As a campaign counterpoint to Mitt Romney’s “I’m not concerned about the very poor" faux-pas, today President Obama discussed helping the needy as The Right Thing To Do.
Bringing up religion — a topic that brings great distress to Romney’s campaign — the president suggested to an audience at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. that Jesus would tax the rich.
He said, “I actually think that is going to make economic sense, but for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’ teaching that ‘for unto whom much is given, much shall be required.”
Obama justified his efforts to regulate the financial and healthcare industries, citing his religious beliefs of Christianity.
“We can all benefit from turning to our Creator, listening to him,” Obama said. “Avoiding phony religiosity … This is especially important right now when we’re facing some big challenges as a nation.”
One quarter of Americans believe is a Muslim according to a 2010 poll.
Romney, a Mormon, has been widely panned from both the left and the right for his comments on lower-income Americans.
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You really need to check your facts. Mormons allow anyone to enter their churches, but they have strict requirements to enter their temples. A temple is a very holy place to Mormons and not even all Mormons can enter a temple. The Mormons that meet the churches requirements can enter the temple.
Will you slam Catholics also because not just anyone can enter the Vatican? You are definitely anti-religion if you don't respect a religion's right to a holy place that only their holiest members can enter. Many religions have holy places that not everyone can enter.
You and others on MSNBC have become very anti-religion and keep bringing up a person's personal religious beliefs as something bad. It is none of your business or mine what Mormons believe, it is their business.
I have also seen a growing trend on MSNBC to walk a fine line on the subject of Mormonism - and some unfortunate myths and misunderstandings being perpetuated while at the same time, feigning this is their sorry lot to bring it up. Even Rachel, oh my! I love MSNBC but got so upset the other night I had to switch it off. Hey folks, Mormons are out here too and we actually watch MSNBC. We hear you. Please check your facts.
Hi Lawrence - A couple of corrections re: your discussion with Frank Rich. Actually, ANY person of any faith is welcome to walk off the street and into a Mormon Church (or meetinghouse). Every Church has the words, "Visitors Welcome" directly under the name "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." The Temple, however is a very sacred place where even many Mormons cannot enter, unless they have received a Temple Recommend from their Bishop. (Too complicated to explain here). Weddings can take place for the public, in the meetinghouse, but in the Temple they are restricted to those with the Temple Recommend. These are renewable. Mine is not current, and I respect that I would never enter unless I have myself in order, so to speak. When I did go, It was an amazing experience. I was able to attend my daughter's wedding in the Temple - a very simple, but beautiful ceremony. I am not for Mitt just because I am Mormon. Actually I'm 100% for Obama. As a convert, I can see the difference between newbies and those who grew up in the faith. I understand why Mitt is a little bit corny and different and I find that an affectionate quality in many of my Mormon friends. All Mormons are not right wing or anti gay, and I want you to know that I am trying to get as many as possible to watch MSNBC - so I hope you all will do your research carefully and maybe even get some Mormon consultants to help achieve fairness and balance of the subject. I've watched, absolutely fascinated - and agree with Frank Rich, that being a Mormon is very important to Mitt and he can't even explain it. I do think he cares about people. As a Bishop he would have administered Church Welfare. Being self sufficient is important, and Mormons give generously but also help "teach a man to fish" so he will not go hungry. I don't think Mitt meant the comment about the poorest folks the way it was taken. Very unfortunate. I know a lot of Mormons who are the coolest, most sincere, kind, generous, helpful people, but they also work their whole life - every day - to grow and improve themselves, and absolutely strive to be Christ-like!!! It takes a lot of discipline and self-control to be a Mormon and it conflicts with so many things that most people would never give up, like R rated movies, shopping on Sunday, and some things many people would find it hard to do, like tithing, temple work, 3 hour church meetings every Sunday, taking care of your assigned Sister or Brother - aka visiting and home teaching.) He has probably spent his whole life trying to be "totally in control" and that can make him stiff - but should not be an indication of what he feels inside.
Lawrence - On your show you discussed with your guests Obama's comments at the National Prayer Breakfast, which I thought were great with the exception of one thing. You and your guests seemed surprised that Obama does not mention his Christian beliefs more often as it relates to topics like the poor. I am Christian and very much a democrat and I used to feel the same way, however, I have changed my mind and now think Obama and other Democrats are smart and correct in not bringing up their faith more often.
1st it is not right to mix politics and religion, 2nd the minute a politician brings up their faith and flaunts it, they immediately become hypocrites, 3rd the bible speaks against flaunting your faith and being showy, 4th people should not be getting their religious knowledge and beliefs from any politician no matter what religion because there's a big chance they are not going to match your beliefs even if it is the same religion, and 5th and my biggest gripe - is that the Religious Right has mangled Christian teachings by mixing politics and "flawed religious beliefs". Their "Christianity" is something totally unrecognizable to most Christians. I look at the RR as a cult. When I discuss this with my democrat/Christian friends we are all in disbelief at what the RR says, and their ideas and actions are not even close to what we were taught to believe. It is very comical to see how the RR tries to tie everything to religion no matter how unrelated and ironic the justification or comparison is. The RR has done Christianity more harm than good and unfortunately many people are learning their religion from the politicians and right wing media.
That being said I do not believe that Obama pushed it too far in what he said at the National Prayer Breakfast. It was the right place and time to say it and I know that he will probably not keep bringing it up all the time. I also believe its more important to show your values (no matter what religion you are)through your actions, which he has definitely done.
KLS,
Obama did express his christian faith and a moment of pray. Yes, he mentioned helping ordinary American and people that are struggling like the poor, which is resonate with Christian faith to help your neighbor and friends.
Unlike Mitt Romney faith as Mormons, he has being lying throughout this vetting process and president Obama records.
“We can all benefit from turning to our Creator, listening to him,” Obama said.
Apparently, Obama believes that his imaginary friend created mankind. That makes him a creationist, just like all the other right-wingers.
Obama justified his efforts to regulate the financial and healthcare industries, citing his religious beliefs of Christianity.
I really don't understand why US politicans keep mentioning their religious belief all the time. As far as I know, the US constitution demands the separation of church and state. This means that you must never ever use religion to justify legislation. Legislation must not be based on subjective religious views, but on objective rational reasons. Lefties and liberals should not sink to the level of the right-wingers by resorting to religious "arguments". There are plenty of rational reasons that speak in favour of left-wing policies. Use these instead. Religious "arguments" are left for those too dumb to come up with real arguments. Ask yourself: Do you want to live in a theocracy?
The easiest way to ensure the separation of church and state is by voting for atheistic politicians.
OBAMA 2012
OBAMA 2012
It was Romney's family that moved out of the UNITED STATES because they DID NOT like the laws we have. Romney's dad was not good enough to be president of the UNITED STATES and neither is MITT!!!!!!!!!
RE-ELECT OBAMA 2012
Actually Romney's dad was quite a decent and honorable man, a responsible moderate Republican in a time when there were such, an innovative industrialist who could work with unions rather than a financial speculator gorging himself on tax scams, an early advocate of smaller and more efficient cars, a supporter of the civil rights movement despite his church's retrograde beliefs regarding black folks at that time, and would have made a hell of a better President than Nixon, who he was running against in the primaries. Mitt can't fill his father's shoes. A midget and phony compared to his father.