Nuance: White House vetting prayers said before Obama events
posted at 5:32 pm on February 24, 2009 by Allahpundit
Out: Vetting cabinet appointees for tax problems. In: Vetting preachers for Jesus problems! No wonder Daschle slipped through the cracks.
Sue, atheists. Sue like the wind.
Though invocations have long been commonplace at presidential inaugurations and certain events like graduations or religious services at which presidents are guests, the practice of commissioning and vetting prayers for presidential rallies is unprecedented in modern history, according to religion and politics experts…
“If a similar thing had been done by President Bush’s White House, I guarantee you there would have been a lot of people crying foul,” says Bill Wichterman, deputy director of the Office of Public Liaison under President George W. Bush. “Democrats can do this with immunity, but when Republicans do it, it becomes controversial.”…
[M]any church/state experts are unfamiliar with the program. “The only thing worse than having these prayers in the first place is to have them vetted, because it entangles the White House in core theological matters,” Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said upon learning of the Obama invocations…
James Bing, the pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church in Fort Myers, Fla., said he chose to self-censor his prayer. “For some strange reason, the word Jesus is like pouring gasoline on fire for some people in this country,” he said. “You learn how to work around that.”
Do you have to learn how to work around it? Rick Warren invoked Jesus at the inauguration — albeit after sprinkling in prayers from Judaism and Islam to make the affair safely ecumenical. I wonder now if that was at The One’s insistence. It’s probably safe to say, at least, that the gay Episcopal bishop didn’t need to be cajoled to reduce his rhetoric to the warm mush of “the God of our many understandings.” Exit question: Who’s up for seeing Hitchens and his lawyer roll into court with a complaint to knock this one out of the park, huh? Come on. Common ground at last!
Blowback
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picture link is broken.
oh, and obama is an idiot.
Joe Caps on February 24, 2009 at 5:36 PM
What would Jesus do?
RedSoxNation on February 24, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Exit Answer: I’m in. May the “God of our many understandings” side with the victor…
John_Locke on February 24, 2009 at 5:37 PM
I would prefer if these revolting brigands and murderers would keep the name of the Son of God out of their filthy arugula-holes.
TMK on February 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Picture link still broken
Obama still an idiot
deedtrader on February 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
2009=1984
aquaviva on February 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
If Jeremiah Wright were my friend, I’d be nervous about what “ministers” say too.
capitalist piglet on February 24, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Didn’t Jesus (there I said his name) tell one of his apostles that he would deny him three times?
It’s one thing for the secular progressives/atheists to deny him and that’s their right and belief, but now it seems these groups are attempting to make us believers deny Jesus…sorry…try all you want but it isn’t going to happen with me!
Liberty or Death on February 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Jesus = Persona non grata in prayers at the White House.
Sad but true.
Matticus Finch on February 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Soooo…. did they vet Lowry prior to the inauguration? Guess he got the religious stuff right, but he sure came up short on racial issues.
Cody1991 on February 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Well, we see how bho is judged. If you have faith or not, death will tell the end event.
L
letget on February 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM
I was assuming they were praying to Barry – guess I need to read the linked article.
Vashta.Nerada on February 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Prayer to whom?
baldilocks on February 24, 2009 at 5:41 PM
what, I thought Obama was Reagan?
jp on February 24, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Sweet smoking baby Jesus.
There are two reasons why Bush didn’t do this.
1. It’s a violation of the freedom of religion and the separation of the church and state.
2. It’s a backflip through your own rectum feat of anal retentiveness.
Good grief.
Is scheduling the Whitehouse tennis courts far behind?
tlclark on February 24, 2009 at 5:41 PM
I’m on the side of, “Seriously? This is the kind of people we have become?”
May the G_d of our many understandings save us all.
myrenovations on February 24, 2009 at 5:41 PM
This is so true!!!! This is a political stunt too, IMO.
deidre on February 24, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Now take this statement and apply it to everything under the sun.
whitetop on February 24, 2009 at 5:42 PM
I thought I was the only one on this site who believed in that.
Allahpundit on February 24, 2009 at 5:42 PM
It won’t happen with me, either. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
capitalist piglet on February 24, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Heh. Wake me up when they censor an imam’s prayer.
Brat on February 24, 2009 at 5:43 PM
I’m in. I’d much rather support an eloquent and inebriated atheist than a pretend Christian. The only kind of Christian who soft pedals the name of our Lord and Savior is one who isn’t.
Jaibones on February 24, 2009 at 5:44 PM
That’s just for tonight’s speech.
Cody1991 on February 24, 2009 at 5:44 PM
“For some strange reason, the word Jesus is like pouring gasoline on fire for some people in this country,” he said.
Even cliches have been butchered beyond recognition under the Obama administration. I know this pastor has no affiliation – just saying it’s apparently an epidemic.
chunderroad on February 24, 2009 at 5:45 PM
There is no common ground between me and Hitch. Is it that difficult to find a decent famous atheist for you?
No, there are other ACLU-like individuals who believe in the “separation of church and state” BS here.
Darth Executor on February 24, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Why even bother praying without praying in Jesus’ name???
OmahaConservative on February 24, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Why does the “Messiah” need a go-between to ask his “Father” for help and guidance? Is he on dad’s sh!t list?
JoeySlippers on February 24, 2009 at 5:46 PM
On second thought, let Hitch and Ogabe have at each other. I’ll be cheering the mutual destruction of my hardcore enemies from the sidelines.
Darth Executor on February 24, 2009 at 5:46 PM
“Democrats can do this with immunity, but when Republicans do it, it becomes controversial.”…
Now take this statement and apply it to everything under the sun.
whitetop….
Including cheating on taxes, shady real estate deals, conflict of interests out the wazooo…
Having a (D) after your name in modern America is like having a ‘get out of jail free’ card in your wallet.
cruadin on February 24, 2009 at 5:47 PM
It’s funny how people (atheists) who want our Republic to survive either don’t know or want to forget that our country was based upon Natural Law that accepts that our Unalienable Rights (and duties) came from our connection to God and each other.
This is how far we have come from the wisdom and faith of Founding Fathers: Light Years. (Many of them were deists who believed in the importance of faith as a foundation of gov’t but kept religion and it’s denominations out of government.
I urge everyone to read: The 5000 Year Leap. It teaches us what our teachers left out, which is a lot.
Christine on February 24, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Good
LordGrief!Joe Caps on February 24, 2009 at 5:47 PM
His eyes being closed in that pic is appropriate as that does exemplify his basis in reality.
Speakup on February 24, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Allah, I think he means the vetting of the prayer, not the prayer itself. IMO, most people on this site understand that the amendment is designed to protect religion from the state, not the other way around.
Vashta.Nerada on February 24, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Jesus, please help us.
winston on February 24, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Forgive us our sins of capitalism, Obama.
whitetop on February 24, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Any preacher who allows the government, even as part of a ceremony, to control how he words his prayer, is simply not worth inviting to give the invocation.
tom on February 24, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Literally in many cases, its upside down world. wrong is right and right is wrong.
This is what happens when the Left wins the Culture wars, dominate Hollywood and Academia and the Church bends to Secular Humanism instead of standing in afront to it
jp on February 24, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Liberals don’t pray because they don’t believe in God.
I’ll say it again.
Liberals don’t pray because they don’t believe in God.
What will be delivered will be daily affirmations. Not prayers.
I stand by what I’ve said.
madmonkphotog on February 24, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Why…to “the God of Our Many Understandings”, of course, baldi. To whom are you referring?
Jaibones on February 24, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Who will vet any rhymes in said “prayers”?
Dave Shay on February 24, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Will we now have religious equivalence? If you mention J.C. you also have to give equal time to Big Moe, Krishna and Xenu’s prophet L.R. Hubbard and, of course, an equivalent period of blissful silence for the unbelievers?
It would probably be best to keep the the incantations at home or in the temples where like minded people congregate, but that is too logical I guess.
Annar on February 24, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Nor should you or anyone else that believes be ashamed and nor should we cave to the pressures of some groups that want us to deny Christ…thanks for standing with me capitalist!
Liberty or Death on February 24, 2009 at 5:50 PM
this is true, thanks in large part because the Secular Left control Academia and the Media and have completely twisted who and what the Founders actually represented.
jp on February 24, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Excuse me. A President saying, or having someone say a prayer is violation of what?
1st amendment:
First the amendment mentions Congress, not the Executive branch. Second. Saying a prayer does not in any way establish a religion or prevent someone from exercising theirs, if any.
Please explain the violation.
WashJeff on February 24, 2009 at 5:51 PM
So it’s out with Jesus and in with Allah?….
… “Mr. Obama recalled the opening lines of the Arabic call to prayer, reciting them with a first-rate accent. In a remark that seemed delightfully un-calculated, Mr. Obama described the muslim call to prayer as “one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset.”
christene on February 24, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Hint to any townhall attendees: wear rubber soled shoes, and keep an eye on the locations of nearby lightning rods.
Vashta.Nerada on February 24, 2009 at 5:52 PM
When do we get an atheist invocation, huh? “O imaginary friend who lives in the sky…”
Allahpundit on February 24, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Saying a non-denominational prayer is not a violation of church and state. The supreme court has ruled on that many times and the same Congress that Jefferson was part of opens with one as part of official business.
That aside… I’m not sure if these functions count as “official” business or in the vein of some sort of political rally…
Skywise on February 24, 2009 at 5:52 PM
they do however beleive in the Hegelian God-State vision, the anti-thesis of Conservatism.
jp on February 24, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Obama is using prayer as religious window dressing to cloak his deeds. It’s repugnant.
As for the self-censoring pastor:
Matthew 10:
“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”
That pastor should already know why the name of Jesus is gasoline on a fire:
John 15:
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”
INC on February 24, 2009 at 5:52 PM
This “James Bing” person is a wuss.
I’m a (mostly) Agnostic, but am not offended by Jesus’s name in a prayer. Jews have shown how insensitive they are to any issues surrounding Osama Obama by the numbers of them who turned out for him.
I don’t even think Muslims are offended by the mention of Jesus, so that basically clears it for Obama’s peeps. Wait…maybe the hardliners are, and those are the ones the New Order wants to keep happy.
Besides, he didn’t vet “Reverend” Wright’s sermons for 20 years.
MrScribbler on February 24, 2009 at 5:53 PM
My school had them. They were called morning meditations and were important/profound quotes announced over the intercom and about 10 seconds of silence to reflect on it.
Skywise on February 24, 2009 at 5:53 PM
This drive towards secularism gets on my nerves. And the secularists are afraid to pull the same crap with the muslims. Cowards.
Blake on February 24, 2009 at 5:53 PM
The executive branch is reviewing line by line the prayer given by a private citizen at a townhall meeting.
Vashta.Nerada on February 24, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Sorry to ask, but did Mr. Wichertman intend to say with impunity?
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impunity
BuckeyeSam on February 24, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Jesus H. Christ!
I thought Obama was a Christian, too.
coldwarrior on February 24, 2009 at 5:54 PM
If they’re praying to please someone other than God, they shouldn’t even bother.
Ronnie on February 24, 2009 at 5:55 PM
1. What’s wrong with leaving the Jesus out? Jesus prayed to the father…
2. I barely skimmed over the story… was there any real instance of censorship besides self-censorship?
ninjapirate on February 24, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Hah, you’re funny Allah! To answer your question, when you get elected POTUS.
Liberty or Death on February 24, 2009 at 5:56 PM
So don’t keep us in suspense. Did Jesus pay his taxes or not?
Ronnie on February 24, 2009 at 5:56 PM
When an atheist wins the Presidency and chooses to do so. And guess what, that will be legal too.
WashJeff on February 24, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Uh…I’m with (gasp!) Allah on this one.
It’s one thing to declare that kids can’t pray in school or at football games, or that Christians in government cannot recognize the overwhelmingly Christian traditions of our nation’s founding and that public symbols of religion must be banned and removed, but it’s a whole nother thing to have the (spit) President of the United States open every propaganda campaign event with a prayer to that which might very reasonably be construed to be the new State-Sanctioned-God-of-Our-Many-Understandings.
Buck Ofama and screw his Dog and Pony Show faux religious prayer vetting. If he wants to say a prayer in public, fine. If a prayer pops up in the spirit of the moment, of whatever faith the attendees are inclined, fine. But this orchestrated crap is where I clearly see that fine line we have been looking for all these years. I see it – it’s right there.
Jaibones on February 24, 2009 at 5:57 PM
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father;
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again
according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge
both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together
is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
OmahaConservative on February 24, 2009 at 5:57 PM
how could this possibly be Atheist, unless you define it by the whackos like Dawkins who contradict their own worldview by saying Aliens possibly came and designed us.
a logical Atheist invocation would be something like this:
Welp, we came from a completely Random beginnings and our Ultimate Final Destiny is Nothingness, we have no True meaning or value. It just is what it is, so have a blast. Blow your brains out, kill whoever you’d like because ultimately it doesn’t matter in the least.
/Logical.
Fortunately….
jp on February 24, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Especially since you think he wants to kill you, and he doesn’t.
MadisonConservative on February 24, 2009 at 5:58 PM
I think Obama does not want Jesus in the invocations he attends because of the confusion it would cause. Is the person giving the invocation talking to the Jesus or Obama?
WashJeff on February 24, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Wait, I thought your big thing was that you don’t believe in this “imaginary friend who lives in the sky”, as you taunt?
Jaibones on February 24, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Religion….when it becomes political and capitalistic…is the opiate of the masses. Its easy to leave Christ out of Christianity when politics or capitalism become factors of the faith.
genso on February 24, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Allah,
You can not prove there is NOT a God, I can not prove there Is my God. The end of life will prove one of us right.
L
letget on February 24, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Any questions?
baldilocks on February 24, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Exactly…only one way to find out.
genso on February 24, 2009 at 6:01 PM
A little history from Michael Medved:
And this:
INC on February 24, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Are you sure it was “Jesus” they weren’t supposed to say?
If it was “Saviour,” well, then people might get confused and think they were praying to Obama.
Wethal on February 24, 2009 at 6:03 PM
You nailed it.
INC on February 24, 2009 at 6:03 PM
OT: Are you ready for a rousing round of O-Bingo tonight?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 24, 2009 at 6:06 PM
letget
you can prove there is a GOD……look in the mirror.
Be_Aware on February 24, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Nobody chose to vet the racist prayer at the Inauguration. Or maybe that passed the test.
“…help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around — (laughter) — when yellow will be mellow — (laughter) — when the red man can get ahead, man — (laughter) — and when white will embrace what is right.”
Jillatpnp on February 24, 2009 at 6:07 PM
If you can’t stomach his speech but you want to follow it, follow the market futures while he’s speaking.
genso on February 24, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Obama has announced that his new spiritual minister will be a homosexual blind black secular humanist in a wheelchair, who will pray to the all-mighty nothing in the sky to bestow its non-blessings onto Obama and this country full of cowardly racists.
/
Tacitus_SGL on February 24, 2009 at 6:09 PM
I’d like to see some clergyman submit a prayer for vetting, and then slip “Jesus” in anyway. He could always say the Holy Spirit just moved him (which of course is what happens in prayer).
Kind of reminds me of the high school graduation several years ago, in which the valedictorian had been told not to mention religion. So she sneezed at the end of her speech, and her class, prepped to respond, all yelled, “God bless you!”
Wethal on February 24, 2009 at 6:09 PM
I hate him.
seejanemom on February 24, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Our Founding Fathers must be crying in their graves.
retiredeagle on February 24, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Black Liberation Theology ease back in the door.
baldilocks on February 24, 2009 at 6:13 PM
eases
baldilocks on February 24, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Link of the Day. Bravo!
BobMbx on February 24, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Or not.
MrScribbler on February 24, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Time Magazine, February 15, 1954, from Chief Justice Earl Warren (believe it or not):
The last speaker was Chief Justice Earl Warren, who was raised a Methodist, now frequently attends Baptist services with his wife.
INC on February 24, 2009 at 6:20 PM
If he ends the prayer with “in Obama Barry’s name we pray”…then i’ll be upset.
PappaMac on February 24, 2009 at 6:21 PM
People can talk about God and be generic/non-committal. Mention the name “Jesus”, and they get scared.
Last I knew, black Baptists were pretty fond of the name “Jesus”. This (if true) could get interesting.
tgharris on February 24, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Seeing Obama pray is like watching someone have an oral bowel movement. Nobody believes you, Obama.
HornetSting on February 24, 2009 at 6:25 PM
So I guess Rev Lowery’s “when white will embrace what is right” benediction was vetted and approved.
KelliD on February 24, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There’s just something about that name.
Master, Savior, Jesus. Like the fragrance after the rain.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Let all Heaven and Earth proclaim.
Kings and Kingdoms will all pass away.
But there’s something about that name.
The writer sure knew what he was talking about, huh? How can Mr. President, who attended Trinity Church for 20 years, not want the name of Jesus proclaimed in prayer?
Mmmmmm?
kingsjester on February 24, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Wasn’t his real name Yeshua?
Allahpundit on February 24, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Not only vetted, that line was added in the editing process.
genso on February 24, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Yeshua=Joshua=Jesus
baldilocks on February 24, 2009 at 6:31 PM
BTW, AP, that the lyrics to a hymn.
baldilocks on February 24, 2009 at 6:32 PM
baldilocks on February 24, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Thanks, sweetie. I knew you guys had my back.
Hey, HornetSting. Where have you been?
kingsjester on February 24, 2009 at 6:33 PM
Atheist’ argument is that religion is mythology and in the 21st century humankind has acquired a huge amount of knowledge about the nature of things unknown in ancient times when the major religions were founded. Plus they feel that the religious have had their way far too long. It’s thought that as outdated beliefs fade, a newfound age of reason will prevail that actually reflects reality as opposed to the teachings of an old book full of what they consider silly stories. That they’re smart enough to know right from wrong without the threat of eternal damnation or heavenly rewards. That human life is finite just like every other living thing and belief in an afterlife is getting it backwards, that is, upon death you don’t obtain eternal life but rather, eternal death–and that notion makes this life all the more important. That having religious beliefs or not is a personal matter and shouldn’t be imposed on others. Sounds reasonable even though some of their methods are offensive to those who reject their viewpoint. Trouble is, the evidence is on the side of the atheist whether anyone likes it or not and not knowing the answer to a particular mystery doesn’t give anyone free license to invent an explanation without it.
Braindroppings on February 24, 2009 at 6:34 PM
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