Obama speaks of faith in the public square

<During his trip to Iowa this weekend, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said America's main challenges are "moral problems" that won't be fixed by "a 10-point plan."

Obama was the keynote speaker to the 271 delegates at the United Church of Christ state convention in Fort Dodge. Obama told the crowd it was a UCC member who had inspired the Boston Tea Party which helped bring about the country's independence, and Obama said through the succeeding decades people of faith have helped make America more decent and more just.>

<...Obama identified the war in Iraq, poverty and the plight of uninsured Americans as the primary "moral" issues facing the U.S. Obama attacked leaders of the "Christian Right" who he accused of exploiting issues like abortion and gay marriage to divide Evangelical Christians from those who attend so-called "mainline" churches. "Of course, it goes a little further than that. There was a period of time when the Christian Coalition determined that its number one legislative priority was tax cuts for the rich...I don't know what Bible they are reading," Obama said, as the crowd applauded. "Didn't jive with my version."

<...Most of the United Church of Christ delegates stood in a long line to meet Obama afterwards in a private reception. Bob Fritzmeier of Mapleton said it's unusual for a politician to "honestly" speak about his own faith as Obama did. Jean Claeys of Maquoketa was also impressed with Obama's discussion of his personal faith. "We need a real person like that," said Claeys, who is considering supporting Obama's candidacy.>

http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=369500BA-E086-0E77-8AD76B7E83568BC2

He also said 10 point plans won't fix these problems. Ok. What will? Surely flashy rhetoric will not.

Keep it up, and I'm going to tell Mario Cuomo on you.

of Mike Huckabee and Holy Joe?

Isn't this exactly why Holy Joe is called that in the first place?

As far as his actual rhetoric, it was great. I am just not comfortable with candidates being in-your-face, if you will, about their religion. This is one of the fundamental differences between the two parties. Besides, these candidates are running for president, not pastor.

unless they can at least address religion and the whole church/state thing. It has been a pretty major issue in Presidential politics lately and polls show people have used it to make their voting decisions.

We need to find a balance. I think Clark, if my memory serves me right, struck a pretty good balance on faith when he ran last time.

when asked about same sex marriage ?

and Hillary with how her faith got her through the marriage problems.

The HRC issue was a private one. It isn't surprising that she turned to religion. I don't think religion should be a factor on the issue of equal marriage, so I disagree with Edwards on that.

when he is doing what most Dem candidates did.

Bush's also brought up religion when talking about his drinking issues. does that make Hillary sound like Bush when she brings up religion as a way to deal with personal matters.

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. But not ye therefore like unto them; for your Father knowest what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."

-- Jesus Christ, from the book of Matthew

You can see that he is a christian. He believes in giving back to the poor like the bible states. However, others believe in giving back to corporations and the elite.

Jibe??? :)