Your morning jolt: Questioning Barack Obama’s religion
Earlier this month, Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky, the U.S. Senate minority leader, was asked about a poll that indicated that nearly one in five Americans believe President Barack Obama is a Muslim.
“The president says he’s a Christian. I take him at his word,” McConnell said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
This morning’s editorial in the Augusta Chronicle doesn’t even cut Obama that tiny bit of slack. The first two paragraphs:
Much has been made recently over questions of the president’s religious views.
In reporting a poll that says 18 percent of Americans believe Barack Obama is a Muslim, national media have condescendingly added the words “mistakenly” and “incorrectly.” Yet, it’s quite possible Americans aren’t as dumb as the media think: Maybe they’re aware of Mr. Obama’s Christian affiliation — and just don’t believe it.
We are beginning to tread some very shaky ground, ladies and gentlemen.
***
Thousands of Tea Party activists gather for a "Restoring America" rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT
On somewhat the same topic, several news agencies interpreted Saturday’s Glenn Beck rally in Washington D.C. as a bid by the Fox News commentator to assume leadership of the nation’s Christian conservatives. Some, including CNN, alluded to Beck’s Mormon faith.
Ralph Reed, the former state GOP chairman and leader of the Christian Coalition, attended the Beck event and had this to say on the web site of his Faith and Freedom Coalition:
The evangelicals participating in the Restore Honor event are not endorsing Glenn Beck’s theology, nor is he asking them to; they are joining in his clarion call to restore America’s honor and founding principles.
Together, we and millions of our fellow citizens are calling America back to its Judeo-Christian values of faith, hard work, individual initiative, the centrality of marriage and family, hope, charity, and relying on God and civic and faith-based organizations rather than government for our security and prosperity.
***
On Sunday morning, if you watched the “Georgia Gang” on Fox5, you heard Phil Kent say that Republican nominee for governor Nathan Deal has made public his income tax records.
Deal hasn’t, spokesman Brian Robinson said this morning. Robinson wouldn’t say exactly when Deal might do so – but implied it would be soon.
This spring, Deal requested an extension on filing his 2009 personal income taxes – a common procedure. As soon as the former congressman files his ‘09 returns, Deal will make public several years’ worth.
But don’t look for that to satisfy the Democratic nominee for governor Roy Barnes.
The Barnes campaign will continue to call on Deal to release the income tax returns of his auto salvage corporation – the company that got wrapped up in the investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics.
***
When it comes to ethics investigations, Republican nominee for governor Nathan Deal has found an unlikely ally: U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. – the most powerful African-American in Congress.
In an interview with Larry Peterson of the Savannah Morning News, Clyburn said the Office of Congressional Ethics – a relatively new entity that acts as a kind of grand jury, making preliminary inquiries — has an “accusatory mentality about every allegation.”
The OCE has initiated investigations of several African-American members of Congress, including U.S. Reps. Maxine Waters of California and Charlie Rangel of New York.
Clyburn made his remarks at a gathering of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. From the SMN:
Clyburn, the House majority whip, said he has no opinion about the validity of the case against Deal.
But he said the ethics office investigatory process “is being used by … people who want to make mischief.”
Clyburn said the office lets inquiries be initiated “from a newspaper story or headline … implying things that may or may not have any factual basis.”
He said such stories or headlines form the basis of complaints to the office by “third-party groups.”
Among such groups, he said, is Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The organization filed a complaint against Deal after an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article was published.
“People get a wild hair,” Clyburn said concerning members of such groups, “and they just say things.”
The congressman also said he is concerned that a “CIA guy” plays an important role in the office. Former Central Intelligence Agency Director Porter Goss is the vice chairman.
***
Last week, U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Marietta, outlined a post-November agenda for Congress during a conversation with voters in Calhoun. From the Chattanooga Times Free Press:
A few of his constituents asked Gingrey what could be done to stop new health care reform from going into effect, and at least one asked him to vote to repeal it. He said that, logistically, it would be a challenge to repeal the laws because President Barack Obama has veto power.
Gingrey, an obstetrician-gynecologist, said he expects Republicans to pick up enough seats in Congress so they can “control the purse” and take away funding for some of the reform’s programs.
***
Over at InsiderAdvantage, Dick Pettys has the body count of lawmakers departing the General Assembly this year:
In all, 17 senators who were on the 2008 ballot won’t be on the 2010 card. In the House, 36 representatives will be gone.
The House losses include Majority Leader Jerry Keen and former interim Speaker (and speaker pro tem) Mark Burkhalter, both retiring, along with Minority Leader DuBose Porter, who lost his primary bid for governor.
All are veteran hands. But it can be argued that the 2004 loss was even more severe, at least in terms of longevity.
Among those retiring that year was 85-year-old Sen. Hugh Gillis of Soperton, who took office before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and served under 14 governors. He chose to retire rather than face another incumbent – Republican Jack Hill of Reidsville – in a district redrawn by a federal court.
Also retiring in 2004: Larry Walker, the House Democratic leader, after 32 years in the chamber; Democrat Tom Buck, the House Appropriations Chairman who had served 38 years, and Republican Lynn Westmoreland, the House minority leader who led the GOP fight against the Democrat-drawn redistricting maps.
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92 comments Add your comment
Roy Barnes
August 30th, 2010
12:39 pm
Jim,
Thanks for your complete commitment to the Democratic Party.
Keep drinking the Kool-Aid.
Roy
David Granger
August 30th, 2010
12:39 pm
Excellent post at 12:23, Commonsenseagigator. I’m a libertarian, and it’s nice to see a liberal who is so devoted to the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. (As opposed to just a judge’s whim, or opinion that the law SHOULD say something it clearly doesn’t.)
I do not believe President Obama is a Muslim. He states that he is a Christian, and that’s good enough for me. Professing a certain faith is all anyone can ever really do, since it’s impossible to see within a person’s heart. But as you point out, based on the Constitution’s clear words, it doesn’t matter one way or the other.
I also appreciate your pointing out (whether you intended to or not), that the Arizona illegal immigration law is perfectly valid under Article Six. This law does NOT conflict with federal immigration law, and is…in fact…an EXACT replication of it. It does not allow state law enforcement officials to do a single thing that federal immigration officials are not legally allowed to do…so it is quite plain that the laws do NOT conflict. The only difference is that it will now be enforced, whereas the federal government had been turning a blind eye and choosing NOT to enforce it.
mr
August 30th, 2010
12:47 pm
Enter your comments here
GDAWG65
August 30th, 2010
12:51 pm
Obama’s religion is whatever serves him best at the time.
David S
August 30th, 2010
12:53 pm
Like everyone else in Washinton DC and virtually every state capitol in our nation, Obama worships at the alter of the almighty state. His religion is the religion of government. He believes that all blessings, knowledge, and rights eminate from the state. He is no Christian, but neither was his predecessor or the several dozen before him. They have all been bloodthirsty killers of innocents and the destroyers of freedom. That certainly was not the way of Christ. What you claim to be is immaterial. As they say, actions speak louder than words.
Saxby Chambliss
August 30th, 2010
12:53 pm
Get over it already. Mr. Obama was elected president of the USA in Nov of 08 with a healthy majority of the electoral college and 54% of the popular vote. Sling mud until the cows cime home if it makes you feel better. Just like all presidents before him entities that are responsible for vetting and overturning every stone did so and found nothing significant to keep him off the ballot. I understand demonizing Muslims is in vogue, and village idiots take pleasure in being led by their delusions. Village idiots you’re better off drinking Budwieser for the next two or six years. At least you will not just be stupid but drunk and stupid.
Brad
August 30th, 2010
12:54 pm
As long as Republicans waste their time on meaningless stuff like this it will be hard for them to when the next election. There are so many things wrong with the Obama Administration right now, why not attack on the issues? This stuff distracts and make right wingers look like looney toons to the people who are down the middle and the people in the middle are the ones that win elections.
David
August 30th, 2010
12:55 pm
I know it’s been ten years but can someone remind me when George Bush released his birth certificate?
songbird
August 30th, 2010
12:56 pm
I wonder how many of the Muslim haters/Fox News lovers know that a Saudi prince (Muslim) is the second largest stockholder in Fox News Corp?
Bama Boy
August 30th, 2010
12:57 pm
@ Pamela you are a IDIOT and a perfect example of everything wrong
with todays America
Just Peachy
August 30th, 2010
12:59 pm
Bill you couldn’t have said it better! I find it amazing people are even talking about this. My favorite are the so called “Christians” that are not pointing fingers at those that are Mormon, Jewish, etc. Get over yourselves! Last I looked what you’re referring to as “mormon” is the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. The name in and of itself proclaims their christianity. Now here I go getting involved in these hateful comments. Imno when your day of judgment comes let me know how that works out for you.
Mr. KnowitAll
August 30th, 2010
1:05 pm
The WHOLE MAN is a fake. He is a completely EMPTY SUIT.
1. He doesn’t have, and spends millions to keep from showing–a STANDARD valid birth certificate.
2. He says he is Christian, but shows almost NO inclination for Christian beliefs.
3. Won’t come clean on how he traveled to Packistan on a US passport–OR how he got the money for international travel.
4. –says he made good enough grades to get from Occ. College to Columbia–but won’t show proof.
5. Says he attended Columbia, but won’t show his grades or proof he even attended class.
6. Says he made good enough grades at Columbia to get into Harvard Law–but won’t show his grades or ANY work effort while there.
7. Elected President of the Law Review, although the articles contributed prior to his election is few and shallow. Nothing of note:
7. Graduated from Harvard Law, but won;t show any work effort or grades, including thesis.
8. Attended Trinity Church–black theology fire-and-brimstone hate-filled diatribes against the USA from the pulpit. Hardly your standard Christian Church.
9. Used red-tape and trickery to eliminate opposition to his 1st run at the Ill. house. He got in unopposed and without a single debate.
10. Worked at a series of jobs with little to show for it–other than an extended working trip a south Pacific island, to write a thesis for Univ. of Chicago–without substantive result and payback to the university. Later, his book “Dreams of my Father” is published.
Folks, you don’t need a roadmap or dictionary to understand without equivocation and debate–this man’s background is a complete enigma and empty vessel.
We voted in a ghost with zero proof of who he really was—and now we know.
Corey
August 30th, 2010
1:05 pm
After leaving office Mr. Obama will travel the globe making mega millions giving speeches. While in Western Europe he will constantly have to deflect questions and criticisms of the xenophobic, simpleton mindset that has permeated American society with a Havardess response. Riddle me this? Why will Bush, Chenney et.al. not set foot on foreign soil? Can you say, “war crimes indictment”?
SKB
August 30th, 2010
1:05 pm
Brad, republicans are in favor to win the house in the next election, how do you explain that? American people want to know this man’s true identity. He supports islamic mosque on ground zero, while so many Americans oppose it. He is not with the
American people, he doesn’t understand us. This is a country found on Judea- Christian faith. He is turning America into a socialist state, as his policy indicates. let’s be honest here.. With out Acorn’s corruption hen could never be president.
Truthpaste
August 30th, 2010
1:07 pm
@Bama boy. Once again, you spit in the cup, not drink out of the spit cup. You are out of touch with yourself, the constitution, and the rest of the world.
Reason has left the building.
August 30th, 2010
1:09 pm
I simply have no words.
Bill Orvis White
August 30th, 2010
1:11 pm
The biggest loss is the Honorable Senator Daniel Weber. He is a fine man who cared about his consituents, God, family and Pat Boone CDs.
God Bless you and your family Senator Weber,
Bill
Gary
August 30th, 2010
1:13 pm
He is a Christian because it helps him politically. I believe, with no real evidence or proof, that most liberal Harvard elites are athists or at the least agnostics. That however, does not make him a bad person or president. His actions make him a bad president. But again, that is just my perception. Not because Fox or Rush told me. The media is acting like it is some sort of conspiracy. I think there are a lot of people sitting in church on Sunday who regularly question their faith. Many who are there for a spouse or their kids but do not really believe.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 30th, 2010
1:14 pm
There is only one Creator, G-d of the universe, the proclaimed “King of America.” All sectarian creeds in the United States of America are inferior to the three mottoes by which patriot Americans “re-connect” with “that Infinite Power Which rules the destinies of the universe,” The American Creed:
“Annuit Coeptis,” the Creator, G-d of the universe, alone, in covenant with The Founders, is the Origin and Source of all our blessings: Justice pursued, Righteousness established, and Evil abolished through the guidance of an inspired and enlightened Electorate:
“E Pluribus Unum” – The People – in conscious awareness and rejection of “pseudo aristoi” – sovereign individuals, the yeoman artistry: one new Nation under G-d alone, “The Garden of the World,” into which all nations of the world flow:
“Novus Ordo Seclorem” (The New Secular Order) – Supplanting for all time History’s default system of rule, caesaropapism, in whatever guise, faction, or iteration, the Ancien Régime’s “Old Sectarian Order” fascist plutocracy;
That faction is the “Fifth Column” of the Roman Anti-Christ, for which James Guckert’s 9/11-committing White House lover, George W. Bush – whose father assassinated John Kennedy to send us to die for papal Vietnam and to restore the Vatican’s bankers to their illegal and unconstitutional control of our money (ended for a time by President Kennedy), and whose grandfather was money conduit from the Vatican banker Rockefellers’ coffers and the Roman Catholic Church collection plates in America to the author of “I Paid Hitler,” papal baron Fritz “The Rockefeller of Germany” Thyssen – and, born and raised Roman Catholic (no doubt in recovery given his history of abuse and addiction) Glen Beck work. Did you never wonder why only Roman Catholics on the Supreme Court voted in the criminal majority on ‘Bush v. Gore’ and ‘Citizens United’?
“…a faction has entered into a conspiracy with the enemies of their country to chain down the Legislature at the feet of both…” T.J. to James Madison, March 1796
Any attempting to place any creed above the American Creed is a foreigner or a traitor and should be regarded as such.
spectator
August 30th, 2010
1:16 pm
I see the 30% minority (left wing liberals/socialists)is very strident and vocal today. Have you noticed that the nearer we come to their overwhelming defeat in Nov. elections and 2012 election the more frantic and hysterical their defense of “all things Obama” becomes? Thanks for the good laughs, lefties.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 30th, 2010
1:22 pm
Divide and conquer, eh “spectator?” If Obama weren’t just the lesser evil working for the same fascist plutocracy’s “Democrat branch,” Bush and Cheney would already have hanged for 9/11. Guess you felt George W. Bush’s getting cheated into office by the Roman Catholics on the Supreme Court after dodging the draft and staying drunk was OK. You also had no problem with his White House overnights with his $200/hr homosexual prostitute James Guckert/Jeff Gannon. A “bird” of your kind of “Christianity,” right?
James P. Jackson
August 30th, 2010
1:22 pm
Be advised that the AJC is the political rag of the Democrat Party.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 30th, 2010
1:24 pm
As if your saying it made it so.
Jon Lester
August 30th, 2010
1:35 pm
Can you imagine how Thomas Paine would be treated if he lived in our time and “The Age of Reason” were a new book?
I heard recently that there’s an agnostic candidate for prime minister in Australia who’s polling rather well, which I didn’t expect to see happen this soon. I think America is still decades away from seeing the same thing happen here.
songbird
August 30th, 2010
1:38 pm
religion is the root of all evil, bring on the agnostics.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 30th, 2010
1:44 pm
To be agnostic in America is ignorance or a rejection of the Founders’ covenant, and cosmological common sense. No sense reinventing the wheel. Deists were called Deists because they believed in the Deity. Get It? There is but one G-d, and America, the prophesied New Israel, insofar as we pursue Justice, Establish Righteousness in Truth, and abolish Evil, is G-d’s Country – and shall be blessed by divine Providence accordingly. Think this is not a rational universe? Any with a different take on the Creed, Covenant, Founding and Constitution doesn’t have much claim to the name “American,” by G-d.
John K
August 30th, 2010
1:45 pm
It would be interesting to see what would happen if so many of these folks got their wish and we did live in a Christian Theocracy. Can you imagine the infighting? The claims of who is and who is not a Christian? All the blowhards proclaiming they have the direct pipeline to God? They would destroy themselves.
Maybe it’s something worth suffering through to finally get to the other side. One of rational thought where people who choose to prescribe to a religion keep it as it was meant to be: personal.
No Use For a Name
August 30th, 2010
1:46 pm
The Augusta Chronicle was on the verge of bankruptcy. Now it seems to be morally bankrupt, as the only way it can get hits or page views is publishing this crap. To the employees of the Chronicle: Some of y’all are good people, but you now work for the most craptacular paper in the state.
lmno
August 30th, 2010
1:54 pm
“Imno when your day of judgment comes let me know how that works out for you.”
OK, I will remember to do that. I hope it works out well for me and that I am not judged to harshly for not believing that Jesus came to America 1800 years ago and that dark skinned people are the result of people turning from God.
Brad
August 30th, 2010
2:05 pm
SKB-You explain that by record unemployment, bogus stimulus package, unwanted healthcare reform package, etc, etc. We can go on and on on his failures. Stick to the issues. What if he was a Muslim? You can’t impeach him based on that so why waste the time. Americans will vote Obama out of office based on his abysmal record.
duke
August 30th, 2010
2:12 pm
We are indeed treading shaky ground, Jim. Future historians will marvel that the news media so completely abdicated their responsibility to investigate candidate Obama. We have elected a man President without knowing anything at all about his background. I know quite a bit about it, Jim, but no thanks to you or your colleagues in the mainstream news media.
Obama is a radical progressive socialist, bordering on communist. His own autobiography openly confirms what anyone knows who has done due diligence: from his youth unto this day, Obama has openly sought out hardline communists for his closest friends and advisors. He has appointed them to key positions, and they are implementing the communist agenda. Government has taken control of banking and finance, automotive, health care, and a number of smaller industries. Next on the list, energy; and next, I predict, will be food.
Obama’s pastor in Chicago, Jeremiah Wright, preaches Black Liberation Theology. It is communist ideology expressed in Christian terminology, with a nasty racial twist.
Obama is as much Muslim as he is Christian. He was born to a Muslim father, was given a Muslim name, and spent several of his most formative years in a Muslim school in a Muslim country. He probably tells Muslims in private that he is a Muslim. Some prominent Muslims have asserted that he told them he was. He is probably sincere when he claims to be a Christian or a Muslim, because he has no idea what it means to be a true believer. He sees every religion as a different way to express the same truth, namely, his socialist utopian vision.
Obama could end the birth certificate controversy by simply releasing his long-form birth certificate, as John McCain was required to do. But Obama has spent millions of dolllars in attorney fees to keep secret that and all other documents concerning his past.
Road Scholar
August 30th, 2010
2:19 pm
SKB: “American people want to know this man’s true identity. He supports islamic mosque on ground zero, while so many Americans oppose it.” The proposed mosque is 2 blocks away from ground zero! You still have to walk past strip clubs and hookers to travel there from Ground Zero! How far away (# of blocks) is sensitive?
“He is not with the American people, he doesn’t understand us.” He is an American; he doesn’t walk with you because he’s the president!
“This is a country found on Judea- Christian faith.” No, the country was founded based on freedom of religion. ALL religions!
” He is turning America into a socialist state, as his policy indicates. let’s be honest here..” Obama has been a moderate since day one of his presidency. If you don’t like the “socialist” programs, do not partake in Social Security, Medicare, welfare, unemployment, FDIC rights, our defense, etc.
“With out Acorn’s corruption hen could never be president.” Substitute Republican incompetence for Acorn’s corruption.
Wow! How could you be so wrong (and so uninformed) in your original post? You don’t have to answer. You may wear yourself out! Oh, and hold the insults!
Jon Lester
August 30th, 2010
2:51 pm
Anyone who thinks Obama is a communist is in dire need of remedial studies. I’m not convinced he’s even very liberal.
Jon Lester
August 30th, 2010
2:53 pm
The linguistic roots of the names “Barack” and “Hussein” were in existence for a very long time before the seventh century AD.
Voice of Reason
August 30th, 2010
3:20 pm
Why the hell does it matter whether or not the president is a Christian? Is there some rule that the president MUST be a Christian? Personally, I believe him when he says he’s a Christian, but even if he wasn’t, it would not bother me because I am open-minded enough to realize that a person’s religion is a private issue in his or her life, and it rarely affect’s one’s job performance. Why can’t you people just worship in your own way and stop worrying about how other people worship? It should not concern you! Who cares if Obama is or isn’t Christian? As long as it doesn’t affect his job performance, I don’t give a $#!t what religion he is. Remember, folks, Jesus said, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” That means people of ALL religions, not just Christians.
Believing
August 30th, 2010
4:28 pm
Barack Hussein Obama is the President of the United States because it is God’s Will
SAME STUFF
August 30th, 2010
6:02 pm
He is Presdent Obama to all of you idiots!
I am boycotting the TEA BAGGERS PARTY AND THEIR BACKERS! Let them see how it feels when we call them out.
Atlanta and people with sense, let’s boycott GP and the Koch Brothers for helping create this atmosphere…
They are rich and don’t give a rat’s azz about anyone… Typical….
Don’t believe me, read this:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer?printable=true
JL
August 30th, 2010
8:44 pm
One of the comments mentioned that the President did not release all of his transcripts. Neither did McCain or Palin. Palin’s would have been interesting because she transferred so many times so you would have had grades and grades and grades and grades and grades. Fortunately she only had her BA which I congratulate her on but can you imagine more transcripts.
Sabagio Mauraeno
August 30th, 2010
9:39 pm
I’m Muslim. My parents met in the US after immigrating from Romania and Indonesia. They came from countries where freedom of religion didn’t happen. Religious tolerance was what they found here. That’s what I was taught, anyway. Lately, really the last several years, I haven’t seen much of it, if news reports are any indication. My question then, to the editors, is: In your faith and values section of the paper, could you reserve space for discussion of Muslim family values and their views on the role of citizens in the community? Has it ever been tried? Don’t you think it’s time to give peace, love and understanding a chance?
Sabagio Mauraeno
Elaine
August 31st, 2010
1:34 pm
I am so against Roy Barnes running for Governor again that it just infuriates me to think his smug self would even think of it. He is even displaying the real Georgia Flag in his web site instead of that ugly blue one he tried to shove down our throats. I sent him an email telling him:
You should be ashamed of yourself trying to run for Governor of Georgia again. Then you have the audacity display the true Georgia State Flag instead of that ugly blue flag that you tried to force on us. You are just like Obama you want to do what you think is best instead of listening to the people. I promise you I am doing everything I can to keep you from being re-elected again. My suggestion for you is to drop out of the race. After we got you out of office the last time I thought we were through with you. You are like a disease that you cannot get rid of.
He thought he was the King of Georgia the last time. I hope people won’t forget the way he wanted to rule the last time in office.
Been Around-Done That
August 31st, 2010
3:21 pm
S
Been Around-Done That
August 31st, 2010
3:31 pm
Stumbled on this thread by accident and read a few comments before I realized that most of the posters are either modern day Pharisees (extreme ruight wingers) or modern day Sadducees (extreme left wingers) who apparently spend their time throwing nonsense at each other while our state and nation goes down in flames lit by the “Nero like” Congressional dummies in both parties. I believe that if Jesus suddenly returned you birds would form an alliance to get out the two by fours, hammers, and nails. Lucky for Him it will be His “second coming” as Judge of us all and that is a whole new ballgame! Keep on with your verbal fiddling fellows while our modern day Rome burns down around your collective ears!