Saturday, August 11, 2012

Is Obama Hostile to All Religions or Just Biblically-based Ones?

Here is Mitt Romney's newly released ad which calls out Obama's war on religion.



David Barton of Wallbuilders makes the case that Obama is not hostile to all religions, but is ONLY hostile toward those which are Biblically-based.  He outlines examples of how the Obama administration has been hostile to Biblical persons or organizations, examples of hostility toward Biblical faith in the Obama-led military, a listing of his open attacks on Biblical values, and lists incidents of preferential deference for Islam's activities and positions.



1. Acts of hostility toward people of Biblical faith:
  • April 2008 – Obama speaks disrespectfully of Christians, saying they “cling to guns or religion” and have an “antipathy to people who aren't like them.” 1
  • February 2009 – Obama announces plans to revoke conscience protection for health workers who refuse to participate in medical activities that go against their beliefs, and fully implements the plan in February 2011. 2
  • April 2009 – When speaking at Georgetown University, Obama orders that a monogram symbolizing Jesus' name be covered when he is making his speech. 3
  • May 2009 – Obama declines to host services for the National Prayer Day (a day established by federal law) at the White House. 4
  • April 2009 – In a deliberate act of disrespect, Obama nominated three pro-abortion ambassadors to the Vatican; of course, the pro-life Vatican rejected all three. 5
  • October 19, 2010 – Obama begins deliberately omitting the phrase about “the Creator” when quoting the Declaration of Independence – an omission he has made on no less than seven occasions. 6
  • November 2010 – Obama misquotes the National Motto, saying it is “E pluribus unum” rather than “In God We Trust” as established by federal law. 7
  • January 2011 – After a federal law was passed to transfer a WWI Memorial in the Mojave Desert to private ownership, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that the cross in the memorial could continue to stand, but the Obama administration refused to allow the land to be transferred as required by law, and refused to allow the cross to be re-erected as ordered by the Court. 8
  • February 2011 – Although he filled posts in the State Department, for more than two years Obama did not fill the post of religious freedom ambassador, an official that works against religious persecution across the world; he filled it only after heavy pressure from the public and from Congress. 9
  • April 2011 – For the first time in American history, Obama urges passage of a non-discrimination law that does not contain hiring protections for religious groups, forcing religious organizations to hire according to federal mandates without regard to the dictates of their own faith, thus eliminating conscience protection in hiring. 10
  • August 2011 – The Obama administration releases its new health care rules that override religious conscience protections for medical workers in the areas of abortion and contraception. 11
  • November 2011 – Obama opposes inclusion of President Franklin Roosevelt’s famous D-Day Prayer in the WWII Memorial. 12
  • November 2011 – Unlike previous presidents, Obama studiously avoids any religious references in his Thanksgiving speech. 13
  • December 2011 – The Obama administration denigrates other countries' religious beliefs as an obstacle to radical homosexual rights.14
  • January 2012 – The Obama administration argues that the First Amendment provides no protection for churches and synagogues in hiring their pastors and rabbis. 15
  • February 2012 – The Obama administration forgives student loans in exchange for public service, but announces it will no longer forgive student loans if the public service is related to religion. 16
2. Acts of hostility from the Obama-led military toward people of Biblical faith:
  • June 2011 – The Department of Veterans Affairs forbids references to God and Jesus during burial ceremonies at Houston National Cemetery. 17
  • August 2011 – The Air Force stops teaching the Just War theory to officers in California because the course is taught by chaplains and is based on a philosophy introduced by St. Augustine in the third century AD – a theory long taught by civilized nations across the world (except America). 18
  • September 2011 – Air Force Chief of Staff prohibits commanders from notifying airmen of programs and services available to them from chaplains. 19
  • September 2011 – The Army issues guidelines for Walter Reed Medical Center stipulating that “No religious items (i.e. Bibles, reading materials and/or facts) are allowed to be given away or used during a visit.” 20
  • November 2011 – The Air Force Academy rescinds support for Operation Christmas Child, a program to send holiday gifts to impoverished children across the world, because the program is run by a Christian charity. 21
  • November 2011 – The Air Force Academy pays $80,000 to add a Stonehenge-like worship center for pagans, druids, witches and Wiccans. 22
  • February 2012 – The U. S. Military Academy at West Point disinvites three star Army general and decorated war hero Lieutenant General William G. (“Jerry”) Boykin (retired) from speaking at an event because he is an outspoken Christian. 23
  • February 2012 – The Air Force removes “God” from the patch of Rapid Capabilities Office (the word on the patch was in Latin: Dei). 24
  • February 2012 – The Army orders Catholic chaplains not to read a letter to parishioners that their archbishop asked them to read. 25
  • April 2012 – A checklist for Air Force Inns will no longer include ensuring that a Bible is available in rooms for those who want to use them.26
  • May 2012 - The Obama administration opposes legislation to protect the rights of conscience for military chaplains who do not wish to perform same-sex marriages in violation of their strongly-held religious beliefs.27
  • June 2012 - Bibles for the American military have been printed in every conflict since the American Revolution, but the Obama Administration revokes the long-standing U. S. policy of allowing military service emblems to be placed on those military Bibles.28

CONTINUED 


42 comments:

Opus #6 said...

You are absolutely correct about this, Teresa. Obama is hostile to most of what is good and moral about the free world.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

I would be wary of using David Barton and his 'reasons' for the why much of those listed issues.

Several are deliberately and provably false. Many are also quite outside the normal purview of the POTUS; which then begs [pleads] for some substantiation of Obama's involvement. Something Barton has a history of deficit in.

Teresa said...

Constitutional Insurgent,

"Several are deliberately and provably false."

If so, then please do show the proof. Instead of asserting this or that about David Barton's reasons without showing any reasons of your own to disprove his claim false I am eagerly awaiting to see you back up those words with some counter evidence. I look forward to a debate.

Teresa said...

Exactly Opie! It all comes down to his upbringing and what he was taught in school and college.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

Theresa - Absolutely. It will take a while to work through Barton's list...and it's not like I'm being compensated...so I'll work around my schedule.

Bear in mind that what Barton is good at, is taking issues and events that have a basis, and then inserting his reasoning for why. Reasoning that differs from fact.

May 2012 - The Obama administration opposes legislation to protect the rights of conscience for military chaplains who do not wish to perform same-sex marriages in violation of their strongly-held religious beliefs.

Here's one to start:

Such legislation is not opposed, because such legislation is not required. DoD regulations state: “A military chaplain may participate in or officiate any private ceremony, whether on or off a military installation, provided that the ceremony is not prohibited by applicable state and local law. Further a chaplain is not required to participate in or officiate a private ceremony if doing so would be in variance with the tenets of his or her religion.”

Teresa said...

Constitutional Insurgent,

No problem. We can take our time going through the list. Sounds good to me.

"The challenges for faithful military chaplains continue to mount. A year ago, the Navy issued new "sensitivity training" guidelines that required Navy chaplains to perform same-sex marriages. Last September, the Department of Defense issued two more memos, requiring all military facilities to be available for same-sex weddings and allowing chaplains to participate in same-sex ceremonies. Thanks to leadership from Congressmen Tim Huelskamp and Todd Akin, the Navy backed down and rescinded the guidelines, but the threats to the liberty of our military chaplains continue to mount."

I can quote but that may get a bit long so here is an article stating at least a couple provisions of H.R. 4310 that the Obama administration objected to.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/white-house-strongly-objects-legislation-protecting-military-chaplains-doing-same-sex

Regardless of whether Congress was successful on one count of stemming the targeting of Christians' religious liberty doesn't diminish the fact that this administration's attacks on those who hold Traditional beliefs do threaten their right to religious liberty.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

I'm on my phone so this will be brief for now.....but how exactly is "allowing" Chaplains to perform services....a threat to religious liberty? Am I misreading something here?

One point that should get some clarity however.....is the distinction between religious liberty.....and preferential treatment by government. I am an ardent advocate of the former but oppose the latter. Too often I've found that many blur that distinction during discourse.

Teresa said...

Constitutional Insurgent,

It's not the "allowing" of chaplains which violates the religious liberty of the other chaplains who don't believe in homosexual "marriage". It is the requirement of "sensitivity training" and that the military "required Navy chaplains to perform same-sex marriages" which violates their religious beliefs and religious liberty. It is the fact that the Obama administration objected to the chaplains having conscience rights - the administration objected to those chaplains who believe homosexual relations to be a sin, those that believed in traditional marriage but not gay "marriage" - to those chaplains having the right to refuse to do homosexual ceremonies(marriages), so the administration claimed that those chaplains had no right to refuse to perform gay "marriage" ceremonies.

It was only thanks to Congressmen Tim Huelskamp and Todd Akin that the Navy rescinded those guidelines. If it was up to the Obama administration they would have forced chaplains to perform same-sex "marriages" and to violate their consciences.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

"It is the requirement of "sensitivity training" and that the military "required Navy chaplains to perform same-sex marriages" which violates their religious beliefs and religious liberty."

I spent 22 years in the military, and while not a Chaplain...I knew full well that they were not at any point forced to perform marriage ceremonies for anyone. The conscience clause already existed for Chaplains - as far as I can tell - without fear of recrimination. The Administration argued against the broad nature of the rider's wording.

As to ceremonies performed on military property, Section 537 of the bill is actually an infringement on religious freedom; prohibiting Chaplains from suing those facilities on military property form same sex marriages.

I'm ready to move to the next point if you are.

Pedaling said...

When religious freedoms are threatened, as they now are, I want to stand with Romney and Ryan!

Teresa said...

Me too Pedaling. God Bless.

Teresa said...

Constitutional Insurgent,

You are presuming that this administration was going to honor the conscience clause when the administration's words state to the contrary. They may have honored the Chaplains conscience rights when you were in the military but the military regulations have changed since then. The Obama administration has no qualms about forcing religious people and organizations to violate their consciences with regards to the HHS mandate so your assumption that their not doing the same with the military is extremely naive.

Fine in round 1 I won since I showed you examples of why David Barton's example was accurate. You did not debunk his point or any of mine. So, sure we can move on. The only thing you showed is your positive spin in your misinterpretation of the words of this administration.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

I refute your 'win' since you spun and hypothesized just as much as you claim I did. But OK....

Barton: "November 2011 – Unlike previous presidents, Obama studiously avoids any religious references in his Thanksgiving speech."

Obama "As we gather in our communities and in our homes, around the table or near the hearth, we give thanks to each other and to God for the many kindnesses and comforts that grace our lives. Let us pause to recount the simple gifts that sustain us, and resolve to pay them forward in the year to come."

Constitutional Insurgent said...

Relevant portions of the 2010 Thanksgiving speech, for good measure:

Thanksgiving Day is a time each year, dating back to our founding, when we lay aside the troubles and disagreements of the day and bow our heads in humble recognition of the providence bestowed upon our Nation. Amidst the uncertainty of a fledgling experiment in democracy, President George Washington declared the first Thanksgiving in America, recounting the blessings of tranquility, union, and plenty that shined upon our young country. In the dark days of the Civil War when the fate of our Union was in doubt, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a Thanksgiving Day, calling for "the Almighty hand" to heal and restore our Nation.

"In confronting the challenges of our day, we must draw strength from the resolve of previous generations who faced their own struggles and take comfort in knowing a brighter day has always dawned on our great land. As we stand at the close of one year and look to the promise of the next, we lift up our hearts in gratitude to God for our many blessings, for one another, and for our Nation. This Thanksgiving Day, we remember that the freedoms and security we enjoy as Americans are protected by the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. These patriots are willing to lay down their lives in our defense, and they and their families deserve our profound gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

This harvest season, we are also reminded of those experiencing the pangs of hunger or the hardship of economic insecurity. Let us return the kindness and generosity we have seen throughout the year by helping our fellow citizens weather the storms of our day.

As Americans gather for the time-honored Thanksgiving Day meal, let us rejoice in the abundance that graces our tables, in the simple gifts that mark our days, in the loved ones who enrich our lives, and in the gifts of a gracious God. Let us recall that our forebears met their challenges with hope and an unfailing spirit, and let us resolve to do the same."

Teresa said...

Constitutional Insurgent,

You used spin. I didn't. I used the administration's own words. You used positive conjecture based on presumptions by yourself.

Your the one who said you could disprove Barton's points. You didn't on this one so round one goes to me.

Yes, we can move on to point 2.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

Come down off of the podium for a moment; you didn't address Section 537, relating to the prohibition in the bill against same sex marriages being performed in military Chapels.

This prohibition is an infringement on religious liberty.

Teresa said...

Constitutional Insurgent,

Your quote is from President Obama's written Thanksgiving proclamation. But in his "Thanksgiving-themed weekly Internet address" Obama did not make reference to God other than closing with "God Bless You" to the American people.

Although I am surprised by his written address. It wasn't bad. Actually pretty good. But David Barton was referring to Obama's weekly public address which he cites in his endnotes. ABC as well as other news outlets pointed out Obama's God mentioning deficit in his weekly address/speech.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/obama-omits-god-thanksgiving-address-riles-critics/story?id=15028644#.UCgSZ52PWdI

Constitutional Insurgent said...

You cite a 'God mentioning deficit'....is there some reasonable number of 'God mentioning' that wouldn't constitute an 'attack on religious liberty?

Remember, the POTUS....any POTUS, is not Pastor of the Untied States.

Teresa said...

Barton didn't mention anything about Section 537 in his point.

This is what he stated, "The Obama administration opposes legislation to protect the rights of conscience for military chaplains who do not wish to perform same-sex marriages in violation of their strongly-held religious beliefs." This isn't relevant to proving Barton's statement false.

Does any service member really have the right to get married in a military chapel? Or is it really a request that has to be approved?


I am against gay "marriage" because it does not contribute to the common good and is against nature as in natural law - God's law - and isn't equivalent to traditional marriage but anyways... as long as the military doesn't deny homosexuals the right to marry elsewhere, as in their home state if that is possible, I don't see Section 537 as infringing on homosexuals rights. Especially because their is no national amendment redefining marriage. But their is a law on the books defining marriage as being between a man and woman which this administration refuses to enforce. One example of the lawless President refusing to enforce laws he disagrees with, thus violating his oath of office to defend the Constitution. But that discussion is for a different day.

Teresa said...

"Remember, the POTUS....any POTUS, is not Pastor of the Untied States."

Obviously....

But even those presidents who weren't necessarily religious were moral people and mentioned God and honored God more often than President Obama does.

He didn't mention God in his weekly address. I would call that a 'God mentioning deficit'. If he had read what he wrote earlier in the week I'm sure many people would have been pleased instead of disappointed with his 'God mentioning deficit' , his forgetting or refusal to give Thanks to God for Thanksgiving during his Thanksgiving Address.

Its the fact that he sure as heck makes dang sure to remember to mention Allah for Ramadan and as well as other religious founders during every other non-biblically based religious holiday.

It shows that he clearly favors Muslims and other non-biblical religions versus biblically-based religions. He shows more respect for them and their God(s) then he does to Christians and Jews.

Teresa said...

Mentioned the Judeo-Christian God.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

"Barton didn't mention anything about Section 537 in his point."

Not surprising, as Section 537 would obligate DOD to deny Service members, retirees, and their family members access to facilities for religious ceremonies on the basis of sexual orientation. This section stipulates action and prohibition to the clergy. Seems like an affront to religious liberty to me, regardless of your position on same sex marriage.

I won't belabor the issue of homosexuality and individual liberty, as we've gone down that road before.

To the second instance:

"But even those presidents who weren't necessarily religious were moral people and mentioned God and honored God more often than President Obama does."

Why would that be a positive? Sounds like pandering.

Its the fact that he sure as heck makes dang sure to remember to mention Allah for Ramadan and as well as other religious founders during every other non-biblically based religious holiday.

"It shows that he clearly favors Muslims and other non-biblical religions versus biblically-based religions. He shows more respect for them and their God(s) then he does to Christians and Jews."

And here's where I'm a bit befuddles. Previously, you appeared cogent and open minded, at least to debate issues....and you go straight to this sort of throw away line. Obama mentions God in his Thanksgiving Proclamation, at Easter, on the National Day of Prayer and other occasions....and mentions Allah during Ramadan...

So he clearly favors Muslims???

To say this doesn't remotely make sense is an understatement. Surely you are better than this.

Teresa said...

Okay I'll give you the whole list.


4. Acts of preferentialism for Islam:

May 2009 – While Obama does not host any National Day of Prayer event at the White House, he does host White House Iftar dinners in honor of Ramadan. 47

April 2010 – Christian leader Franklin Graham is disinvited from the Pentagon’s National Day of Prayer Event because of complaints from the Muslim community. 48

April 2010 – The Obama administration requires rewriting of government documents and a change in administration vocabulary to remove terms that are deemed offensive to Muslims, including jihad, jihadists, terrorists, radical Islamic, etc. 49

August 2010 – Obama speaks with great praise of Islam and condescendingly of Christianity. 50

August 2010 – Obama went to great lengths to speak out on multiple occasions on behalf of building an Islamic mosque at Ground Zero, while at the same time he was silent about a Christian church being denied permission to rebuild at that location. 51

2010 – While every White House traditionally issues hundreds of official proclamations and statements on numerous occasions, this White House avoids traditional Biblical holidays and events but regularly recognizes major Muslim holidays, as evidenced by its 2010 statements on Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, Hajj, and Eid-ul-Adha. 52

October 2011 – Obama’s Muslim advisers block Middle Eastern Christians’ access to the White House. 53

February 2012 – The Obama administration makes effulgent apologies for Korans being burned by the U. S. military, 54 but when Bibles were burned by the military, numerous reasons were offered why it was the right thing to do. 55

Teresa said...

Stop assuming that there was only one instance of favoritism towards Muslims (or other non-biblical religions) or blindly favoring Obama (giving him the benefit of the doubt) & Co because you are making a real a$$ out of yourself.


I thought you were a better thinker than that. Maybe not. I thought you used common sense too. Maybe not.

Teresa said...

Are you proposing that the service keeps track of every service member who wants to get married in the Chapel and allow those to get married from the states that have passed laws legalizing same-sex marriage while making sure not to violate other states' laws which either have no laws granting same-sex marriage rights or those which have enacted laws stating that marriage is between a man and a woman by refusing to marry those homosexuals?

Teresa said...

See when morality and laws of nature get screwed with see how things get dicey. Moral relativism screws up people.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

".....because you are making a real a$$ out of yourself. I thought you were a better thinker than that. Maybe not. I thought you used common sense too. Maybe not."

I was enjoying the back and forth...but if this is the tenor it's going to take, perhaps it's not worth it.

Joe said...

He believes in freedom of religion, as long as that religion is Islam.

Teresa said...

You crossed the line with this:

So he clearly favors Muslims???

To say this doesn't remotely make sense is an understatement. Surely you are better than this."

I was having a good time debating you until you inserted your snide and uncharitable remark. When that happens my claws come out, or begin to. If you'll willing to stop making assumptions about me then we can continue. If not then bye.

Teresa said...

Pretty much Joe.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

You used the religious holidays as the standard in the previous post. You mention three Muslim holidays and I countered with three Christian holidays [not to mention the numerous other occasions that he had acknowledged or thanked God [the Judeo-Christian type].

I can continue if you're interested. But if your rock solid notion is that Obama is a secret Muslim or went around the world apologizing for America or some other theory that is based not on reason but on hyperbolic partisanship...then perhaps we're wasting our time.

Teresa said...

Since you have this thing with presuming what I believe and even if I did believe the things you mentioned since you show how intolerant to others' views you are by not engaging in discussion based on someone having a different point of view, what you call "hyperbolic partisanship", I doubt I would want to continue a discussion with someone who makes declarative statements on the legitimacy of certain beliefs without being respectful of the other person's beliefs or trying to understand them. What a display of intolerance Constitutional Insurgent.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

I apologize as to how that came across.....my perhaps poorly worded statement was meant more to show disdain for the usually talking points.....not to presume that you were intrinsically tied to using them.

Anonymous said...

Obama and his administration are anti Christian in words and deeds

Nate said...

Linky-dink over at my place.

It's bad enough when you get these things one at a time - to look at the whole listing is frightening - particularly considering he'll be in office until the third week of January yet.

Teresa said...

I accept your apology Constitutional Insurgent.

Teresa said...

Yes they are Rick.

Teresa said...

Thanks so much for the linkage Watcher. Lord knows how many more hostilities against the Judeo-Christian community he is going to commit before leaving office.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

Theresa - I won't continue with Barton's list unless you're in the mood - so bottom line up front is that with Barton's list [quite aside from his many troubles from the academic world regarding his treatment of Jefferson] is that he attributes so many instances of events that occurred, 1) but that occurred well outside the purview of the office of POTU; 2) that he ascribes his own personal beliefs in place of factual basis; and 3) that he uses events that have nothing to do with treatment towards religion.

I can understand having a feeling that Obama is not as devout as you, or as you would like him to be.......but in relying on Barton, I truly get the sense that the line between 'hostile' and simply not endowing preferential treatment to a single religion [as government should act].

Finally, I find your position exceedingly interesting given your participation in your other blog, where is stated: "Showing How Both Catholic and Libertarian Beliefs are Compatible"

For what it's worth, my wife is a Catholic and a Libertarian; another reason why I find your blogs interesting.

Ducky's here said...

November 2010 – Obama misquotes the National Motto, saying it is “E pluribus unum” rather than “In God We Trust” as established by federal law.

--------

This is my favorite because it is simultaneously an example of how anal retentive and how ignorant the right is.

E Pluribus Unum was made the motto of the Great Seal by act of Congress in 1778. Seems it has a legitimate claim.

Ducky's here said...

The Obama administration denigrates other countries' religious beliefs as an obstacle to radical homosexual rights.

-----

Homosexuals still kicking your ass?

Amusing Bunni said...

Great post, Teresa. Yes, obummer clearly hates the bible and christians and jews. He loves his muzzi overlords, that's for sure. He's such a horror. I can't wait until we vote this lying bum OUT.