Conservatives Slam Obama For Quoting Scripture, But He Loves God More Than Ronald Reagan Did
The right wing went predictably nuts over President Obama’s immigration speech Thursday night, but they particularly keyed in on the President’s use of biblical scripture in his address. Toward the end of the speech, the President made this reference, from Exodus 23-9:
“Are we a nation that kicks out a striving, hopeful immigrant like Astrid, or are we a nation that finds a way to welcome her in? Scripture tells us that we shall not oppress a stranger, for we know the heart of a stranger –- we were strangers once, too.”
That portion of the speech drew immediate, enthusiastic praise from MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, and later, a kind of hilarious backhanded slam from Reverend Al Sharpton:
“You know it really is effective when the President has Rachel Maddow excited about scripture. This is a big night.”
Contrary to popular belief, however, non-atheist liberals have a tremendous amount of respect and affection for Christianity, particularly the wisdom contained in well-chosen scriptures like these. It’s the acts and ideas of specific Christians that we often object to. To them, and to those in the ostensible center of the country’s political landscape, that quote was a big win, a concise summation of our nation’s welcoming ethos.
In conservative-land. reaction to the President’s biblical moment was…READ MORE
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By: Tommy Christopher
Tommy Christopher is The Daily Banter's White House Correspondent and Political Analyst. He's been a political reporter and liberal commentator since 2007, and has covered the White House since the beginning of the Obama administration, first for PoliticsDaily, and then for Mediaite. Christopher is a frequent guest on a variety of television, radio, and online programs, and was the villain in the documentaries The Audacity of Democracy and Hating Breitbart. He's also That Guy Who Live-Tweeted His Own Heart Attack, and the only person to have ever received public apologies from both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
150 responses to Conservatives Slam Obama For Quoting Scripture, But He Loves God More Than Ronald Reagan Did
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Pundit456 November 22nd, 2014 at 19:37
Biblical references are included in Obama’s speeches by design; they are not incidental references reflective of his faith.
He evokes religion for empathy towards illegal aliens but insists on separation of church and state on matters of marriage and sexual deviants; and his philosophy on immigration is diametric when referring to the West Bank.
The President of the United States is supposed to be faithful to the Constitution and the rule of law above all. Instead Obama chooses to crusade for those who reject America’s laws, mores, and ideals in deference to their own sub cultural interests.
Of course if congress knew how to do the job we ostensibly elected them to do they would be undaunted by biblical references or latino indignation.
Dirk Prophet November 23rd, 2014 at 00:47
You are just saying that for your own ideological purposes. You are no Cristian. You suggestions trample on the teachings of Jesus. Your President knows more about the Constitution than you will ever know in a hundred lifetimes. Your motives are mendacious. You don’t believe what you say. If you did, you would embrace your President and you country. Anyone can argue a fallaciously as you.
Pundit456 November 23rd, 2014 at 18:22
You are correct; I am not one of the people whose given name is Cristian; or as you put it I am “no Cristian”.
However, as far as Christianity is concerned, whether or not I am a “Christian” is not relevant to the question of whether or not the president demonstrates disdain for the Constitution and the rule of law.
Further, a thorough knowledge of the Bible and or the Constitution is moot when one’s actions are consistently antithetical to the respective precepts.
tracey marie November 23rd, 2014 at 21:35
The President knows and follows the law and the constituion. I believe it is you theocrats who do not understand or know either
Pundit456 November 23rd, 2014 at 23:18
You could have accomplished the same thing with fewer words simply by not posting anything.; you did not have to post a comment to say you had nothing germane to say.
jasperjava November 24th, 2014 at 03:19
You don’t get to decide what’s germane or not. You’re just another ignorant bigot.
Dirk Prophet November 23rd, 2014 at 23:27
My point, which you completely missed, was that it is easy and fallacious to impugn someone’s motives. Your first sentence, ” Biblical references are included in Obama’s speeches by design; they are not incidental references reflective of his faith.” impugned his religious faith when you can’t see into the man’s heart. In reality, you have no idea and no means of proof what Obama’s or anyone elses religious faith is beyond what they tell you. You have only your prejudices to guide your baseless speculation.
tracey marie November 23rd, 2014 at 21:34
your kind crack me up, so divisive and judgemental
burqa November 24th, 2014 at 02:32
Pundit456: “Biblical references are included in Obama’s speeches by design; …”
No kidding. You don’t think the same is true for anyone else?
Pundit456: “… they are not incidental references reflective of his faith.”
You can’t say that. You’re just making it up.
How do you know he invokes separation of church and state when it comes to gay marriage? How do you know his position is not founded upon the command from Jesus Christ to love others and treat them as you would want them to treat you? How can you oppose equality for others and still claim you love them and would want them to stand for you having fewer rights than they have, hmmm?
Pundit456 November 25th, 2014 at 03:34
It seems you have missed much of the past six years and I am not inclined to recap them for you.
You can acquire this information on your own and by the time you get up to speed you will have answered all of your questions.
Bunya December 2nd, 2014 at 14:13
Who are these “sexual deviants” of which you speak? Are you speaking from experience?
Pundit456 December 2nd, 2014 at 18:27
Apparently the medical term is paraphilia which is defined as
A psychosexual disorder in which sexual gratification is obtained through
highly unusual practices that are harmful or humiliating to others
or socially repugnant, such as voyeurism or pedophilia.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Bunya December 3rd, 2014 at 09:56
So you’re familiar with this “disorder”?
And when has this president invoked the separation of church and state or required leniency for voyeurs and/or pedophiles?
Pundit456 November 22nd, 2014 at 20:37
Biblical references are included in Obama’s speeches by design; they are not incidental references reflective of his faith.
He evokes religion for empathy towards illegal aliens but insists on separation of church and state on matters of marriage and sexual deviants; and his philosophy on immigration is diametric when referring to the West Bank.
The President of the United States is supposed to be faithful to the Constitution and the rule of law above all. Instead Obama chooses to crusade for those who reject America’s laws, mores, and ideals in deference to their own sub cultural interests.
Of course if congress knew how to do the job we ostensibly elected them to do they would be undaunted by biblical references or latino indignation.
Dirk Prophet November 23rd, 2014 at 01:47
You are just saying that for your own ideological purposes. You are no Cristian. You suggestions trample on the teachings of Jesus. Your President knows more about the Constitution than you will ever know in a hundred lifetimes. Your motives are mendacious. You don’t believe what you say. If you did, you would embrace your President and you country. Anyone can argue a fallaciously as you.
Pundit456 November 23rd, 2014 at 19:22
You are correct; I am not one of the people whose given name is Cristian; or as you put it I am “no Cristian”.
However, as far as Christianity is concerned, whether or not I am a “Christian” is not relevant to the question of whether or not the president demonstrates disdain for the Constitution and the rule of law.
Further, a thorough knowledge of the Bible and or the Constitution is moot when one’s actions are consistently antithetical to the respective precepts.
tracey marie November 23rd, 2014 at 22:35
The President knows and follows the law and the constituion. I believe it is you theocrats who do not understand or know either
Pundit456 November 24th, 2014 at 00:18
You could have accomplished the same thing with fewer words simply by not posting anything.; you did not have to post a comment to say you had nothing germane to say.
jasperjava November 24th, 2014 at 04:19
You don’t get to decide what’s germane or not. You’re just another ignorant bigot.
Dirk Prophet November 24th, 2014 at 00:27
My point, which you completely missed, was that it is easy and fallacious to impugn someone’s motives. Your first sentence, ” Biblical references are included in Obama’s speeches by design; they are not incidental references reflective of his faith.” impugned his religious faith when you can’t see into the man’s heart. In reality, you have no idea and no means of proof what Obama’s or anyone elses religious faith is beyond what they tell you. You have only your prejudices to guide your baseless speculation.
tracey marie November 23rd, 2014 at 22:34
your kind crack me up, so divisive and judgemental
burqa November 24th, 2014 at 03:32
Pundit456: “Biblical references are included in Obama’s speeches by design; …”
No kidding. You don’t think the same is true for anyone else?
Pundit456: “… they are not incidental references reflective of his faith.”
You can’t say that. You’re just making it up.
How do you know he invokes separation of church and state when it comes to gay marriage? How do you know his position is not founded upon the command from Jesus Christ to love others and treat them as you would want them to treat you? How can you oppose equality for others and still claim you love them and would want them to stand for you having fewer rights than they have, hmmm?
Pundit456 November 25th, 2014 at 04:34
It seems you have missed much of the past six years and I am not inclined to recap them for you.
You can acquire this information on your own and by the time you get up to speed you will have answered all of your questions.
Bunya December 2nd, 2014 at 15:13
Who are these “sexual deviants” of which you speak? Are you speaking from experience?
Pundit456 December 2nd, 2014 at 19:27
Apparently the medical term is paraphilia which is defined as
A psychosexual disorder in which sexual gratification is obtained through
highly unusual practices that are harmful or humiliating to others
or socially repugnant, such as voyeurism or pedophilia.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Bunya December 3rd, 2014 at 10:56
So you’re familiar with this “disorder”?
And when has this president invoked the separation of church and state or required leniency for voyeurs and/or pedophiles?
Boehner-Monkey November 22nd, 2014 at 22:38
Okay they just ran a Mormon Bishop for President and they are criticizing the President for quoting Scripture? Is this like that episode of Seinfeld where everything is opposite reality-wise?
Boehner Monkey November 22nd, 2014 at 23:38
Okay they just ran a Mormon Bishop for President *see Mark of Cain, Planet Kolob, Sister-Wives, Polygamy, Joseph Smith and his harem of 40 brides, Warren Jeffs, The Osmonds, etc* and they are criticizing the President for quoting Scripture? Is this like that episode of Seinfeld where everything is opposite reality-wise?
burqa November 24th, 2014 at 02:25
OP: “Conservatives Slam Obama For Quoting Scripture, But He Loves God More Than Ronald Reagan Did”
You can’t really know that, and it is wrong to be so prusumptious as to imagine you do.
OP: “Contrary to popular belief, however, non-atheist liberals have a tremendous amount of respect and affection for Christianity, particularly the wisdom contained in well-chosen scriptures like these. It’s the acts and ideas of specific Christians that we often object to.”
It would be great if this were true with a number of people around here, but unfortunately it is not. The whole forum functions as a shooting gallery for Christian-hating bigots who lump all Christians into one bag and imagine the kooks and crazies are representative. Just scroll back and take a look at previous blog posts and it is pretty clear a forum allegedly concerned with “religion” in fact, focuses on one faith and, aside from the Pope (he functions as a token), the idea is to make it seem all Christians are just like the stories posted. A number of posts reflecting that opinion may be found with almost no one willing to object.
There is no understanding that among Christians are great differences, nor is there any recognition of what the overwhelming majority do in the communities of these bigots.
Ask them to take a look at what is going on around them and they refuse, preferring to employ ugly stereotypes.
Further, when the good works of the majority are pointed out, they object and come up with excuses to not give credit where credit is due.
We deplore bigotry and racism on the Right but many are content to let it slide on the Left.
Bunya December 2nd, 2014 at 14:07
You’re absolutely right! We’re all nothing but a bunch of Christian-hatin’ godless heathens who are going straight to hell. Thanks for reminding us – and we look forward to your continuing to remind us, ad nauseum, until the end of the holidays.
burqa November 24th, 2014 at 03:25
OP: “Conservatives Slam Obama For Quoting Scripture, But He Loves God More Than Ronald Reagan Did”
You can’t really know that, and it is wrong to be so prusumptious as to imagine you do.
OP: “Contrary to popular belief, however, non-atheist liberals have a tremendous amount of respect and affection for Christianity, particularly the wisdom contained in well-chosen scriptures like these. It’s the acts and ideas of specific Christians that we often object to.”
It would be great if this were true with a number of people around here, but unfortunately it is not. The whole forum functions as a shooting gallery for Christian-hating bigots who lump all Christians into one bag and imagine the kooks and crazies are representative. Just scroll back and take a look at previous blog posts and it is pretty clear a forum allegedly concerned with “religion” in fact, focuses on one faith and, aside from the Pope (he functions as a token), the idea is to make it seem all Christians are just like the stories posted. A number of posts reflecting that opinion may be found with almost no one willing to object.
There is no understanding that among Christians are great differences, nor is there any recognition of what the overwhelming majority do in the communities of these bigots.
Ask them to take a look at what is going on around them and they refuse, preferring to employ ugly stereotypes.
Further, when the good works of the majority are pointed out, they object and come up with excuses to not give credit where credit is due.
We deplore bigotry and racism on the Right but many are content to let it slide on the Left.
Bunya December 2nd, 2014 at 15:07
You’re absolutely right! We’re all nothing but a bunch of Christian-hatin’ godless heathens who are going straight to hell. Thanks for reminding us – and we look forward to your continuing to remind us, ad nauseum, until the end of the holidays.
Warman1138 November 28th, 2014 at 21:55
No matter what he does, he is always at fault with the conservatives…..damned if he does, damned if he don’t.
Warman1138 November 28th, 2014 at 22:55
No matter what he does, he is always at fault with the conservatives…..damned if he does, damned if he don’t.