Christian leaders meet privately with Obama

[Divine Discontent]

Christian leaders meet privately with Obama

(CHICAGO) Barack Obama discussed Darfur, the Iraq war, gay rights, abortion and other issues Tuesday with Christian leaders, including conservatives who have been criticized for praising the Democratic presidential candidate.

Bishop T.D. Jakes, a prominent black clergyman who heads a Dallas megachurch, said Obama took questions, listened to participants and discussed his "personal journey of faith."

The discussion "went absolutely everywhere," Jakes told The Associated Press, and "just about every Christian stripe was represented in that room."

Jakes, who does not endorse candidates and said he also hopes to meet with Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said some participants clearly have political differences with Obama. The senator's support for abortion rights and gay rights, among other issues, draws opposition from religious conservatives. Some conservatives have criticized Jakes for praising Obama.


http://www.newsweek.com/id/140938/page/1

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Oh, how NICE of them all to be discussing Gay rights! In more than one location in the story it says that Gay rights are discussed - not just GLBT marriage. I hope, and believe, Obama stood up for our rights regardless of what one's personal opinion is, and said they can teach what they want - but the constitution is meant to back the people! As a Christian, who is gay, I find several of these people's behavior's comical and downright richy, arrogant, snobby, and judgmental in behavior and action. Franklin Graham is no Billy - I'll just say that about him.


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[Skittles]

1. discussing abortion with a bunch of men

oh goody

[Triana]

4. Yea. Yee-haa. The Patriarchy discusses what women are allowed to do with their bodies...

...again. Pffft!

[pollo poco]

16. real change? n/t

[still_one]

8. Obama has always voted for choice, the right to privicy, and for Roe

In my mind he will appoint judges who support those principles along with gender and civil rights

[davidinalameda]

2. I'm sure the religion bashers will criticize this meeting

[Skittles]

3. why shouldn't they?

ever heard of separation of church and state?

[still_one]

5. and what does this have to do with seperation of church and state?

He is meeting with a bunch of clergy, big deal

[Skittles]

6. some of us wish politicians would stop this kind of pandering

we know they never will but we WISH they would

http://atheism.about.com/b/a/258684.htm

[still_one]

7. I understand your point, but for arguments sake those members of the clergy

are citizens also

However, if Congress trys to make a law establishing a religion, or religious groups try to impose their religious dogma in public schools, or government establishments, I am right with you

[davidinalameda]

10. go see my last post

[Doctor_J]

13. Who says he was pandering?

Did he back off of his support for gay rights? They are a constituency who wanted to know about his views on their interests. If he met with union reps from across the country to discuss free trade, health care, minimum wage, anti-trust law enforcement, would that be offensive?

[davidinalameda]

9. people of faith don't vote?

over the next few months, you'll have labor leaders, environmental leaders, business leaders, etc meeting with Obama

religious leaders should be excluded?

[Skittles]

12. yes...unfortunately, they vote n/t

[davidinalameda]

18. WE do vote

[pollo poco]

17. in this country

We are not called religion bashers.
We are called constitutionalists.
This is not Saudi Arabia (yet).
But do keep working on it.

[davidinalameda]

19. so wanting to deny people of faith a voice is being a constitutionalist?

interesting

[lxlxlxl]

11. Wither the church?

I'm personally anti-clerical, but I do not think it takes a PHD or SDS alumni to realize that in a country where less than a majority votes, it seems like people who are the most threatened or fearful are the ones you can count on to pull the lever. This is just How Things Are.

If Sen. Obama can help the country realize that religion can introduce people understand to the idea of a just god who does not favor people by birth, I think we're moving in the right direction...

There was a great interview on Ian Master's show (find the archive on kpfk) about how the most "influential" evangelical can barely get 700 people to sign a petition, or another interview mentioned that small vote differences in national elections is pushing all sides of political debate into zero-sum game and winner take all mentalities. We need overwhelming majorities.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. Our nominee

Should meditate on all of the great things his associations with clergy have brought to his campaign so far, and consider his own Scriptures, which say that the nature of a tree is seen in the fruit it produces.
We need to win an election, not pack an alter call.

[pollo poco]

15. creepy

Get these religious people away from my government.
How about that new Kristian youth thing he's into?
This is one of the things about BO that really gives me pause.
Is he trying to prove that he's not a muslim?
That he's the right kind of crazy for our crazy country of fanatics?

Even Jesus said "Render unto Ceasar..." Pretty strong statement in favor of the separation of god and state.

Bronze age superstitions have no place in our secular democracy.
They are free to worship as they please, that is enough.

[Alcibiades]

20. This is simply a measure of how unpopular Bush is

That these folks are meeting with Obama. They are covering their asses, and perhaps some of them have woken up to how truly inept the Republicans are.