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Democrats and Faith
So far, Obama's faith-based progressivism has caused little liberal backlash. Professional secularists, such as Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, were immediately critical of Obama's faith-based speech: "They say the devil is in the details. When it comes to the faith-based initiative, I'd rather just let the devil have the details, along with the entire initiative." But liberal bloggers were more skeptical than angry. One called the faith-based initiative "creepy." This is more distaste than disdain.
Perhaps Obama is given leeway on this issue because of his own background and evident sincerity. To remove this element of his political approach would be to remove large chunks of his biography. As a Chicago community organizer, Obama saw the indispensable role of religious institutions in compassion and social change. And that example was a cause of his religious conversion. "So it's 1985," he explains, "and I'm in Chicago, and I'm working with these churches, and with lots of laypeople who are much older than I am. And I found that I recognized in these folks a part of myself. I learned that everyone's got a sacred story when you take the time to listen … And slowly, I came to realize that something was missing as well—that without an anchor for my beliefs, without a commitment to a particular community of faith, at some level I would always remain apart, and alone. And it's around this time that some pastors I was working with came up to me and asked if I was a member of a church. 'If you're organizing churches,' they said, 'it might be helpful if you went to church once in a while'."
His faith-based speech this week represents Obama at his best: creative, morally rooted and generous. It also represents American politics at its best—a belief in service and citizenship that genuinely transcends partisanship. Obama has embraced the faith-based initiative associated with Bush (though the senator disagrees with the president on the rights of groups that receive federal money to hire according to religious beliefs). John McCain, we should remember, has been a strong supporter of the AmeriCorps service program associated with Bill Clinton. Effective candidates, and effective presidents, adopt the best of the past and brand it as their own.
Gerson, a speechwriter and policy adviser to President Bush, is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a NEWSWEEK contributor.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: HDavidson @ 07/12/2008 7:27:37 PM
Comment: Yeah judgment like voting NO for the NEW GI BILL, Hey Mr. McCain who are we suposed to be killing in Iraq, sunni or shia? What's a Kurd? And even though the US weapons inspectors said there were NO weapons, expolsives, or ammunition from Iran, and the latest NIE said Iran had backed away from uranium enrichment...why are you deterimined to take this country into another, a third war? Is it because of your "experience" and "Judgment"?
Posted By: HolyRoller @ 07/12/2008 12:00:56 PM
Comment: Saturday, July 12, 2008 Email to a FriendAdvertisement
The race for the White House is tied. The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows Barack Obama and John McCain each attract 43% of the vote. When "leaners" are included, Obama holds a statistically insignificant 47% to 46% advantage. Today is the first time that McCain???s support has moved above 45% since Obama clinched the nomination on June 3. It???s also the first time the candidates have been tied since Obama clinched the Democratic nomination
NOBAMA!!!
Posted By: HDavidson @ 07/11/2008 10:50:38 PM
Comment: OMG Look at what CornHolyO posted...it's amazing...
Posted By: HolyRoller @ 07/11/2008 21:56:41
Comment: 4+ a gallon. If Israel bombs Iran US gets involved, McBushes wet dream, except we have NO military to support a third war, more of our children die, which if fine with McCain as he does not support them anyway oh yeah, soon 7-8/gallon.
McCain-Killing and Drilling now
"Handsome"-kNOws it will have no immediate effect on prices and infact would take years and caot billions to even get to, cost passed on to the US in dollars on the gallon, and if there ever was oil found, NO promise from any of the US oil folks to NEVER RAISE PRICES AGAIN ABOVE 1$ a gal.
McCain-Nucular Energy Plants Now but also thinks that NE plants have root and grow in the ground
"Handsome"- tells George Bush the word is NUCLEAR...
McCain-Clean Coal Energy Now, thinks this means polishing all the little pieces of coal, insists this would be a great job for illegals.
"Handsom"-NO problem with it at all, unless you ask Sean Hannity.
McCain-Shale Oil Now, thinks that Shale is another faction of epople from Iraq, sunni Shia, Shale, and "What the hell is a Kurd."
"Handsome"-NO problem here either, wow he's on the ball.
McCain-Independent from Middle East Oil or stay in Iraq for 100 yrs? What ever comes first
Hussein-kNOws, they are out of oil in Saudi in 2015, let them dry up and blow away. along with the oil a$$es here.
McCain-American Hero, crashed 5 fighters before being shot down, cried "my daddy is an admiral" when he was caught, willingly did 32 propagnada films for the VC, earning the nickname ":Song Bird" (google it)because as soon as he was caught he started singing for the enemy, lied to America's POWs when he said he wouild never politicize his status as a "pow", and then never stopped doing it. Turned his back on our troops on the recent GI Bill Vote, where he no showed and no voted because he was to afraid to face the music and just vote against it...my hero.
Hussein-Not only out of power but DEAD and even though that was our "mission" we are still in Iraq and our children are still sying,
NOTHINGLIKEOBAMA!!!
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WOW! What a statement, good for you ConrHolyO, way to go...glad to see you come around