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http://www.politicususa.com/2014/02/06/president-obama-republican-heads-explode-shatters-lies-prayer-breakfast.htmlObama Makes Republican Heads Explode As He Shatters Their Lies At Prayer Breakfast
By: Jason Easley
Thursday, February, 6th, 2014, 12:04 pm
President Obama made Republican heads explode today at the National Prayer breakfast as he debunked with years worth of lies that have been uttered about him and his presidency.
Video at link~
Transcript:
THE PRESIDENT: Our faith teaches us that in the face of suffering, we cant stand idly by and that we must be that Good Samaritan. In Isaiah, were told to do right. Seek justice. Defend the oppressed. The Torah commands: Know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt. The Koran instructs: Stand out firmly for justice. So history shows that nations that uphold the rights of their people including the freedom of religion are ultimately more just and more peaceful and more successful. Nations that do not uphold these rights sow the bitter seeds of instability and violence and extremism. So freedom of religion matters to our national security. (Applause.)
As Ive said before, there are times when we work with governments that dont always meet our highest standards, but theyre working with us on core interests such as the security of the American people. At the same time, we also deeply believe that its in our interest, even with our partners, sometimes with our friends, to stand up for universal human rights. So promoting religious freedom is a key objective of U.S. foreign policy. And Im proud that no nation on Earth does more to stand up for the freedom of religion around the world than the United States of America. (Applause.)
It is not always comfortable to do, but it is right. When I meet with Chinese leaders and we do a lot of business with the Chinese, and that relationship is extraordinarily important not just to our two countries but to the world but I stress that realizing Chinas potential rests on upholding universal rights, including for Christians, and Tibetan Buddhists, and Uighur Muslims. (Applause.)
When I meet with the President of Burma, a country that is trying to emerge out of a long darkness into the light of a representative government, Ive said that Burmas return to the international community depends on respecting basic freedoms, including for Christians and Muslims. Ive pledged our support to the people of Nigeria, who deserve to worship in their churches and mosques in peace, free from terror. Ive put the weight of my office behind the efforts to protect the people of Sudan and South Sudan, including religious minorities.
As we support Israelis and Palestinians as they engage in direct talks, weve made clear that lasting peace will require freedom of worship and access to holy sites for all faiths. I want to take this opportunity to thank Secretary Kerry for his extraordinary passion and principled diplomacy that hes brought to the cause of peace in the Middle East. Thank you, John. (Applause.)
More broadly, Ive made the case that no society can truly succeed unless it guarantees the rights of all its peoples, including religious minorities, whether theyre Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan, or Bahai in Iran, or Coptic Christians in Egypt. And in Syria, it means ensuring a place for all people Alawites and Sunni, Shia and Christian.
Going forward, we will keep standing for religious freedom around the world. And that includes, by the way, opposing blasphemy and defamation of religion measures, which are promoted sometimes as an expression of religion, but, in fact, all too often can be used to suppress religious minorities. (Applause.) We continue to stand for the rights of all people to practice their faiths in peace and in freedom. And we will continue to stand against the ugly tide of anti-Semitism that rears its ugly head all too often.
The right wants you to believe that President Obama is out to destroy religious freedom, but this speech demonstrates that is not the case. This president is committed to protecting religious freedom at home and around the world. The difference between the president and the Republicans is in their definitions of religious freedom. Republicans have concocted a definition of religious freedom that is based around social issues. They have made same sex marriage and contraception issues of religious freedom, when these social questions have nothing to do with the freedom to practice a religion. Obamas definition is centered around the freedom each of us has to practice, or not practice a religion.
Many Republicans also believe that Obama is not a Christian. Well, the president once again put a stake in the heart of that one with his remarks today. Everyone should know that Barack Obama is a Christian, but the myth that he is some sort of secret Muslim continues to thrive in right wing circles.
The final Republican talking point that Obama wiped out is their claim that he hates Israel. The president not only mentioned the ongoing peace talks, but specifically mentioned standing up against anti-Semitism. All of the major dirty little faith based smears that Republicans use to motivate the religious right, and attack this president were dealt with today.
Obama showed Republican hypocrites a thing or two about real faith. If they were capable of actual growth as human beings, they would listen closely and learn something from this president.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,233 posts)cliffordu
(30,994 posts)napkinz
(17,199 posts)napkinz
(17,199 posts)sheshe2
(83,746 posts)Poor babies!
Boom!
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Reminds me of...
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHHA that's frikken hysterical!!!!
freshwest
(53,661 posts)DamnYankeeInHouston
(1,365 posts)I'm sure the ACA can help him with that.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Had to post this on FB - I'll get lots of shit - but it's worth it : )
Gothmog
(145,152 posts)President Obama did a great job at this event.
Submariner
(12,503 posts)Ghomert strikes me as an asshole on the razors edge that may take one for the team by pulling out a gun and taking out Obama.
arely staircase
(12,482 posts)Gothmog
(145,152 posts)"I, by the way, have always found Louie to be unbelievably gracious every time I've see him," Obama said at the breakfast.
"Now, I don't watch TV," he added, drawing laughter from the audience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUTcCX_XY4l-W2ba5IxIRhsg&v=HBe_gOdwo9c
arely staircase
(12,482 posts)Gothmog
(145,152 posts)I am glad that he is president in large part because he is able to joke about this type of stupidity
tanyev
(42,552 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)yellowcanine
(35,699 posts)Some will never hear because they have their hands over their ears and are chanting "Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, I can't hear you!"
Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)Iliyah
(25,111 posts)I'm pretty sure the so called Christians from the other party was not listening since they think they are the only ones that have GOD's blessings.
Berlum
(7,044 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)Thank you for finally telling the GOP to grow up! Maybe some of them will get the message now. It takes GOPers a loooong time to learn from their stupid ways.
Boomerproud
(7,952 posts)Ever.
Aristus
(66,327 posts)I love it when I wake up in the morning and Barack Obama is President!
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)I feel the same way, what a warm and refreshing thought after 8 years of Bush hell.
sheshe2
(83,746 posts)Thanks babylonsister, that was beautifully said!
Faux pas
(14,668 posts)russspeakeasy
(6,539 posts)gLibDem
(130 posts)And our thirst for war belies the statement that societies with freedom of religion are less violent.
Or maybe it doesn't since the only acceptable religion in this country is Christianity, so we don't truly have freedom of religion.
brett_jv
(1,245 posts)Would lead to all manner of wild-ass assertions that his absence is absolute PROOF that PBO must either be a secret Muslim, or worse ... a secret Atheist.
As lame as I think it is that such a thing as the 'NPB' actually exists, let alone that the President is obliged to attend, the sad reality (i.e. the lack of ACTUAL religious freedom in our country) is that it's far smarter for PBO to show up and speak his peace ... rather than the converse.
gLibDem
(130 posts)As the event is political. Unfortunately, in the current climate, and for this President in particular, if Jesus himself appeared and blessed this President the President would still be deemed a secret Muslim.
Cha
(297,167 posts)my sister and many others who are Liberal Christians. It's not for me.. but it gives them peace and I say good on them.
An inaugural first: Obama acknowledges 'non-believers'
"On a morning of countless firsts in U.S. history, add this: Barack Obama's inaugural speech is the first time a president has ever explicitly acknowledged not only "Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus" but non-believers as well.
"This inclusiveness is a signature moment in American inaugural history," says David Domke, professor of communications at the University of Washington in Seattle, who has analyzed religious language in seven decades of inaugural and State of the Union addresses."
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-01-20-obama-non-believers_N.htm
"our thirst for war".. yeah, neo-con bullshit.. I know of no one who's in that crazy ass bunch.
gLibDem
(130 posts)As President, religion should never be front and center. As a Christian, faith should be practiced in private, as Christ desired.
As a nation we practice many religions. As a nation we tolerate Judaism and the slightly cultish Christian sects. As a nation we accept only the mainstream Christian sects.
And a nation who has been involved in a shooting war for parts every decade since 1940, we ABSOLUTELY have a thirst for war.
Cha
(297,167 posts)it differently.
Many are "thirsty for war" but not everyone and that's what we're working on.
delrem
(9,688 posts)"... The National Prayer Breakfast is hosted by members of the United States Congress and is organized on their behalf by The Fellowship Foundation, a conservative Christian organization more widely known as "The Family". Initially called the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, the name was changed in 1970 to the National Prayer Breakfast.
It is designed to be a forum for the political, social, and business elite to assemble and build relationships. Since the inception of the National Prayer Breakfast, several U.S. states and cities and other countries have established their own annual prayer breakfast events."
Being aware of this fact doesn't imply *anything* about Obama or any leader who happens to attend. After all, "Every U.S. president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has participated in the annual event." and it'd be totally wrong to say that all these presidents were the same. It's simply an annual event. Obama's speech was uplifting and hit good notes. It mightn't have painted a realistic picture of the USA, considering actual facts about how the USA has acted in the international arena over the past few decades (e.g. the US is a solid defender of the Saudi religious dictatorship, and they're simply awful in every way one can think of). But it did paint the the right picture of "if only it were so...".
Generally speaking "prayer breakfasts" (weekly, monthly,...) seem to be ubiquitous and promote an extreme religious right idea. I first heard of the things over 30 yrs ago when I found a brochure from one in a (very religious, Catholic) friend's car and read it as we traveled along. I was astounded! The event went under the name "full-gospel businessman's breakfast" and the featured sermon was by some dude who (paraphrasing from memory) explained how God informed his business decisions. In short, he explained how driving through the city one day he saw a for sale sign on a property and God spoke to him "buy that property", so he did, and almost overnight he made an enormous profit by flipping it. The upshot was: the fact that he made such an enormous profit was proof that he was blessed by God, that he was righteous - in contrast to the poor etc. who aren't recipients of God's abundance. Like I say, I was astounded! And that point of view is perpetuated to the present day by a certain kind of religious fundamentalist.
So all "Christians" aren't alike. Some have beliefs that run, in my opinion, in absolute and stark contrast and opposition to what *I* understand from my albeit shallow readings of the teachings of Christ. But I learned long ago not to bother trying to argue my case. I just say it and be done with it.
Cha
(297,167 posts)NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)is legitimizing them by even attending.
gLibDem
(130 posts)SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)for the absurd religiosity.. Before he came along with his born-again stuff, most people had gotten past religion in politics. Everyone thought it mattered with Kennedy, but we had gotten well past it ...until Jimmy showed up..
Reagan was the only exception to the rule because he was an actor and knew how to manipulate the media, and once the south was truly lost to us, any politician who tried to run there had to kowtow to the preachers & their minions, hoping to peel off enough votes to win.
Since him, it has become a regular facet.. He figured out that racism trumped everything, and the religious zealots gave him a pass.
gLibDem
(130 posts)The sad thing is I think Carter actually tried to follow the teachings of Christ. The rest have been charlatans.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)gLibDem
(130 posts)joshcryer
(62,270 posts)It is a large event with politicians from all around DC. It'd be wrong to just blow them off.
gLibDem
(130 posts)In my opinion, obviously, if he were an open, card carrying atheist, it would be ridiculous for him to attend. Why not attend a National Astrologers convention.
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)Silly.
The President attends the correspondents dinner even though the media empire isn't really conductive to journalism or free speech.
Should not atheism be respected at a gathering respecting the US's freedom of religion?
gLibDem
(130 posts)it makes as much sense for an Atheist to attend an Astrologer's Convention as a Prayer breakfast.
And as long as the President feels inclined to participate in the National Press Club Dinner, why not visit Netroots?
He should visit neither.
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)You're missing the point, the National Prayer Breakfast (which represents religion) is not significantly different than the Correspondents Dinner (which represents free speech and journalism). The biggest takeaway you should have is that the Correspondents Dinner and the National Prayer Breakfast are handled by independent entities. It is an excellent example of the separation of Speech, Church and State.
gLibDem
(130 posts)As for the Prayer Breakfast and the Correspondents Dinner, they represent the merging of church and state and the merging of the state and the press respectively.
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)Because he didn't.
gLibDem
(130 posts)Showcasing the theory that gravity is caused by a giant u-shaped magnet at the center of the earth? It is you know. I read it in a book. And I know.
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)And he demolished Ham.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Separation of church and state is just about the best idea ever. Too bad it's not put into practice enough.
gLibDem
(130 posts)had the wisdom to enshrine the concept in Constitution or we would be in real trouble now.
Unknown Beatle
(2,672 posts)Said the man that uses drones to kill innocent people. Yes, I understand that he's going after some bad dudes, but sometimes they get it wrong and kill the wrong party, and Obama still refuses to stop using drones even after it is revealed that the drone strike killed innocent civilians and missed the target. Collateral damage? Nah.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)at least try harder, and I know PBO is one of us on this matter. These are easily the most concise and wise of the recorded holy words of what it means to be a successful human being, and Jesus and Buddha and Krishna and all the other Masters score highly on this list.
Jesus spoke often about the wickedness of the Scribes and the Pharisees...and every time I think of that, I think of the Republicans. He threw them out of the temple...the only recorded "violence" in his recorded life...along with their moneychanger/scams/riches.
"They say they speak the truth, but the truth is not within them."
Enrique
(27,461 posts)they just make new ones.
hue
(4,949 posts)Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)busterbrown
(8,515 posts)if your a right wing Racist... No speech is gonna sooth the soul...
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Frankly, he should have snubbed the thing.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Barack Obama Speaks at National Prayer Breakfast - Full Speech
Published on Feb 6, 2014
Thanks for the link!
progressoid
(49,988 posts)I don't think so. There isn't much he or anyone can do to change the minds of these people.
Jesus Christ could come down and personally accept Obama into heaven and they wouldn't believe it.
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,112 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)All too often, religion is just another excuse to persecute others.
I am totally, 100% with our President on this issue. Religious tolerance is essential for our national security and domestic harmony.
gademocrat7
(10,656 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)pukes won't understand a word.
LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)believe THEY're a besieged minority in this country and all the while they want to discriminate against anyone who isn't one of them.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)Vattel
(9,289 posts)"Going forward, we will keep standing for religious freedom around the world. And that includes, by the way, opposing blasphemy and defamation of religion measures, which are promoted sometimes as an expression of religion, but, in fact, all too often can be used to suppress religious minorities."
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)LGBT people worldwide. His presence simply validates a vicious and corrupt group, the Family. Of course Obama is dear friends with Tom Coburn the guy who worked out the pay offs to the women his fellow Christians had extramarital affairs with, Coburn basically the pimp of that group, working out the financial details of their sexual lives.
So, yeah, whatever, a bunch of conservative religious folks with iffy ethics heard a speech from another religious guy. Big Woop.
obxnacy
(27 posts)why is it so important that obama is a "christian". that breakfast is a joke. christians are hypocrites using their "pure" religion
as the only worthwhile way to live while rarely following their own "beliefs". and why give a rat's ass what republicans say about obama's or anyone else's religious beliefs - they don't practice their own!