Pigasus 2009

[valis]

I was a little surprised by the choice of organization in the 2009 Pigasus awards. Since the Bush White House was selected in 2007 I expected the Obama White House to be this year. After all Obama expanded the faith based imitative program and he sounds to me to be more religious, not less, than Bush. He states his being president is part of Gods plan for him. So why doesn't he qualify. Was he at least considered?

There may be something here I am not considering here because the Bush award was very vague and somewhat oddly worded. So what am I missing?

For your pleasure, some random links about Obama and his faith:

He creates an office for faith based programs:

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/obama-calls-for-expansion-of-faith-program/

"I can be an instrument of God...."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/10/obama-faith-pla.html

"I have an ongoing relationship with God"

http://www.suntimes.com/news/falsani/726619,obamafalsani040504.article

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Well,

President Obama signed an executive order on Thursday to create a new White House office for faith-based programs and neighborhood partnerships, building upon the initiatives started by the Bush administration to administer social services to people “no matter their religious or political beliefs.”

“No matter what we choose to believe, let us remember that there is no religion whose central tenet is hate,” Mr. Obama said, speaking to an audience of Republicans and Democrats and other leaders at the Washington Hilton hotel. “There is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human being. This much we know.”

“If you get a federal grant, you can’t use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can’t discriminate against them – or against the people you hire – on the basis of their religion,” Mr. Obama said last July in an Ohio speech.

“Federal dollars that go directly to churches, temples and mosques can only be used on secular programs.”

The goal of this office will not be to favor one religious group over another – or even religious groups over secular groups,” Mr. Obama told the audience at the National Prayer Breakfast. “It will simply be to work on behalf of those organizations that want to work on behalf of our communities, and to do so without blurring the line that our founders wisely drew between church and state.”

OK. My bolding in the second quote is a bit of a joke. Bit seriously, I have always noticed that Obama makes it point in his speeches when talking about relgion that he usually includes those who do not believe in God or do not subscribe to any religion.

I seems to recall a number of critisims over the past year of Obama not going to church or holding prayer events that other presidents have. I don't think Obama will go down as a fundie, woo, or even deeply religious person.

And those other two quotes appear to be from 2007 and 2004. I probably wouldn't count a statement about God every 3-4 years as worthy of a Pigasus.

 

[Wowbagger]

The Bush Whitehouse seemed more vested in religion as one of the foundations of policy. Obama seems to be putting in a token effort, so as not to upset the masses too much.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

The Secular Coalition for America got to go to the White House. A first for a such a group.

http://www.secular.org/node/218

 

[valis]

So as long as he doesn't really mean what he says he gets a pass?

 

[gabeygoat]

i have a feeling Obama is an Atheist/Agnostic, but knows it would kill his political career (unfortunately) to say so

 

[CaptainManacles]

So as long as he doesn't really mean what he says he gets a pass?

Since that's about as good as you could hope for.....yes, yes he does. Though there are plenty that agree with you on that point.

Though I don't think pretending like religions can't be hateful and violent says anything good about him, and what he said about the faith based program don't really hold up when you look at the history of the program, and Obama parrots one of the most dangerous ideas that exist, the idea that faith is universal and always a positive value.