So just where does Barak Obama stand on the abortion issue? How about gun laws? How about most of the issues? It seems he is big enough on splash that nobody really has to know who he is or what he really stands for. Seems kind of teflon. Not Al-Gore-plasticman-teflon, but not exactly forthcoming.
One of Obama's recent speeches, this one quite lengthy, was finally meaty enough to begin to nail him down on just where he really is at on some controversial issues. The speech was then reviewed and evaluated by a highly-educated, conservative, patriotic and analytical Christian leader who looks at Obama here for who he is from an American Christian's perspective.
Though the onion has many more yet-to-be uncovered layers, the ones peeled back in this summary are already enough to make you cry. It is very revealing and could well define how the Christain Right identifies this pretender from Illinois (all emphasis and colored text is mine and not the author's):
"I listened to the whole thing. If I were teaching speech this school year and Obama were in my class, he would get an A for sure. He is personable, poised, articulate, likable, and eloquent.
One of Obama's recent speeches, this one quite lengthy, was finally meaty enough to begin to nail him down on just where he really is at on some controversial issues. The speech was then reviewed and evaluated by a highly-educated, conservative, patriotic and analytical Christian leader who looks at Obama here for who he is from an American Christian's perspective.
Though the onion has many more yet-to-be uncovered layers, the ones peeled back in this summary are already enough to make you cry. It is very revealing and could well define how the Christain Right identifies this pretender from Illinois (all emphasis and colored text is mine and not the author's):
"I listened to the whole thing. If I were teaching speech this school year and Obama were in my class, he would get an A for sure. He is personable, poised, articulate, likable, and eloquent.
But what did he really say of substance? He began by quoting Alan Keyes, his opponent in his Senate race. It was not till minute 36 (of 39) that he admitted to one of Keyes's apparent criticisms (he didn't really specify what Keyes's objections had been, just that Keyes was convinced that Jesus wouldn't have voted for Obama)--he finally admitted that he, Obama, is pro-abortion. He danced all around the question whether he supports homosexual "marriage." His remarks about Keyes, Pat Robertson, and the late Jerry Falwell were entirely ad hominem, completely devoid of meaningful content.
Not until minute 14 did he mention his having walked the aisle of a church to receive Jesus as Savior, but he immediately undercut that testimony by saying that Jews and Muslims are "on the same path." No serious and honest Jew or Muslim would agree with him, of course. A few minutes later, he claimed that "we need Christians, Jews, and Muslims on Capitol Hill."
Finally, after minute 18, we hear some of his views for the first time. He is anti-gun, so he apparently does not support--or does not understand--the Second Amendment. (Later on, he says some good things about the First Amendment, but without reference to anybody specific who he thinks opposes the principles of the First Amendment.) He wants more tax money to be spent on education. He claims that simply giving more information about contraception will ameliorate, if not solve, the problems of teenage pregnancy and abortion. He is against cuts in the Federal budget.
In minute 26, he finally tells this crowd (containing, apparently, mainly self-described Christians) that he believes America is "no longer a Christian nation," and he makes that statement with apparent approval. He asks a meaningless rhetorical question after minute 27, "Whose Christianity should we teach in the public schools?" (Who in American politics is recommending that we teach Christianity in the public schools? He doesn't say.) Right afterward, he gives some near-sarcastic commentary based on distorted views of the Torah like those popularized by Martin Sheen's character on a popular TV show.
After minute 29, he insists that Christians cannot oppose abortion meaningfully and effectively unless they can justify their opposition to unbelievers, and after minute 31 he says that people of faith must submit to pure reason (that is, reason as defined by those who are not people of faith). In other words, if we can't make our positions palatable and sensible to those who have a completely different (and even hostile) worldview, then we have no business setting our positions forward in the public square.
He concedes that the Pledge of Allegiance, even with "under God," is OK--especially since most kids don't even say it with conviction anyway--and that voluntary prayer groups in public schools would probably be all right.
In sum, this speech contained a lot of effective rhetoric, given in a winning way--a lot of charm--but very little in the way of "real ideas" beyond tactical advice to the left wing on how they can win over people of faith.
Bob Hellam"
Very well said, Bob! Thank you for those important insights.
K.O. (Knock Out)
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