(Thumbnail image: The New York Times)
President Obama: “Surely you can question my policies, without questioning my faith. ... We become absorbed with our abstract arguments, our ideological disputes, our contests for power. And in this Tower of Babel, we lose the sound of God's voice. ... It can remind us that each of us are children of a awesome and loving God.”
So much for separation of church and state—at least that’s what many people are buzzing about after President Obama’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. Attending the breakfast is a presidential tradition, but critics are taking issue with everything from his presence, to his spirited speech.
We take a look at perspectives from MSNBC, FOX News, and The Washington Post.
The breakfast was sponsored by a controversial Christian group known as “The Family.” And a guest on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show says the president should steer clear.
“The president shouldn’t give his imprimatur, the suggestion of legitimacy, to such a questionable organization that really has cult-like status and has been involved in tax problems, has been involved with unethical politicians. And this event, as your video shows, looks like it’s somehow official. There are presidential seals that it’s a government-sponsored event.”
While ethics groups found Obama’s association with the faith-based event offensive, many Atheist coalitions are protesting this part of Mr. Obama’s speech. A FOX News opinion writer says this was the worst part of the President’s speech:
“God’s grace and the compassion and decency of the American people is expressed...by Americans of every faith, and no faith, uniting around a common purpose, a higher purpose.”
The writer responds saying, “Uh, no it isn't… Most atheists insist that God’s grace most certainly is not expressed through them, and that there are no ‘higher’ purposes. While we may all come together for ‘a purpose’ – like relief work in Haiti, poverty, AIDS, or world hunger – no atheist I know would consider this God's work.’”
Despite the controversy surrounding the president’s Christian overtones, The Washington Post writes there will always be an element of faith in the Obama White House.
“Close advisers to the president said the role of faith, while subtle, has been noticeable in and around the Obama White House. One senior official… said that Obama has consulted religious leaders less often for his own personal guidance than for help walking through major public decisions...”
Still, some support the president’s attendance and his focused on unity. FOX News’ Martha MacCallum says his speech was meant to bring together Americans of all backgrounds.
"An interesting opportunity that he took there to talk about his own agenda and things he’d like to see accomplished and the reason that he wants to see them accomplished and his feelings about those who don’t necessarily see things his way."
So do you think the president’s presence at the prayer breakfast crossed political boundaries? Or should he be free to express his faith?
Writer: Liz Reed
Producer: Newsy Staff
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