A worry about Obama

[Onlooker]

In another context, someone posted this link:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/church.asp

and this:

http://www.tucc.org/about.htm

It appears Obama belongs to a church that highly values the black religious experience and African heritage. As an atheist, I certainly don't see Obama's church as any worse than any other, but I do wonder why he belongs to such a church given the political dangers. In a general election, the Republicans will try using his race against him, and the church's About page contains plenty of fodder that can be used to distort who Obama is. Politically, it seems to me he should move quickly to a church that is less focused on racial issues.

I hesitated to post this, but figure if it's already on Snopes and has been posted here in other contexts, I do no harm by raising my concerns. (I might add that I support Obama.)

[HeraldSquare212]

1. Could it be because his father is African?

My parents belonged to a mostly Irish church that tended to celebrate Irish things (like, St.Patricks Day) more than celebrations that other churches might do, say one attended by those with Polish heritage.

[BlueManDude]

2. if the GOPers want to attack his church then they'd be making a mistake.

[xultar]

4. Yeah because most churches were segregated and we had to go to

our own curches. All it would do is bring up deep seeded racism.

[BlueManDude]

8. they will however try to subtley imply that he is a muslim...

they won't do this overtly but they swift boat types will be out there smearing him.

[sandnsea]

3. It's also a UCC Church

that performs gay marriages. Lots of things to attack his church over. They attacked John Kerry on religion too. Nothing new really.

[OHdem10]

5. with Obama I do not seeing him wearing religion on his sleeve.

His religion would not even cross my radar screen--he is not
likely to use it .

What concerns me is what the GOP will do in GE. Commander in Chief?
Experience, etc.

[readmoreoften]

14. Really? He doesn't wear his religion on his sleeve? /nt

[Hekate]

6. So --- he's too black?

> It appears Obama belongs to a church that highly values the black religious experience
> and African heritage

I'm not entirely sure where the problem is. Initially there were some who claimed he wasn't "black enough", whatever that means. Now he's not white enough? Or he's too religious? Or what?

I believe the man is a bridge. But that's just me.

Hekate

[damntexdem]

7. Perhaps he belongs because it's what he believes in.

Maybe he also highly values the Black religious experience.

Maybe he supports the Constitution, including when it says: "... no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

Maybe he doesn't pick his church based on focus-group results or public opinion polls.

And what if Martin Luther King had decided to move to a church "less focused on racial issues"?

In fact, I suggest that one thing that's wrong with so many other churches is that they ARE "less focused on racial issues."

[indimuse]

9. it's not what we think...it's what the RW and MEDIA do WITH IT!!!

:eyes:

[beaconess]

10. Oh yes - Obama leaving his church to join a less "black" church now would REALLY help him.

:sarcasm:

Obama belongs to the church he's belonged to since he moved to Chicago. If folks don't like it, just let them try to use it against him.

I'll put my money on Obama in that fight.

[madrchsod]

11. what a load of shit.- that`s all it is -a big load of shit

[hedgehog]

12. Remember the Pilgrims? Well, some of them evolved into what is

now the United Church of Christ. They're good people.

[Adelante]

13. I believe this is the fourth thread on this today

Not to worry.

[sniffa]

15. thanks for your concern

it's wonderful to have this racist bullshit posted for what? the 8th time today?

[Onlooker]

18. So, you don't think the right wing will exploit it? n/t

[sniffa]

21. so you have zero problem with DUers posting this racist shit under the guise of concern? n/t

[readmoreoften]

16. I have zero problem with Obama being proud of his African heritage. /nt

[sniffa]

20. .

[Radical Activist]

17. Yes, Obama goes to a liberal church.

I'd invite all the people who think Obama is a closet conservative based on their tortured misinterpretations of his speeches react to that.

[styersc]

19. The GOP will make sure that no bad press will run on Obama

until he gets the nomination and then they will drag out skeletons (real or contrived) one by one over the course of the entire campaign.

[laureloak]

22. I;m afraid you're right.