Obama: faith has been "hijacked" by the religious right

[RedEarth]

Obama Corresponds To David Brody — Denounces Merging Of Religion And GOP

In a new e-mail interview with David Brody, political blogger for Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network, Barack Obama stood by his rhetoric that faith has been "hijacked" by the religious right: "When you have pastors and television pundits who appear to explicitly coordinate with one political party; when you're implying that your fellow Americans are traitors, terrorist sympathizers or akin to the devil himself; then I think you're attempting to hijack the faith of those who follow you for your own personal or political ends."

http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/204017.aspx

[That Is Quite Enough]

1. Ramen to that.

[sandnsea]

2. The whole thing is just excellent

This is the kind of religious talk we need in this country, since we're never going to get away from it. I also hope people notes he uses the term "we" when talking of progressive politics. Many people have been asking for that for years and years.

"For progressives, I think we should recognize the role that values and culture play in addressing some of our most urgent social problems. As I've said many times before, the problems of poverty and racism, the uninsured and the unemployed aren't simply technical problems in search of a ten-point plan. They're rooted in both societal indifference and individual callousness - in the imperfections of man.

For example, I believe in keeping guns out of our inner cities, and that our leaders must say so in the face of the gun manufacturers' lobby. But I also believe that when a gang-banger shoots indiscriminately into a crowd because he feels somebody disrespected him, we've got a moral problem. There's a hole in that young man's heart - a hole that the government alone cannot fix. So solving these problems will require changes in government policy, but it will also require changes in hearts and a change in minds. I think progressives would do well to take this to heart."

[CanonRay]

3. Thank you Obama

for saying what EVERY politician should be saying.

[Forkboy]

4. Good answers.

Thanks for posting that.Very interesting interview.

[Joe1942]

5. Thank you Obama!

Obama sure has my attention! The religious right destroyed the GOP and they will destroy the country if they are not stopped. It appears that only Obama has the guts to speak out against them.

[earth mom]

6. Religion doesn't belong in politics-that's what Obama should be saying. nt

[Scriptor Ignotus]

8. I don't think anyone can get elected in this country

making such a statement, sadly. It's pretty clear in the constitution, but apparently not so clear in the minds of the electorate. I wish Obama were more secular, but that just goes to show no candidate is going to be 100% what you want.

[PurityOfEssence]

7. Sadly, it's becoming a battle between "our" christians and "their" christians

The net result is that religion is necessary in the public realm.

It's good what he's saying about reactionaries using the hammer of faith to smash their way to total control of the country, but if the only way of countering this is to use faith, we just wind up with more faith. The intimation that'll be made in the minds of many and the flow of the media is that religion is necessary and is a natural factor in the generation of public policy. The rest of us are just sub-humans; it's nice that they still suffer our existence somewhat.

Deeeee-pressing.

I'm more than a bit uneasy with the ease with which he trots this out; the faddishness of the new star on the block is messianic enough without slathering it up with supernatural frosting.

Sometimes the easy way isn't the best way.

Even if this particular encounter is just him responding to questions, it's still him responding to questions about his deliberate action and since this is getting to be a truly infantile and simplistic campaign season, it's only fair to point out that "he started it".

[Bryn]

9. I wish there were a class action lawsuit against those TV preachers

They got my mother and siblings to believe that Bush is the messiah. THIS IS A BIG LIE!! I am the only one who refused to go over to the dark side. Even today they still believe Bush is "the man of God". Who got them to believe that?? THOSE TV PREACHERS. Especially Hagee and Robertson. All my life my family was the Democrat, now they've changed to repugs. They think I am stupid for refusing to join them. Actually a preacher has no business getting people involved with politics. There should be a separation of church and state, FIRMLY.