Christian leaders meet privately with Obama

[babsbunny]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080611/ap_on_el_pr/obama_religion

By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer
36 minutes ago


CHICAGO - Barack Obama discussed Darfur, the Iraq war, gay rights, abortion and other issues Tuesday with Christian leaders, including a conservative who has been criticized for praising the Democratic presidential candidate.


Bishop T.D. Jakes, a prominent black clergyman who heads a Dallas megachurch, said Obama took questions, listened to participants and discussed his "personal journey of faith."

The discussion "went absolutely everywhere," Jakes told The Associated Press, and "just about every Christian stripe was represented in that room."

[AllentownJake]

1. Good

While John McCain runs away from evangelicals Obama talks to them. Don't have to peel many of them away just enough.

[elfin]

2. He knows how to talk to them on the basic issue ala

WWJD? - As far as this Unitarian knows, Jesus never warred against women's choice, but stood for justice for the poorest among us, and exemplified the Golden Rule.

As stewards for the globe, we are sorely wanting -- this is just SO much important than the jibes thrown at Dems.

McSame is a lame proponent for the globe and poverty issues that Obama has a good inroad to this disaffected populace.

[anonymous171]

3. Steal their base Barack! The war issue alone should bring some into the fold

What kind of Christian supports pre-emptive wars anyway?

[jcinccal]

4. guess appealing to right wing bigots is #1 on the agenda..sighs

[uponit7771]

8. There are PLENTY of Christians who render onto ceasar that is of ceaser and don't CARE if gays...

...married or did a cartwheel down the street on a cold day.

[msongs]

5. the bible says marrieage is only man/woman and weALL must live by the bible nt

[jcinccal]

7. hail fallwell! haha

[Olney Blue]

10. I'm not impressed either, msongs.

I am so uncomfortable with mixing religion and politics. :banghead:

[TahitiNut]

18. Actually, it doesn't.

But you knew that. :shrug:

[uponit7771]

6. GOOD!!! I know Jakes, go to his church. He's a good man, logical and smart and leads a multiracial

...denomination if Jakes had anything to do with the conversation you betcha it went everywhere and every stripe was represented.

I pray he does the same for McCan't but I doubt McCan't feels comfortable around "all stripes" or at least I haven't seen it yet.

[wvbygod]

9. Wondering what this religion angle may have to do with public service

Hopefully nothing and may the two never mix.

[anonymous171]

11. Obama knows the constitution.

I doubt he'd go full Bush on us.

[NotThisTime]

12. The two will be intertwined for freaking ever, however, I do not think Obama will pander to these

people, he will give his message, his vision, answer their questions, but I in no way believe he will compromise what he has stood for in the issues in which they differ....

I too would like to know what kind of Christian goes to an unjustified war.... I'm just curious about that one.

[Skip Intro]

13. Oh Lord.

Why do so many politicians feel it necessary to pander to religious leaders? I don't get it.

Just like I don't get the pandering to Israel.

Why can't a politician not wear his faith on his sleeve, but instead speak the truth that religion has no place in government? Yes religion is an important part, maybe the most important part, of billions of people's lives across the globe. But why not recognize that as personal, and run for office on your stands on the issues, especially the separation of church and state?

Feel like we've been here before.

[NotThisTime]

14. And we will always be going back here... this part of politics will not change, people want to

somehow identify with you, and apparently this is moreso for people of certain religions or any religion perhaps, I've no idea, as it really doesn't matter to me as long as it does not affect the policy making.

[Thrill]

15. Pander? WTF? He's just speaking with them

[Skip Intro]

16. Why was it private?

[NotThisTime]

19. The article said some of the clergy did not want to be identified

[Thrill]

21. Why not? Its a Q&A with evangelical leaders

I'm not sure anyone wants to hear it. But having said that, my guess is these leaders wanted it to be private more than Obama. Some of them won't even say they were there. And when you consider some have been bashed for even saying something nice about Obama, you can see why they want it private.

[anonymous171]

17. This catholic agrees with you. But this seems less like pandering and more like a discussion.

[NotThisTime]

20. It seems that discussing = pandering now.... which it doesn't. I would hope people see this

for what it was, his willingness to discuss things openly with people who in some cases vehemently disagree with him....

Is this what John McSame would do? I freaking doubt it... he doesn't have the guts to do it

[Skip Intro]

22. Makes me very uneasy.