AP: "Obama Mentions God and Guns in Idaho"

[bidenista]

Obama Mentions God and Guns in Idaho

By NEDRA PICKLER

..."I've been going to the same church for 20 years, praising Jesus," the Illinois senator told more than 10,000 people packed into Boise State's basketball arena. He is a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

Obama's crowd and his mention of God was notable in Idaho, one of the smaller prizes among the 22 states holding Democratic presidential campaign contests on Super Tuesday. Idaho's caucuses offer 18 Democratic delegates to the national convention. Obama urged those at the rally not to believe everything they hear about him.

"We've heard the usual sort of smear campaigns. I don't know if they've trickled up to Iowa," Obama said to laughter from the crowed, then quickly corrected himself. "Idaho. I know they were in Iowa. They send out these e-mails saying, `You know Obama, he's a Muslim and he doesn't pledge allegiance to the flag. Don't try to just insult not just me but people of the Islamic faith by playing on people's fears. I know who I am. And then there are people who say, `Well, he doesn't believe in the Second Amendment,' even though I come from a state — we've got a lot of hunters in downstate Illinois. And I have no intention of taking away folks' guns."

Obama didn't mention that he does support gun control and has a record of voting for it in the Illinois Senate. He backed limiting handgun purchases to one a month, but he made no attempts to ban them. Today, he stands by his support for controls while trying to reassure hunters that he has no interest in interfering with their access to firearms....

More: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD8UIHIEG0

And here, completely unrelated, are some pandas:

[jillan]

1. No wonder why the Republicans love him.

[KittyWampus]

8. question, have you ever lambasted Kerry for not responding forcefully enough to Swiftboat Liars?f

[jillan]

18. Yes - have you?

[kurth]

2. Praise Jesus

[BeyondGeography]

3. He's not a Muslim and he won't take your guns away

Sounds like he's telling the truth and trying to win Idaho in the process.

Shocking stuff.

[loveangelc]

4. Wow, he went to a church in Idaho??? No offense, but I've always wondered why Hillary

only goes to African American churches to speak...
I think Democrats should go to ALL churches.

[krabigirl]

33. I don't think they should go to any churches.

[Dogmudgeon]

36. Any actual evidence for that?

I didn't think so.

--p!

[NJSecularist]

5. He's pandering??!!

OMG, Hillary's never done such a thing!!! :eyes:

[ingac70]

6. Guns are an issue that stops people voting Dem.

We can't have McCain screaming "they are gonna take yer guns" in the GE.

[Unsane]

7. Right, because the Clintons never triangulate...

oops, they invented it.

[ellacott]

9. He mentions "going to the same church..." in most of his speeches

When he talks about the fake emails. This isn't new.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Schema Thing]

11. With a good line of sight and a .50 cal, I could take out both of those

pandas from 200 yards.


:popcorn:

[Zynx]

15. Oh that's easy. With a .50 cal try more like 1,000 with a good line of sight.

[Schema Thing]

20. nah, I'm prolly a lousy shot

[Zynx]

41. Pandas are big targets.

[Schema Thing]

43. lol, true dat. I've had a blast (pardon the pun), dropping

them like flies in a zoo environment.

[Hoof Hearted]

12. I think it's rather sick he's forced to respond to this crap at all, but I'm glad he's getting it

out of the way now. I would REALLY, really like to see him as the VP, but no matter which half of the ticket he's on, I'm glad to see him address this.

Republican bigotry sux.

[Straight Shooter]

13. He invoked only two aspects of the Holy Republican Trinity? What happened to Gays?

God, guns, and gays. He doesn't want to embrace gays in Idaho?

About those guns ...

I remember when he first came on, he was uniquely different from the usual run-of-the-mill Chicago Democratic politician. He decided to try his sweet southern style mixed with university nuance. The station carries Rush Limbaugh and has a big audience that is well to the right. The first time he was on my show, Obama tried out sweet southern. A guy would call up and assail the liberals for trying “to take away my guns.” Obama would listen to him and seemingly make an effort to reconcile, saying he sympathized but on the other hand--. In a sense he would parse-balancing his response so that there was equal weight on either side with a slight, very slight, indication as to where he was heading. On my show and on others, he began the reputation that clings to him now of a “moderate”-where, in fact, there’s nothing moderate about him. The guy who wanted to keep his guns soon found that out but to a wider audience, Obama was parsing and sounding pretty good. As is the case with all parsers, the definitive differences are blurred. And on that show Barack Obama was an ace Sweet Southern. But what few understood was that he could do blurry or specific lefty talk-depending on who wanted to hear what.

(snip)

In Congress Rush has been unproductive and lackadaisical. He ran a race for mayor against Richard M. Daley that went nowhere and sputtered like a wet fuse. It was understandable that Barack Obama saw himself as leader of a new black generation-but in Bobby Rush’s district? He came on my show and announced for Congress, talking first in declaratives and then in vague intellectual terms. The campaign began with Obama getting what he expected-loads of earned media.

But then something happened. Pledging to introduce the latest gun control bill, he turned up missing from the legislature for two full months of the Senate’s winter session! Speculation ran rife: did Bobby take care of him? What happened to Obama? The time for introduction of his liberal dream of a gun-control bill came and no Obama. When he finally turned up, sheepish, he said he took his family on a vacation to Hawaii and while there his daughter got sick and so, gosh darn it, he had to stay in sunny Hawaii until she got better.

But Bobby Rush knew better. He said that Obama, a Hawaiian by birth, yearned for the sun and wanted to miss Chicago’s brutal winter while the legislature was in session. That made sense to the voters. When Obama next appeared on my show, he didn’t do well. He started out with intellectual talk about this epiphany and that epiphany but that didn’t work. He switched gears and talked pork chop with short declaratives. That didn’t work. He came across as a luxury-loving who loved warmer climes. Bobby Rush, the old Black Panther, knocked him out of the box 61% to 30%.

http://www.tomroeser.com/blogs/default.asp?categoryID=54

[KennedyGuy]

14. He covered that one with Donnie...

[bidenista]

16. yes. a disturbing profile emerges. nt

[KennedyGuy]

19. troubling...

[UALRBSofL]

29. Well, as you can see, Fact Check is Working

in overdrive. Every campaign stop he makes when there is a discrepancy in his stump speech it is noted by the press. And it seems I have seen 3 of those stump speech discrepancies today. I find it interesting how quick the MSM is quick to pick up on it and report it.

[stillcool]

17. More about those guns...

http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Gun_Control.htm
Q: How would you address gun violence that continues to be the #1 cause of death among African-American men?

A: You know, when the massacre happened at Virginia Tech, I think all of us were grief stricken and shocked by the carnage. But in this year alone, in Chicago, we've had 34 Chicago public school students gunned down and killed. And for the most part, there has been silence. We know what to do. We've got to enforce the gun laws that are on the books. We've got to make sure that unscrupulous gun dealers aren't loading up vans and dumping guns in our communities, because we know they're not made in our communities. There aren't any gun manufacturers here, right here in the middle of Detroit. But what we also have to do is to make sure that we change our politics so that we care just as much about those 30-some children in Chicago who've been shot as we do the children in Virginia Tech. That's a mindset that we have to have in the White House and we don't have it right now.
Source: 2007 NAACP Presidential Primary Forum Jul 12, 2007

Keep guns out of inner cities--but also problem of morality
I believe in keeping guns out of our inner cities, and that our leaders must say so in the face of the gun manfuacturer's lobby. But I also believe that when a gangbanger shoots indiscriminately into a crowd because he feels someone disrespected him, we have a problem of morality. Not only do we need to punish that man for his crime, but we need to acknowledge that there's a hole in his heart, one that government programs alone may not be able to repair.
Source: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.215 Oct 1, 2006

Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions

* Principles that Obama supports on gun issues:Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
* Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
* Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.

Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998

Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others. Voting YES would:

* Exempt lawsuits brought against individuals who knowingly transfer a firearm that will be used to commit a violent or drug-trafficking crime
* Exempt lawsuits against actions that result in death, physical injury or property damage due solely to a product defect
* Call for the dismissal of all qualified civil liability actions pending on the date of enactment by the court in which the action was brought
* Prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or delivery of armor piercing ammunition, and sets a minimum prison term of 15 years for violations
* Require all licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers who engage in the transfer of handguns to provide secure gun storage or safety devices

Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S 397 ; vote number 2005-219 on Jul 29, 2005

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/17/america/NA-POL-US-Obamas-Record.php

Obama regularly supported gun-control measures, including a ban on semiautomatic "assault weapons" and a limit on handgun purchases to one a month.

He also opposed letting people use a self-defense argument if charged with violating local handgun bans by using weapons in their homes. The bill was a reaction to a Chicago-area man who, after shooting an intruder, was charged with a handgun violation.

Supporters framed the issue as a fundamental question of whether homeowners have the right to protect themselves.

Obama joined several Chicago Democrats who argued the measure could open loopholes letting gun owners use their weapons on the street. They said local governments should have the final say, but the self-defense exception passed 41-16 and ultimately became state law.

Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, an influential lobbying group representing gun owners, dealers and manufacturers, called the decision "bad politics" and something that "will certainly be talked about. You can take that to the bank."

On the other hand, Obama parted company with gun control advocates when he backed a measure to let retired police officers and military police carry concealed weapons.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
For six years, Obama served in a Republican-controlled Senate, so he and fellow Democrats only got a fraction of their bills signed into law.

During his last two years, Democrats controlled the chamber and he played an influential role in crafting legislation on a variety of issues. He helped pass measures overhauling Illinois' troubled capital punishment system and was a key figure in requiring a massive statewide study of traffic stops by police to look for signs of racial profiling. Although police groups opposed the legislation, they say Obama listened to their concerns and accepted some of their suggestions to improve the bill.

Even when he was in the political minority, Obama sometimes played a critical role. He helped write one of the rare ethics laws in a state known for government corruption and worked on welfare reform with Republicans.

He sponsored legislation to bar job and housing discrimination against gays, and he helped create a state version of the earned income tax credit for the poor. Obama also led efforts to reject federal rules that would have put workers' overtime checks in jeopardy.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/17/america/NA-POL-US-Obamas-Record.php?page=2

[benEzra]

42. Big pitfalls there...

Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions

* Principles that Obama supports on gun issues:Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.

That's not good.

He needs to work hard to address this issue, and IMHO to understand it. I do not think he understands that 80% of U.S. gun owners are nonhunters, or that semiautomatics have been the most popular lawfully owned guns in America for decades. Not only are most handguns semiautomatic, but most popular target rifles are semiautomatic. It's not about hunting; 4 out of 5 U.S. gun owners are nonhunters.

It was the DLC's "assault weapon" bait-and-switch in the early '90s that led to the "Dems'll-take-yer-guns" meme, not imaginary attacks on 19th-century-style deer rifles. Addressing that should be a priority of the candidates BEFORE the nomination, IMHO. Otherwise we could end up with a repeat of 1994.

The 2006 elections showed how to defuse the gun issue, namely drop all support for new bans on legal guns and let the election be decided on the issues people say are more important.


----------------------
Dems and the Gun Issue - Now What? (written in '04, largely vindicated in '06, IMO)

The Conservative Roots of U.S. Gun Control

[DURHAM D]

24. David Axelrod told him to stay in Hawaii - always planning for this day. n/t

[Major Hogwash]

21. The crowd was estimated at over 14,000 and we know what Obama said about guns.

So, if anyone wants to argue about it, take it to the gun forum.
I'm sure you'll find someone there to argue with about it.

LoL

[Skip Intro]

22. Did they all swoon when he said "Jesus" - ?

I mean, I know Jesus endorsed him and all, but...

[Major Hogwash]

26. Wow, that remark is uncalled for!

Seriously.

[Skip Intro]

27. really?

It's not like Jesus hasn't been used to score political points before.


short memories....

[Major Hogwash]

You were talking about fellow Democrats that live in Idaho, many friends of mine.

Obama was addressing the fact that the HILLARY campaign is circulating e-mails saying Obama is a MUSLIM - he ain't!

[Roxy66]

37. I was there this morning so... watch what you say!! lol... It was great!!

[Renew Deal]

23. How much does bashing Obama all day pay?

It must be lucrative.

[ErnestoG]

25. Oh damn him! He worships Jesus, and stuff!

[enfield collector]

28. how long before we see him doing the usual duck hunting

photo-op? someone needs to remind him the 2nd ammendment has nothing to do with hunting.

[Major Hogwash]

31. You should bash John Kerry some more here. It's the "in" thing to do at DU lately.

Your credibility at discussing issues is at a serious risk of vanishing into thin air.

[formernaderite]

30. even though i'm an atheist....good to hear he doesn't want my guns

i do understand the candidates tend to go on about god during campaigns.

[derby378]

44. His record, however, indicates that he wants mine...

He needs to work on his position a little more. I may not be a single-issue voter, but I've seen too many people who vote Republican simply because too many Democratic candidates won't drop the ban.

[Bongo Prophet]

46. Especially when he HAS to dispell the notion that he is a muslim.

"Not that there is anything wrong with that."
And of course, there isn't - no worse than other bronze age mythologies.

But I do like that he points out its fine to respect Islam in the US.
And non-theistic types like me. Relatively respectful of differences.

[Omega3]

32. pandas rock, they are fuzzy and black and white, could we learn something?

[krabigirl]

34. Praise the Lord!

[Bluebear]

35. ..."I've been going to the same church for 20 years, praising Jesus"

Hallelujah!

[femrap]

38. I don't even think Obama knows what

he believes...he's like a clean slate and his supporters just project onto him whatever they want.

I haven't trusted him from the start.

Love the pandas...thx.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

39. The speech was amazing

The God and Guns bits were very small parts of an extensive speech.

Some corrections: there were at least 15,000 people. The 12,000 seat arena was filled other than some tiny areas closed off because of security reasons. They put speakers outside so that the lines of people (400-500 yards long with a breadth of 4-5 people in 3 separate lines) could listen in. Many thousands, possibly tens of thousands, watched on live television across the state. A Hillary support who came with me had his mind changed, and its doubtful he was the only one. This is in Idaho, the reddest of red states. People here are starving for what Obama's serving.

Oh and BTW, I'm a John Edwards supporter who will be caucusing for Obama.

[annie1]

40. Love the pandas.

[never_get_over_it]

45. Agree with the pandas

and glad he at least mentioned the emails - he is going to have to do a lot more of that should he get the nomination - this thing is going to be SO EFFING UGLY...for either of them...makes my head hurt thinking of it....