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Candidates address faith

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor August 7, 2008 11:28 AM

In the new issue of Time magazine, John McCain and Barack Obama address their faith and how it might animate their presidency.

McCain writes about how his faith helped him through his ordeal as a prisoner of war during Vietnam.

In his essay, he also discusses the role of faith in policy: "In the life of our country, faith serves the same ends that it can serve in the life of each believer, whatever creed we might profess. It sees us through life's trials. It instills humility, calling us to serve a cause greater than ourselves. At its best, faith reminds us of our common humanity and our essential equality by the measure that matters most.

"A living faith calls us as well to care for the most vulnerable members of society. The poor, the hungry, the stranger seeking shelter and the child waiting to be born — all are in need of our compassion and protection. Faith shows us that the weak and defenseless are not a problem but rather a priority, and a chance for us to live out the message of the Gospels."

Obama writes about his journey to Christianity.

In his essay, he also discusses faith in the context of policy: "I also think we must remember that there are a range of moral-values issues that must be addressed in our families, our communities and our government. My values speak to the 47 million Americans suffering without health care, the care of soldiers and civilians in Iraq and veterans back home, the expanse of God's creation that is warming day by day, the single mothers struggling to provide for their families and the fathers who are too often absent from the scene. I don't believe we should ignore the debate over traditional 'values issues' at the expense of these other moral challenges. But we can't just talk about 'family values.' We actually have to stand up for policies that value families."

Both presidential hopefuls are scheduled to speak on faith Aug. 16 at the California megachurch of Rick Warren, author of "A Purpose Driven Life."

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3 comments so far...

  1. Obama's journey to Christianity was a pathway through Rev. Wright's hate-filled church. "The One" has been branded with a racist theology that has no place in the White House.

    Obama first met Wright and joined his church in the 1980s, while he was working as a community organizer in Chicago before attending Harvard Law School. Wright officiated at the wedding ceremony of Barack and Michelle Obama, as well as their children's baptism. The title of Obama's memoir, The Audacity of Hope, was inspired by Wright's sermons. He has called Wright “a sounding board for me to make sure that I am speaking as truthfully about what I believe as possible.”

    Here's what was in those sermons:

    “Barack knows what it means, living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people,” (So Obama's answer is to tax all those rich whiteys and make them pay to continue an entitlement-minded socialist society.)

    In another sermon, delivered five days after the 9/11 attacks, Wright preaches that the United States had brought the terrorist violence on itself.

    “We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York, and we never batted an eye,” Wright says. “We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is brought right back in our own front yards.”

    In a later sermon, Wright revisits the theme, declaring: “No, no, no, not God bless America — God damn America!”


    Do we need or want Obama's racist and unpatriotic brand of faith? No thanks.

    Posted by Former member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago August 7, 08 12:54 PM

  1. Yet another smear email! We'll be seeing this on factcheck.org as a "smear email" . So, "Former member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago",whoever you are.......you've been busted!!!! CRAWL BACK UNDER YOUR ROCK....WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR SLIME!!!!!

    Posted by 62-year old white working woman August 7, 08 01:33 PM

  1. Are you sure you are correct about this? who would not want to know this information about the person running for president of the united states!
    CHECK YOUR FACTS -From where i stand you are totally wrong!
    We want a president that supports America, not friends with socialist countries that are anti american.

    Posted by susan August 8, 08 03:30 AM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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