Perspectives on Rick Warren and Barack Obama

Rick Warren is losing respect from Evangelicals and Barack Obama is losing respect from the Left.

Recent headlines from Real Clear Politics:

Will the Warren Risk Be Worth It? – E.J. Dionne, Washington Post
The Saddling of Rick Warren – Debra Saunders, SF Chronicle
Warren is Obama’s Booker T. Washington – DeWayne Wickham, USA Today

               

Death of a Statesman – John Dingell

When Democrat Henry Waxman of California launched his bid to oust fellow Democrat John Dingell from his chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Hill watchers in the know made two observations: First, they knew Waxman had the votes in his caucus because, like a good attorney, the politically astute Californian would never pose the question if he didn’t already know the answer.  Second, it signaled the beginning of the end of seniority in the House of Representatives.

John Dingell, born in 1926 and first elected to the House in 1955, is the closest thing to a statesman in a body whose membership runs for re-election every two years.  His 27 terms as a representative have earned him the distinction of being the Dean of the House – its most senior member.  Seniority means everything in the House – at least it did until Henry Waxman (a 17 termer himself) upset the applecart.  Seniority determines a member’s office, his seat at the committee, and is, in general, an indication of clout.

Unfortunately for Chairman Dingell, he is a pro-life, pro-gun, pro-Detroit Democrat in Nancy Pelosi’s House.  This sort of dissent, it appears, will no longer be tolerated in the 111th Congress.  House Republicans view Chairman Dingell as someone they can work with.  Under his control, the Energy and Commerce Committee – which oversees 60% of all legislation – passed Republican bills and accepted Republican changes to Democratic iniatives.  Contrast this record of bi-partisanship with Chairman Waxman’s two years of impish delight in raking Bush Administration wrongdoers over the proverbial coals in the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Waxman, who represents Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Malibu, is expected to wield the Energy and Commerce Committee’s gavel as a club, bashing any opposition to liberal agendas perpetrated by Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi.  Dingell’s ouster is a disappointment to many Americans who hoped the Democrats would govern from the center.  In fact, one high-ranking Republican called Dingell’s defeat a “body blow” to working families.

               

Obama skips church, heads to gym

From Politico: By JONATHAN MARTIN & CAROL E. LEE | 11/23/08 3:41 PM EST

President-elect Barack Obama has yet to attend church services since winning the White House earlier this month, a departure from the example of his two immediate predecessors.

On the three Sundays since his election, Obama has instead used his free time to get in workouts at a Chicago gym.

Asked about the president-elect’s decision to not attend church, a transition aide noted that the Obamas valued their faith experience in Chicago but were concerned about the impact their large retinue may have on other parishioners.

“Because they have a great deal of respect for places of worship, they do not want to draw unwelcome or inappropriate attention to a church not used to the attention their attendance would draw,” said the aide.

Both President-elect George W. Bush and President-elect Bill Clinton managed to attend church in the weeks after they were elected.

Read full article from Politico by clicking here.

               

Debt is slavery

The Gross National Debt of the United States:

Above is the National Debt of the United States of America. Every Senator, Congressman, and President should have this is as the screensaver on his or her computer.

Things for us to remember:

Precious treasure remains in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man devours it. (Proverbs 21:20 )

The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)

               

Breaking News: Obama hires Emily’s List Executive Director

The Politico reports that President-elect Barack Obama has asked Ellen Moran, currently Executive Director of EMILY’s List, to serve as his Communications Director – a senior staff position in the White House.

This appointment represents a troubling sign to those in the pro-life community who have hoped Mr. Obama’s outspoken support for abortion would be moderated by a need to bring the country together.  EMILY’s list is a political action committee (pac), which has raised over $240 million to elect pro-choice, Democratic women.

               

Newt Gingrich to become Catholic

Newt Gingrich is preparing to enter the Catholic Church at Easter of 2009.

               

Obama discusses his Christian faith in interview

In 2004, Chicago Sun Times columnist Cathleen Falsani interviewed Barack Obama about his Christian faith. It’s a rather interesting interview. It provides insight into Obama’s conversion and his profound respect for Reverend Jeremiah Wright (at least his respect for Rev. Wright in 2004).

Here’s an excerpt:

FALSANI:
Who’s Jesus to you?

(He laughs nervously)

OBAMA:
Right.

Jesus is an historical figure for me, and he’s also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith, and one that I think is powerful precisely because he serves as that means of us reaching something higher.

And he’s also a wonderful teacher. I think it’s important for all of us, of whatever faith, to have teachers in the flesh and also teachers in history.

FALSANI:
Is Jesus someone who you feel you have a regular connection with now, a personal connection with in your life?

OBAMA:
Yeah. Yes. I think some of the things I talked about earlier are addressed through, are channeled through my Christian faith and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Read Falsani’s full 2004 interview with Barack Obama concerning his faith: Obama’s Fascinating Interview with Cathleen Falsani.

               

American Catholic bishops weighing in on American politics

Last week, the American bishops of the Catholic Church wrapped up a crucial meeting in the midst of what has turned out to be a very busy fall. With hundreds of bishops speaking about the need to vote with properly formed consciences and the extent to which a candidates’ stance on the issue of abortion should inform an individual’s vote, there was great interest in their Fall General Assembly.

It is too early, as some may have expected, for the bishops to address the question which has been hotly debated in Catholic circles. That question is, of course, whether Catholics can vote, in good conscience, for a candidate for office who supports abortion when another, pro-life alternative candidate exists. Of course, this is a terse summary of the situation surrounding Catholics and abortion. A number of similar questions require answers, such as can “Pope John XXIII Catholic” Vice President-Elect Joe Biden and “ardent, practicing Catholic” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi be said to be faithful Catholics despite their efforts to flout Church teachings on critical moral issues?

I think we will all benefit from time to decompress from the effects of the campaign’s heated and divisive rhetoric before we examine these questions as they relate to the Obama Presidency. Indeed, time alone may reveal that President-Elect Obama’s promise to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) “first thing” as President was political pandering to the radical Left, and his personal ambition and political deftness (as well as our prayers) may drive him to the center on the issue of life. *

Freedom of “Choice” Act

Nevertheless, FOCA, which has become an icon for what amounts to Doomsday for pro-life Americans – a reversal of the Mexico City Policy, elimination of the Hyde Amendment, destruction of conscience clauses – was discussed at some length during the bishops’ meeting. In his closing statement on Wednesday, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), while congratulating Obama, warned that

“FOCA would coerce all Americans into subsidizing and promoting abortion with their tax dollars…Aggressively pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans, and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion.”

Cardinal George and a handful of his brother bishops warned that such actions would leave the Catholic Church no choice but to close the doors of hundreds of Catholic hospitals since they could no longer refuse to provide abortions. This would inevitably result in a serious decimation to millions of Americans’ access to quality health care and would be anything but a boon to women.

Thousands of pro-life doctors would have no choice but to quit practicing medicine because they object to conducting abortions as part of legally required care. Religious leaders would have no choice but to remain silent on abortion because they would be accused of making hate speech since FOCA would federally prohibit any “interference” in abortion. Millions of pro-life Americans would have no choice when their tax dollars and insurance premiums would be used to help others get abortions.

Blessing the unborn

While is may seem that we may be without recourse in the political arena for the time being, the bishops are making efforts to change the culture. During their meeting, the bishops approved the “Blessing of a Child in the Womb,” which reads thus,

“May almighty God, who has created new life now bless the child in your womb. The Lord has brought you the joy of motherhood: May he bless you with a safe and healthy pregnancy. You thank the Lord today for the gift of your child: May he bring you and your child one day to share in the unending joys of heaven.”

This new blessing makes it abundantly clear that the new life created in the womb is, in fact, a child of God, and any family seeking this rite in their church will bear powerful witness to their fellow Catholics about the sanctity of the unborn life. With our nation’s 67 million Catholics in a broad state of disarray on what the Church teaches on various moral issues (viz. Nancy Pelosi, Doug Kmiec, etc.) the bishops are coming to the painful realization that this is not the age of the well-educated laity.

Cutting off ACORN

Lastly, we might file this item in the “better-late-than-never” column, the Chair of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), Bishop Roger Morin, reported that it had not been giving funds to ACORN, the controversial, partisan organization which has been implicated in extensive criminal activity and voter registration fraud, since June. Consequently, no funds from the annual CCHD collection were given to ACORN to register Mickey Mouse and myriad other characters to vote.

Despite these assurances that ACORN will no longer be receiving Church funds, the CCHD reputation is irreparably tarnished and some bishops, like Bishop Robert Baker of Birmingham, Alabma, are refusing to participate in the annual CCHD collection – the chief source of the group’s funds.

It doesn’t seem like anything earth-shattering emerged from the bishops’ meeting, but it did serve to demonstrate that they are steeled for the fight as they lead their flock through this challenging time. And that’s something in which I choose to take comfort.

* I readily admit this is, perhaps, too optimistic since his “Transition Team” website, change.gov, gives the following statement in President-Elect Obama’s “Women Agenda”: “Barack Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in that case.” (http://change.gov/agenda/women_agenda/)

               

Election 2008 – Either way we dodged a bullet

The disappointment many of us felt on Election Night 2008 really began ten months prior – when John McCain made his unlikely comeback in New Hampshire on January 8th. He was never the best candidate to defeat Barack Obama, nor was he the best standard bearer for the conservative voice in America. Not by a long shot. He may be an American hero and an honorable man, but his inability to fully grasp (let alone articulate) the fundamentals of true conservatism weakened him with his base, and with the general electorate. Just ask yourself how many times, during the three Presidential debates, you found yourself screaming at the television incredulous at McCain’s refusal to stand up to Obama’s sophistry. Anyone who lets his wealth-spreading opponent get away with co-opting Republican “tax cutting” rhetoric doesn’t deserve to win. Now the President-Elect is “ready to rule on day one” and many of us (especially those of us who care about the Life issue) are deeply troubled. But I like silver linings. I need them. WIth McCain no longer in the position of being the de facto representative for conservatism, we now have a tremendous opportunity. It’s time for us to purge our ranks, relearn what it means to be a consistent social and economic conservative and look for new and persuasive ways to not just articulate, but implement conservative principles on the ground. When those ideals are actually applied, not just touted, you get real results. But enough about Bobby Jindal.

The point is this: we dodged a bullet either way. To be sure, the bullet of Barack hurts far more than would have that of McCain and we’ll suffer longer because of it. But let’s not forget, from the ashes of Jimmy Carter rose Ronald Reagan. We mustn’t squander this opportunity to refine.

               

Rosaries for Obama!

Repeat this process and enter more prayers by clicking here.

What if we joined together anonymously to pray for Barack Obama without judging or condemning him? What if together we prayed one thousand Rosaries for the spiritual benefit of Barack Obama? Would not innumerable graces be poured out upon for our nation and our elected leader?

In order to encourage others Rosaries for Obama is keeping an anonymous tally of the number of Rosaries prayed for Barack Obama. Keep in mind that this is not a venue for judgment, but a place to earnestly ask God to bless our President-Elect.

Please join us in prayer and please email this to your friends or blog about it if you are able. Every time you pray a Rosary for Barack Obama, please add it below to the growing numbers of anonymous prayers. In this way we can keep track as to how many Rosaries have been prayed for this intention and find encouragement in the fact that we are praying together.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about “Rosaries for Obama”.

               

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