Bush's "spiritual adviser endorses Obama" - "we share a common vision" W approves

[robbedvoter]

HOUSTON — An influential Houston minister who has long been a spiritual adviser to President George W. Bush says he will endorse Barack Obama's bid for the presidency.

The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, senior pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church, said Saturday that he's backing the Illinois senator because of Obama's "character, confidence and courage."

Obama, a Democrat, is electable and "would do a wonderful job to bring people together to pursue a common vision we all have," said Caldwell, who said his support is personal and not connected to his role as pastor of the 14,000-member church

snip

Caldwell said he called Bush to inform him of his decision to support Obama and that the president was "OK" with it, adding that the minister's presidential choice would not affect their relationship.


I am having deja vue of Joementum campaign when Cheney told republicans to vote for Joe.
SC, southern states have open primaries

[CoffeeCat]

1. Obama got an endorsement from a real, live SAINT!

This man is the "spiritual advisor to George Bush"?

So, the man has to try and advise a man who has done the exact opposite of what anyone says,
just to demonstrate that he's the "decider".

Oh man, can you imagine the high blood pressure this poor man has?

He's got his work cut out for him...in the sam way that Charles Mansons' manners coach must
have his work cut out for him.

[robbedvoter]

4. Your "saint" cleared it with Bush - so me thinks he's not as removed from earthly

concerns as the other "saints".

[CoffeeCat]

10. I think this spiritual adviser was only thinking about....

...you and me.

He cleared it with Bush, the same way a man addressed a lunatic with a hand grenade, "Ummmm...now
all is well...we're fine...everything is pretty and nice. I just want to ask you...if it's ok..."

If Bush read about this first---we'd probably be at war with France by now.

[robbedvoter]

19. oopsie! The halo just slipped off your saint! Looks like he's another bigot:

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

Here's the kicker: CALDWELL IS THE SENIOR PASTOR OF METANOIA MINISTRIES, AN OUTFIT WHOSE WEBSITE ADVERTISES "A PROGRAM CREATED TO PROVIDE CHRIST CENTERED INSTRUCTION FOR THOSE SEEKING FREEDOM FROM HOMOSEXUALITY, LESBIANISM, PROSTITUTION, SEX ADDICTION AND OTHER HABITUAL SINS."

METANOIA is apparently an offshoot of United Methodist Church.

[DemGa]

2. I'm getting dizzy...nt

[Elspeth]

3. Surely it's not Obama's fault that a nutty preacher endorses him

Not an Obama supporter, but this really isn't his fault.

[robbedvoter]

5. But why does * give a public OK, before open primaries in the South?

And why does MSM carry water for Obama? (hint: it's not because they want him as POTUS, just designated loser to their guy?)
Also, why is Obama NOT attacking Bush?

[Rock_Garden]

7. Great question. Why isn't Obama attacking Bush?

[Elspeth]

8. Bush OK's the preacher's accouncement?

Or just his change of heart?


In other words, is Bush doing a backhanded endorsement of Obama here, or is the preacher just speaking out of turn on a personal conversation?

[robbedvoter]

20. After the handling of the lamont/Liberman race, I'd say this has a reason

Timing is perfect too.

[salin]

6. I agree - and it doesn't even meet the innuendo test

ala "see - the GOP folks support Obama".

It more speaks to how many were bamboozled and fell for (by choice, albeit) the "Compassionate Conservative" bs that Bush was packaged in to convice some of faith that he wasn't the old hard-line republican (back in 2000) but a new breed that actually cared about those in need. The story should be mostly about the sucker minister and his ilk. Nice touch that he even called W to let hiim know. :eyes:

All that said - a candidate does not pick and choose those who decide to support him or her - unless that supporter was actively pursued (and that doesn't seem to be the case here - but I admit that this time I have not read the full story.)

[robbedvoter]

21. Does the fact that the minister is another anti-gay bigot change your stand?

Here's the kicker: CALDWELL IS THE SENIOR PASTOR OF METANOIA MINISTRIES, AN OUTFIT WHOSE WEBSITE ADVERTISES "A PROGRAM CREATED TO PROVIDE CHRIST CENTERED INSTRUCTION FOR THOSE SEEKING FREEDOM FROM HOMOSEXUALITY, LESBIANISM, PROSTITUTION, SEX ADDICTION AND OTHER HABITUAL SINS."

METANOIA is apparently an offshoot of United Methodist Church.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4133344

[KittyWampus]

32. get your head out of the sand. Homophobia is an issue in the black community.

And people who otherwise agree with progressive ideals and civil rights get hung up on it.

[salin]

37. again - unless Obama, or his camp, recruited this minister

then I do not know how it is a reflection upon him or his campaign.

I am still uncomfortable with the McClurkin (sp) debacle. I am not at this time an Obama supporter. But just as I thought it was a ridiculous attempt of smear when the RW went after Clark due to Moore's support of him (and of course from my view point it was a plus - but it still had more to do with Moore than Clark), a candidate - unless they had recruited the supporter - can not be held responsible for the supporter or his/her views.

YMMV.

[salin]

40. never mind - it is related - I read it elsewhere... this minister was PART of that

tour in SC and clearly he has been actively involved in the campaign.

So I retract my statements of above. Not the sentiment - in that a candidate can not control nor be responsible for random supporters... but that if there is coordination of any kind between the candidate and said supporter - than there can be responsibility put on the candidate. And in this case - reading another thread with more info - indicates this minister has been active in the campaign (on the McClurkin (sp) tour).

Forgive my ignorance of that fact. It does indeed reflect very negatively on Obama and his campaign.

[Radical Activist]

9. Imagine a candidate with crossover appeal like that.

Hell, he might have a chance at winning. That's more than you can say for Hillary and her high negatives.

[Elspeth]

11. That's exactly what Obama's playing for, esp with his religiousity and Reagan remarks

Interesting strategy for Obama: I can get the disaffected conservative white male vote.

[Hoof Hearted]

28. By waxing poetic for bigots?

This whole anti-gay undercurrent leaves a taste of bile at the back of my throat.

[robbedvoter]

22. Crossover - from Bush to Reagan. That explains the recent results in the DEMOCRATIC

primaries. So, is W going to campaign for him?

[jasmine621]

25. You folks are really falling for the "play".

Obama doesn't get it either. He is being USED big time by the Rovians to try to ruin HC and tarnish the Clinton years...everyone having forgotten how they were doing then with all the liberal junk flying around, like reasonable interest rates, money in the bank, low unemployment, people lifted out of the ranks of poverty, low crime, very few losses of military lives, a President respected throuhout most of the world, family friendly workplaces, improvements in government services (especially SS administration)...but I digress.


It is tragic, because Latinos, Hispanics, and African Americans could have used this election to build a political alliance that would have had much power in the face of their advasaries. I fear that it is much too late in the hate HC and BC game to pull things together. HC supported Obama in his run for the Senate how did things get so out of whack?

A lot of what Obama attributes to statement by Bill and Hillary are really paraphrases or framing of thier statements to make people believe they said what is being reported. The first mistake by the Obama team was to make a big deal out of HC saying that it took a President to get the civil rights legislation through. The Obama camp jumped on the MSM bandwagon by casting that statement as an afront to MLK. It's been down hill ever since.

My hunch is that the Obama camp is infiltrated with a few HC haters pluse some very smooth RW-ultra-conservative neocons who want to kill the political careers of both Obama and HC. Right now, they are doing a great job of it. It seems that neither Obama or HC camps understand what is happening.

[Elspeth]

26. I think you are very right about this

I think the voters are being played too.

[KittyWampus]

34. YOU are the one who's been 'played'. Rove understands homophobia exists in black communities

A Democrat can either reach out to blacks who otherwise tend towards the Democratic party and progressive ideas or they can ignore them.

And ignoring them leaves an opening for the GOP.

THAT is what Rove is exploiting.

But the reality is, if you reach out to blacks who have a problem dealing with the gay community, you at least provide an opportunity to change to happen. Maybe just maybe working together will help those prejudiced people open their eyes.

[mondo joe]

39. Did Rove tell Obama to give McClurkin a free platform?

"A Democrat can either reach out to blacks who otherwise tend towards the Democratic party and progressive ideas or they can ignore them."

That is pukeworthy bullshit. Democrats can reach out to blacks WITHOUT increasing the volume of lies about gays.

[Hoof Hearted]

30. Who the hell cares if we have to throw gays and boomers under the bus, right?

:argh:

[KittyWampus]

35. No Dem candidate is throwing gays under the bus. Attempting to move people forward

and away from bigotry should be a goal not anathema.

[cooolandrew]

12. Shame he's linked to Bush but...

...What sprituality is about is being more good and inspiring the good in others. As a candidate Obama does this and I find that consistent the faith well more faith in each other. Like in the film beautiful mind life is all maths you go postive you get high spirits you go negative you get low spirits.

[robbedvoter]

23. Check # 19 and come back to me about the "good"

[cooolandrew]

13. ...

[Fermezlabush]

14. Saintly is as saintly does - mixing W and dem primaries -I dunno.

[Usrename]

15. What about all those Reagan Democrats that Obama is courting?

Don't you think they hate Bubba?

[gordianot]

18. I know and knew a few Reagan Democrats.

They are in 3 basic conditions:

1. Dead

2. In a shit hole nursing home or are headed for one.

3. Tell their old Democratic friends they are once again Democrats when they discovered the Country Club set does not welcome them and they will never be able to afford membership. These people have real difficulty with the truth.

[gordianot]

16. Who thinks there may be a DINO of Lieberman proportions in the making?

There does seem to be numerous unusual alliances, statements and campaign tactics lately.

[malaise]

17. Any Dem who trusts a Bush insider should have her/his

head examined.

[robbedvoter]

24. We have a winner! Everyone is so focussed on Hillary, totally forgot about Bush

Trees, forest...

[Bluebear]

27. Another "Ex-gay" pastor for Obama. Ducky.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4133344&mesg_id=4133344

[gordianot]

41. Your link is fascinating, Kirbyjon Caldwell ministry involves Metanoia Ministries.

The Bush family appears to avoid medical treatment for their problems, why would George W. Bush turn to this type of ministry as his adviser. I am trying to avoid guilt by association but this one has shades of the old James Coburn movie "The Presidents' Analyst".

Metanoia ministries must do a lot of business with Republicans.

[mondo joe]

29. This just plays on my problems with Obama - my feeling that he is too deep in the

pockets of religious bigots for my taste.

[KittyWampus]

33. please, tell us all about how Obama is "deep in the pockets of religious bigots".

lol

[mondo joe]

36. Using Donnie McClurkin to kiss religious bigot ass and let them know he's not TOO

tolerant of gays.

[Horse with no Name]

31. I'm sure there is a "good" reason for this

:eyes:

[Geek_Girl]

38. The only thing that really bothers me is Bush is Ok with it

Meaning Bush is OK with Obama being President which scares me. I hope if Obama wins the Presidency he'll put an end to the Iraq war.

[wisteria]

42. it is good to see that some endorsements transcend political parties. n/t