Bush's spiritual adviser backing Obama

[boston bean]

HOUSTON, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush's spiritual adviser, the Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, has decided to support the presidential bid of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

The leader of Houston's Windsor Village United Methodist Church said Obama's "character, confidence and courage" inspired him to support his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, the Houston Chronicle reported Sunday.

"I have been in contact with the Obama campaign team," Caldwell said. "I will be making visits on his behalf."

The pastor did clarify that his support of the Illinois politician was based entirely on his personal beliefs and did not represent support from his United Methodist church.


http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/01/20/bushs_spiritual_adviser_backing_obama/1049/

[surfermaw]

1. I've allways been suspicious of the republican party supporting him in many ways

After the Reagan comments , makes me wonder even more. the Republican party are afraid of John Edwards and Hillary, and knew they would be a winning ticket, so Obama showes up to throw a monkey wrench in the game.. He sounds more like a republican than Mitt Romney.

[FrenchieCat]

35. Why?

Hillary should be the one suspected:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4031623

[FrenchieCat]

47. Advisors?

what may startle people, including her supporters, is that the group she has associated herself with since 1993 which sponsors these groups as well as the National Prayer Breakfast is very conservative and exclusive. Known now as the Fellowship, it is a group that reporter Sharlet knows very well given his past investigative pieces in Harper's Magazine several years ago, and a Rolling Stone piece about Sam Brownback in 2006. Digby has written about this group as well. Even though Mother Jones will not post the piece online until Tuesday, I have been given permission to post segments of the piece in the extended entry. I encourage all of you to buy the current issue and read the piece for yourselves, because Hillary’s association with the Fellowship may lead some to question her judgment and true beliefs, given what the group stands for. http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/010937.php

Hotline-- Sept 2006

Hillary Clinton: The Faith Angle

Hillary Clinton’s hiring of “faith guru” Burns Strider as an adviser to her presumptive presidential campaign, reported two days ago in the Hotline, draws some rare attention to Clinton’s religiosity, as yet unexamined in the same way that ’08 heavyweights like Mitt Romney and, through his high-profile meeting with Pastor Rick Warren, Barack Obama have been.

In Clinton’s case, there’s plenty to examine: religion seems to be the only part of her life that hasn’t undergone rigorous scrutiny.

Though Strider, as a onetime staff member for Nancy Pelosi, is squarely in the liberal camp, Clinton is part of not one, but two, prayers groups with distinctly conservative bents: an exclusive Senate prayer group that meets on Wednesday mornings, and a women’s prayer group that she’s been a part of since her early White House days. The women’s group is run by Holly Leachman, a layperson at the McLean Bible Church in Virginia, itself magnet for prominent conservatives, including former independent counsel Kenneth Starr, Republican senators John Thune and James Inhofe, as well as several Bush staffers and their families.

Leach's prayer group includes many prominent Republican wives, among them Susan Baker, wife of Iraq Study Group co-chairman James Baker, who along with Leachman ministered to Hillary Clinton in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky scandal. (Leachman, mentioned briefly in Clinton’s memoir, Living History, is the wife of Washington Redskins chaplain Jerry Leachman).

Hillary's Prayer: Hillary Clinton's Religion and Politics
For 15 years, Hillary Clinton has been part of a secretive religious group that seeks to bring Jesus back to Capitol Hill. Is she triangulating—or living her faith?

September 01 , 2007

Through all of her years in Washington, Clinton has been an active participant in conservative Bible study and prayer circles that are part of a secretive Capitol Hill group known as the Fellowship. Her collaborations with right-wingers such as Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) grow in part from that connection. "A lot of evangelicals would see that as just cynical exploitation," says the Reverend Rob Schenck, a former leader of the militant anti-abortion group Operation Rescue who now ministers to decision makers in Washington. "I don't....there is a real good that is infected in people when they are around Jesus talk, and open Bibles, and prayer."
<>
These days, Clinton has graduated from the political wives' group into what may be Coe's most elite cell, the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast. Though weighted Republican, the breakfast—regularly attended by about 40 members—is a bipartisan opportunity for politicians to burnish their reputations, giving Clinton the chance to profess her faith with men such as Brownback as well as the twin terrors of Oklahoma, James Inhofe and Tom Coburn, and, until recently, former Senator George Allen (R-Va.). Democrats in the group include Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor, who told us that the separation of church and state has gone too far; Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is also a regular.

Unlikely partnerships have become a Clinton trademark. Some are symbolic, such as support for a ban on flag burning with Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) funding for research on the dangers of video games with Brownback and Santorum. But Clinton has also joined the gop on legislation that redefines social justice issues in terms of conservative morality, such as an anti-human-trafficking law that withheld funding from groups working on the sex trade if they didn't condemn prostitution in the proper terms. With Santorum, Clinton co-sponsored the Workplace Religious Freedom Act; she didn't back off even after Republican senators such as Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter pulled their names from the bill citing concerns that the measure would protect those refusing to perform key aspects of their jobs—say, pharmacists who won't fill birth control prescriptions, or police officers who won't guard abortion clinics.

Clinton has championed federal funding of faith-based social services, which she embraced years before George W. Bush did; Marci Hamilton, author of God vs. the Gavel, says that the Clintons' approach to faith-based initiatives "set the stage for Bush." Clinton has also long supported the Defense of Marriage Act, a measure that has become a purity test for any candidate wishing to avoid war with the Christian right.
http://www.motherjones.com/cgi-bin/print_article.pl?url=http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/09/hillarys-prayer.html
---------------------------

Most of the prayer groups are informally affiliated with a secretive Christian organization called the Fellowship, established in the 1930s by a Methodist evangelist named Abraham Vereide, whose great hope was to preach the word of Jesus to political and business leaders throughout the world. Vereide believed that the best way to change the powerful was through discreet personal ministry, and over his lifetime he succeeded to a remarkable degree. The first Senate prayer group met over breakfast in 1943; a decade later one of its members, Senator Frank Carlson, persuaded Dwight Eisenhower to host a Presidential Prayer Breakfast, which has become a tradition.
<>
Hillary Clinton’s proficiency in this innermost sanctum has unnerved some of the capital’s most exalted religious conservatives. “You’re not talking about some tree-hugging, Jesus-is-my-Buddha sort of stuff,” says David Kuo, a former Bush official in the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, who worked with Clinton to promote joint legislation and who, like Brownback, has apologized to her for past misdeeds. “These are powerful evangelicals she’s meeting with.” Like many conservatives, they are caught between warring dictates of their faith: the religious one, which requires them to embrace a fellow Christian, and the political one, more powerful in some, which causes them to instinctively distrust the motives of a Clinton. Everyone in Washington experiences their dilemma at one time or another—the lack of an Archimedean point from which to judge Hillary Clinton.
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200611/green-hillary

[citizen snips]

2. uh oh

:hide:

[MoonRiver]

3. Somehow I am not surprised.

Obama the Reagan lover would be a favorite among G.W.B.'s supporters.

[boston bean]

7. Obama wants him to make visits on his behalf. WTF? Shit in Dems face some more.

[Yael]

18. No, he wants to make visits on Obama's behalf

Not that I am supporting this -- I think the vetting has just started on King Barack -- but that isn't what the article said.

[boston bean]

20. "I have been in contact with the Obama campaign team," Caldwell said. "I will be making visits on

his behalf."

That is the exact quote. He has gotten permission to make visits for obama.

[Yael]

23. Let the vetting begin!

:popcorn:

[Little Star]

40. That would be a nice start. nt

[cali]

43. Kingf Barack? OK.

Coming from the Idolizers of St John of Hedge Funds, that's interesting terminology.

[Yael]

48. I was being a snark

:P

[ElsewheresDaughter]

45. yup....that's what happens when you channel Raygun.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

4. Another one. Them repukes love them some Obama

[Amerigo Vespucci]

5. In all fairness...

...and I say this as someone who is most certainly NOT an "Obama supporter" (I'm thinking more in terms of President John Edwards)...

This asshole can "back" Obama if he chooses to do so.

The fact that he backed Bush is irrelevant.

He's "been in contact" with "the Obama Campaign Team"...

That doesn't mean Jack Shit.

When Obama speaks out and acknowledges this guy...when he ENDORSES him...THEN it will be news.

Until then, it's a Methodist lifting his leg and spraying his fucking territory.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Let me repeat...this isn't a "PRO-Obama" post. He's not my candidate.

[boston bean]

9. he spoke with Obama and will be making visits on his behalf... nt

[Amerigo Vespucci]

13. So if Obama signed off on him, you have my response. N/T.

[robbedvoter]

11. he's praising him. Sounds like an endorsement to me. One has to wonder about his tastes

Quite the collection of people he likes, non? Also, seems like a signal to GOP-ers to swarm in the Democratic primaries in SC et al. Memories of Joementum vs Lamont.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

17. As a person who does not support or endorse Obama...

...I wish him the best of luck with the audacity of his alliances.

[robbedvoter]

6. Fits in with the MSM Obamagasm

[Yael]

19. You are on a roll today

:rofl:

[ProSense]

8. Bush has a spiritual adviser? That's nothing:

Bush quietly advising Hillary Clinton, top Democrats, says new book

[Maven]

25. First of all, that article says Bush is trying to "advise" ALL top Dem candidates, including Obama

Besides, Bush suggested that Clinton and Obama just might benefit from his advice.

“If I were a candidate running for president in a complex world that we’re in, I would be asking my national security team to touch base with the White House just to at least listen about plans, thoughts,” he said.

Secondly, you're trusting the word of JOSH BOLTEN? :rofl: And posting an article by BILL SAMMON? Author of such lovely titles as "At Any Cost: How Al Gore Tried to Steal the Election"? :wow:

Here's Sammon's profile from wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Sammon

It isn't pretty.

Look, I know you're the link maven, but please don't use the illusion of documentary evidence to mislead people.

[ProSense]

32. Hillary Clinton's campaign team ripped a page from President Bush's playbook

Hillary Clinton's campaign team ripped a page from President Bush's playbook

[Maven]

37. Your "evidence" no longer has any credibility

You used to do an impressive job backing up Kerry but now you're just posting a bunch of slanted non-stories to boost your candidate.

You want to explain why you're relying on Fox News Bush-shill and all-around Democrat-hater Bill Sammon for backup?

[ProSense]

53. How about this:

Hillary "has always had a good personal relationship with the president"

[graywarrior]

10. One post becomes reality and spreads like a virus.

DU cracks me up.

[boston bean]

22. fill me in I missed it. thanks!

[graywarrior]

56. I can't find the first one claiming Obama was a Reagan lover

But it snowballed into the truth somehow.

[Little Star]

12. Nice to know that Bush's friends are gonna help Obama. Puke!

[struggle4progress]

14. "Caldwell said he called Bush to inform him of his decision to support Obama and that the president

was 'OK' with it"

Bush spiritual adviser endorses Obama
Associated Press
Jan. 20, 2008, 12:19PM
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5470598.html

[robbedvoter]

24. ""would do a wonderful job to bring people together to pursue a common vision we all have,

We ALL have? Who is that "all"? Bush and me?

[sunonmars]

15. If that isnt enough for Obama supporters to run for the exits

nothing will.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

27. Obama supporters have made their decision.

I would be shocked and amazed if there is anything that could take them off the path at this point.

GO, Johnny...GO.



:patriot:

[robbedvoter]

16. Is SC primary still open? Can GOP-ers come in and mess it up? Was this the go ahead

signal? I know they made that possible in 2004 - is that still true?

[Yael]

21. Yep. Shes an open primary.

[boston bean]

26. Well technically it's closed, you cannot register that day and vote.

as long as you are registered you can vote.

In nevada and iowa you did not have to be registered to caucus.

[robbedvoter]

33. But a GOP-er who is registered, voted yesterday - can he vote again?

Will that be checked by anyone?

[boston bean]

36. I would hope his name would be crossed off on the rolls, indicating

that he did vote.

I would assume that's how it works. I hope!

[robbedvoter]

51. Assuming they have one set of rolls. Why was SC THE ONLY PRIMARY to have

GOP and DEM races at different dates?

[Little Star]

52. I am not 100% sure but I think that as long as you are registered

you can chose which one you want to vote in.

I would hope that the state kept track of all of the people who voted in the Repub Primary (repubs/dems/indies) and not allow them to vote in the Democratic Primary.

[Little Star]

54. And you had to be registered by December 26th, 2007. nt

[robbedvoter]

57. Hope you're right. I saw exit polls in 2004: 70% of Edwards voters were "enthusiastic

about Bush"

[Yael]

42. Good point of clarification.

Thanks!

[robbedvoter]

28. So, W told them in code, "we all have a common vision" (get rid of the Clintons)

go vote! Again!

[Maven]

29. In the words of Obama

this is very..."troubling."

[Jamastiene]

30. They make a perfect couple. A Reagan Democrat and

and Obama Republican. They fit like a glove.

[theredpen]

31. Hey everybody! There's a big sale at Tinfoil Hat Superstore!

My GAWD there's a shitload of paranoia on DU these days.

For fucks sake, a reverend endorses Obama and people go bananas thinking its some kind of Republican plot. For the record, Rev. Caldwell is conservative, but he speaks his mind and does not stroke the egos of conservative politicians or any politician.

This is an indication of Obama's ability to create coalitions and I think some people are just allergic to success.

[boston bean]

34. If your comfortable with this, that is your perogative, don't look down on others

for being less comfortable.

[theredpen]

39. I know Rev. Caldwell

I think I can safely say that this has absolutely no bearing on Obama's bona fides as a progressive candidate.

If people want to react in ignorance and paranoia, then I fully intend to look down on them.

[Little Star]

44. I could probably almost guarantee without even looking that he is no friend to the GLBT Community.

[Jamastiene]

46. Yup, your guarantee is most likely correct. n/t

[Maven]

55. It's worse than you think.

See here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4133344

[theredpen]

58. Probably true, although I've never seen him speak on the topic

One truth that has to be admitted is that there are some openly homophobic segments of the black community. Obama himself is not in that segment, but I doubt going to throw a black preacher under the bus for being homophobic.

The etymology of "one the DL" (one the "down-low") was as a veiled reference to clandestine homosexual affairs conducted "on the DL" by black men afraid of the homophobic backlash in their community.

[dbackjon]

60. So you like hanging out with terrorists?

Because that is exactly what he is. A fucking asshole terrorist who drives GLBT's to suicide and misery.


Nice friend.

[PatSeg]

38. I wish "spiritual advisers" would stay out of politics

We've had seven years of this crap and I am tired of religion in my politics.

[robbedvoter]

49. Abslutely! Separation of church and state? Remember that? Used to be in the Constitution

[PatSeg]

59. I'm all for taking away churches tax exempt status

Politicians shouldn't give speeches in churches either. I personally don't care what a candidate's religion is and I don't want to know. The rest of us can't bring our religion into the work place and can't be hired based on our "faith". It shouldn't be a consideration for the highest job in the country.

[madrchsod]

41. oh no! the devil has struck again

he`s an African American and the church parishioners are predominantly African Americans!!

someone save us from the demon obama and his minions!!!

[robbedvoter]

50. And has Bush's EXPRESS OK to back Obama - no significance whatsoever this

would come upo in the press right before OPEN PRIMARIES in the South.