President Obama Tells Diane Sawyer He Does “A Lot of Praying”

[somone]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/03/president-obama-tells-diane-sawyer-he-does-a-lot-of-praying.html

President Obama Tells Diane Sawyer He Does “A Lot of Praying”

ABC News' Karen Travers reports:

In an interview with Diane Sawyer about Libya, President Obama said he does “a lot of praying,” every night before he goes to bed.

“I am praying that I'm making the best possible decisions, and that I've got the strength to serve the American people well,” he said.

The president acknowledged that the long list of policy challenges, at home and abroad, are keeping him “pretty busy” but that it is his job is to manage the nation’s problems and crises. “We've had more than our fair share,” he said. “I’m assuming that in future years, things level out a little bit. But in the meantime, this is why I have to do something about the bags under my eyes.”

The president got in a subtle jab at his critics who took issue with him filling out an NCAA bracket with so much on his plate. “You know a lot of folks focused on the fact that I filled out my bracket,” he said. “Obviously, I hadn't been spending that much time studying it since I don't have anybody in the Final Four.”...

[Cali_Democrat]

1. I'm tired of politicians talking about their religious bona fides

Keep that shit private. I don't wanna hear it.

The job of President requires hard work and dedication, not prayer.

[golddigger]

4. I guess he thinks this will help him with the religious right votes.

All I have to say is, "CLUELESS."

[and-justice-for-all]

5. Indeed...nt

[Auggie]

13. +1,000,000

[Hawaii Hiker]

14. I agree 500% w/that

:woohoo:

[Liquorice]

23. Well, Obama apparently believes the presidency requires prayer. nt

[golddigger]

2. Well if he was praying that he was making the best possible decision

on the final four also, that kind of tells me that the praying is not helping much on the other decisions he's making.

[aSpeckofDust]

3. oh yay. We're going to have a god-off election....again.

[ProSense]

6. Holy cow! Obama prays?

He must be from Kenya!!!

Oops, I mean he must be Muslim!!!

[Name removed]

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[JuniperLea]

9. Are you saying a spiritual person can't be rational?

Really?

[ProSense]

17. Like Kucinich,

who voted for the bill recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith?

People who pray are not rational?

[Lance_Boyle]

78. Prayer is a decidedly irrational practice.

Would you care to argue otherwise? Because logic will eat your gods for breakfast, and won't even say grace first.

[ProSense]

95. "Prayer is a decidedly irrational practice."

"Would you care to argue otherwise?"

No, that would be irrational since prayer is personal. You can't tell someone what to believe.

[Name removed]

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[riderinthestorm]

30. +1 nt

[JuniperLea]

8. I bet he prays to a brown God too!

Harrumph!

[Zanzoobar]

10. God has no color.

HE is WHITE!

[Danger Mouse]

11. Muslims pray too. And no, I am NOT saying he's a muslim. Just that...

most religions have some form of prayer.

[Zanzoobar]

16. Ooooh. You've exposed your man-o-centric phallic me-ism.

Popcorn please!

[Zanzoobar]

18. Sorry!

Sometimes I love the antagonism!

[PhillySane]

12. Bush did alot of prayin too

[ProSense]

20. Clinton too.

Carter too.

[madrchsod]

25. carter is a sunday school teacher and by all counts...

the best president we have ever had after they left office.

[PhillySane]

33. God

[PhillySane]

31. please lord, let me score this intern

[Newest Reality]

15. Ok ... so we get ready for a new election cycle, here.

Granted, he is praying. Is he listening?

He should try a new tactic: go out and listen to the people and see what many of them are going through. Then, work for them and do everything you can to buck your corporate constituents.

[Hannah Bell]

19. just like bush. sweet.

but i think it says in the bible that when you pray you're supposed to go into your closet & do it secretly rather than making a fuss about it or using it to convince people how religious you are.

[riderinthestorm]

28. At least he's not claiming that God actually talks to him, unless I've missed that. nt

[backwoodsbob]

21. this may be the stupidest thing I have ever seen here.NT

I put NT because it doesn't deserve discussion

[pintobean]

87. +1. NT

[Solomon]

88. Agreed.

+2

[Name removed]

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[ProSense]

24. Wait

you just realized this? Are you puking on the vote you cast in 2008? Or did those words not matter then?

Is there a new book of rules being rewritten for this President?

Suddenly praying is a character flaw?

[Wilms]

39. I'm AM and WAS puking at the pandering.

Was I supposed to vote for McCain/Palin? Is that fact NOT figured into the equation?

[DevonRex]

41. THose of us who pray apparently have no logic or reason.

And I suppose we are now puke worthy.

[Obamanaut]

77. Not necessarily 'puke worthy', but if one prays, why must one let other

people know? Why not keep it between ones self and whatever is being prayed to or at?

[DevonRex]

101. Perhaps in answer to a direct question on the subject??

GPod grief.

[Obamanaut]

102. Or perhaps not. There is no indication here that the 'praying' answer

was in response to a question about that sort of thing -> http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/diane-sawyer-interviews-president-obama/story?id=13246679

Looks more like the statement was offered up, not responding to a direct question.

Good grief back at you.

Even if there were a question about getting guidance from an imaginary cloud dweller, there is probably a more appropriate response - maybe something along the line of 'clinging to guns and religion' is a personal thing.

[Ishoutandscream2]

27. OF COURSE, FACING MECCA AND PRAYIN' TO ALLAH!!!

TERRORIST FIST BUMP EVERYONE!!!

[Bolo Boffin]

29. Five times a day!

Oh, it's so bad, but that really is quite the setup there. :D

[Shagbark Hickory]

36. Mua ha haha haha ha

[Bluenorthwest]

32. Sports and religion...

I'm sure McClurkin is clearing his slots for more touring to prove Obama's dogmatic bona fides to the love hater crowd.

[DevonRex]

34. So do many DUers. nt

[Union Scribe]

103. But I'd advise them to not say as much

Unless they enjoy being called insane and stupid by the humongous assholes religion threads apparently attract.

[Canuckistanian]

35. Yeah, praying that liberals don't call him on his broken promises

"Let us hold firmly to an unflinching avowal of our hope, for He is faithful who gave us the promises"
-Hebrews 10:23

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[riderinthestorm]

43. Well, can't speak for anyone else but for me the incredulity lies in his prayer.

He wants us to believe he's trying to be Christian, "making the best possible decisions" but so many of his decisions aren't very Christ-like and in fact it's disputable who benefits from those decisions - from many perspectives he doesn't have "the least of us" in mind at all.

Who would Jesus bomb?

When Presidents say "I prayed about that!" it feels like code for "I have Gods approval so shut up".

That Presidents have to parade their faith on a regular basis is irritating. It should be a private matter imho. That its now something that must be proclaimed on teevee in order to prove their religious bona fides means it's fair game for criticism.

[Terra Alta]

40. Praying is one thing

Actions are another.

As a Christ-follower, I pray daily for Obama, that he makes the right decisions, and doesn't give in to the GOPukes.

[Auntie Bush]

42. Did Diane ask him if he prays to God or Allah? nt

[NYC Liberal]

44. So what? I don't believe in any of that stuff but why should I care

if someone else does?

[xiamiam]

96. that 87% bugs me..its not true..you can put anything in print but it doesnt make it true..nt

[Initech]

45. Whatever happened to separation of church and state?

[Terra Alta]

49. Obama praying does not violate the establishment clause.

It would be another thing if he were forcing everyone to pray. It doesn't bother me that Obama prays, what's more important to me is that he makes the right decisions.

[pintobean]

51. Seriously?

[Initech]

67. Just once I'd like a president who relies on instincts instead of faith.

Look at Bush, Bush I, Reagan, Nixon - all presidents who lead on faith. I don't want Obama to join that crew. Although you could argue that 8 years of W was both instincts and faith.

[pintobean]

86. Why didn't you just say that

rather than suggesting that his praying is unconstitutional? You had some of us scratching our heads on that one.

[rasputin1952]

56. How is this a church/state issue?

If he were "requiring people to pray, I'd be fired up...if he was pushing for taxpayer money to go to religious institutions, like bush did, I'd be fired up, that was a church state issue...and people fell flat when it passed.

Things like this are basically manufactured "outrage"...it has nothing to do with how the country is run.

[Lance_Boyle]

79. Well, he did sue to maintain the national day of prayer

after it was declared an unconstitutional establishment of religion. So yeah, Obama does not have clean hands on the church/state separation issue. Not nearly. His personal prayers are not a problem. They're obviously not a solution to anything, either, and so a monumental waste of whatever energy goes into them. But not a church/state issue.

[rasputin1952]

46. I don't see why this is an issue...

if "meditating" were used, no one would have a problem; why is it that when anyone mentions "prayer", some people get all wired up.

Presidents and many others have prayed, , considering that prayer is actually a form of meditation and reflection, why should anyone care? It would be different if a president, or anyone else, "heard a voice that told him/her to, "launch a nuclear strike against the sinners!", but that doesn't happen, (and I hope it never will).

Why worry about such trivial things that can often bring some sense of peace and purpose? Some people pray, some don't, no harm comes from either the act or the lack of the act...what is the big deal...:shrug:

[Bluebear]

50. Some people get wired up about the church and state thing, I guess.

[rasputin1952]

54. This isn't church and state...

bush pushing to give taxpayer cash to religious institutions was a church/state issue. If PO was "requiring" others to pray, I'd be ticked, but what he does on a personal level is no big deal, and certainly not a church/state issue.

[Bluebear]

72. His God says gays can't marry, and he wants women to be "prayerful" about abortion.

His personal religion interferes with rights, and it is very much a "big deal". Anyhow, you asked what winds people up about it and I explained. :)

[rasputin1952]

76. I know a few atheists that are pro-life and very authoritarian...

some of them are R's and extremely conservative...and there are plenty of other things in any religion, philosophy and societal mores other than gay rights and abortion. I'm spiritual, and I fight for women's rights and gay rights everyday. I know plenty of women and gays that are religious and do the same.

He does not wear his religion on his sleeve, and some progress has been made under this administration concerning the two things you mentioned above. Unlike some evangelicals and zealots from every religion, I have never heard PO use religion to dictate how others should live. Every one of us, to some extent, use what we have intellectually or spiritually to guide us through life. One need be religious to be "spiritual", one need not be agnostic or atheist to advance women's rights or gay rights.

To immediately pigeonhole or label someone because of a religious/non-religious aspect of their lives is not being fair to that person or group. I know many people of faith that are on the frontlines of the social battles being fought for Equality for everyone, full Equality, no lines drawn in the sand. There are factions in Christianity, just as there are factions in every aspect of society that stand on single issues and not budge. Being a bonehead is not limited to religious individuals, there is plenty of ignorance and hypocrisy to go around.

For the record, his God also states that justice should prevail, there is an obligation to aid the poor and sick, to be charitable and compassionate, to seek wisdom and learn, to care for the widows and orphans, feed the hungry, to accept strangers and seek the good in people.

[Terra Alta]

55. But he isn't trying to get a law passed forcing people to pray

THAT would be a violation of the separation of church and state. The fact that he prays is not a violation.

Carter prayed. Clinton prayed. I don't see why it's such a big deal. :shrug:

[Bluebear]

73. See:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=769742&mesg_id=771903

Anyhow, the poster wondered why it bothers some people and I explained it.

[Lance_Boyle]

81. Yeah, actually he sued to preserve the unconstitutional 'national day of prayer.'

Obama's hands are not clean regarding the church/state separation issue. He can pray all he wants (for the zero bit of good it does anyone), but let's not pretend that he's a virtuous man on this issue - his administration is absolutely in the wrong on church/state separation as evidenced by his unholy and unconstitutional hankering for a "national day of" god-bothering bullshit.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

69. You need to look up the definition of church and state.

:rofl:

[riderinthestorm]

52. Why does the President have to make it an issue and bring it up at all?

It should be private. You're right that nobody should care but Presidents feel they have to continue to push this in our faces. If they're going to persist, they have opened themselves up to legitimate criticism.

[rasputin1952]

53. I don't see this as "pushing it in people's faces", it was a short statement...

it's not like he gave an hour long sermon. It's simply no big deal...until some people decided to make it a big deal. The man rarely goes toa religious service, and when he does, it's not like there is 24/7 coverage of the event.

There are times when I think we just look for things to complain about...just my idea that this is nothing of any great importance.

[riderinthestorm]

57. It's not specific to Obama. It's all the presidents.

Especially during campaigns. I like how the first responder in this thread put it that public figures have to parade their "religious bona fides". It gets tiresome. I'm sure my perception that its being "pushed" in our faces is colored by my sensitivity to it now.

[rasputin1952]

65. In all honesty...

I get disgusted when the GOP candidates make the religious right circuit. I have no problem with anyone's religion or lack there of...but the genuflecting before the televangelists is reprehensible.

I can remember when JFK had a hard time during his run because of his being Catholic, I thought that was a really low GOP ploy, especially since Nixon was a Quaker, who had gone to war over the tenets of being a Friend. I figure that as long as there are no sacrifices being made, (in public or private), it's no big deal.

Now I can picture Cheney holding a the still beating heart and having the presidential limo decked out in human skulls...but he's not running...thank heaven...:D

[Bluerthanblue]

59. excellent points-

I was planning on mentioning meditation- but you did it so much better than I ever could.

Seems like our society is addicted to outrage.

:shrug:

[Name removed]

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[Chris_Texas]

47. Obama just slipped another notch down with me

[VoteProgressive]

94. +1

[Bobbie Jo]

105. and another notch up with me.

So what? :shrug:

[sendero]

48. Unsurprisingly..

... is it not helping. I would suggest thinking instead.

[Bragi]

58. Put a sock in it, Mr. President /nt

[The Hitman]

62. You put a sock in it.

Let the man believe in God if he so wishes. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the crises you face are... a bit underwhelming compared to his. If he needs divine help, so be it. We all could use some.

[Name removed]

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[Bragi]

91. He should keep his belief in magic to himself

I don't need to hear about him invoking magic incantations to make decisions.

That whole idea scares me.

I want and trust honest, evidence-informed decision-making.

[DefenseLawyer]

60. Whatever gets you through the night

It's only when god starts talking back that I really start to worry.

[LuckyTheDog]

85. Just to freak people out...

... he should have said he prays at least five times per day and has a little rug he uses for that purpose.

:evilgrin:

[bdamomma]

93. ............

;-)

[The Hitman]

61. If I were President.

I'd probably need to pray a lot too.

Stop hating just because you don't believe in his religion! How are some of you any better than even the most fundamental 'bagger?

[golddigger]

63. Well I guess it's alright. I've been praying for a primary challenger.

Not going to happen though. Goes to show you how praying doesn't work.

[Bluerthanblue]

64. FDR prayed- and asked the country to pray with him-

http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/fdr-prayer.htm

So did JFK-

and LBJ
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=26057#axzz1I2psN3Wf

and Abraham Lincoln-




:shrug:

[Shiver]

66. Okay, seriously

The people who are pissed off that politicians and other people may have a religious affiliation - what does it matter to you? I'm not a religious man, but what people choose to believe is their business, and unless they use it to oppress you for a different belief, there is no reason you should be upset about it.

I swear, sometimes atheists are just as close-minded and intolerant as they claim religious people are....

[Lars39]

68. Pandering to those who are working to make the US a theocracy

is a huge mistake.

[Shiver]

70. Stating a belief is not pandering.

Pandering would be if he came out for prayer in public schools. Pandering would be if he wanted creationism taught in public schools. Pandering would be trying to put the ten commandments up in public courthouses.

Saying "I pray a lot" is not pandering. If he says "I eat a lot of cheese" is he pandering to Big Dairy?

[Lance_Boyle]

84. How about suing to maintain the national day of prayer after it was found unconstitutional?

Pandering enough for you?

[Lars39]

106. Pandering is speaking their code words. Pandering is upping the $$$

to faith-based charities.

[anneboleyn]

71. Amen, Shiver. That's been my experience as well.

[Bluebear]

75. "Amen" yet!

;)

[Bluebear]

74. When the President says his religion says gays can't marry & women should pray...

over having an abortion, that's oppressive. Seriously.

"I swear, sometimes atheists are just as close-minded and intolerant as they claim religious people are...."

Whatever.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

92. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

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[RegieRocker]

89. Praying to elitists

[dionysus]

97. oooh, today's outrage!!1!1!!

[fried eggs]

98. Most democrats in this country are christian.

[VoteProgressive]

100. Why does that matter? nt

[whatchamacallit]

99. Praying for all the people he's FREED THE SHIT OUT OF?

[LaurenG]

104. He needs to

since he is a believing man he should be praying. Our world is in a bunch of hurt, maybe he can get the being he is praying to make the evil rulers of the world stop.