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A New Role for Religion in Obama's White House ("Faith has played a larger role than any other Pres)
US News & World Report ^ | July 1, 2009 | Dan Gilgoff

Posted on 07/01/2009 8:59:38 PM PDT by presidio9

The conventional wisdom was that George W. Bush was the most faith-based president in recent history, by a long shot. Citing Jesus as his favorite philosopher and Billy Graham as a mentor, Bush won evangelical voters in numbers not previously seen. In office, he launched a controversial office of faith-based initiatives and consulted religious leaders in developing science policy. Bush routinely opened cabinet meetings with prayer and acknowledged conferring with "a higher father" before going to war in Iraq.

How remarkable, then, that religion might be playing an even bigger role in Barack Obama's administration. While Bush invited megapastor Rick Warren to low-key White House functions, Obama had him deliver the invocation at his internationally televised inauguration. Bush encouraged White House prayer groups, but Obama begins public rallies with the recitation of a White House-commissioned prayer. Obama has quickly expanded Bush's faith-based initiatives to include an advisory council of religious leaders weighing in on matters as diverse as abortion and Middle East peace. "This administration has used faith more overtly than any other in its first hundred days," says Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "That includes Bush." But rather than appeal mostly to evangelicals as Bush did, Obama is reaching out to a broad spectrum of believers and nonbelievers.

Early decisions. He is carving out a bold new role for faith in the White House, which aides say aims to dial down the decades-old culture wars. The project may wind up drawing more religious voters into the Democratic fold. But it also threatens to alienate the Democratic base, which polls show is much less religious than the GOP's. Given the important role that religion and church-based organizing have played in Obama's own biography, though,

(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bho44; culturewars; faithbased; obamaandgod; religiousleft
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To: TheWasteLand

ROTFLOL!


41 posted on 07/01/2009 9:59:39 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: TheWasteLand

You said it. Do you suppose anyone, anywhere believes this drivel?


42 posted on 07/01/2009 10:00:59 PM PDT by pepperdog (As Israel goes, so goes America!)
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To: wardaddy

“what an absolute crock”

The biggest crock in years!!


43 posted on 07/01/2009 10:03:18 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: Art in Idaho

If you think all the liberation theology devotees are atheists, you’ve forgotten 2 Timothy 4:3.


44 posted on 07/01/2009 10:03:28 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback (We're definitely in the Rise of the Empire era, but is Obama Valorum or Palpatine?)
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To: presidio9

I just have to say, I have not read any of the comments on this thread, but this is outrageous! Has the Royal family been to church at all, anywhere since the inaugeration? Ok, Yes I know they went once but I never heard about another venture.


45 posted on 07/01/2009 10:03:32 PM PDT by tinamina
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To: presidio9; penelopesire; seekthetruth; television is just wrong; jcsjcm; BP2; Pablo Mac; ...

~~ What a bunch of trash .......... PING!


46 posted on 07/01/2009 10:06:09 PM PDT by STARWISE (The Art & Science Institute of Chicago Politics NE Div: now open at the White House)
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To: presidio9

No other president has thought of himself as God.


47 posted on 07/01/2009 10:08:07 PM PDT by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: STARWISE

Yeah, but which one? Islam or Chicago-style “Christianity” is the question...


48 posted on 07/01/2009 10:09:28 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (In memory of my father, Gunnery Sgt., USMC, WWII and Korea, 1925-2002)
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To: MichiganConservative

Barry. Baal. What’s the difference?


49 posted on 07/01/2009 10:16:12 PM PDT by Blogger
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To: presidio9

He just grabs everything, no matter how audacious, as he tries to appear that he’s everything to everybody to subdue criticism of those without a bully pulpit.


50 posted on 07/01/2009 10:23:22 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (The UN has never won a war, nor a conflict, but liberals want it to rule all militaries.)
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To: presidio9

Nothing like a ringing endorsement from Barry Lynn, head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. He’s used that platform for years to advance leftist agenda .. now, of course, it’s DIFFERENT .. he has a president who’s pushing his leftist agenda. So maybe the White House filling up with leftist faith-based groups is a good thing.


51 posted on 07/01/2009 10:32:07 PM PDT by EDINVA (A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul -- G. B. Shaw)
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To: presidio9

I’m sorry, I really don’t think worshipping yourself counts as a religion.


52 posted on 07/01/2009 10:32:57 PM PDT by Tzimisce (No thanks. We have enough government already. - The Tick)
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To: presidio9

go read up on the Tiller threads should be clear enough to any realist

i had enough of the platitudes like violence never solved anything or all life is equal no matter how evil

or yes I pray for Hitler don’t you?...

too many pacifists, like Quakers in Injun country armed with just a Bible

I’ll pass, never was much on “movements” anyhow


53 posted on 07/01/2009 10:37:09 PM PDT by wardaddy (Proudly Anti-Abortion, not and will never be Pro-Life...........Sarah Palin, there is no substitute)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

glad to see you’re feeling yer old self


54 posted on 07/01/2009 10:37:47 PM PDT by wardaddy (Proudly Anti-Abortion, not and will never be Pro-Life...........Sarah Palin, there is no substitute)
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To: presidio9
Obama goes Golfing on Sunday so he can smoke a few with the Lord without the State Run Media looking on.

Wonder of they discuss Obama’s belief that babies who survive Abortions don't deserve to live.

55 posted on 07/01/2009 10:47:30 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (One Man's Messiah is another Man's Fuhrer...)
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To: presidio9
"Religion in Obama's White House" ???

This is the only "religion" allowed in Obama's White House...


56 posted on 07/01/2009 10:59:47 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: presidio9

BARF


57 posted on 07/01/2009 11:00:01 PM PDT by FTJM
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To: Mr. Silverback
If you think all the liberation theology devotees are atheists, you’ve forgotten 2 Timothy 4:3.

Good point. 2 Timothy 4:3., "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

58 posted on 07/01/2009 11:03:06 PM PDT by Art in Idaho
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To: presidio9
How remarkable, then, that religion might be playing an even bigger role in Barack Obama's administration.

Just like space aliens might be controlling secretly maneuvering to corner the market on Cheetos.

59 posted on 07/01/2009 11:58:50 PM PDT by john in springfield
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To: presidio9


60 posted on 07/02/2009 12:10:12 AM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (BG x 2)
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