Obama Emphasizes Faith in Kentucky
By Shailagh Murray
Sen. Barack Obama has recycled his startling "Cross" flier to appeal to Kentucky voters.
The pamphlet has circulated in other primary states, and it always raises eyebrows for its overt appeal on religion. The words across the top read, "Faith. Hope. Change." Obama is pictured at a church pulpit, with a large illuminated cross in the background. A quote at the bottom reads, "My faith teaches me that I can sit in church and pray all I want, but I won't be fulfilling God's will unless I go out and do the Lord's work."
On the flip side is a photo of Obama in front of a stained glass window. A few paragraphs describe his work as a community organizer in Chicago, and tell of how some folks he met encouraged him to attend church one Sunday. "That day Obama felt a beckoning of the spirit and accepted Jesus Christ into his life." The words along the side read, "Committed Christian."
One aim of the flier is to clear up the persistent and false belief held by some voters that Obama is a Muslim. And circulating it in Kentucky suggests that while the Obama campaign expects to lose the Bluegrass State, it would like to avoid another wipeout, a la West Virginia.
But it also signals Obama's determination to compete for evangelical voters, who may not be enthralled with Sen. John McCain, as they have been with Republican presidential candidates in the past.
"Remember Mike Huckabee's supposed subliminal cross in his Christmas campaign ad? Well, the Obama campaign ditches the subliminal and goes for the in-your-face cross," wrote David Brody, the Christian Broadcasting Network correspondent, on his blog The Brody File. "I know the conservative policy purists will say that Obama is liberal and therefore Evangelicals won't buy his "Evangelical speak". Not so fast."
Posted at 7:34 PM ET on May 14, 2008
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Posted by: Cheryl spencer | May 21, 2008 6:17 AM
No, all Kentuckians do not believe that Obama is all those negative things found in some rhetoric in many comments. It is time to get real and stop all the playing that is not relevant to choosing our President. Many folks choose people based upon how much the people resemble their own being, as thoughts,ideals, etc. The people who value the makings of a president who will not mislead us as in the past 8 yrs will make the right choice.
Posted by: Mamamay | May 20, 2008 9:39 PM
obama is the wise intelligent, and have a vision. certainly,he is the right right guy for the presidency.as he is the president of the united states of america, the only power on earth, muslims dare not to touch obama. He is their king second to their God
joe
Posted by: joe | May 18, 2008 2:21 AM
Obama was a Muslin due to lineage.
His father was a Muslim and his mother was Christian.
Under Muslim law his Christian background is irrelevant and per the Koran, Obama cannot renounce his Muslim religion.
Obama's conversion to Christianity is a crime in Muslim eyes; it is "irtidad" or "ridda" - literally translated as "apostasy" and is one of the worst crimes a Muslim can commit.
All Sunni and Shiite faiths call for execution for all adults who leave the Muslim Faith.
How can Obama even attempt to visit a Muslim country where he would not be granted protection by the country and where anyone killing an "apostate" would not be punished under Muslim law.
Reference: President Apostate? by Edward N. Luttwak - New York Times Op-Ed - May 12, 2008
Posted by: Arkietwo | May 15, 2008 9:28 PM
He'll blame the shutting down of Kentucky's Coal Industry on a message he received from "Above".
Kennedy and Daschle said to! ;~)
Posted by: RAT-The | May 15, 2008 3:43 PM
Obama is pandering to the worst religious bigotry with this flyer. "Vote for me... because I am the CORRECT religion." It is the ultimate Rove tactic. It was rightly called divisive bigotry when Huckabee did it, and it should be called that now.
Posted by: Bo Gardiner | May 15, 2008 1:09 PM
Obama in church? I thought HE was the Messiah!
Posted by: LDC | May 15, 2008 11:01 AM
JakeD, do you KNOW Sen McCain is really a Christian?
Posted by: Anonymous | May 15, 2008 9:18 AM
Hey Kentucky,
Now is the time to suspend your racial rhetoric and vote for your interest. Let's go and campaign against McBush.
Posted by: D76ad | May 15, 2008 2:30 AM
And he accuses Hillary of pandering? This is downright scary!
Posted by: tarajane | May 14, 2008 9:08 PM
Hillary's Downfall!
Posted by: Pubichaironmycokecan | May 14, 2008 8:22 PM
Only the candidate and God Himself KNOW for sure whether Barack HUSSEIN Obama is really a Christian.
Posted by: JakeD | May 14, 2008 8:01 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
David Brody is a reporter for CBN, the company run by Pat Robertson. David Brody, this "go-to person" on matters of God, works for Pat Robertson, who claims to be able to leg press a ton, who tells us that he is a prophet of God, a patriot, a descendent of royalty, and he tells his viewers to "touch the tv screen for a miracle." WHY does the Washington Post quote someone like David Brody? That the media and press would go to someone who would work with Pat Robertson amazes me. Why would any legitimate newspaper want anything to do with CBN or with anyone who is associated with Pat and Gordon Robertson? Pat Robertson uses his tv show for self-aggrandizement and meddling. He is a hate-filled, greedmongering con artist. Pat Robertson helped his fake holyman son Gordon cheat on his wife and keep the affair hidden, all the while continuing to "heal" and offer "words of knowledge" on their tv show and ask for money.