Phil Gingrey walks out on Barack Obama’s prayer address
A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey confirmed this afternoon that the Marietta Republican walked out of President Barack Obama’s address at the annual National Prayer Breakfast, offended by what the congressman said was an injection of political rhetoric into an occasion of non-partisan reflection.
“He was glad that the president attended, but he felt that there were 364 days in a year to give a speech on your policies or campaign rhetoric,” said Gingrey spokeswoman Jen Talaber.
She said Gingrey enjoyed the remarks by the event’s keynote speaker, conservative author Eric Metaxes, who was in South Carolina last month campaigning with GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
Here are the opening paragraphs from the Associated Press account of Obama’s remarks:
WASHINGTON — Blending politics and religion, President Barack Obama said his Christian faith is a driving force behind his economic policies, from Wall Street reform to his calls for the wealthy to pay higher taxes.
Obama’s remarks Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast were his most explicit account of how his personal religious beliefs factor into his decision-making on the nation’s pressing problems. The comments came amid election-year criticism from Catholic groups and some Republicans that the president is waging a war on religion following his decision to require church-affiliated institutions to cover free birth control for employees.
Speaking to more than 3,000 people at the annual breakfast, Obama said “faith and values” should play as much as role in tackling the nation’s challenges as sound decision-making and smart policies.
Talaber, the spokeswoman for Gingrey, said the Georgia congressman – a devout Catholic — listened to “several minutes” of Obama’s remarks.
“[Gingrey] said he was disappointed, because he wanted to know what was in the president’s heart, and not just rhetoric,” the spokeswoman said. “So he said that he decided to quietly get up and leave because he felt that it wasn’t the time or the place, and that the president didn’t seem to be aware of the meaning of the breakfast or why so many people came to hear him speak. He was offended by the very tone of the speech.”
Talaber said she didn’t know whether any other members of Congress who followed Gingrey’s example. “He wasn’t trying to rally the troops,” she said.
The AP account backs up one of Gingrey’s points, reporting that the president’s defense of his policies was a “rare injection” of politics into the annual bipartisan event. Here’s the remainder of the piece:
[Obama] said, for example, that his own call for fairness in the tax code — a central tenet of his State of the Union address and his 2012 campaign — is both economically sound and consistent with the teachings of Jesus.
“If I’m willing to give something up as somebody who’s been extraordinarily blessed, and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that’s going to make economic sense,” he said. “But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’s teaching that ‘for unto whom much is given, much shall be required.’ It mirrors the Islamic belief that those who’ve been blessed have an obligation to use those blessings to help others, or the Jewish doctrine of moderation and consideration for others.”
He also said the Wall Street reform he championed both “makes the economy stronger for everyone” and abides by God’s command to “love thy neighbor as thyself” because it helped people who had been hurt or treated unfairly by financial institutions.
And Obama said he believed in a “biblical call” to care for the poor and to follow “the responsibility we’re given in Proverbs to ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.’”
The president’s remarks came one day after Mitt Romney, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, created a flap with clumsy comments about the poor.
Romney said wasn’t concerned about the “very poor” because they have a safety net. He also said he wasn’t concerned about the very rich and intended to focus his campaign on the middle class.
“You can focus on the very poor; that’s not my focus,” Romney said.
While the White House said the president’s remarks were not meant to be political, his comments did fit neatly into the Obama campaign’s effort to draw sharp contrasts between the president and Romney.
The former Massachusetts governor is among Republicans who have criticized the president for not exempting religious organizations from a requirement in the 2010 health care law that requires insurers to cover birth control for their employees. Romney said this week that the president was ordering “religious organizations to violate their conscience.”
GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said Obama has “declared war on the Catholic Church,” and House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday the mandate violates the Constitution.
Obama never mentioned the controversy in his remarks Thursday, nor did he reference his Republican rivals by name.
But his broader defense of his policies was a rare interjection of politics into the annual prayer breakfast. The breakfast is organized by bipartisan congressional lawmakers, but speakers often avoid overt political references beyond calling for civility and respect in Washington.
While Obama speaks often about his faith, he prefers to worship in private. He said Thursday that he starts each morning with a brief prayer, then spends time reading scripture. Sometimes, he said, pastors come to the Oval Officer to pray with him, for his family and for the country.
He also described his own religious transformation in deeply personal language Thursday, from growing up in a non-religious home to finding Christ later in his life. He recalled a visit a few years ago with the evangelist Rev. Billy Graham, which ended with the president feeling compelled to pray for the aging Graham.
Obama said when he found himself at that moment not knowing what to say, the Holy Spirit interceded.
“I have fallen on my knees with great regularity since that moment, asking God for guidance not just in my personal life and my Christian walk, but in the life of this nation and in the values that hold us together and keep us strong,” he said.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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710 comments Add your comment
honested
February 2nd, 2012
11:04 pm
You go….
The prayer breakfast is a sad vestige for those who refuse to accept we are a republic FREE FROM RELIGION.
Honest politicians (ok so that may be a stretch) should avoid it and be proud.
td
February 2nd, 2012
11:04 pm
Bye Bye Republithugs
February 2nd, 2012
10:58 pm
Todd, go back to ringing up people at the local Quicktrip during the 3rd shift. Obama went to Columbia and Harvard…..two schools nobody in your racist family could have never gotten in to
Ding, Ding, Ding. Using that word again for political purposes just makes it more not relevant every day. Keep up the good work.
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:05 pm
InAtl, so using your “logic,” I guess that people who are too dumb to go to Ga Tech go to UGA. Is that what you’re saying?
G. Keith Williams
February 2nd, 2012
11:05 pm
I am deeply disturbed by the total lack of respect that has been given to this president. If individuals had acted or responded like this to Ronald Reagan or even the crazy Bushes.. the country would be in an uproar!!
honested
February 2nd, 2012
11:05 pm
InAtl.
Apparently you lack a sense of humor.
You should chat with the Congressman and determine how badly talk radio has misled you.
And, tom price is still a petulant jackass.
Georgia hates Matthew
February 2nd, 2012
11:06 pm
Then leave.
We only pretend to be nice to you because we know you have low self esteem and we don’t want to see you cry.
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:06 pm
honested, like I said, it is entirely voluntary. Nobody forces anybody to go. At least we seem to share a disdain for the so-called “honest” politicians.
Melissa
February 2nd, 2012
11:07 pm
Thank you Phil for doing the right thing. Obama, you are shameful – and we as a nation are tired of it. Please do as you said and make yourself a one term president as you have failed. And, this event – was not for a campaign stop although you chose it to be. Those of us who do believe, who have always believed can see right through your tricks. More importantly … so can Jesus and HE never said to allow government to divide a nation or to take from one to pay another… whatever it is that we are to do as individuals for charitable purposes is between the individual and their targeted charity… not for you to decide.
Bye Bye Republithugs
February 2nd, 2012
11:07 pm
HAHA, too vs to is a typo. I still went to Tufts….and I am smart enough that a typo does not gauge intelligence….if that was the case, every Republican on this post can start talking about W’s stupidity given his “loose interpretation and usage of the english language…exactly, talk your intelligence smack now….and note, there were no disagreements about my assessment of people going to MCG because they can not get into Emory
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:07 pm
G. Keith Williams, what alternate universe have you been living in. Regardless of whether he might have deserved it or not, Bush was the most vilified and disrespected president in our nation’s history.
td
February 2nd, 2012
11:07 pm
honested
February 2nd, 2012
11:04 pm
You go….
The prayer breakfast is a sad vestige for those who refuse to accept we are a republic FREE FROM RELIGION
You are dreaming again. We are a nation founded on religious principles.
Z
February 2nd, 2012
11:08 pm
I just love how the naysayers “know” Obama is a not a Christian. No one knows what is in another’s heart, no one, unless your God that is. Are these Naysayers Gods, hardly! I think the naysayers have made a deal with the devil, only time will tell.
wishing
February 2nd, 2012
11:08 pm
What is the reporter’s definition of ‘devout Catholic’? Someone who is against health care for all Americans? Someone who apologizes to a blowhard like Limbaugh? Someone who wants to privatize Social Security? Someone who is an owner of failed and failing banks costing the FDIC over $75 million? Someone who supports capital punishment? Someone who believes a person should be allowed to own automatic weapons? Someone who supports the 1% over the 99%?
InAtl
February 2nd, 2012
11:08 pm
You Go, Gingrey – I was quoting Repuglithugs. Not my sentiments.
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:09 pm
I’m still waiting for somebody to answer my question about one single thing that Obama has done to benefit this country. And getting elected to replace Bush is not anything that HE did; the voters did that, and in hindsight quite tragically.
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:09 pm
@ InAtl, sorry. I missed the one you referred to, I guess.
Hater of Haterz...
February 2nd, 2012
11:10 pm
Simply put a sign of the times…step back a take a look. That’s all.
MHS
February 2nd, 2012
11:13 pm
Why are we even talking about Obama? That ship sailed a long time ago.
Hello Dimascraps!
February 2nd, 2012
11:13 pm
G. Keith Williams
February 2nd, 2012
11:05 pm
Yeah, I heard somebody made a movie about the assassination of Obama. The racists!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_a_President_%282006_film%29
Oh wait a second, it’s about Bush, it’s ok.
td
February 2nd, 2012
11:13 pm
Z
February 2nd, 2012
11:08 pm
I just love how the naysayers “know” Obama is a not a Christian. No one knows what is in another’s heart, no one, unless your God that is. Are these Naysayers Gods, hardly! I think the naysayers have made a deal with the devil, only time will tell
Go and look up the term Liberation theology and then get back to us about what Obama believes.
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:13 pm
@ wishing, if Social Security had been privatized 70 years ago, it wouldn’t be going broke now because the government wouldn’t have been able to borrow from the fund for whatever POLITICAL purposes they chose. You do know, don’t you, that there really is no social security fund anymore; congress has reappropriated it to do whatever the hell THEY wanted with all the money that WE THE PEOPLE put into it. And yet you still want to trust our government to handle other social programs and run a health care system. Boy, you are in for a shock when you need any of that money for your own use. The government will be the one deciding whether you qualify to receive it or not, and I bet you come out on the short end.
Rob
February 2nd, 2012
11:14 pm
Good work for Gingrey and others who walked out. Look – people are worried that Obama has been disrespected. It’s come to that because the man is blind or can’t hear …and we know he doesn’t care because he mocks the system, pretends he knows Jesus…. I’m glad some walked out and I think that many of us need to stand up against this communist and make sure he’s a one term prez… he said it himself that if his policies failed, then he would be a one term prez. ADios.
Rob
February 2nd, 2012
11:14 pm
Good work for Gingrey and others who walked out. Look – people are worried that Obama has been disrespected. It’s come to that because the man is blind or can’t hear …and we know he doesn’t care because he mocks the system, pretends he knows Jesus…. I’m glad some walked out and I think that many of us need to stand up against this communist and make sure he’s a one term prez… he said it himself that if his policies failed, then he would be a one term prez. ADios.
KEITH
February 2nd, 2012
11:16 pm
HOW CAN YOU HAVE GOD IN YOUR HEART.AND POLITICALLY NOT THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE
GINGREY YOU ARE A BUM
February 2nd, 2012
11:16 pm
gingrey you are a bum and disgrace to the state of Georgia/SHAME ON YOU!
Away With The Far Right Idiots
February 2nd, 2012
11:16 pm
This is a headline? This is a story? His leaving is a political act. Should not have even been mentioned in the AJC.
honested
February 2nd, 2012
11:16 pm
You go…
The President has taken the bold first step to free healthcare from the ’scroogian’ tentacles of the for-profit insurance industry.
It may take another generation to extinguish the insurance parasites, but I am overjoyed to see the first steps behind us.
GINGREY YOU ARE A BUM
February 2nd, 2012
11:17 pm
ROB WHWEN DID GOD MAKE YOU HIS JUDGE /YOU DO NOT KNOW THE PRESIDENTS HEART
Mike
February 2nd, 2012
11:17 pm
Last week Gov. Jan Brewer pointed her finger at President Obama. Now Gingrey walks out on the National Prayer Breakfast. This shows lack of respect for the president and reflects badly on the country. Republicans should be ashamed.
honested
February 2nd, 2012
11:18 pm
For those falling into the ’social security is going broke trap’, realize you are in another talk-radio/faux newz/CofC trap.
Raise the FICA cap (to about 500k) and the problem will be solved forever.
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:18 pm
td, I’m not exactly sure what “liberation theology” is, but if Obama’s former pastor in Chicago is an example of one who preaches that theology, then we are in big trouble. You do realize, I trust, that Jeremiah (whatever his last name was) proclaimed to his congregation, “….not God bless America, but God Damn America.” If that’s an example of “liberation theology,” or what you consider a sign of a true Christian, then how can you expect Christians in America to accept that without question? It is NOT being judgmental, it is being discerning, because, as the Apostle Paul said in the New Testament, we should “be on guard against false teachers.”
donald smith
February 2nd, 2012
11:18 pm
Dope!
Barbie Republican
February 2nd, 2012
11:19 pm
@ Hello Demascraps. Please don’t make yourself look ignorant. Our POTUS was a constitutional law professor in a previous life. Last I check being a professor of law was a pretty honorable job to hold.
I’m so sick of bigoted idiots hiding behind screen names spewing silliness.
Hello Dimascraps!
February 2nd, 2012
11:20 pm
honested:
It’s the Doctors that are making the money. And once we take all the profit out of it and turn it over the Gubmit, it’ll be run like the DMV. That’ll be awesome! I can’t wait to take a number and sit in a crowded smelly room with people like you.
honested
February 2nd, 2012
11:20 pm
You go..
You just validate my point.
There is no place for ANY superstition in American governance.
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:20 pm
honested, if social security is so good, why doesn’t the president, any member of congress, or any member of the federal judiciary participate in it? You know the answer to that as well as I do…….because they wanted a system that WORKED and would take care of their needs after retirement. Similarly, they are all exempt from Obama care too. Like I said before, the massas of the plantation are only interested in themselves, not the slaves they own.
Larry
February 2nd, 2012
11:21 pm
Yeah ND makes a lot of sense. How dare the President talk about his faith at a prayer breakfast??? Wait…what…
honested
February 2nd, 2012
11:22 pm
Hello (whatever)…
What magic is there for an industry that takes a dollar from you, and if you are lucky, provides payment for services back to you in the neighborhood of 65 cents?
It is a reverse ponzi scheme and it should have been outlawed long ago.
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:22 pm
honested, I’m not sure how I validated your point, but the First Amendment specifies that the church should stay out of government, and the government should stay out of the church. Unfortunately, for the “superstitious,” as you call us, the government intrudes in church affairs on an almost daily basis.
Hello Dimascraps!
February 2nd, 2012
11:23 pm
Barbie Republican
February 2nd, 2012
11:19 pm
Ha ha, that’s cute! Barry was an Adjunct Lecturer. You’ll need to do some research to understand the difference between a “professor of law” and “adjunct lecturer”.
In summary, that means he did no research, published no papers, never appeared in court, never helped a client. He read notes to law students. Wow. Amazing.
I wonder if had a teleprompter?
honested
February 2nd, 2012
11:23 pm
Hello…
And you get the ‘doubleplusgoodduckspeaker’ award for using all the talk radio tag words.
td
February 2nd, 2012
11:24 pm
KEITH
February 2nd, 2012
11:16 pm
HOW CAN YOU HAVE GOD IN YOUR HEART.AND POLITICALLY NOT THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE
How can you believe that destroying a person by making them dependent on government is the same as having a heart?
rr
February 2nd, 2012
11:24 pm
Auntie Christ Your name selection is interesting but Jesus already has given his opinion of DEMs and REPUBS. Just read about his comments to the Pharisees and the Sadducees and that will about cover it. Now as to our president claiming that government was meant to address things, well that’s just not there, but is actually its the duty of “his” church not the state. So lets really separate!
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:25 pm
@ Hello Dimascraps!……less is known about Obama’s background than has been known about any president in our history.
Barbie Republican
February 2nd, 2012
11:25 pm
@ Hello Demascraps… Our POTUS has degrees from Columbia and Harvard Law. I wonder if you even have a high school diploma.
Please try to better yourself. Ignorance is really a sad state to be in.
RUSerious?
February 2nd, 2012
11:25 pm
@You go, Gingrey
Below is what you stated:
February 2nd, 2012
10:54 pm
RUSerious? I said more money OF YOUR OWN in your pocket. That means that the money in your pocket will be YOURS, because you were able to get out and get a job and EARN it, rather than it having been GIVEN to you out of the pocket of somebody else who actually WORKED to earn it. Can you seriously look at the unemployment in this country which has INCREASED under Obama and think that you (or somebody who is currently unemployed) will be able to provide for your own needs as long as he keeps stifling job opportunities in this country by taking money from those who are in positions to hire people and attempting to ship off government contracts to Brazil (fortunately that one failed) and other countries, and single-handedly vetoing the pipeline from Canada, which, it might surprise you to know, even ticked off Democrats and the unions.
Ok…so you like to buy into that whole BS of your tax dollars going to the lazy…
So let me ask you a couple of questions…
First your party states that President Obama can’t lead, yet in your statement above, you give President Obama sole credit for the shipment of jobs overseas…Got to be a bad a** to single handedly send all jobs overseas effective Jan 14, 2009.
Secondly, anytime President Obama mentions job creation, I believe your party emphatically states that “the federal government cannot create jobs”, yet you lay the blame at President Obama.
Thirdly…anyone who disagreed with the US going to war with Iraq in retaliation for 911 was called anti-American, anyone who dissented with Bush was called un-American, yet your party has waged the most disrepectful rhetoric against a sitting president in modern history.
The republican party thrives on the fact that they are able to instill subtle racist tones in their messages. They know that they can count on poor to lower income Anglo Americans to support them as long as they continue to feed that belief that minorities are the cause of all of America’s ills. Never mind that there is a large population of poor whites/Anglos, the powers to be in white america simply ignore the poor whites until it is election time.
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:26 pm
@ td and rr…….EXACTLY !!!!!
honested
February 2nd, 2012
11:26 pm
You go….
And the various superstitions do their best to stick their tiny little feet into the doors of governance every day.
For instance, today’s GA House vote to put the stupid ’suck taxpayer money into church charter schools’ amendment on the ballot.
Just because a handful of religious nutcases vote to steal my tax money does not make it legitimate.
Barbie Republican
February 2nd, 2012
11:27 pm
With Demascraps and You Go… you see why cousins in the south should not marry one another. I’m upset that clowns like these have ruined a once proud Republican Party.
td
February 2nd, 2012
11:27 pm
You go, Gingrey
February 2nd, 2012
11:18 pm
If you will do a little research my friend then you will realize that I was pointing out that they call themselves Christians but the religion is based on Marxist theory.