With Mike Huckabee’s dramatic win in Iowa and his impressive national poll numbers, the closest thing the Republican Party has to a frontrunner at the moment appears to be a Baptist preacher. But is another kind of preacher leading the Democratic presidential field?
Stopping by a packed Barack Obama rally last night in Rochester, New Hampshire, God-o-Meter noticed that fans standing behind the candidate on stage waved homemade poster board signs proclaiming “In Obama We Trust” and “Believe.” The local activist who introduced Obama said, “What I really like is his ability to uplift people.” And Obama opened his stump speech this way: “Over the next 20 minutes or so, you’re going to see a light shine down the from the ceiling… you’re going to have an epiphany.”
By the end of the evening, many of the rally’s estimated 1,000 attendees did, according to an informal God-o-Meter’s survey. “He’s incredibly exciting and charismatic,” said Elizabeth Brooks, 57. “I believe in what he’s saying.
“We heard Hillary yesterday, and she has the same message,” said Anton Becker, 67, leaving the event with his wife. “But Obama is much more inspirational.”
Indeed, God-o-Meter would go so far to say that Obama, peddling his message that hope matters more than experience, has become the Democrats’ secular preacher, his party’s rough equivalent to Huckabee, who’s been criticized for campaigning to be “pastor-in-chief.”
There are blatant religious overtones to Obama’s campaign. Jim Wallis calls him “virtually a public theologian… articulating the relationship between faith and politics.” During last night’s rally in Rochester, Obama opened his speech with an anecdote about his stint organizing churches in Chicago to respond to the closing of steel mills there.
But that’s not what God-o-Meter is talking about. Rather, GOM sees Obama preaching a secular religion of hope, a post-partisan deliverance from the nation’s current moment of bitter ideological stalemate. The message includes broad liberal goals like ending the Iraq war and restoring America’s high international standing, but is decidedly short on specific policy prescriptions.
The Obama faithful don’t seem to mind. When God-o-Meter asked a dozen attendees at last night’s rally why they supported Obama, none mentioned a specific issue—or even a general one. At a Huckabee event earlier that morning, by contrast, supporters mentioned the former Arkansas governor’s pro-life views or his promise to help the middle class as secondary reasons for supporting him, even while acknowledging Huckabee’s “Christian values” as the prime reason.
On her way out of last night’s event, 41-year-old Sandy Becker said she backs Obama because “he gives us something to hope for.” Asked if there were any specific issues undergirding her support, the Montessori school owner said that “Obama can cut across all issues.”
Obama himself wouldn’t disagree. “Let me talk about hope,” he said near the end of last night’s speech. “I’ve been talking about hope so much I’ve been derided for it. Lately some folks have said Obama is so idealist, so naïve—he’s a hopemonger.”
Hopemonger. Isn’t that just another name for minister?
9
posted January 8, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Well, since when is hope a bad thing?
posted January 8, 2008 at 8:45 pm
In answer to the previous comment, hope is a bad thing when it is a blind hope. What are these people hoping for exactly, and what is it that Obama is truly offering as hope? The only hope I see in this man, is his hope to get elected, not anyone else’s. I strongly suggest that his backers do some serious research on this man. He would be awful for our country, and I’d like to throw Hillary into that mix as well.
posted January 8, 2008 at 8:54 pm
All the investment should not be put into the hands of the leader: unless we have someone who articulates hope, we cannot be hopeful? It’s the day to day work that counts.
posted January 8, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I would take “blind hope” over blind faith any day.
Do I have faith in ANY of the candidates? HELL NO! Do I have hope that at least one of them has the potential to bring about at least SOME of the change DESPERATELY needed in Washington? I sure do. And at this point, my hope rests in Obama.
posted January 8, 2008 at 11:09 pm
As I said before, any backer of Obama should do some research and really find out who this man really is and what he stands for. Check out his church, Trinity Church of Christ, see what they stand for. And yes, I’m going to say it,and you can call me racist, after our country has suffered the worst terror attack, you people want to elect someone with Muslim roots? Have you lost your minds? That is what I call blind hope.
posted January 8, 2008 at 11:43 pm
All I have to say is America was built on the Christian faith, not the Muslim faith. We are, by marjority, a Christian nation.
posted January 9, 2008 at 2:34 am
I truely love this man emessage and I think in all honeslty he could be good for nation. A bi racial man in the white house would someone think that was possible in 1960′s ? I think we need to keep in mind he just a man and he will fail in some area. This is normal and just because he get in the white house. we need need to fight it out with republican who only god is money. I think only issue i take with Obama is his church is very pro black and nothing wrong with being a black church. But a church need to be open to all people and make all welcome and trinty’s church does not sound like one to me. I hope his view can happen, but also up to us to get him in.
Obama your mama everyone. Let take him to white house and paint it black as him.
posted January 9, 2008 at 3:25 am
I’m not afraid of his Muslim roots, after all if we had had better relations with the muslim world 20 years ago maybe 9/11 wouldn’t have happened. Frankly our relations with them now isn’t too great either, his roots might be a very good thing indeed for the war on terror. (Help us not step on so many toes and get our trading partners to respect us more.) And yes, Anna M, it does sound very racist. After all what you’re saying isn’t all that different then what they said about JFK for being Catholic. No one should be defined for a part of his past alone. I would say that a greater understanding of the muslim faith is a good thing right now, not a bad thing at all.
I WANT a hopeful and unifying force. And the fact that he has muslim, atheist, and traditional roots only makes him more of an American in my book, this country has a sample of every religion and every ethnic race in it’s borders. I think it’s high time our government started to show that more.
posted January 9, 2008 at 6:09 am
Couldn’t agree with you more, Kathleen. People ignorant of Faith, such as Anna, are the ones who have made the war on terror an American Jihad. You do realize Anna that Allah is also the Christian God, right? Allah is the God of Abraham. The same God Christians worship.
posted January 9, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I agree with Kathleen and Kelly, we need a president with more sophistication. We can’t stand alone and GWB and his policies have cost us a LOT of friends around the world. I think Obama, along with some other candidates, has a chance to begin turning that around. And the stupid actions like a pointless invasion followed by an inept occupation founded in part on an administration who apparently didn’t even know about Sunnis and Shias, can’t continue. We desperately need a smarter and wiser president.
Would Obama’s message survive a general election, likely a very dirty general election (Karl Rove is not gone, just in remission)? I don’t know. Would mistaken or malicious claims like some above resonate with enough people to sink his candidacy? I don’t know. It could well depend on how frightened the majority of voters is at the time. Fright rarely leads to wise decisions; witness the last presidential election. Those are big questions for voters, but that’s not news.
posted January 9, 2008 at 6:16 pm
anna m, I had heard that the Obama’s being a Muslim turned out to be a rumor. Trinity Church of Christ hardly sounds like the name of a Muslim church, since Muslim’s believe that Christ was only a prophet, and not the messiah. Ics, America was not founded as a Christian nation, we were founded as a nation where you could have any religion you wanted, or lack thereof, and not be persecuted for it. Many of the founders of this country were deists; that is, they believe that a supreme being started the universe and then ceased to have any further involvement. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were great men and great leaders, but they were not Christian by any stretch of the imagination. Perhaps the lesson here is that a candidates faith is not of the utmost importance. Kathleen and Kelly, I wish that all Christians were as open minded as you two are, it inspires hope.
posted January 10, 2008 at 8:40 am
Just what church does he belong to?
posted January 10, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Obama is member of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ. Check it out on the web at ucc.org. The UCC is a progressive denomination that doesn’t judge, embraces all and works to unite for the common good. More denominations should aspire to be more like the UCC. Our world would be more united, compassionate and peaceful place.
posted January 13, 2008 at 6:44 am
Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta. Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. When he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran. Remain alert concerning Obama’s expected Presidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the U.S. from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level – through the President of the United States, one of their own. He does not say the Pledge Of Allegiance, sing the National Anthem, nor put his hand over his heart when others pledge or sing.
posted January 15, 2008 at 8:30 am
I cannot understand even allowing someone who direspects our flag enough to be blatently standing in front of it, with all others hand over heart and he is just standing there and claiming he is a Christian. This is to get him votes and take our minds off the fact that he IS Muslim and will do and say anything he has to to get votes.
I know at this time, none of the candidates can be trusted as they go one way when needed and then another when needed. He is wishy washy about his stance on everything he stands for. Just because he is young, nice looking and kerismatic(sp?) doesn’t mean he tells the truth. The last thing we need is a President taht refuses to respect the most important part of our country. Our Flag!
I believe he will say and do anything to become the next DICTATOR of the US. Him joining a Christian church means nothing except shows people he will stop at nothing to get votes. This man is a Muslim and should not even be on the GOM. If you had an ALLAH meter, he would come up on top.
posted January 15, 2008 at 9:44 am
With his track record, I wouldn’t trust Obama on something as important as the separation of church and state. In addition, I think there ought to be a separation of hope and state too. However, I’m a little disheartened considering that he is a young politician and will get many chances to get his brand of faith base America establish.
posted January 17, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Obama’s religion doesn’t scare me because he is obviously thoughtful and he has read some smart books. He also has respect for philosophy and has self knowledge. He would never cram some sort of Bible mutant nonsense down anyone’s throat. Another point in his favor is that he is not a preacher. (Most preachers are crooked racketeers.)
posted January 23, 2008 at 12:56 am
Leslie:
With all due respect, you sound terribly jaded and quick to judge Obama based not on fact, but rather on a lot unsubstantiated assumptions on your part.
First of all, consider that I was raised Roman Catholic and left the church at the age of 31 in 1991. I only joined the United Church of Christ nine years later when it adopted a progressive open and affirming policy toward homosexuals.
Now, individuals practice their faith of choice for a variety of reasons. Most of my family still practices Catholicism because it’s been drilled into them that it would be a grave “sin” to do otherwise. They’re all “staunch” Catholics, but none of them seem very passionate about their faith from what I’ve ever witnessed. To me it seems quite sad, but it’s all they’ve ever known.
My point is, passing judgement on Obama simply because where his parents chose to educate him as a child is unfair. Similar to him, I was educated in a religious school (mine Catholic & his Muslim) and indoctrinated into a culture that I eventually rejected. Why is it so difficult to consider that perhaps Obama has done just that and is genuine in his faith. If this is all a ruse, then he is one incredible performer who should pursue an acting career instead of politics. It seems only fair and reasonable to me that we give him the benefit of the doubt.
I’m more concerned about those who are quick to judge without having facts to back up their arguement. And with regards to whether he chooses to sing the National Anthem, say the Pledge of Allegience, etc… who cares? It’s a free country and that’s his right. What’s more disturbing to me is we have elected officials who go through these very “motions” and then turn around and commit some of the most corrupt and heinous offenses against the American people such as misrepresenting facts in order to instigate an unjust war, or stacking the tax system to line the pockets of the most wealthy while the middle class gets squeezed and giving political favors to corporate interests in return for their own personal financial gain. Where is the outrage for these actions which are far too common in American politics?
posted February 4, 2008 at 7:26 am
Honestly, after this administration, I find it hard to trust anyone at all. I believe this election could be our last if we do not do our homework and stop listening to all of the gushing over Obama. If the Kennedy’s support him (three of them now) I would go with the latter of your post. He IS a good actor and should definatly win an award for that. But as for running my country, he needs to get himself an acting career. People do love him, so he should do well. But our country is hanging on by a limb and he may just be the one to break it. And I firmly believe that that the elites and big corperations are in kahoots with anyone running for candicy that will go along with thier agenda. That means Barak hussein Obama will probably be our next “President” (and I use that term lightly) no matter who we vote for do to the “idiot boxes ” we now use and “Americans” voting via INTERNET from another country, PLUS the 12-20 million illegals that will be voting with someone elses identity….we are screwed people, unless you are one that wants us to lose our country to a man who won’t even Pledge Allegience to THIS country he is running in.HMMM???Sounds a little fishy to me. You just cannot be trusting anymore with what the Clintons and Bush’s have given us, just to hand our country to someone who some doubt his sincerity and even who this man really is.
posted February 24, 2008 at 9:48 am
The first 2 posters are hilarious.
posted February 24, 2008 at 9:50 am
Just cs and Jodee.
posted May 3, 2009 at 9:01 pm
ok now i’m not happy to of read this article who gives the right to make him Godlike … no tht is blasphimus … in obama we trust ! wat has this society gone nutzs.. really do not follows false idols or worship false gods what wrong with these so called men…. we r not to follow some like barney yes, the purple dino-saur or peeps claiming to save us … yeah right from ourselves for making dumb decesions soon our religions n freedom is at stake i do’nt believe we r safe because of change No i believe we were desperate for choosing n making someone grand.. before the sowing of his seeds… n new world order is next not only God but now our way of spending, and control use of lazer chips in fact … oh if u only knew what was to come u wouldn’t put ur faith in human… president or Other… FOR SHAME….. pay attention to da signs…
posted May 3, 2009 at 9:15 pm
undoubtly so i miss the one and only pres… Reagan he knew we’d put ourselves in a bunch … he did stand for wat was right i know not one man is perfect but he was agrand one at tht …. i wish he was undoubtly still around or even pat robinson , could of changed things 4 da best…. not use the gov. people and all … spending defecit money out da ying yang… the highest … stocks down , ssn may be taken away .. y make a king out of a mole …. other countries hate us … i’m afraid soon we’ll all have to choose another religion agaist our will ….. no prayers allowed in school n now our ten commandments under attack … n our constitution… no he doesn’t pledge to our flag or touch the bible n jest i even heard their gna change the words to the star spangle banner .. DO U WANT THT!!…
I believe there is another agenda hidden we just don’t know yet…