Obama's speech -- Comments   http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/03/obamas_selma_speech_text_as_de.html

"It is because they marched that i stand before you here today. I was mentioning at the Unity Breakfast this morning, my -- at the Unity Breakfast this morning that my debt is even greater than that because not only is my career the result of the work of the men and women who we honor here today. My very existence might not have been possible had it not been for some of the folks here today. I mentioned at the Unity Breakfast that a lot of people been asking, well, you know, your father was from Africa, your mother, she's a white woman from Kansas. I’m not sure that you have the same experience.

And I tried to explain, you don't understand. You see, my Grandfather was a cook to the British in Kenya. Grew up in a small village and all his life, that's all he was -- a cook and a house boy. And that's what they called him, even when he was 60 years old. They called him a house boy. They wouldn't call him by his last name.

Sound familiar?

He had to carry a passbook around because Africans in their own land, in their own country, at that time, because it was a British colony, could not move about freely. They could only go where they were told to go. They could only work where they were told to work.

Yet something happened back here in Selma, Alabama. Something happened in Birmingham that sent out what Bobby Kennedy called, “Ripples of hope all around the world.” Something happened when a bunch of women decided they were going to walk instead of ride the bus after a long day of doing somebody else's laundry, looking after somebody else's children. When men who had PhD’s decided that's enough and we’re going to stand up for our dignity. That sent a shout across oceans so that my grandfather began to imagine something different for his son. His son, who grew up herding goats in a small village in Africa could suddenly set his sights a little higher and believe that maybe a black man in this world had a chance.

What happened in Selma, Alabama and Birmingham also stirred the conscience of the nation. It worried folks in the White House who said, “You know, we're battling Communism. How are we going to win hearts and minds all across the world? If right here in our own country, John, we're not observing the ideals set fort in our Constitution, we might be accused of being hypocrites.” So the Kennedy’s decided we're going to do an air lift. We're going to go to Africa and start bringing young Africans over to this country and give them scholarships to study so they can learn what a wonderful country America is.

This young man named Barack Obama got one of those tickets and came over to this country. He met this woman whose great great-great-great-grandfather had owned slaves; but she had a good idea there was some craziness going on because they looked at each other and they decided that we know that the world as it has been it might not be possible for us to get together and have a child. There was something stirring across the country because of what happened in Selma, Alabama, because some folks are willing to march across a bridge. So they got together and Barack Obama Jr. was born. So don't tell me I don't have a claim on Selma, Alabama. Don't tell me I’m not coming home to Selma, Alabama"

I was present in Selma yesterday to hear this very powerful speech.He said something that truly struck home about knowing your heritage---As I looked around the highly diverse, young population I realized that 3/4ths of them were not BORN 42 years ago when the Edmund Pettis Bridge incident happened-- this was not just Black History it was American History. We are in the "throws" of a true historical moment which the news media is going to capitalize on and try to shape ---it is incumbent upon the older generation to be vigilant about making sure that Obama's comments in the press remain as as intended. Thank you for publishing this speech because it gives those who were not present the opportunity to hear "the missing links".
Is this guy a racist fool or what???
What a load of tripe. He is good at shoveling the dung, though.
Ms. Sweet;
We have all read your fawning, drooling coverage of Mr. Obama--- how you wished you could have followed him into the changing room after the swimsuit pic from Hawaii---- but how DARE you permit this third-rater from sullying the Selma commemoration with his blatant lies?
Obama was born SEVERAL years BEFORE John Kennedy BECAME President--- in AMERICA! His father had been in America NOT Africa years before the 1960 election and was NOT brought to America by the Kennedy Administration! His mother and father married not only BEFORE the election of President Kennedy, but MANY years BEFORE Selma! B. Hussein Obama was born many YEARS before Selma not because of it!

So willful, so skillful in his lies--- and you say NOTHING. SHAME!

Is this guy even an American?

What happened to foreigners not being able to run for President?

Can't the Democrats find Americans to run on the ticket?

"Don’t think that fatherhood ends at conception."
Therefore, fatherhood exists at conception.
A father has a child.
A child is a human and has life.
Therefore, human life exists at conception.
Therefore, every abortion ends a human life.
We should protect innocent human life.
Therefore, we should end abortion.
Or can you point out to me the flaw in my logic?
 
I'd trust a used car salesman before I'd trust this clown Obama.
Obama honors the Lord?

So why doe she support laws to kill the unborn children of God?

Just a liberal hypocrite...like so many of the others in Congress

I sure hope he remembers that GOD is part of this goverment and this country when he gets in office...
Does this church have tax-exempt status?
I was watching the speech. I got chills as he spoke. When referring to Fatherhood, he was simply making the point that many of the problems in the Black Community should be addressed first at home and by themselves. As an example he pointed out that too many black children grow up without fathers, and that they have to understand Fatherhood doesn't end at conception -implying that it is a 20 year commitment to raise a human being, not to just create a fertilized egg.
Did Moses and Joshua believe in abortion and perversion.
Read first chapter ofRomans
I'd like to see a debate between barack obama and bill cosby. let him try his rhetoric against an honest man with no idiots to pander to
Mr. Obama, please get a brain and insert between ears. "this university thought this might be a nice thing to do." Nicety has nothing to do with equality. For every student you accept, you reject another and many more. To accept or reject a university applicant on the basis of race is a demonstration of the university's inability to comprehend complex societal issues. If what you say about this Ph.D program is true, then this program is an affront to the ideal that every one should be treated equally and an affront to anyone who has intelligently considered the issue. Your willingness to accept such nonsense demonstrates your lack of sophisticated thought.
I live in Slidell, La I live in St Bernard , La I live in wheree rita hit , I live in Gulfport, Ms, I live IN Texas, La border near the Gulf..... the point is that New Orleans is not the only one not having to pay all the victims of Katrina/Rita hurricanes are paying and the Democrats and Republicans CONGRESS OR SENATE, both did nothing to forgive the 10% matching and forgive loans as they did for California earthquake world series 19?? , the Andrew hurricane and others that were smaller events in comparison to the Gulfcoast from Mobile ,Al. to Orange, Tx 25 to 100 miles inland (360 MILES LONG) FOR SOME homes.... no lives were changed that day you might remember almost 2900+ died and another 2.8 million people lives change from no damage to catastrophic and then if your house survived your job was gone , your community changed I could go on nothing like this has happened since the depression or drought of ol;a. People we only want to get hand up, move on but when insurance companies dictate where you can live and the road home program just gave out there 2300 award out 110000 ARE STILL WAITING 'that right11 thousands.Many people would not apply for help they are to proud or frustrated 551 days later still waiting for those billions you think us Louisiana, Ms etc people have gotten only the clothes on there back if they made it back home, and if you house is rebuilt, and if you tap your life savings and if........
THANK YOU America for your help, THANKS, Red Cross, ThankS your Fema for the temporary assistance BUT MOST OF ALL THANKS ALL THE CHURCH OF EVERY DENOMINATION FOR THERE HELP THANK YOU THE PERSON FOR DONATION, LISTENING, LABOR AND TRUE KINDNESS THA I CAN ONLY REPAY BY SAYING IF WVERY NEED A HAND MAY GOD SEND YOU YOURS AND MIONE. THANKS
 
brilliant
Just like the sectarian leaders of Iraq, Obama blurs the line between Church and State. If supporters of him had any intelligence, it would have been insulted by his hoaky, contrived accent.
Yes Senator, fatherhood does begin at conception because life begin's at conception, that is why it is called conception, YOU IDIOT!!!! the words i just wrote were not concieved when i put them to the page, they were concieved whithin my mind at the beginning of a thought.
Jon
Uh, what?
Obama est phonie.
Myrah Maines
This is the most absurd thread I've ever read. What's all the hostility about? The man gave a great speech with a unifying bipartisan theme, in which he made a statement about the need for responsibility and self-reliance (as opposed to government hand outs) within the black community, and you people find fault with that? Take a step back and think about what you're staying. His point about conception was obviously that many young men in the black community are not owning up to their responsibilities. This is not a very politically correct comment, but one that he is uniquely qualified to make. He knows first hand what it's like to grow up fatherless and, of course, he's black. If he weren't a Democrat you people would be cheering at the top of your lungs. Talk about hypocritical. I've never read such absurd prattle.

And yes, of course Barack Omama is an American. I mean, seriously, do you EVER pick up a newspaper? Do us all a favor and think before you post.

Uh....he said "fatherhood doesn't END at conception" you half-wit
 
Actually, one could make the argument that it begins even before then. I am glad to finally see a politician-and especially someone who claims to be religious-state what has been missing in the abortion and unwed mothers debates. There is plenty of talk about loose morals of "women" who allow themselves to get pregnant, but men who deposit sperm in women they have no intention of marrying or raising children with should start being held accountable as well. Perhaps Mr. Obama has stumbled upon a radical idea: that men as well as women are responsible for the consequences of their sexual acts. So many of society's problems-absent fathers, sexual dysfunctionality and addictions, infidelity, repeat unintended pregnancies with different fathers, child and maternal poverty-can be traced back to flaws in the original "transaction". I am glad to see a man expressing the idea that men have to act responsibly.
Interpreting Obama's message through his context and intention, I am becoming more and more enthralled with his continual command of my attention. And to see so many here expressing how irate they are by cherry picking the smallest of points they think they are compelled to make by means of dissecting a soundbyte here or a soundbyte there, it just proves to me what a threat he is to those who disagree with his overall message of hope and unity.

This man is a wonder, and the people who are impressed by him and the people that loathe him fully know it equally. I just pray that he and the American Secret Service have learned all the lessons and more that JFK taught them.

What Obama said was NOT "Don’t think that fatherhood ends at conception" but "THEY think that fatherhood ends at conception" -- referring to absent fathers of children in poverty.

Who can disagree with that regardless of being pro-life or anti-life?

It is extremely sad that a man like Obama would feel the need to "talk the (christian) talk" while he so desperately tries to "walk the (ultra-liberal) walk." He is so blatantly non-christian in his actions! As a christian, I am deeply offended by the attempts of the far-left extremists who try to either "redefine" or "disregard" christianity to suit their own political gain. The Democratic Party needs to wake up and realize that minorities are beginning to realize such hypocrisy. Democrats want to "appear" tolerant of religious faith -- as long as they can obtain those respective votes. Once the voting is finished, they return to the obvious anti-religious bigotry. How sadly hypocritical!
Obama,

Help me here. I struggle with how one could be both Democratic and Christian at the same time. It's an oxymoron at best. The social values of the democratic party are out right opposite of those laid out in scripture. Just because you and read a little script doesn't make you a Christian. Anymore than painting myself black would make me an African American. I didn't grow up with a whole lot but I valued what I had and I aspired to make myself better.

So many African Americans vote democratic and I don't know why what have the democracts ever done for you? Except make broke promises and exploit you as being poor and say that the government needs to do more. We saw what happend with Katrina. Government will always disappoint you if you rely solely upon it. That's why communism and socialism have failed. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor will always fail. Because who will aspire to be rich when half of what you work for goes to support the lazy. Socialsim spawns laziness and thus will collapse upon itself because it only works when you have enough rich to support the lazy. As time goes by why aspire to be rich when you can be lazy and live off the labor of someone else.

Dr. King was a man of conviction and character. He avocated equality not socialism. I thank God for Dr. King and I pray daily that he will rise up another Dr. King to come out against this socialistic mentality that will crumble our Limited Constitutional Republic.

I'm not one to judge Obama because I don't know his heart. However, I can make observations based on his fruit. Oh wait what fruit?

-GoatLogic

It is extremely sad that a man like Obama would feel the need to "talk the (christian) talk" while he so desperately tries to "walk the (ultra-liberal) walk." He is so blatantly non-christian in his actions!

As a christian, I am deeply offended by the attempts of the far-left extremists who try to either "redefine" or "disregard" christianity to suit their own political gain.

The Democratic Party needs to wake up and realize that minorities are beginning to realize such hypocrisy. Democrats want to "appear" tolerant of religious faith -- as long as they can obtain those respective votes. Once the voting is finished, they return to the obvious anti-religious bigotry. How sadly hypocritical!

Virtually all posters on here should have been aborted. Why do you all have to be so hateful of blacks and liberals? Is it you're own self hatred or hatred of competition based on your own incompetencies?
Tee hee hee...Obama makes me laugh...for all his brilliant eloquence and oratory, he still sounds like a moron!
"Mr. Obama, please get a brain and insert between ears. "this university thought this might be a nice thing to do." Nicety has nothing to do with equality. For every student you accept, you reject another and many more. To accept or reject a university applicant on the basis of race is a demonstration of the university's inability to comprehend complex societal issues. If what you say about this Ph.D program is true, then this program is an affront to the ideal that every one should be treated equally and an affront to anyone who has intelligently considered the issue. Your willingness to accept such nonsense demonstrates your lack of sophisticated thought."

why do the same people who want to do away with affirmative action have no problem with our top universities and college giving admission preference to the sons and daughters of alumni?

Not to put too fine a point on it, but is there a way to prevent posts by those who may be unde the influence of some type of substance? You know who you are.
Befo' ? oh please...
I worry about Obama because one African American woman from
Africa told me that Obama has met and perhaps studied with
Louis Farhakan. Mr. Farhakan as well as mr. Obama could be
dangerous in that our Christian Religion may become second
to Islam
Do the people influenced by Obamalama lack the ability to add? His father was in this country well before the Kennedy's started this scholarship program (anybody know this to be true).

If Obamalama is lying (and dumbing down his tone) to the southern african-american population how will he act to the Prime Minister to a forign county (that he is so well understanding with considering that his parents are both from forign countries)

IF THE COUNTRY ELECTS OBAMA INTO POWER THE UNITED STATES WILL LEAD THE WORLD INTO 1000 YEARS OF DARKNESS UNDER RADICAL ISLAMIC EXTREAMIST CONTROL.

What did it say on the Affidavit. (Did I say it right?). Now why am I in trouble. Didn't KNOW that one huh?
Barack Obama is articulate, charismatic, smart, AND electable. He is a breath of fresh air, speaking common sense with an uncommon wisdom. His speech was powerful and admirable. ALL Americans need to learn from this current adminstration how NOT to run the government, how to NOT deceive us and lie to us, on so many more points, than "What accent did he use" "When does life begin?" etc. Those same hyporcrits who oppose abortion rights would support and unjust war and send our young men and women in service to the sacrificial lambs, who are also in our pack pockets in so many ways. You go, Obama. Tell it like it IS. Tell the truth, stand out and stand firm.
 
This is sad. With all that has happened and all the fights and all the hatred that finally got beat down in the last 40 years the Democrats put up some kid trying to dredge up a terrible past that we have moved beyond.

I have been a Democrat since I could vote -- and be drafted at the same time -- and worked for McGovern in 1971 when this yahoo was just growing up. I remember that Bobby Seal was the 8th member of the Chicago 7 and got removed because he was black and had a big mouth.

F-you Mr. Obama for try to trade on something you were not part of and dredging up a past we are leaving behind us as we do go up that mountain. Maybe you should also say that you helped defeat Hitler while you are at it! Phoney! You stand on the shoulders of giants and try to tell them you are their leader and that they need to remember how great you are.

I have not voted for a Democrat in 6 years -- you do not give me any reason to change that pattern.

The speech aside, what's most depressing to me is the bitter contempt with which so many of the people responsed on this blog. Perhaps he's not perfect... and he hasn't yet convinced me to vote for him... but, at least he's pointing to the possibility that even anonymously posted blog entries would have some dignity and respect for the blog-host and content. He's got vision, which is drastically different than a lust for power.

As for scripture references: Luke 4:16-21 and Luke 10:27.

For some of you who think and commented here that Obama is a lier, an idiot and hypocrite I feel sorry for you all. Because as I understand, you guys are some of these people who I think are still are living in the midst of Ignorance. One thing I like about the whole criticism is that at least you read the passage...and that is a brave move!
With any luck he can change the motto from "One Nation under God" to
"one nation under allah" and since hes good at twisting stuff, convince everyone that they are the same...lol
A speech only Joseph Stalin could be proud of.
I'm embarrassed to be from Illinois.
The only thing that could have been worse if Little Dickie Durbin
was there to speak too.
What ever happened to separation of church & state?
I keep forgetting that only applies to right wingers!
 
I wonder if he will ever mention his White roots. He is half white is he not. It bothers me how folks will use the African American root when in fact they are from America and are also halh white and what even bothers me more is when politians use Jesus Christ to get a vote Shame Shame Shame
I am confused...How is it we keep hearing of separation of Church and State, but these political speeches are done from ...church pulpits. I believe that is sending a very mixed signal. Which way is it? I am just a voter looking for consistency from both sides.
Obama is more polished than anyone else in black politics. But he lacks cogency. I'm not gonna quibble with his rhetorical claim to Selma. He never could be where he is today if it weren't for Selma. Americans of many colors participated in that march. But, he is applying a double standard when he says Fatherhood doesn't end with conception. So motherhood does end with conception and a woman can choose an abortion? Ya can't have it both ways, Mr. Obama. Don't think you can buffalo us. The University admissions process must treat all applicants equally. Once in the college classroom, professors will grade everyone with the same standard. The road to college admissions begins in the garden of family life where mother and father devote themselves entirely to the support of eachother and the moral and academic education of their children. Obama is better than Hillary because she has so much filthy laundry so he just might get the nomination. But if I vote for a black man, I want to be PROUD of him. Although I admire his appeal to fathers to stand by their children and for parents to turn off the TV, and for kids to conjugate their verbs, read... Mr. Obama, you've gotta do more to convince Americans that you're not just another liberal from Harvard with a collection of sound bites and an exotic background.
 
Wow, all this negativity toward a man who has achieved in his academic life, family life, political life, career and acknowledges God. It is odd that a legacy student with a C-average who has failed in his business/career would be more palatable to Americans. But we all know the consequences of that- we are in a war far away we can't seem to win or get out of. Those who see Obama as a threat/foreigner/poser should consider that he is a highly qualified candidate, and may very well be the best person for the job.


 

I watched Obama give this speech on cspan. It was a powerful presentation. He has an ability to reach people, to inspire people. I don't know if I would say it was Presidental material, but perhaps it could be. I would say that it was along the lines of an inspiring Martin Luther King speech. His speech was better then Hillary's.
It is truly repugnant to see the sheer magnitude of contrivance somebody will go to make a point that does not require such elaborate invention. Obama is no more a son of Selma than Hillary was named after Sir Edmund. The time line just doesn't work.

How stupid do these people think the American public really is?

Stupid enough to vote for them!

Sheesh! It's only going to get worse, folks!

What an idiot Obama is!
Mr.Obama's praise for the generations of Moses and Joshua is a start, but he needs to re-read his Bible. Vitually all of Moses' generation died in a wilderness of disobedience as did most of Joshua's and the generations following his. Their great sins were to faithlessly turn from God's commandments and His promises and towards would be political (government) leaders for strength and security. Their faithless leaders, like today's liberals, were so eager for personal poliltical power that they cared nothing for those they lead into or left in bondage.

The events in and around Selma were important, but as Obama has now been reminded, they were long proceeded in the 1950's in places like "Rock-Ribbed-Republican" Kansas. The Bible Belt culture in Topeka was carefully chosen as one of the best places to begin the modern movement towards racial equality. I know, one of my elementary school teachers was the mother of one of the plaintifs in the Brown v. Board. of Education case and one of my classmates the son of the local NAACP counsel. They would tell you that the strength of freedom movements has never come from the make-your-own-morality liberals like Hillary Fraud'em Clinton or even Barak Obama. It has always come from faith that all good gifts come from the hand of the sovereign and merciful God of the Bible, not by man made promises of "enlightened" government.

To some of the confused folks on here...note that it mentions "The Kennedys", not President Kennedy. He also mentions "what happened in" Selma and Birmingham, 2 of the places civil rights struggles were going on at the time, not specifically the Selma bridge march.
Obama was born and naturalized in the US. That makes him a citizen, obviously.
It is a shame that the people who run for office, any office, cannot do so from a platform of truth. We have always allowed ourselves to be lied to by these people, right or left, and have just accepted it as just part of the political "game". No wonder why we don't vote. How could any sane, logical being support a person who would misrepresent us in such a way? Perhaps they dont, though. Maybe they arent lying to society at all, just reflecting our own lazy denial of responsibility to ourselves and our sense of purpose.
It is a shame that the people who run for office, any office, cannot do so from a platform of truth. We have always allowed ourselves to be lied to by these people, right or left, and have just accepted it as just part of the political "game". No wonder why we don't vote. How could any sane, logical being support a person who would misrepresent us in such a way? Perhaps they dont, though. Maybe they arent lying to society at all, just reflecting our own lazy denial of responsibility to ourselves and our sense of purpose.
He's attempting to use some of Reagan's words as his own. What a farce!
My intelligence is insulted when Obama and Hillary try to sound like they are from the South. Why can they NOT understand that they are looking more like idiots than even Ann Coulter?
I love the redneck tribes that post on things such as this. "He's not an American", and of course, what redneck diatribe would be complete without an illiterate view of the Bible. To all the wonderful redneck Republicans, thanks again for being the primary reason that the United States is going down the tubes.

Now, won't you please like, quit breeding or something?

I am a White Conservative American and a Southern Baptist living in Baltimore. I am shocked that Mr. Obama is the best the African American community has to offer when it comes to a candidate for the highest political office in the land. Mr. Obama has two view's for every issue, this will hurt him. There are so many better qualified African Americans that are not two faced. I wish I could see people such as Prof. and Author Ella L.J. Edmonson Bell, Orlando city commissioner Daisy Lynum, David Dalton – President & CEO – Health Resource Inc. , Gwendolyn Smith Iloani – President & CEO – Smith Wiley & Company, Earl G. Graves, Sr. – Publisher & CEO – Black Enterprise Magazine, Ernest Green – Managing Director – Lehman Brothers, James Winters – President – United Energy run for President. Many Conservatives I know both White Americans and African Americans will not vote for Obama. They are not going to vote for any of the candidates currently running (this includes Republican's and Democrat's). The majority will stay home and hope for a better choice in the future. With a strong candidate we could have our first African American President but it is not going to be Mr Obama. In case your wondering who I think will win in 2008?
Mrs Clinton will due to voter apathy.

God Bless

Amazing how people who claim to be 'moral' or biblical christians have thrown to the dogs one of the precepts of christianity, tolerance and respect. Does the fact that you disagree with Obama make it right for you to rain insults? My goodness! I've lived under authocratic regime before, and i can tell you, that the Conservatives look and sound a lot more like autocrats. They sound a lot more like the fundamentalist Islams that Bush is trying to wipe off the face of the earth.
What about the gentlemen and women who were listening to his nonsence? Did anyone say "stop", "Enough" "You are misrepresenting history" Sadly, too many African Americans march locked in step witht the same old tired words and excuses about the way things were. Get over it. I wi bder who got more laughs when all went home to the privacy of their homes: Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton with her southern charms.
Ain't it against the law to be making political speeches in a church? I think it is. separation of church and state. RICO act. but I am not a lawman or a lawyer, its just what I thought
cause I was told MLK couldn't nowadays organize his marches like he did out of churches, they'd get him on the RICO act. I know they warn the catholic priests to watch what they say prior to election time, threaten them sort of.
Read his words carefully - yes he was born the same year as the Selma civil rights events BUT he is honest in that he mentions Birmingham.

The major civil rights events in Birmingham happened in the early 60's - 1961 to 1963.

When KENNEDY was President.

When KENNEDY took action to present a better face of America.

When KENNEDY started a program that brought Obama's Father to America.

He could of made that clearer - but he did mention Birmingham and Kennedy. Anyone with a slight sense of history and access to Google should be able to fill in the rest.

So the complaints of him lying - sorry - he is not lying - your just not following along.

Now we see why Churches in America are failing. They have strayed away from teaching the word of God and become propaganda houses that mimic a religion. If that is really a "church" by biblical standards they would have not allowed a scriptureless speech. This is more of the same garbage that takes place in millions of churches in the US under the name of church. This is a mockery to the true living God. Barach will find out one day what happens to thoses who decreate God's temple.
Sen. Obama is a selfless Leader.
Sen.Barack is the Best Leader America can ever get. This futuristic Guy has a lot potential to move things a round to better, for all Americans regardless of their skin color. Not to say the man is claimed to have deeper blood connection with Africa as well as Arabs. This is the Unifier the World needs today- let us all give him a chance to spear this great Nation and One World Under one God with is diver potation leadership.
 
Not only do I frown upon this clown but those that allowed him the pulpit of this church. The church should be for the assembly of believers and not for a political adgenda.
I think he is hinting he plans to put Rice in his cabinet. That would be a huge abortion.
Condi really did go through life in Alabama in the 60s and additionally the Democratic party ran her father off. Go figure. Obama should work on his southern accent - hil has one up on him.
Astonishing how ignorant people can be when wooed by the smooth oratory of a pretty man!
Shame on all the people who do not vote because they use the excuse, "Why bother, nothing's going to change, look who's running, etc, etc." I was born in Europe. And I love America, as did my parents. I say to all the people who do not vote, or complain about all the candidates, go live somewhere else where voting doesn't exist.
As for Obama, he has my vote.
As for Christianity, practice what you preach. Look who the Christian people backed last time. Recognize and realize all the people who've been killed because of this administration, and not because of freedom. We went into Iraq because of nuclear weapons, then suddenly changed the venue, when none were found, to liberating the people. The problem with many American people is that they are bamboozled by the rhetoric on television. They are far more interested in the O J's, the Diana's, the Anna Nicole's, then the leaders who determine our lifestyles by the laws which are enacted.
It's amazing and embarrassing to discover that the people who criticize the loudest, and complain about all the Democratic candidates because of the abortion issue, etc, call themselves Christian.
I am a Christian, and I believe in choice, and in the democratic way of life. I say, "VOTE FOR OBAMA."
Davis J. Tomasin, it is a shame to see how racist you are. Can you just keep those kind of comments personal? If you have not been informed, i must inform you that anyone who was born in America is a lawful citizen of this country. Just because his father is a kenyan, that does not make his son a foreigner. You probably don't even know you're roots! You need prayers, stop racism.
Wow! Senator obama shows that he is a leader who can engage this nation and the rest of the world as well. judging from one single speech From Selma, and the Tsunami of various positive and negative reactions and discussions that still continue, especially the hysteria, fear and the threat felt by his opponents masquarading themselves as both as faithless and as faithful is a prove that he's no ordinary politician. He is intelligent and smart and it's quite clear from this speech that he can grap any issue and own it; I mean know it inside out. And tha's the real threat that Obama represents to his opponents. Let's face it. Obama is a victim of low expectations.
Art,

Didn't hear the speech, but even got goose pimples while reading it. Wonder if he writes his speeches himself, his text, delivery, etc., is just magnificent.

Talk to you.

lceiii

I dream of the day when we finally get an agnostic President. When we finally are led by somone acting upon principle and inclusivness, rather than by those who use misguided notions of faith to serve their own purposes.
Who are you all to judge another man. Clearly most of the instigators have never sinned are so perfect in your ways that you are so pure and godlike. The lies the Bush administration cannot be matched and any futile attempt to discredit Barack is a waste of time. Bush lied about IRAQ, katrina, eron, stolen elections, and etc. What people don't remember is that no condition is permanent. Those who do evil to others may only remember today and they don't see tomorrow. Karma is universal. Obama although relatively new but by far will be a better president than mad George. People vote on the principles on ideals, commonsense, and virtue rather than party loyality or so call "conservativism". "The last shall be the first"
To the person/people that spoke to the issue of Democrats and Christianity being an oxymoron... I beg to differ! You sum up you rhetoric by saying you're not here to judge and you don't know Obama's heart yadda yadda yadda, yet your whole rant is a total JUDGEMENT about how democrats aren’t Christians! First, Republicans don't own Christ or Christianity. And you’re right, reading scriptures don’t make you a Christian, neither does showing up in church on Sundays, neither does just saying so. A Christian is anyone who has accepted by faith, Jesus as their personal lord and savior. I’m black, I’m a Christian and I vote based on the issues and I typically vote democratic. Why you ask do black Christians vote democratic? Because choosing Christ as my savior is a PERSONAL CHOICE. This is key, it’s personal people! I am pro-life, I love Christ and I believe we are all sinners and if you don't give your life to him, you’re going right to hell. That’s my belief. With that said, God gives us FREE WILL. Free to follow him, and free to not. I can't make anyone accept Christ if it’s not in their heart and a vote for a Republican candidate just because he/she will put judges on the Supreme Court who’ll vote roe v wade down is a non-issue to most blacks. That won't make people stop having abortions. Remember free will….. You come to Christ freely, willingly, not because some law has been passed by the Supreme Court. Do you really believe that having these judges will stop abortions? People will continue to have abortions and Only God can change the heart to believe that abortion is wrong. Some (blacks like me) identify more with the Democrats because they are more willing to help poor communities, poor people, the helpless, the homeless and on and on…. while Republicans want those that can't help themselves to suck it up and pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Heck, how can you pull yourself up by your bootstraps when you don't have a damn boot? I vote the issues and typically the democrats usually have the best interest of folks that need help.
I'm just happy he never used the word "diversity" at anytime during the speech. Now this might have been different had it been a primarily white crowd.
Mr. Obama's book explained it all, this man is brilliant but the problem is that is being overexposed to quickly at once, he and hilary are the front-runners for primary and Hil will win, because we are well familiar with this woman.
Mr. Obama is certainly articulate (so am I, for that matter). However, rhetoric is not synonymous with substance. I'm waiting for Obama and the rest of the candidates to articulate on real issues, like education and the economy, before I pass enough judgment to elect or not.

Fellow commentators, please proofread your grammar, spelling, and sentence structure before you post--or did you miss out on those verb conjugations in school?

Some of these comments are wacked!
What does being a Democrat and being a Christian has to do with each other? What's makes you a Christian is your faith in Jesus Christ not being a Democrat or Republican.
I'm sure if Blacks could have voted during Abraham Lincolns time, they would have voted Republican because Abraham Lincoln was Republican. Since Black people wasn't allowed to vote for Abraham Lincoln I thank you white folks for putting him in office.
If you hadn't Barack Obama wouldn't be where he is today.
If you want a bad example of what a Christian is look at George W. Bush the Republican and his staff and I'm sure there's more in the closet.


 

To the various conservatives claiming that one cannot be a liberal and a Christian:

Most of your arguments seem based on the view that in order to be a true Christian, you must accept fundamentalist interpretations of the Bible (which not all Christians do). Okay then. The Bible has a little to say about homosexuality, and less about abortion. But it says plenty about divorce. Jesus Himself condemned it strongly. So, why aren't you conservatives out crusading against people who claim to be Christians but are divorced? People like Ronald Reagan, John McCain, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani?

The reason you don't care about divorce is that Republican Christian conservatives pick and choose which parts of the Bible they want to enforce, and always to benefit their party. In your minds, supporting gay rights or legalized abortion for OTHER people is evil. But actually BEING divorced? Why, no problem at all! No matter what the Bible says! No one should take you hypocrites seriously.

Christina: Please read the CONSTITUTION and tell me where it talks about "Separation of Church and State".
Jayce: I appreciate your explanation of what a CHRISTIAN is and isn't. Beyond JUDGEMENT alone, the poster you are commenting about did leave some CONTENT, and that was "The social values of the democratic party are out right opposite of those laid out in scripture." You can look at scripture and clearly see this. However, your point is that you vote to allow the murder of abortion, while you support the pandering and plundering of the poor. Democrats do not CARE for the poor. They need them. They use the poor, and they want to keep the poor poor. If the poor had no vote, would they keep pretending to care?
Regarding ABORTION, the key word in Obama's speech is "conception". Does something happen at conception? If not, why is the lack of fatherhood a concern?
Thank God for men like Obama. Win or lose, it is a wonderful day for America that we have a man of his stature running; a man who can articulate a Christianity that springs from the Sermon on the Mount rather than Leviticus. With the rampant hypocrisy we see in Washington today where adulterers in the Republican Party accused an adulterer president of being a sinner and where greed is considered a higher virtue than charity, we need men who have a moral vision for the future. It appears Obama is that sort of man. I hope and pray he is.
Its the Kennedy Foundation that made it possible, not only for Obama's father but for many other Kenyan students, to come to the US in 1959,.. yes, before Kennedy became president. Obama knows what he is saying, and he's right!!
I understand you all have a right to your opinions but you are seriously jaded if you cannot see the point in all of what he is speaking of. The whole point is that we as a COUNTRY, BLACK , WHITE, YELLOW and BROWN can and need to do better. Good is NOT by any means good enough. Black people are not the only ones suffering, the media just seems to cover them the most. But reality is each and every one of us can look at our lives and the lives of those around us and see clearly where MAJOR improvements need to be made NOW, before it is too late for ALL OF US!!!!
What a pity. To justify himself to the elderly Black Establishment he has to go on at length about Evil White Folks, his grandfather's passbook in South America, how the Selma generation "lead a people out of bondage", black folks "battling" white people "for America's soul", how black folks have to "battle" for and "fight for" affirmative action, how white folks don't "emapthize" with the Katrina blacks, etc., etc., ad nauseum, ad infinitum.

All of that Ol' Debbil White Man talk, and the only thing he can say about black behavior is "but don't tell me it doesn't have a little to do with the fact that we got too many daddies not acting like daddies. Don’t think that fatherhood ends at conception. I know something about that because my father wasn't around when I was young and I struggled."

So what are black fathers not doing according to Obama? How are they not "acting like daddies"? In the next paragraphs he explains: they are not acting like role models and teaching their children to have courage, get involved in politics and fight for liberal social policies.

He says not a damn thing about being loyal to one woman. He says not one thing about paying child support. He says not a thing about marrying only one woman at a time. He says not one thing about keeping you p@cker in your pants, or keeping a job, or showing up on time. He says not one word about the over 70% rate of black bastardy. "By golly," he says, "you brothers need courage, you need to act like ol' Selma street finghtin' Reverend Lowrey over there and start demanding more benefits from the white man! Carry us over to the Promised Land, Joshua, the Land of Milk and Honey!"

And what is this business about his "struggles"? Well, I wish I had to "struggle" like he did. Three white folks with jobs, all supporting him and him alone. All of them chipping in to send him to a prestigious private school in Hawaii. Man! A lot of us white folks would LOVE those kind of struggles! Lets face it, about all he had to "struggle" for was finishing his homework before he went out to play basketball with his rich kid friends.

All in all, I rate the speech a "D" minus. It's real, real long on dat ol' debbil white man, real, real long on more welfare and handouts, and real, real, REAL short on black male responsibility. You see, if he blamed them, he would have to blame his worthless no count dad. And he just won't do that. He cannot bring himself to say it was his own father's comcubinin', bigamizin', polygamizin' fault that caused him to "struggle". (And even his "struggle" wasn't a real ghetto struggle because he had three white folks who he cannot even bring himself to mention that took care of him and did his daddy's job when his daddy was off impregnating another white woman. No. His father did not behave immorally, he was just ... "absent" ... (whatever that means).

And then Obama has the gall to compliment his WIFE for HER struggles with his "absence". Now remember, she is a woman he sees almost every day, a woman he sends his huge paycheck to, a woman he buys a house for, a woman whose children he supports and will send to college. Hell, my wife would LOVE to suffer the way his wife suffers with his "absences"! No, son, you miss the point. Rich men like you being away from home on business trips and working in Washington is NOT the same thing as impregnating three, four, five young girls and dumping them in the ghetto to be taken care of by Social Services.

So who really suffered? Who does he not even mention? His MOTHER! It's like she is completely invisible! SHE is the one who was abandoned. SHE is the one who raised him and taught him. SHE is the one who never got child support, or even a phone call from his worthless father. Yet he cannot even bring himself to mention her name in this entire speech. Hell, he honors all these black folks for hteir sacrifice and suffering and he can't eeven mention his own momma. What a loser.

Obama's lesson is "Have courage. You CAN do it. You CAN go out and vote for more welfare. And you black men out there? You are needed. So be sure to stop by home every once in a while to be a role model for your children and remind them of Selma, the need for more gummint programs, an' dat ol' debbil white man in Selma."

Feh. As a white person, like his mother, I will be completely invisible to Obama. No matter how much I pay in taxes for black folk, it will never be enough, never enough even to rate a passing mention. In Obama's world, like Obama's speeches, white folks do not even deserve a mention, except as Evil Oppressors. His own momma doesn't rate recognition, folks. Just think about that.

Anyone who thinks Obama was not lying in this speech is delusional. Learn some history before you vote. Please, spare us your ignorance.

The march on Selma was in 1965. March 7 to be exact. http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/modern/selma_1

The decision to airlift several Africans from Kenya to the U.S. was one made by the government prior to JFK becoming president. There was a debate about where the money would come from. It was much of Presidential politics and did not actually begin until September of 1960.

Obama himself was born in August of 1961. Yet, he claims that his father came from Africa as part of the Kennedy flight program. So, he came from Africa, met a white girl from Kansas, married her, and gave birth to a child, all in about 11 months? Possible, but this is highly unlikely.

But, the clear lie was claiming that his existence was due to the courageous march on Selma (1965). This happened 4 years AFTER he was born; almost 5 years AFTER he was conceived. Yet, he claims that it was the march on Selma that inspired his parents to marry and have a child?

Please. By any stretch of the imagination this is a flat out made up story - a lie; a pure deception; all for his political aspirations. There was no Selma inspiration behind his birth.

Sorry, but I have no issue with a Democrat who has integrity. But, one who has this little integrity - that is a serious flaw that makes the rest of what he says of no value.

Those of you enamored with his eloquence or those seeking to defend the speech as even close to being factual - should consider some of the historical facts.

This is pretty interesting. I read the unedited text from Obama’s speech above and also read a critique by Mr. Paul R. Hollrah.

Mr. Hollrah’s slightly edited version left out some of the text that spoke to the Senator's intent, thus slightly slanting or "spinning" the message. As Mr. Hollrah points out, the Senator’s timeline is off by several years. However, that’s not my greatest concern. The references to Moses and Joshua bother me the most.

Its rather interesting that Senator Obama likens himself to Joshua. Joshua led the Israelites against Canaan in one of the greatest conflicts in the old testament.

So this raises the question, does the Senator see himself as a great general about to lead the American people, or just the black American people, into conflict? And if he does, who is he leading them against? Sounds like another potential for race division if you ask me rather than the “unity” he spouted at the Unity breakfast.

If the Senator's intent is to unify the races in the US, he needs to stay on message regardless of the venue. Somebody needs to slap his speech writers.
 

Kennedy Airlift Facts:

The “Kennedy Airlift” did not occur before late July, 1960. John F. Kennedy first met Tom Mboya late July, 1960, on the subject. Wangari Maathi was listed in most instances as being on the first airlift in 1960. There was NO “Kennedy Airlift” in 1959. See book reviews and Time Magazine article below.

Most revealing is the article (reprinted below) written on August 29, 1960, in Time Magazine, entitled, “The African Question”. It gives a timeline that is quite succinct. It lists events, beginning in December, 1959, leading up to the meetings sought by Tom Mboya of the candidates, Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy in 1960 to effect the airlift. Mboya was unable to meet with Nixon, due to a prior commitment—the Republican National Convention, no less, occurring on July 25-28, 1960.

See also:

Nation-Building in Africa: Challenges to Education

by Wilton S. Dillon — 1960

On July 25, 1960, Tom Mboya, the Kenya nationalist leader, and Patrice Lumumba, then newly-installed Prime Minister of the Congo, were in New York.

Short Bio of Lumumba:

Patrice Émery Lumumba (2 July 1925 – 17 January 1961) was an African anti-colonial leader and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo after he helped to win its independence from Belgium in June 1960. Only ten weeks later, Lumumba's government was deposed in a coup during the Congo Crisis. He was subsequently imprisoned and assassinated under controversial circumstances. Patrice Lumumba continues to serve as a significant inspirational figure in the Congo as well as throughout Africa.

BARACK OBAMA, SR. WAS ALREADY IN HAWAII—A YEAR PRIOR TO THE “KENNEDY AIRLIFT”

Book Review: Unbowed by Wangari Maathai

The beginning of the book is peaceful and slow-moving, a description of an African girl growing up on a farm in Kenya, but education changes everything. Unlike many African girls at that time, she was given the opportunity to go to elementary and high school, and in 1960 she was one of hundreds of Kenyans who were sent to study at colleges in the United States as part of the "Kennedy Airlift." She went on to earn a B.S. in Biology from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas, an M.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Ph.D in Anatomy from the University of Nairobi, where she became the Chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy in 1976 and an Associate Professor in 1977. It was at that time that she started the Green Belt Movement, which facilitated women planting trees in their communities to combat deforestation, soil erosion and lack of water.

Another Book Review of Unbowed

The beginning of the book is peaceful and slow-moving, a description of an African girl growing up on a farm in Kenya, but education changes everything. Unlike many African girls at that time, she was given the opportunity to go to elementary and high school, and in 1960 she was one of hundreds of Kenyans who were sent to study at colleges in the United States as part of the "Kennedy Airlift." She went on to earn a B.S. in Biology from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas, an M.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Ph.D in Anatomy from the University of Nairobi, where she became the Chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy in 1976 and an Associate Professor in 1977. It was at that time that she started the Green Belt Movement, which facilitated women planting trees in their communities to combat deforestation, soil erosion and lack of water.

“The African Question”

Time Magazine

Monday, Aug. 29, 1960

The edgy jockeying going on in both presidential camps could be seen in all its angry and ridiculous aspects last week in a row over a remote question: Who would have the privilege of paying for $100,000 worth of plane fares to the U.S. for 250 African students? What made the question politically explosive was that the two rival contenders for the privilege were Richard M. Nixon (through the U.S. State Department) and John F. Kennedy (through his family's charitable foundation).

A Matter of Policy. After months of turndowns, small hellos and evasions, the sponsors of the student airlift found themselves suddenly in the chips and in the news. All of the 250 students come from Kenya and other British areas in East Africa, and had been largely rounded up by Kenya Labor Leader Tom Mboya. A U.S. organization called the African American Students Foundation lined up scholarships for them at U.S. universities and colleges. The big need was transportation money. In December and again in January, the foundation asked the State Department for a $100,000 grant. The answer was a firm no from Career Diplomat Joseph C. Satterthwaite, chief of the State Department's African Desk. His reason was impeccable: the State Department freely helps students from independent new nations, but in colonial or trust territories, the department deals directly with the governing power: in short, State tries not to butt in too much in the British territory. A New York Negro named Frank Montero, president of the student foundation, wrote to Nixon, recalling his interest in Africa and asking for his help. Nixon turned Montero's request over to Satterthwaite, who promptly rejected it for the third time.

Visiting the U.S. in July, Mboya wanted to meet both candidates. Nixon was busy in Chicago at the G.O.P. convention; Mboya sought out Jack Kennedy at his Hyannisport retreat. Concerned about the wavering U.S. Negro vote,

Kennedy offered to contribute part of the airlift expenses from his family's Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation (named after the brother killed in World War II) and to look around for other private funds to help the grounded students. Sargent Shriver, Kennedy's brother-in-law and managing director of the family foundation, found no uncommitted funds in other charitable foundations, in the end recommended that the Kennedy Foundation put up the entire $100,000, and provide unstipulated help for students during their stay in the U.S.

When word of all this leaked out, the Nixon camp quickened its interest in the African airlift. Among U.S. Negroes, onetime Baseball Star Jackie Robinson is about the hottest Nixon supporter around. He called Nixon in Washington, and the Vice President assigned James Shepley, his campaign research chief, to badger the State Department once more.

Last week, half an hour before Montero met with Shriver in Washington to work out a final agreement, Shepley called with the glad tidings: the State Department had reversed itself and was ready to put up the $100,000 grant after all. Jubilant over the sudden outpouring of funds, Montero accepted the Kennedy money, hopefully assumed that the State Department money would also be available for the student program.

A Matter of Politics. Pennsylvania's acidulous Senator Hugh Scott announced that the students would be coming to the U.S. on a State Department grant, and Jackie Robinson happily reported the news in his New York Post column. Then, when Senator Scott learned that the Kennedys, and not the Government, would be picking up the tab, he took to the Senate floor in a boiling rage to denounce the Kennedys and their foundation. "The long arm of the family of the junior Senator from Massachusetts has reached out and attempted to pluck this project away from the U.S. Government," Scott rumbled. "At this moment, they appear to have been successful." He hinted at a possible investigation of "the questionable uses to which a supposedly charitable, tax-exempt money pot can be put."

Scott's denunciation brought Jack Kennedy to his feet to denounce him for the "most unfair, distorted and malignant attack I have heard in 14 years in politics." In a voice choked with emotion. Kennedy read a telegram from Montero. It was "regrettable," it ran, "that Senator Scott would attempt to reap political advantage from this nonpolitical educational program . . . The fact is, the State Department has repeatedly turned a cold shoulder to the airlift Africa program . . . On Monday of this week the State Department suddenly took interest in the project." Kennedy had been having hard sledding in Congress all week, but Scott's attack turned sympathy toward him. Minnesota's Democratic Senator Eugene McCarthy called Scott's speech a specimen of "Political Murder, Inc." and Nixon obliquely disowned it.

Suddenly it was not the Kennedy camp but the Nixon camp that was asked to explain. "Who is Mr. Shepley?" Arkansas' William Fulbright, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, wanted to know. "I tried to get money for students who were to come from Egypt, and we secured only part of the funds requested. I could not do it. How in the world can Mr. Shepley go down to the State Department and within a few days get $100,000 for this purpose?" To get an answer to that question, Fulbright sent an ultimatum to Secretary of State Christian Herter, demanding a full explanation of the reversal.

As the thunder died away toward week's end, it seemed that the only sure winners were the African students.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,939162-1,00.html

1960 Republican National Convention
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
July 25 to 28, 1960
resulting in the nomination of:
RICHARD M. NIXON
of California, for President
and
HENRY CABOT LODGE, JR.
of Massachusetts, for Vice-President

as a journalist from germany i find the remarks in the comments section much more interesting than the already impressive speech itself. thanks for a in-depth view into the american society - and i must say it scares me quite a bit. and yes, german comments on politics usually have this effect on me too.
It greatly angers and saddens me that Obama can stand and preach that he and his people get their strength from the Lord, but blantantly ignore the principles laid out in God's Word by supporting Abortion and Gay Marriage.

I would respect him more if he just said, "Look, the truth is I don't believe in moral absolutes, I'm secular...I don't believe that there's anything morally wrong with murdering a baby in the womb or allowing homosexuals to marry."

What angers me is that he is trying to have it both ways...He wants to have the image of a good ole' boy who believes in Jesus and yet support liberal ideology that is an affront to God, and is in direct opposition to the core teachings of the Bible.

I can't believe he has the audacity and arrogance to say things like, "As for me and my faith, The Sermon on the Mount is more central to me than some obscure passage in Romans" (referring to the Bible's condemnation of homosexuals).

Oh sure, 'turn the other cheek' and trust that "The Lord is with us" but stand in oppostition to God's word on other points. I'm sorry but that is hypocrisy and that is wrong...in ANY religion.

Oh God, please soften his heart concerning the Babies in the womb...you've called him to be a great leader...let Him truly put his trust in the Lord and lead as a Righteous man who obeys all of Your Word! Mercy Lord! Bless Him with Mercy!

STOP OPPOSING OR SUPPORTING POLITICIANS BASED ON THEIR VIEWS TOWARD ABORTION RIGHTS! They do not necessarily reflect their own opinions anyhow. YOU ELECT FOOLISH, PRO-LIFE LEADERS FOR NOTHING! Rowe v Wade will be an enormous wrench to reverse! Too many people have fought too long and too hard to gain reproductive rights for women, to clog America with less unwanted, abject humans, for your stubborn religious foolishness to stop them!

On a more relevant note, despite any discrepancy between the speech and the facts of Obama's heritage, it was a great piece of inspirational political rhetoric. I appreciate it.

“And the notion that somehow it’s cute or amusing, or a useful diversion, I think, is something that all of us have to recognize is just not the case. We all have First Amendment rights. And I am a constitutional lawyer and strongly believe in free speech, but as a culture, we really have to do some soul-searching to think about what kind of toxic information are we feeding our kids,”
In responce to the pastor on Fox & Friends Monday morning who stated that the Bible is
not specific in reference to when life begins.
I offer the following Bible scriptures (KJV)

St.Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the
babe leaped in her womb: and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

St.Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blesed art thou amoung women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Those of you taken in by Obama will soon see him for the ambitious and hypocritical opportunist that he is. However, most of you supporting him will probably benefit from his worship of both mediocrity and sub-mediocrity in not only ability, but effort.
(I give this "nom de plume" to see how much phishing and pharming comes from this site.)

I wish that all you who are "separating church and state" would read the Constitution!

The First Amendment states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

No other place in our Constitution even mentions religion or church.

So let's get off this "Separation of Church and State" kick. OK?

Some of u will always be idiots. You sit and make some of the dumbest arguments based on religion when apparently none of you believe in it. You scream about jesus this and jesus that like you're his representative and then u say things that shows that even jesus wouldn't have love for you. What makes this country and government so christian based? It can't be based on it's actions so is it just the claims? What's so christian like about invading countries, killing innocent people, throwing people in prison for having different views? Everyone keeps talkin about how killing a baby is wrong but the same people that scream about the bible and how abortion is against "god's" will don't seem to have anything to say about the part in the bible where solomon spoke on cutting the baby in half. Why is the idea of abortion so wrong but the idea of human sacrifice not wrong? Tell me this...why do you scream and cry about christianity and talk about how american bein a christian is? Did u forget that christ wasn't american? Before u run off at the mouth about some nonsense try to get some real info on what you're talking about. I'm tired of people saying thing about america ending because someone who is considered muslim might become president. That is hate and ignorance at it's finest. The religion you blindly follow and the one you hate some much started with the same person....Abraham. If obama was a jew would you spend so much time talkin about how he's not the type of person that you want running things? Jesus was a black man born in a cave and wasn't rich. The man who raised him wasn't his biological father...are you gonna find reason to talk down on him like you do the other black men who weren't raised by their biological fathers? All the while you're talking that "I'm better than you" nonsense you're only showing that the devil is really the one you follow and choose to live your lives for.
To the person who said Obama was born several years before JFK became president. Kennedy became president on January 20, 1961...Barack Obama was born in August 1961. Please explain how he was born several years before?
So the Kennedy’s decided we're going to do an air lift. We're going to go to Africa and start bringing young Africans over to this country and give them scholarships to study so they can learn what a wonderful country America is.

This young man named Barack Obama got one of those tickets and came over to this country.

The major fabrication is that Obama, Jr's father was already here. Obama, Sr. never got one of those tickets because he didn't need one.