime. not saying they should have - just very proud of our current president for delivering a quite different message. that's all. i agree with you about dominionists. in fact, as a liberal christian i am more apalled by them than those who don't have a dog in the christian dogma hunt. i think most of your disagreement with me is due to misunderstanding. if that is the case i take responsibility for that misunderstanding in that i clearly haven't explained myself well enough. but i'm trying.

[riderinthestorm]

20. I understand. I just think Obama should have declined the invite. THAT would have been brave

instead of delivering this speech, no matter how wonderful.

One thing we know is that Obama is brilliant at delivering speeches (that are full of hot air and never deliver real tangible results). So I'm a cynic. I could give a shit what the rhetoric is that Obama delivered if the real message is that this group has the power to compel Presidents to pander, kowtow and appear.

My problem is that he went there at all. He should NEVER have given this group ANY credibility, just like the KKK should be shunned by ALL presidents. They are an evil, anti-American group.

[arely staircase]

21. then i respect your opinion. we simply disagree. i have become quite cyinical myself over these

years. i believe speeches by presidents do set national tones, regardless of any immediate action. and (i'm sure we disagree here) i believe he has done a lot more - even in his much decried compromises - than could have been expected. but i think we have the same goals. we just disagree on how to accomplish them. i guess i see you and me and the president on one side of most issues, and The Family way on the other. Nevertheless, lets keep working. I have decided i have no enemies to the left of me - only disagreements on how to achieve things.

[riderinthestorm]

22. Peace.

[arely staircase]

23. ;-) nt

[Kellerfeller]

24. Since it is not a group he wants to be assocaited with

as a supporter, if he announced ahead of time that his intent is to try to help educate them and help them see reason, then I think it is a great idea.

After all, teachers don't just try to educate those who already understand the subject material.

[lunatica]

25. I admire people who have a message for the good and for the bad guys

And especially when the message is about humanity's good qualities.