OBAMA: "I think, a good example of what happens on the presidential campaign, is that we try to tear each other down instead of lifting the country up"
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BROWN: Welcome back, everybody, to the Compassion Forum. And Senator Obama is joining us now. Thanks for being with us... So I'm going to start with something that's been in the news. I don't have to tell you that you made some comments recently that are generating a lot of controversy. And I want to remind the audience and our viewers of what you had said. You were talking about people here in small towns in Pennsylvania suffering economic hardship. And you said, quote, It's not surprising they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them. And to a lot of the religious leaders in this room, to a lot of decent, hardworking people out there, it may have come across as you attacking their values or their religion, suggesting that people are clinging to religion.
OBAMA: Well, first of all, you know, Scripture talks about clinging to what's good. And so it's very important -- my words may have been clumsy, which happens surprisingly often on a presidential campaign...but this is something that I've talked about before, I've talked about in my own life, which is that religion is a bulwark, a foundation when other things aren't going well. That's true in my own life, through trials and tribulations. And so what I was referring to was in no way demeaning a faith that I, myself, embrace. What I was saying is that when economic hardship hits in these communities, what people have is they've got family, they've got their faith, they've got the traditions that have been passed onto them from generation to generation. Those aren't bad things. That's what they have left. And, unfortunately, what people have become bitter about -- and oftentimes have told me about, as I traveled through not just Pennsylvania, but I was referring to states all across the Midwest, including my home state -- is any confidence that the government is listening to them. They don't think that government is listening to them.
So I think it is very important to understand -- and I think it's unfortunate that, in the political process, presidential campaigns, that people have been trying to misconstrue my words -- to understand that, you know, I am a devout Christian, that I started my work working with churches in the shadow of steel plants that had closed on the south side of Chicago, that nobody in a presidential campaign on the Democratic side in recent memory has done more to reach out to the church and talk about, what are our obligations religiously, in terms of doing good works, and how does that inform our politics? So I think that this is an example of, frankly, how the political debate can distract us from what is really at issue and that is: How are we going to create a just and fair society where people are getting a fair shake? And that's why I'm running this campaign.
BROWN: And Hillary Clinton, who was just here, said you're being elitist.
OBAMA: Well, that is, I think, a good example of what happens on the presidential campaign, is that we try to tear each other down instead of lifting the country up. But, you know, the notion that somebody like myself, who has been working in churches since I got out of college. and whose entire trajectory, not just during this campaign, but long before, has been to talk about how Democrats need to get in church, reach out to evangelicals, link faith with the work that we do. The notion that somehow I am standing above that when that essentially describes much of what I've been doing over the last 20 years doesn't make much sense.
MEACHAM: Senator, do you believe that God intervenes in history and rewards or punishes people or nations in real time for their behavior?
OBAMA: You know, what I believe is that God intervenes, but that his plans are a little too mysterious for me to grasp. And so what I try to do is, as best I can, be an instrument of his will. To act in what I think is accordance to the precepts of my faith. And, you know, if I'm acting in an ethical way, if I am working to make sure that I am applying what I consider to be a core value of Christianity, but also a core value of all great religions, and that is that I am my brother's keeper and I am my sister's keeper, then I will be doing my part to move his agenda forward. I don't know what that master plan is. And I don't presume to know. And I think that none of us know. But what we do -- what I think we can do is to act in ways that are consummate with the values that we cherish. And sometimes that's harder to do in politics than it should be. But I think that's what's demanded of us.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/04/barack_obama_at_the_compass...
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Did you know there's actually a band called NEW POLITICS? Really awesome band too.
lancefiasco 1 year ago
We are not our brothers keeper in welfare. Keeper means, watch over, guard, overlook etc.. No where are we taught differantly from the word of God! From the very beginning, Cain Slew Abel because God had blessed Abel more then Cain.. God expressed to Cain that he would do well also if he had not sinned and worked harder. Mankind is not to interfere with mans blessings and play God in those things. See for yourself and read slow, keeping the context correct.. Gen 4:1-12
buddo1999 3 years ago
Actually, there may be a majority in congress, but this means nothing when the SENATE is a tie because bills have to pass both houses.
cobrompton 3 years ago
The Democratic congress you mention refers to the year 06 and beyond? If that is the case, Bush is in office and it is very hard to fix the country when Bush keep vetoing the bills.
LunarFaith 3 years ago
Bullshit, bullshit and only more bullshit! Neither the democrats or the republicans want to fix Americas problems. Have you forgotten there wa aDem majority in the congress and nothing orther than lost of American rights followed through and the power of the president superceeds all the checks and balances to prevent corruption. You BUNCH OF DUMBASSES!
johnnyboypdq 3 years ago
I like that firey older woman!
Hope I have that much energy when I am older.
:)
InuvikPhil 3 years ago
I disagree. Obama has been pretty explicit about his policy prerogatives and has laid out ideas for economic policy, health care, foreign policy, etc. pretty clearly. I really want to talk more about that, and frankly don't give a shit about the dirt the politicians dig up on each other. Negative campaign ads usually pretty annoying, nothing else.
monkey30030 3 years ago
You are talking nonsense. You have been reading too much right wing conservatard crap.
deanrdd 3 years ago
Oh yeah, and type "Obama's fainting ladies" into the youtube search and just get a little taste of Obama's deceit. Obama is the ultimate pussyfooter who tries to look like an angel while being careful not to SAY anything at all but fluff. This way he can't be held accountable for holding any view since apparently he holds NONE, aside from HELPING PEOPLE. I can say that too, I can also throw in a promise for universal healthcare, does that mean I am fit to run for president?
Goldenmean87 3 years ago
What the hell is this "new politics" you speak of? Obama hasn't expounded upon a single thing he would do for this country aside from "change" it. Political attack ads at least inform the public of things they should know about the candidates but now you want to totally get rid of that so you can recite your "CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE" mantra while you jerk it to Obama's ugly stuttering face. The more information available to you the better. Obama is a foolish choice the same as Hitlery and McCain.
Goldenmean87 3 years ago