First, we probably shouldn't have a "national day of prayer" at all, what with this being a secular, non-Medieval democracy and all. Now, it's not a huge deal--I'm fine with ceremonial deism. Heck, I even kinda like it if it's not distorted by the loonies.
Unfortunately, this is apparently largely an opportunity for the oppressively religious to get to do a little live role-playing and see what it would feel like if we lived in the theocracy they've always dreamt about.
Apparently, Obama is merely observing the NDoP like pre-Dubya presidents did--that is, not in an overtly divisive and ostentatiously evangelical manner.
Consequently, we get:
Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer Committee, said the group was "disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama administration."
"At this time in our country's history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer," said Mrs. Dobson, who occupied a prominent seat in the front row for the ceremonies during the Bush administration.
Translation: I should be in the front row!!!!
And of course you realize that the denizens of the fever swamps would trot out the Muslim meme...without, of course, the guts to flat-out say it:
Some evangelicals said they were not surprised by Mr. Obama's decision.
"For those of us who have our doubts about Obama's faith, no, we did not expect him to have the service," said Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America. "But as president, he should put his own lack of faith aside and live up to the office."
But my fave-rave has to be the old we-are-a-Christian-nation canard. And the wingnuts, they do not disappoint:
Referencing a remark the president made at a recent press conference in Turkey that Americans "do not consider ourselves a Christian nation," she added: "That was projecting his own beliefs, but not reflecting what the majority of Americans feel. It's almost like Obama is trying to remake America into his own image. This is not a rejection of Shirley Dobson; it's a rejection of the concept that America is a spiritual nation and its foundation is Judeo-Christian."
Ah, life in the non-reality-based community... Must be nice to just be able to, ya know, make shit up...and still believe it...
posted by Winston Smith at
6:26 PM
4 Comments:
Shirley Dobson, of course, is the wife of James Dobson, the flamboyantly-disconnected-from-reality founder of Focus on the Family.
Turns out patriotism is the next to last refuge of a scoundrel.
What would be hilarious is to bring whoever is responsible for that last quote on the air on a nice national network and read to her Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli where, you know, John Adams and 339 senators all agreed unanimously to say in the treaty:
"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
I, for one, think this would be most amusing.
Scratch that 339 senators comment there - I misread something and only after I posted realized that we obviously do not have 339 senators. lol. The point stands.
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