ABC News: Amid Crises, President Obama Prays 'a Lot'

[Freddie Stubbs]

President Obama says he's been doing "a lot of praying" in recent weeks while faced with tough choices on Libya and other crises at home and abroad.

"I am praying that I'm making the best possible decisions, and that I've got the strength to serve the American people well," he said in an interview Tuesday with ABC News' Diane Sawyer.

While the president has not shied away from openly discussing his prayer life, Obama's comments are the latest reminder that he believes faith in God has helped him navigate the presidency's difficult moments.

At the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington last month, Obama described how the shooting tragedy in Tucson, Ariz., had deepened his faith and how watching his daughters grow up makes him lean on God a little bit more.

more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obama-praying-lot-libya-crisis-challenges/story?id=13250087

[Tesha]

1. I look forward to the time when America's leaders don't have to tell us about their invisible...

...friends in order to be accepted.

Tesha

[GoCubsGo]

2. And...

...I look forward to the time when America's leaders aren't required to have an invisible friend in order be accepted.

[Shiver]

11. And...

..I look forward to a time when America's leaders can have an imaginary friend and not be ridiculed for believing in something others might not.

[Norrin Radd]

52. And...

I look forward to a time when an American leader IS an invisible friend. President Harvey, anyone?

[vaberella]

27. How is this about acceptance?!

I really don't care about the fact he prays. Why? Because when I say I hope for something ---or I have faith in something---it's inclined to be religious. Since this faith in whatever it is, is very abstract. Whatever works for him. I don't see the need for a snide prejudice statement in regards to his own faith.

[vroomvroom]

3. A Muslin Praying to Allah...i knew it.

:sarcasm:

[RichGirl]

8. By a lot does he mean five times a day???? On a prayer rug....

I can joke. I love him and I'd vote for him even if he were a Muslim...or Wiccan...or whatever...and born on Mars.

[fasttense]

4. Yeah, that's what W did too.

"I am praying that I'm making the best possible decisions, and that I've got the strength to serve the American people well." Why does he need to pay about that? All he had to do was do a survey or two and ask us.

[dionysus]

5. you posted this just to stir up athiests, didn't you?

[Kingofalldems]

6. +1

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Why would atheists object to President Obama exercising his religious freedom?

[dionysus]

16. don't play coy

;)

[vaberella]

30. Read the thread and you'd get a clue. It's reeking with prejudice comments. n/t

[BklnDem75]

15. It's pretty obvious

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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

[PoliticAverse]

9. So I guess we know now who Jesus would bomb... n/t

[bhikkhu]

10. Personally, I think reading a lot is better

...but to each his own.

[polichick]

12. imo it's disgusting that presidents attend the National Prayer Breakfast...

...which is put on by The Family, a cult that spreads Christianity all over the middle east through gov't officials and refuses to pay taxes on their digs in DC.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

14. Well

at least he didn't claim that God wanted him to be POTUS. All the same I don't really care about what "god" our elected officials pray to. I just want them to do their jobs.

[Enrique]

17. Diane Sawyer, hard hitting as usual

:eyes:

[slay]

18. Well that makes me reassured!

:sarcasm:

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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

[namahage]

21. Larry Elder? The self-proclaimed "Republitarian"? For real?

Welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

[jenmito]

20. I'm an Atheist and have no problem with him praying that he's "making the best possible

decisions and that (he's) got the strength to serve the American people well," since it can't HURT if doing that gives him strength or whatever. That's his choice.

[MNBrewer]

22. that's got to be the grossest thing I've heard all week.

:puke:

I'd rather that he engage his intellect than make supplication to the sky god.

[Kaylee]

24. Can we not do this...nt.

[MNBrewer]

25. why ever not?

[vaberella]

29. Why are you being a jerk?

Why the fuck is it a problem for a someone to have a religion? And his statement is in regards to strength. You may not believe in a God, and that's fuckin' good for you. But why should someone else get punished if they do. And how does them believing in a God means they are not using their intellect. Instead of justifying your point you just sound like a prick.

[ReggieVeggie]

34. well, you do know what you sound like, right?

I mean, maybe the poster above sounds like a prick. Do you know what you sound like?

[vaberella]

39. Yeah, I sound angry. Since I am angry at the comments made. n/t

[MNBrewer]

40. how the hell has he been "punished" for believing in a religion?

[LAGC]

41. God forbid anyone question a public official making a spectacle out of his/her faith.

Who is Obama trying to impress anyway?

[ReggieVeggie]

46. faith is AOK for anyone with a D behind the name

play politics with religion? only if you're a democrat

[vaberella]

51. That's not true. I'm not a religious person.

But again, if it's a republican or a Democrat who believe in God, I'm not going to tell disparage their faith. Republicans can be zealots about it. But I know one too many people who hold their faith dear and the way the way people mock the faith is a bit on the cruel side.

[ReggieVeggie]

54. Maybe Obama has "come to God"

I just don't think that's the case. He and others have said he wasn't terribly religious before, but then he had political and presidential aspirations. If he's legitimately religious, more power to him.

[ReggieVeggie]

23. seriously?

:puke:

[bvar22]

26. Well, as long as Obama's god says it is OK,

who am I to object. :shrug:

[jenmito]

31. He didn't SAY he asks god's permission.

:eyes: from an Atheist who doesn't have a problem with someone who DOES believe in god.

[vaberella]

28. IBTL: There are way too many covertly prejudice comments against the mans faith in this thread.

You'd think people here would know better.

[ReggieVeggie]

33. covertly prejudiced against the man's faith?

Well, he was with Jeremiah Wright for 20 years and apparently never heard anything, so...

[vaberella]

38. What does that have to do with the comments here? n/t

[namahage]

32. Let's play "Who Said That?"

Match the Democratic primary candidate to the statement (s)he gave to this question:

"My question is to understand each candidates' view of a personal God. Do they believe that, through the power of prayer, disasters like Hurricane Katrina or the Minnesota bridge collapse could have been prevented or lessened?"

1) "I am very dependent on my faith and prayer is a big part of that."

2) "The power of prayer I think is important to all of us. I hope it is, recognizing that we don't do anything without His approval."

3) "I think it is enormously important to look to God--and, in my case, Christ--for guidance and for wisdom. But I don't think you can prevent bad things from happening through prayer."

4) "What I believe in is love. And love implements courage. And courage permits us all to apply the virtues that are important in life."

5) "I pray. I'm a Roman Catholic. My sense of social justice, I believe, comes from being a Roman Catholic. But, in my judgment, prayer is personal. And how I pray and how any American prays, for what reason, is their own decision. And it should be respected."

6) "...No, all the prayer in the world will not stop a hurricane. But prayer will give you the courage to be able to respond to the devastation that's caused in your life and with others to deal with the devastation."

7) "What I pray for is the strength and the wisdom to be able to act on those things that I can control. And that's what I think has been lacking sometimes in our government."

8) "Now, the founders meant to have separation of church and state, but they never meant America to be separate from spiritual values. As president, I'll bring strong spiritual values into the White House..."

Answers here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/21/usnews/whispers/main3191148.shtml
Or just highlight the text between the brackets:
>1) Clinton 2) Dodd 3) Edwards 4) Gravel 5) Richardson 6) Biden 7) Obama 8) Kucinich<

[Sky Masterson]

35. Don't pray

Think.. Leave the praying for the end of timers

[SkyDaddy7]

36. FILE THIS UNDER: The STUPID SHIT elected officials have to say in America!

:puke: :puke:

[tekisui]

37. Who cares?

[Dulcinea]

42. Who cares?

If it gives him spiritual comfort & solace to pray, that's his business. Who are we to say otherwise?

[Beacool]

43. Why is this a controversy?

If the man wants to pray, let him pray. Goodness knows the world could use all the prayers it can get.

As for the atheists, live and let live.

:shrug:

[Arkana]

44. Not going to begrudge a man his religion.

He's not telling me I have to pray too--so what do I care?

[ReggieVeggie]

47. well, I think...

he's saying this for political reasons

not because he's particularly religious

JMHO

[MNBrewer]

49. I begrudge him his religion!!!

WHen he uses it as an excuse to relegate GLBT citizens to second class status. "God's in the mix." FUCK his religion!

[Vattel]

45. pray less, think more

[Canuckistanian]

48. Amid crises, I fart a lot

It keeps away people who would waste my time while I figure out solutions.

It's very effective.

[PurityOfEssence]

50. So, did God tell him to attack Libya?

It seems to be the trend.

[Safetykitten]

53. Well, at least we know he can do that.