Presidential Hopeful Barack Obama Makes Girl Happy

[Voyager]

In fact Obama is a Christian and like most people during their late teens and college years questioned faiths and explored other options. As for his pastor. I shall assume all those that take offense at this are also condemning all Catholics as they continue to attend a church that for decades supported child molesters and for decades helped hide the crimes. What does that say about all that remain in this faith.

Exactly... what about the men who sat under the teachings of the pedophile priests for years and years... does that mean they will all be molesting children?

No, but if a man sat in a church where the priest was giving a sermon about molesting children, I would expect that man to be disgusted and leave that church and never look back. By continuing to sit in that church for 20 years knowing what this priest thinks and preaches, you are condoning it.

If Obama's preacher would have been encouraging people to sexually abuse minors, I'm sure he would have been locked up long ago.

Many people sit in churches and do not agree with what is being preached. Pastors all over the world go on religious rants during their sermons. If churchgoers followed every command they gave, we would have big trouble. This is the difference between extremist cults and local community churches on the corner. It's only the extremist groups that follow every command of their leader... think of David Koresh... think of Jim Jones... think of Osama Bin Laden... think of Warren Jeffs.

Obama probably heard this guy go on his rants from time to time and said to himself, "Oh boy, here we go again." Then he went to lunch at the local buffet restaurant with his family and friends and never gave it another thought. It's not like it was some kind of subliminal message stirring him to go kill some white people.

[AlteredDNA]

In fact Obama is a Christian and like most people during their late teens and college years questioned faiths and explored other options. As for his pastor. I shall assume all those that take offense at this are also condemning all Catholics as they continue to attend a church that for decades supported child molesters and for decades helped hide the crimes. What does that say about all that remain in this faith.

Exactly... what about the men who sat under the teachings of the pedophile priests for years and years... does that mean they will all be molesting children?

No, but if a man sat in a church where the priest was giving a sermon about molesting children, I would expect that man to be disgusted and leave that church and never look back. By continuing to sit in that church for 20 years knowing what this priest thinks and preaches, you are condoning it.

Many people sit in churches and do not agree with what is being preached. This is the difference between extremist cults and local community churches on the corner. It's only the extremist groups that follow every command of their leader... think of David Koresh... think of Jim Jones... think of Osama Bin Laden... think of Warren Jeffs.

Obama probably heard this guy go on his rants from time to time and said to himself, "Oh boy, here we go again." Then he went to lunch at the local buffet restaurant with his family and friends and never gave it another thought. It's not like it was some kind of subliminal message stirring him to go kill some white people.

So your defense is what you think Obama might have thought? I guess that's ok if you're evaluating whether or not to be friends with the guy. I think, however, that Presidential candidates ought to be held to a bit stricter standard.

[Voyager]

Let's take the Bible for example. Preachers all over the world claim that it is the "infallible word of God". They preach the Bible every Sunday and tell their followers to obey its every command. However, if churchgoers were to obey their preachers and follow the commands of the Bible, we would all be in big trouble. Here are just a few Biblical commands that might cause problems if churchgoers obeyed them:

"If a man is found sleeping with another man's wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die." (Deuteronomy 22:22)

"If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death—the girl because she was in a town and did not scream for help, and the man because he violated another man's wife." (Deuteronomy 22:23-24)

"If two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes him by his private parts, you shall cut off her hand. Show her no pity." (Deuteronomy 25:11)

"If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." (Leviticus 20:13)

"Slaves are to be submissive to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back ." (Titus 2:9)

"One of illegitimate birth shall not enter the congregation of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 23:2)

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched." (Mark 9:43)

"But if ... evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones..." (Deuteronomy 22:20,21)

"Women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says." (1 Corinthians 14:34)

I don't know anyone who would follow these Biblical commands. However, pastors preach from these verses all the time. Does that mean that anyone who sat under their preaching is going to become a murderer?

[Karma]

So your defense is what you think Obama might have thought? I guess that's ok if you're evaluating whether or not to be friends with the guy. I think, however, that Presidential candidates ought to be held to a bit stricter standard.

Stricter standards? Hillary Clinton is a liar and involved in shady real estate deals. GWB skirted his military duty and has a DWI arrest. Bill Clinton is an adulterer and was involved in shady real estate deals. Bush Sr. was in bed with the Chinese, Reagan had Alzheimer's when he was running the country and was divorced not to mention his own children weren't on speaking terms with him for quite some time. Carter had "lust in his heart", Ford was puppet for Nixon, Nixon was a liar and encouraged others to break the law to better his position, Johnson abused his dogs, Kennedy was an adulterer. Shall I go on?

[conversationpc]

Let's take the Bible for example. Preachers all over the world claim that it is the "infallible word of God". They preach the Bible every Sunday and tell their followers to obey its every command. However, if churchgoers were to obey their preachers and follow the commands of the Bible, we would all be in big trouble. Here are just a few Biblical commands that might cause problems if churchgoers obeyed them:

"If a man is found sleeping with another man's wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die." (Deuteronomy 22:22)

"If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death—the girl because she was in a town and did not scream for help, and the man because he violated another man's wife." (Deuteronomy 22:23-24)

"If two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes him by his private parts, you shall cut off her hand. Show her no pity." (Deuteronomy 25:11)

"If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." (Leviticus 20:13)

"Slaves are to be submissive to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back ." (Titus 2:9)

"One of illegitimate birth shall not enter the congregation of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 23:2)

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched." (Mark 9:43)

"But if ... evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones..." (Deuteronomy 22:20,21)

"Women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says." (1 Corinthians 14:34)

I don't know anyone who would follow these Biblical commands. However, pastors preach from these verses all the time. Does that mean that anyone who sat under their preaching is going to become a murderer?

Most of those quotes are from the Old Testament. The New Testament is clear that believers are no longer under the law but under grace. The one passage quoted from Mark 9:43, if taken in context, is not literally saying that you need to cut your hand off.

[HERO]

Let us get some perspective here. Does it really matter if a candidate for the Presidency is religious or not? Surely it is more like sense to judge the candidates on their merits rather than their beliefs. The followers of Islam believe in one God, just like the Christians. To suggest that a believer in Islam is unfit to run a country is insulting, and to be honest it is an idea so ridiculous as to be unworthy of comment. Yes Islam has extremists. If you care to open your eyes and look around you you will see Christian extremists too. All extremist, irrelevent of their religion, are dangerous people. For they are misguided. Their feeble minds are closed, and they wish to spread their poisonous idolitary to others. They are even prepared to use force to spread their vile message. Ignore all those who would preach their faith to you. Find God in your own way, whichever version you choose. Do not judge others for failing to choose the same God as you. We all have free will, how about letting us use it! Being a Christian does not make you a good person. A pure heart and a generous spirit makes us a good person, be them Christian, Muslim, non believer, or the myriad betwixt and between. Even Athiests and Antitheists should be allowed their beliefs, or lack thereof. It does not detract from their ability to think. And it certainly does not preclude them from possessing the ability to run a country. As for the colour of a persons skin, what does that matter? There is only one species of human on this planet, and the rascists would be served well to remember that important fact.

Electing a President purely for being a right wing Christian is folly indeed. There lies the road to destruction and misery. Far better to elect a President on the candidates ability, their merits, their common sense, and their humanity. What is needed is a man who will makes friends not enemies. United we stand, divided we fall. Wise words from the past. As relevent today as they were yesteryear. Let us hope there there are still some amongst us who still have ears to listen and eyes to see. Let your voices be heard, and choose Obama as your next President.

[journey4tomorrow]

Let us get some perspective here. Does it really matter if a candidate for the Presidency is religious or not? Surely it is more like sense to judge the candidates on their merits rather than their beliefs. The followers of Islam believe in one God, just like the Christians. To suggest that a believer in Islam is unfit to run a country is insulting, and to be honest it is an idea so ridiculous as to be unworthy of comment. Yes Islam has extremists. If you care to open your eyes and look around you you will see Christian extremists too. All extremist, irrelevent of their religion, are dangerous people. For they are misguided. Their feeble minds are closed, and they wish to spread their poisonous idolitary to others. They are even prepared to use force to spread their vile message. Ignore all those who would preach their faith to you. Find God in your own way, whichever version you choose. Do not judge others for failing to choose the same God as you. We all have free will, how about letting us use it! Being a Christian does not make you a good person. A pure heart and a generous spirit makes us a good person, be them Christian, Muslim, non believer, or the myriad betwixt and between. Even Athiests and Antitheists should be allowed their beliefs, or lack thereof. It does not detract from their ability to think. And it certainly does not preclude them from possessing the ability to run a country. As for the colour of a persons skin, what does that matter? There is only one species of human on this planet, and the rascists would be served well to remember that important fact.

Electing a President purely for being a right wing Christian is folly indeed. There lies the road to destruction and misery. Far better to elect a President on the candidates ability, their merits, their common sense, and their humanity. What is needed is a man who will makes friends not enemies. United we stand, divided we fall. Wise words from the past. As relevent today as they were yesteryear. Let us hope there there are still some amongst us who still have ears to listen and eyes to see. Let your voices be heard, and choose Obama as your next President.

Amen! Well said!

[Karma]

Let us get some perspective here. Does it really matter if a candidate for the Presidency is religious or not? Surely it is more like sense to judge the candidates on their merits rather than their beliefs. The followers of Islam believe in one God, just like the Christians. To suggest that a believer in Islam is unfit to run a country is insulting, and to be honest it is an idea so ridiculous as to be unworthy of comment. Yes Islam has extremists. If you care to open your eyes and look around you you will see Christian extremists too. All extremist, irrelevent of their religion, are dangerous people. For they are misguided. Their feeble minds are closed, and they wish to spread their poisonous idolitary to others. They are even prepared to use force to spread their vile message. Ignore all those who would preach their faith to you. Find God in your own way, whichever version you choose. Do not judge others for failing to choose the same God as you. We all have free will, how about letting us use it! Being a Christian does not make you a good person. A pure heart and a generous spirit makes us a good person, be them Christian, Muslim, non believer, or the myriad betwixt and between. Even Athiests and Antitheists should be allowed their beliefs, or lack thereof. It does not detract from their ability to think. And it certainly does not preclude them from possessing the ability to run a country. As for the colour of a persons skin, what does that matter? There is only one species of human on this planet, and the rascists would be served well to remember that important fact.

Electing a President purely for being a right wing Christian is folly indeed. There lies the road to destruction and misery. Far better to elect a President on the candidates ability, their merits, their common sense, and their humanity. What is needed is a man who will makes friends not enemies. United we stand, divided we fall. Wise words from the past. As relevent today as they were yesteryear. Let us hope there there are still some amongst us who still have ears to listen and eyes to see. Let your voices be heard, and choose Obama as your next President.

Eloquent as always. I expect nothing less than that from a HERO. Fire it up! Ready to go!

[RedWingFan]

We all have free will, how about letting us use it!......Let your voices be heard, and choose Obama as your next President.

What happened to free will?

There is only one species of human on this planet, and the rascists would be served well to remember that important fact.

Obama has seen fit to listen to befriend and keep a mentor who is very much a racist. Oh, and Obama funded the activity for 20 years also.

Far better to elect a President on the candidates ability, their merits, their common sense, and their humanity.

Last I checked all 3 candidates are human. Obama has the least "merits, common sense" than the other 2 which is pretty bad considering all 3 stink!

[FishinMagician]

i dont see why it matters if the president is muslim or christian or atheist or anything , contrary to what that article was saying. but i do think obama's pastor is fucked up and am not sure why he attended that church for so long.

[Rick]

i dont see why it matters if the president is muslim or christian or atheist or anything , contrary to what that article was saying. but i do think obama's pastor is fucked up and am not sure why he attended that church for so long.

Agreed. It doesn't matter if he is a Muslim. Only a small fraction of people who call themselves Muslim are evil. There are people that call themselves Christians that are evil as well. He's a proclaimed Christian however, and I tend to agree that belonging to a church that preaches that kind of hate for so long is puzzling. I don't think Obama harbors that hate though. I think he's of the same opinion I am. All people are equally worthless.

[Karma]

i dont see why it matters if the president is muslim or christian or atheist or anything , contrary to what that article was saying. but i do think obama's pastor is fucked up and am not sure why he attended that church for so long.

Agreed. It doesn't matter if he is a Muslim. Only a small fraction of people who call themselves Muslim are evil. There are people that call themselves Christians that are evil as well. He's a proclaimed Christian however, and I tend to agree that belonging to a church that preaches that kind of hate for so long is puzzling. I don't think Obama harbors that hate though. I think he's of the same opinion I am. All people are equally worthless.

I find it puzzling that Catholics continue to attend a church that for decades supported thousands of child molesters and facilitated the crime by shielding the offenders and perpetuating the abuse of defenseless children. Millions continue to financially support this institution. Thousands of priests are screwed up and I am not sure why Catholics would continue to attend. This church preaches hatred against homosexuality, not as blatant as others but it is still there. Women are treated as second class citizens. Does this make all Catholics unfit to be president?

Obama talks about people in positive terms sending a message that together we can restore this country. Obama for president.

[conversationpc]

Obama talks about people in positive terms sending a message that together we can restore this country. Obama for president.

He may talk about people in "positive" terms (unless you're a rural, religious, gun-owning person) but do you really think he means it? How can you trust a guy that continued to support a church that preached bigotry from its pulpit on a regular basis for 20+ years? That's not to mention that when the news first came out, Obama denied that he had ever been there when this kind of stuff was preached. Then he said he had been there but that he didn't agree with it. He's had this guy as a close spiritual adviser for a long time now. There's no way I would associate myself with anyone that closely for any period of time if I knew they harbored those kinds of disgusting views.

[Rick]

Obama talks about people in positive terms sending a message that together we can restore this country. Obama for president.

He may talk about people in "positive" terms (unless you're a rural, religious, gun-owning person) but do you really think he means it? How can you trust a guy that continued to support a church that preached bigotry from its pulpit on a regular basis for 20+ years? That's not to mention that when the news first came out, Obama denied that he had ever been there when this kind of stuff was preached. Then he said he had been there but that he didn't agree with it. He's had this guy as a close spiritual adviser for a long time now. There's no way I would associate myself with anyone that closely for any period of time if I knew they harbored those kinds of disgusting views.

It's no different than a person attending the Church of Christ, which preaches that if you don't go to the Church of Christ, you're condemned to eternal damnation. There is nothing worse that you can say to someone than that.

[conversationpc]

It's no different than a person attending the Church of Christ, which preaches that if you don't go to the Church of Christ, you're condemned to eternal damnation. There is nothing worse that you can say to someone than that.

Are you talking about the denomination called The Church of Christ?

[Voyager]

I'm sure you could go into ANY church and grab a few three-minute soundbites and make the pastor out to be a lunatic. That's what they did to Obama's former pastor. They didn't grab the good sermons (which I'm sure there are plenty of)... they grabbed the controversial one.

Funny thing is, I've heard Martin Luther King sermons that say the exact same things that Obama's former pastor said (i.e. condemning the United States). I'm sure there are plenty of pastors who have condemned the United States for everything from its laws on abortion to its tolerance of homosexuality. It probably happens every week in churches all across the country... it just doesn't get aired on CNN.

[Barb]

I'm sure you could go into ANY church and grab a few three-minute soundbites and make the pastor out to be a lunatic. That's what they did to Obama's former pastor. They didn't grab the good sermons (which I'm sure there are plenty of)... they grabbed the controversial one.

Funny thing is, I've heard Martin Luther King sermons that say the exact same things that Obama's former pastor said (i.e. condemning the United States). I'm sure there are plenty of pastors who have condemned the United States for everything from its laws on abortion to its tolerance of homosexuality. It probably happens every week in churches all across the country... it just doesn't get aired on CNN.

The whole basis of the church is to preach Black Liberation Theology. It's not a fluke, it's what the church stands for. Look it up.

I'd like to know if Barack Obama were a Republican and did not hold your same political beliefs if you would still be standing up and supporting this abomination of a "reverand". The man is despicable.

[FishinMagician]

i dont see why it matters if the president is muslim or christian or atheist or anything , contrary to what that article was saying. but i do think obama's pastor is fucked up and am not sure why he attended that church for so long.

Agreed. It doesn't matter if he is a Muslim. Only a small fraction of people who call themselves Muslim are evil. There are people that call themselves Christians that are evil as well. He's a proclaimed Christian however, and I tend to agree that belonging to a church that preaches that kind of hate for so long is puzzling. I don't think Obama harbors that hate though. I think he's of the same opinion I am. All people are equally worthless.

I find it puzzling that Catholics continue to attend a church that for decades supported thousands of child molesters and facilitated the crime by shielding the offenders and perpetuating the abuse of defenseless children. Millions continue to financially support this institution. Thousands of priests are screwed up and I am not sure why Catholics would continue to attend. This church preaches hatred against homosexuality, not as blatant as others but it is still there. Women are treated as second class citizens. Does this make all Catholics unfit to be president?

Obama talks about people in positive terms sending a message that together we can restore this country. Obama for president.

here you go... haha priests rape boys!
http://www.signmovies.net/videos/signmovies/prb.html

[FishinMagician]

im stealing this from John Stuart, but doesnt elite mean best or better, and don't you want someone who is better than you to be in charge of the country. that is why we put people in power who are better and more qualified than others, not some "joe six-pack" who is just as good as us.

[conversationpc]

im stealing this from John Stuart, but doesnt elite mean best or better, and don't you want someone who is better than you to be in charge of the country. that is why we put people in power who are better and more qualified than others, not some "joe six-pack" who is just as good as us.

Yes, that is the proper meaning of elite. However, an "elitist" is someone who THINKS they are better than others because of their social status, wealth, or job.

[Barb]

Did you guys know that Obama intends to rid the world of nuclear weapons -- starting with the US? Ya, that's do-able.

[EightyRock]

As if Obama himself isn't scary enough, I wonder how much influence his wife will have over him if he makes it into office? Now SHE is scary...and this is the toned-down version of her rhetoric so she doesn't scare away any more of his supporters. It's all too Sharpton-esque for me.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

Did you guys know that Obama intends to rid the world of nuclear weapons -- starting with the US? Ya, that's do-able.

He promises he'll do alot of things-

He also claims that he will have the US out of Iraq in a few months, whilst one his advisers has said pubically that in fact they would have to take a decision in 2009. Another adviser estimated that an Obama administration would still have 80,000 troops there by 2013.

He also claims he'd end NAFTA, whilst secretly sending envoys to Ottawa to tell people, don't worry we'd never actually do it.

Bit of a contradiction- , but then coming from a guy who is so elitist that he probably sent a message up to the Kingdom of Heaven telling them that they should think about outsourcing the Second Coming to him (Never mind the fact that hes on the record opposing outsourcing) who'd be suprised?

[conversationpc]

Bit of a contradiction- , but then coming from a guy who is so elitist that he probably sent a message up to the Kingdom of Heaven telling them that they should think about outsourcing the Second Coming to him (Never mind the fact that hes on the record opposing outsourcing) who'd be suprised?

[HERO]

What happened to free will?

I do not recall demanding that you vote for Obama. I do not even recall demanding that you vote!

Last I checked all 3 candidates are human...

Can we vote on that? You are taking my comment out of context for a cheap joke, and you know it. Shame, shame shame.

[HERO]

I find it puzzling that Catholics continue to attend a church that for decades supported thousands of child molesters and facilitated the crime by shielding the offenders and perpetuating the abuse of defenseless children. Millions continue to financially support this institution. Thousands of priests are screwed up and I am not sure why Catholics would continue to attend...

I am forced to agree with you on that one. I for one am constantly surprised that these perverts get away with their crimes. I know that the Christians will claim that they will received their punishment in heaven, but they commited their evil crimes on earth. Punish them now, and send a message out to all who would abuse children. Commit the crime and you will do the time!

...This church preaches hatred against homosexuality, not as blatant as others but it is still there...

Personally I believe that a persons sexual orientation is a personal matter, and nobodys business but their own. So long as you don't force your views on others where is the harm?

...Women are treated as second class citizens. Does this make all Catholics unfit to be president?

Maybe I have misjudged the Catholics. They seem to have one or two good ideas. I may have been hasty in condeming them. As for whether or not a Catholic is fit to be President, haven't you answered your own question?

Obama talks about people in positive terms sending a message that together we can restore this country. Obama for president.

Being positive is a refreshing change from all the negativity.

[RedWingFan]

What happened to free will?

I do not recall demanding that you vote for Obama.

Let your voices be heard, and choose Obama as your next President.

Mr. Short Term Memory!

[HERO]

What happened to free will?

I do not recall demanding that you vote for Obama.

Let your voices be heard, and choose Obama as your next President.

Mr. Short Term Memory!

That's a funny name. Were you born with it?

I was only making the suggestion. I have no intention of putting a gun to your head as a means of persuasion. Hence free will. The choice is yours.

[HERO]

What happened to free will?

I do not recall demanding that you vote for Obama. I do not even recall demanding that you vote!

Infact judging by past performance there are far too many who shouldn't be allowed to vote. To Elect GWB once is astonishing, the man has the intelligence of a pretzel. To elect him twice is bordering on criminal. I thought that the bottom of the barrel had been scraped with the election of a former B movie actor, the mentally vacant Ronald Reagan. Apparently I was wrong. New depths were plumbed. At least Ronald Reagan had an excuse, his advancing years. What excuse is there for GWB? Obviously Americans find it very amusing to elect the least worthy candidate, a joke lost on the rest of the world. The President represents the American people both at home and abroad. Surely that is a position of the highest responsibliity and must be taken seriously. To allow the mentally challenged the right to vote does make you wonder!

[HERO]

Did you guys know that Obama intends to rid the world of nuclear weapons -- starting with the US? Ya, that's do-able.

Someone has to be a man (or woman) and state the blindingly obvious. No country in possession of nuclear weapons dare use them. So the threat of their use is irrelevent. They are a white elephant. They are so expensive, the money could be put to much better use. There is always the danger that a nuclear device could fall into the wrong hands, and the unimaginable could happen. If there were no bombs that scenario could not happen.

Someone has to take the first step, to show the way. It takes someone special to make the first move. That person should be applauded for lessening the risk to each and every one of us. Who knows, it could be the start of world peace. Is that not a worthy ideal?