Faith-Action-Change

Video: Election Night Speech in Grant Park

Christopher Hass — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:06:36 EST

"I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you." - Barack Obama, Election Night 2008

Read the full speech, as prepared for delivery . . .

"Faith is at the core of who I am"

Nikki Sutton — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:18:14 EST

Over the last twenty-one months, people of faith across the nation have seen how faith guides Barack Obama in his life. Matthew Josten is a student at Taylor University in Indiana who shares why his faith and values have led him to support Barack.

Now is the time to turn your support into a vote. Look up your polling location here. Once you've voted, call others to help them find their polling places and remind them the hours that the polls are open. Working together we can bring about real change.

Barack Calls Undecided Colorado Voters

Amanda Scott — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:50:20 EDT

Barack Obama loves making phone calls. If he has time in his busy schedule to make a stop at a local office on the campaign trail, he always stops by to make some phone calls to undecided voters.

This past Sunday he was in Colorado holding Early Vote for Change rallies in Denver and Fort Collins but that didn't stop him from visiting a volunteer office in Brighton.

Contacting voters is one of the most important ways we can reach out to voters during this last week. The McCain campaign is bombarding undecided voters with robocalls full of lies and smears but personal calls from supporters will help spread the truth about Barack's message.

Whether you spend 30 minutes or a couple of hours calling voters, one-on-one conversations could help us win some crucial battleground states. Polls open one week from today. With most battleground states in a tie, your phone calls could make the difference and put Barack over the top.

Yesterday our supporters beat the goal of 100,000 calls by making 124,000. Today, the goal is to contact 125,000 voters.

Call time is 5-9pm local so log on to Neighbor-to-Neighbor and contact undecided voters tonight.

Make History

Christopher Hass — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:47:01 EDT

This afternoon, National Field Director Jon Carson sent out this message to supporters:

Ask your Boss. Ask your Professor.

Take Election Day off and volunteer to make history.
Watch this video and sign up to help get out the vote on Tuesday, November 4th:
This election will be decided by what this grassroots movement can accomplish on Election Day.

We have volunteer shifts to fill throughout the day -- make calls, knock on doors, and make sure your fellow voters get to the polls.

No previous experience is required. Sign up now to take the day off and make history on November 4th.
Thanks,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

If you live in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia or Wisconsin, you can sign up now to volunteer in your community.

If you live elsewhere and are willing to travel to a neighboring battleground state to help out, you can sign up here, or you can sign up to make phone calls on Election Day to help Get Out The Vote.

"We can't afford to slow down"

Amanda Scott — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:09:33 EDT

Barack gave his closing argument speech in Canton, Ohio this morning. During his remarks he told voters that this election is not over. That we have to spend the next eight days working as hard as ever because our future depends on next Tuesday.

We have one week to contact voters. One week to spread Barack's message to undecideds. One week to make sure every supporter votes early and brings their friends and family along. One week.

We know we can do it. We can do it because, as Barack said this morning, we've been doing it for 21 months.

We began this journey in the depths of winter nearly two years ago, on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Back then, we didn’t have much money or many endorsements. We weren’t given much of a chance by the polls or the pundits, and we knew how steep our climb would be.

But I also knew this. I knew that the size of our challenges had outgrown the smallness of our politics. I believed that Democrats and Republicans and Americans of every political stripe were hungry for new ideas, new leadership, and a new kind of politics – one that favors common sense over ideology; one that focuses on those values and ideals we hold in common as Americans.

Most of all, I believed in your ability to make change happen. I knew that the American people were a decent, generous people who are willing to work hard and sacrifice for future generations. And I was convinced that when we come together, our voices are more powerful than the most entrenched lobbyists, or the most vicious political attacks, or the full force of a status quo in Washington that wants to keep things just the way they are.

Twenty-one months later, my faith in the American people has been vindicated. That’s how we’ve come so far and so close – because of you. That’s how we’ll change this country – with your help. And that’s why we can’t afford to slow down, sit back, or let up for one day, one minute, or one second in this last week. Not now. Not when so much is at stake.

You can start working for change tonight. Help us by making phone calls to voters across the country. Everyday this week we must contact 100,000 voters daily. We need your help.

Take an hour or two out tonight during call time (5-9pm local) and contact voters. Your phone calls will make the difference one week from now.

Ten Days Out

Christopher Hass — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:45:30 EDT

From the beginning of the general election, strategically, we tried to have as wide of a map as possible. Our belief was we wanted to, on the morning of Nov. 4th, have as many possible avenues to as many electoral votes as possible. And we think we've been able to create that dynamic and have a lot of competitive states in play here. - David Plouffe

national polling averages as of 10/25/08 via pollster.com

With only ten days left, it's become apparent just how wide the election map is. But as the number of competitive states grows larger, so to does the universe of voters that we have to identify, persuade and get to the polls. Now more than ever, we are relying on volunteers in every corner of the country to help execute the field plan we've built over the last 20 months.

Jen O'Malley Dillon, the battleground states director, explained:

We have expected all along that this race is going to tighten up, especially in the battlegrounds states. So we have spent a lot of time building our organizational strengths, building capacity and really focusing on our voter contact and our neighborhood organizations. We really feel that in a number of these states, this election is going to come down to our ground organization and what happens in the final days of the campaign.

In almost two dozen key states, the outcome is very much still up in the air. Over the next ten days, you have an unprecedented opportunity to be part of this effort and to contribute directly to the outcome of this election.

If you live in or near one of the many battleground states, you can connect with a local office and help our field operation on the ground. Face-to-face contact is the most powerful way to get out the vote or persuade undecided voters in battleground states. Sign up today -- state staff are waiting for your help.

This weekend, we're counting on our grassroots phonebankers to make an additional 300,000 calls to voters in key states. As of 7:00 PM Central tonight, you've already made 113,762 calls. Right from your own home, on your own schedule, you can do your part in just an hour or two by calling voters in one of these crucial states. We'll give you the phone numbers and the talking points. It couldn't be easier. You can get your list of targeted voters to call right now.

Finally, supporters will be coming together on Wednesday, October 29th, to watch Barack's national TV appearance and call voters in battleground states. Talking one-on-one with potential fellow voters is one of the easiest and most effective ways for you to make an impact in this election. Find a Last Call for Change house party near you or sign up to host one.

As National Field Director Jon Carson said in an email sent out to supporters tonight, each passing day is an opportunity we'll never have again to change America. You hold this election in your hands.

Polls close in 10 days.

Vote for Barack Today

Amanda Scott — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:24:11 EDT

Early voting has started in over half the states already. Barack and Michelle both held early vote rallies in Florida earlier this week. Joe held early vote rallies in Colorado, and Jill will be holding early vote rallies in Florida this weekend.

Early voting is an easy way to help the campaign. You secure your vote for Barack, you help the campaign narrow the universe of voters that we have to contact, and you free yourself up to help recruit others to vote. We will be spending a massive amount of time and money on our Get Out The Vote effort, and we need more volunteers than ever before.

Barack is in Nevada today to reminded supporters to vote early. And earlier this week he was in Indiana...

If you live in Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Montana, New Mexico, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Georgia, West Virginia, Oregon, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Hawaii, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Louisiana, Kansas, New Jersey, or Idaho, early voting has begun. Vote for Barack today.

Last Call: This Weekend

Christopher Hass — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:20:38 EDT

National Phonebank Coordinator Nicole Aro sent out this message to supporters tonight:

In crucial battleground states like Ohio, Florida, and Virginia, the race is neck-and-neck.

This weekend, you can help Barack get ahead.

In every corner of the country, friends and neighbors are coming together for Last Call for Change phonebanks to call potential supporters in battleground states.

There may be one right near you. All you need to do is bring a cell phone -- and some friends -- and we'll take care of the rest.

Find a local Last Call for Change phonebank and make a difference this weekend.

With Election Day just around the corner, swing voters are getting bombarded with the McCain campaign's lies and distortions.

It's more important than ever that supporters like you reach out and share the truth about Barack one-on-one. You can also let voters in battleground states know about important early voting opportunities.

It's a great opportunity to get together with friends and fellow supporters and, at the same time, make a difference in a crucial state.

Find a phonebank near you and sign up today.

Together, we can reach millions of voters, generate historic turnout, and win this election.

Thanks,

Nicole

Nicole Aro
National Phonebank Coordinator
Obama for America

Focus on: Ohio People of Faith for Obama

Michael in Ohio — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:00:42 EDT

Millions of people of faith have found hope and promise in Barack's candidacy. Mandy, of Chillicothe, is just one of those people. She wrote this letter to the editor in the Chillicothe Gazette, which clearly and beautifully articulates why she as a person of faith supports Barack:

OBAMA CAN PROVIDE WHAT WE PRAY FOR

As a Christian and a member of this community, I would like to publicly show my support for Barack Obama.
My answer to why Obama is the clear choice if very simple. God does many works through man, I'm sure most of you will agree. We pray daily for the poor, the homeless, and the ones who go without health care and who have lost their jobs. We pray for their suffering to end and for God to lead them from their troubles into a time of prosperity.
God answers prayers, but it's not always the answer we were expecting.
Obama has a means to an end for so many of the things that we pray for. Many times there are mountains that we must climb before we can achieve what God has prepared for us. I truly believe that this campaign is just one of those mountains.
It is refreshing to see a Democrat like Barack Obama embrace his Christian faith and talk about how it inspires his commitment to public service. Like Gov. Ted Strickland, he understands we are all our brother's keeper. We cannot be a great nation if we do not look out for the least fortunate among us.
But he also recognizes that we must demand that all Americans take responsibility for themselves and their families. It's nice to hear a politician talking about turning off the TV and reading to our children.
I think Obama has it right, and he's earned my support.

Is faith important to you? Does your belief system play a role in your support for Barack? Whether it does or it doesn't, people of faith in Ohio and across the country play a huge role in Barack's campaign. You can take your support to the next level.

Click HERE join Ohio People of Faith for Obama today.

At the sign up page, you have resources at your fingertips, including this video of Barack in Zanesville, in which he outlines his support for faith-based groups:

On the page you can also:

Read Barack's Faith Principles
Read Barack's renowned Call to Renewal Speech
Check out other faith resources, like one-pager and two-pagers for Catholics.

Join Ohio People of Faith for Obama right now.

Are you an Ohio person of faith for Obama? Let us know in the comments section below.

Volunteer Victory

Amanda Scott — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:05:12 EDT

Every day we put off getting involved is another day lost. Every day we work harder than the day before is a day won. The only way we are going to win this election is our field work -- our on the ground organizing.

The most important election of our lifetime will come down to how many volunteers get involved over the next 12 days. Watch this volunteer video from Michigan -- and remember what four years ago felt like.

We can bring change to Washington. We can win this election -- but we can't do it by sitting on the sidelines. You can contact voters from home, volunteer at your local campaign office, knock on doors, travel to battleground states and make sure everyone you know votes early.

Visit your state page to see how you can help our Get Out The Vote effort. Your time connecting with voters could make the difference on November 4.

What's Your Tax Cut?

Amanda Scott — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:31:52 EDT

American families are in desperate need of economic relief.

Barack's plan will cut taxes for 95% of working families. John McCain will provide billions in tax breaks for big oil companies and giant corporations with no relief for millions of middle-class Americans.

Barack is calling for three times the tax cuts for middle-class families.

With our country facing the most serious economic crisis since the Great Depression -- over 760,000 jobs lost this year, unemployment skyrocketing, and retirement losses exceeding $2 trillion -- we need to take immediate steps to recover.

Forbes writer Brian Wingfield recently used the tax cut calculator and told his readers exactly how much he would save...

...Obama's web page has a very simple gadget that's the most useful thing I've seen on any political website in a while.
It's a "tax cut" calculator. You just fill in your income, filing status, whether you're saving for retirement, number of dependents, outstanding mortgage balance, etc and --voila!--it shows you how much you'll save in taxes under an Obama presidency. It tells me that I'm going to keep an extra $1000 of my hard-earned cash if Obama wins. It also tells me I'll save $0 under a McCain presidency.

Watch an Ohio supporter use the tax calculator to see how much he would save and then calculate your own tax cut:

http://taxcut.barackobama.com

New to the site or still undecided? Learn more about Barack Obama and his position on important issues. If you're already a supporter, find out what you can do to help between now and Election Day, and please consider making a donation to strengthen our field operation and help Get Out The Vote.

Special Video from Barack

Christopher Hass — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:18:16 EDT

This morning, the campaign sent out the following message to supporters, along with a link to a special video from Barack. . .

Election Day is exactly two weeks from today.

But right now, we're facing an urgent deadline that will determine exactly where we can compete -- and how fiercely -- in the final push.

Barack recorded a special video message about why your support is so vital before this Thursday at midnight.

Will you watch the video and make a donation before the deadline?

On Friday morning, we have to make the final, hard decisions about deploying our resources.

Your support will determine how hard we can fight in key battleground states -- and if we can expand our operation into some newly competitive states in the final days.

What began in Springfield, Illinois, more than 20 months ago will reach its peak on Tuesday, November 4th.

We know what we need to do to win. But it's up to you whether or not we have the resources to fight hard and expand our reach.

Thank you for all you've done to bring the campaign this far. Will you watch Barack's message and make a donation before Thursday at midnight?

Thank you for everything you're doing,

Obama for America

Make Calls Tonight

Amanda Scott — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:32:35 EDT

One-on-one conversations with voters could be what wins the election for Barack. A lot of voters are still undecided and need to know the change Barack is going to bring to Washington.

Most importantly, they need to know why you support Barack. By taking the time to talk to someone and tell them your story you could persuade someone to vote for Barack.

One of the easiest ways to talk to other people is by using our online Neighbor-to-Neighbor tool. This allows you to call voters in battleground states and talk to them about the issues you care about. Whether it's the economy, education, social security or the war in Iraq, many other Americans are struggling and facing the same situations that you are. Tell them why you are voting for Barack and how we can fix the problems this country is facing.

Volunteers in Wisconsin recently recorded a short video with some tips on how to phonebank. It's simple and easy, even if you've never phonebanked before.

Call time (suggested time to call voters) is Monday thru Friday 5-9pm local time.

What are you doing tonight?

Take some time out to call voters and tell them about Barack. There are only 15 days left to win the election. As Barack says, keep pushing toward the finish line.

"The rest is up to us"

Amanda Scott — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:46:35 EDT

Barack has been campaigning for 20 months now. For 20 months he has traveled across the country, from state to state, talking to voters and talking about the change that he will bring to Washington. He'll continue traveling and campaigning over the next 16 days, but now it comes down to us.

Michelle was in Minnesota earlier this week, where she explained to the gathered crowd that while Barack has gotten us 85% of the way there, the rest is up to us. We have to knock on doors, call voters, volunteer and most importantly, vote.

We are still in a fight, and the next weeks are going to be crucial to our Get Out The Vote effort. Which is why we need our supporters on the ground to be working as hard as they can over the next 16 days to win.

This is the most important election of our lifetimes, and we can't afford to sit on the sidelines. Visit your state page today to learn more about how you can help.

Watch Barack and Joe Tonight

Amanda Scott — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:12:02 EDT

Senator Obama will be a keynote speaker at the Al Smith Dinner tonight. CSPAN will carry the entire event live, and CNN, FOX and MSNBC will carry portions of the dinner. Check your local listings for channel and time information.

Joe Biden will be a guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight. Check your local NBC listings for channel and time information. Be sure to tune in and watch.

Deadline: Register to Vote Today

Amanda Scott — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:17:33 EDT

Monday, October 6th is the deadline to register in 17 states.

No matter where you live, if you have three minutes to spare, you can check your registration status, register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and find your early voting site or polling location at VoteForChange.com.

In 2004, George Bush won Nevada by less than 2.5% of voters, New Mexico by less than 1% of voters, and Colorado by less than 100,000 votes. In Ohio, Bush won by just over 100,000 votes -- less than 10 votes per precinct.

This time, we can't leave anything to chance.

This is your choice: three minutes spent registering to vote -- or four years spent wishing that you had.

Even if you are registered, you likely know someone who isn't.

If you have friends or family who support Barack but might not be registered to vote, you can use our online form to let them know about VoteForChange.com. A simple message from you could be the difference between them voting and them staying at home on November 4th.

And that could be the difference in this election.

Barack Obama on Eid, Festival of Breaking the Fast

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:03:53 EDT

Senator Barack Obama today issued the following statement on Eid, the Festival of Breaking the Fast that marks the end of Ramadan:

I want to convey my greetings to the American Muslim community on the Festival of Breaking the Fast that marks the end of Ramadan. Through fasting, prayer and charity, your observance this past month of the universal values of patience, generosity and caring for the less fortunate is an important reminder of the values that have helped make America great. As a nation, we must commit ourselves to that greater cause to ensure that the less fortunate are never forgotten or ignored. On behalf of Michelle, Joe and Jill Biden and I, we hope that Ramadan brought you happiness, good health, and a sense of renewal.

Faith, Family and Values

J. Scott — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:57:56 EDT

The campaign just issued this press release:

Obama’s Campaign for Change to Hold “Faith, Family & Values” Tour in Southwest and Shenandoah Valley

RICHMOND, Va. – U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change will host its “Faith, Family & Values” tour in communities in the Shenandoah Valley and southwestern Virginia on Monday and Tuesday. The tour will focus on how Obama’s faith has informed his judgment and shaped his perspective on the most urgent problems facing the nation.

Dr. Shaun Casey, Obama’s evangelical outreach coordinator, will lead the forums and talk about Obama’s faith how it has shaped his plans to strengthen Virginia families. Casey is a former Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of the National Capital Semester for Seminarians (NCSS) at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC., and is the author of The Making of a Catholic President: Kennedy v. Nixon 1960

The tour will kick off in Bristol on Monday – making stops in Marion and Wytheville – and then travel to Pulaski, Lynchburg and Harrisonburg on Tuesday. The forums are free to the public and open to the press.

The faith forums are an opportunity for people of faith to come together -- across denominational lines – to talk about how they live their faith outside the four walls of the church, what they want to see from their presidential candidates and how Obama’s faith informs how he thinks about the issues facing Virginia families.

The Obama campaign is holding a series of faith forums across the country to engage people of faith and describe how the senator has put his faith into action as an organizer working with church-based organizations on the Southside of Chicago and as a senator in Illinois and the U.S. Congress.

More details about the events after the jump . . .

Obama for America Pauses to Remember 9/11

Alyssa Martin — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:44:45 EDT

Reverend Terri LaVelle, Senior Advisor for the Religious Affairs department, offered an interfaith prayer to honor those whose lives were lost – and those for whom the sorrow is still fresh in their hearts – on September 11th …

Today, on the seventh anniversary of the September 11th attacks we, along with our nation, honor the memories of all who suffered a loss on September 11, 2001. We honor and remember each and every life that was lost on September 11, 2001, and grieve with the family and friends who lost a loved one in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, PA.

God of all creation, help us be righteous and strong. Grant your peace and blessings upon all your creation.
God, we pray that you unite our hearts by the common bond of justice for all.

God, inspire us to give life to a vision that ensures we love, respect and truly care for one another.
God, help each of us to recognize You in the face of our neighbors, here and throughout the world.

God, may we recognize and honor the diversity You have lovingly planted within each of us and our world community.
God, help us to continue to be a country keeping sacred the love of justice and an unending call for unity.

God of love, mercy, justice, and peace, bless those who fell on that day, and minister to those who continue to suffer. Help us remember that change requires sacrifice. Help us be mindful that change requires time. In your Divine guidance and wisdom, look over us.

In addition to this prayer, Rev. LaVelle shared a bit of reflective reading from Seamus Heaney’s “The Cure at Troy” …

History says, Don’t hope on this side of the grave, but then, once in a lifetime the longed for tidal-wave of justice can rise up, and hope and history rhyme.

So hope for a great sea-change on the far side of revenge. Believe that a farther shore is reachable from here. Believe in miracles and cures and healing wells.

National Baptist Convention

Alyssa Martin — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:42:50 EDT

On September 10, Michelle Obama addressed the National Baptist Convention in Cincinatti, Ohio. She opened with the following remarks …

The National Baptist Convention has worked for years to build a community that serves all God’s children, around the world and in our own communities. Thanks to Dr. Shaw and the leaders that came before him, God has built this church into our nation’s oldest and largest Baptist convention. And I’m so proud to be here with you today.

Michelle went on to talk about what brought her to this place, mentioning the faith and people that give her strength and illumine her path …

I come here today as a Christian, a person of faith, who believes that we’ve all been called to serve our fellow men and women, and to honor all of God’s creation. I come here as a wife who loves my husband and believes he will be an extraordinary president. I come here as a daughter, raised on the South Side of Chicago by two of the warmest, hardest-working people I’ve ever known. But most of all, I come here as a mother. Our girls are God’s greatest gift to Barack and me, and a reflection of His grace in our lives every day.

Michelle invoked the Gospel of Luke, saying “To whom much is given, much is required … That’s the promise that we make to God.” She called on us to give our time, labor, work, and gifts to making “our world more just, more prosperous, and more peaceful.” But she also noted the challenges we face, and the realities we must confront …

So many of our neighbors are working hard every day, without enough resources, to keep their families and communities strong. So the question we should ask is, shouldn’t we have policies that reflect that reality—that we’re all in this together? Shouldn’t we have policies that express our values, and honor our common humanity? Shouldn’t we have leaders who get it?

In one of the most important moments of her life, Michelle remembers Barack speaking to a group of people devastated by local steel plant closings. He said, “we know the world as it should be … we know what it looks like in our hearts.” It’s a belief and hope in things unseen. Michelle pointed out what’s at stake in this election, which is the chasm between the world as it is and the world as it should be: 8 straight months of job losses; an economy that lifts Wall Street, and not Main Street; 46 million Americans without health insurance; 1 out of 3 high school dropouts; a reckless engagement with the rest of the world. This is the world as it is, but we must fight for the world as it should be …

Remember what Jesus told us, in one of the greatest speeches ever given, the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “You are the light of the world.” He told us not to hide our light, but to let it shine for all. He was telling us to get involved in this world. To open our hearts and raise our voices and share our hopes with the people around us and to work for as long as it takes to make those hopes come true. That’s what we are called to do today. If we tell all the people in our lives what’s at stake in this election. If we remind them that voting is a responsibility and an opportunity. If we tell them that this time is our time. And if we get everyone we know to vote on November 4th. Then, on Election Day, we will let our light shine. We will build a better future, for our daughters, our sons, our parents and our grandchildren. We will finally bring the change that we need to the country we love. And we will do it together.

Life Experience

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:04:11 EDT

Recently, there have been some questions raised about what a community organizer does, and why that experience is relevant. Senator Obama has been candid about his time organizing in the South Side of Chicago after steel plant closings devastated those communities. He worked alongside Christian churches that were experienced in bringing about bottom-up change and true reform. In addition to improving the living conditions for these communities through job training programs, Barack empowered people to take ownership of the political process by organizing meetings with officials and orchestrating mass voter registration.

David Plouffe, Campaign Manager for the Obama campaign, made this statement on community organizing:

Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies … Community organizing is the foundation of the civil rights movement, the women's suffrage movement, labor rights, and the 40-hour workweek. And it's happening today in church basements and community centers and living rooms across America.

Senator Obama often says that community organizing was “the best education I've ever had.” It's relevant in that it offers insight as to why Obama's in this race, and how he intends to govern from the bottom up, drawing upon the energy and ideas of the American people. But that's not the only education and experience he's had; to put things into perspective, Obama was a community organizer for three years after college.

After serving as a community organizer, Obama went on to pursue a diverse body of work, spanning law, education, and public service. He made history as the first African-American to serve as Editor of the Harvard Law Review, where he caught the eye of a professor at the University of Chicago. Eventually, Obama would teach constitutional law at the university, where he demonstrated a reverence for our founding document, and was well-respected by people of all political persuasions. As a civil rights lawyer, Obama litigated against employment and housing discrimination. These varied experiences motivated Obama to work for steady change in the state legislature. While in the Illinois State Senate, Obama helped reform a broken death penalty system, develop the Earned Income Tax Credit, and expand early childhood education. After serving for 8 years in this capacity, Obama broke new ground by becoming a United States Senator. While there, he fought for more government transparency, ethics reform, veterans care, the secure of deadly weapons, and energy independence. It doesn't take too long to notice that there's a broadness and depth in Senator Obama's background. While Obama is running to effect large-scale change, his life experience demonstrates that he is ultimately rooted in people and communities. As Harry, an Obama supporter, observed, “Obama is a fellow pilgrim with us.”

Biden: Committed Catholic and Man of Values

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:49:31 EDT

It's official: Senator Joe Biden will bring his experience, vision, and tenacity to the Democratic ticket. But what does Joe Biden believe in? What values have inspired his life amidst pain and joy, both in and out of the public eye?

Joe Biden is a man of deep and sincere faith, which has helped him rise up after falling on tough times. A "scrappy kid from Scranton," Biden once professed in an interview with the Christian Science Monitor that "he felt at home in the church," as he spent his years nestled in an Irish Catholic neighborhood. In junior-high, he briefly contemplated becoming a priest. And when Biden had to go through harrowing surgery to repair a brain aneurysm, he reportedly "asked doctors whether he could tuck his rosary beads under his pillow."

When personal tragedy struck and took his wife and daughter in an accident, the incident almost derailed his political career, but Joe Biden pushed on as a committed father. While Biden is a devoted Senator and faithful public servant, he has never allowed politics to supplant people, as he would take the long commute from Washington to Delaware so that he could be home with his kids every night. Recently, Beau Biden, Joe Biden's son, offered a moving reflection on his father:

"We, not the Senate, were all he cared about … Five years later, we married my mom, Jill. Together they rebuilt our family."

"So even though Dad worked in Washington, he's never been part of Washington. He always sounded like the kid from Scranton, Pa., he is. And even that is a story of overcoming."

Shedding light on that Catholic "kid from Scranton," Biden once affirmed:

"The animating principle of my faith, as taught to me by church and home, was that the cardinal sin was abuse of power. It was not only required as a good Catholic to abhor and avoid abuse of power, but to do something to end that abuse."

As with Senator Obama, Biden views faith as an "active, palpable agent"; you can't just talk about values, you have to "do something" to realize those values. This approach helps explain Biden’s leadership in ending abuse in homes around our country by writing the Violence Against Women Act, which has allowed countless women to restart their lives after domestic violence. Joe Biden’s faith has also informed his advocacy on issues such as genocide, universal health care, equal pay, and helping America's struggling work force. By promoting policies that value and strengthen families, as well as advancing a tough, smart, and principled foreign policy, his life's work contains the raw spirit of faith in action.

As Biden works to support American families and causes in this campaign and as the next Vice President, he’ll continue to draw strength from his faith and his roots.

As Alexia Kelley, director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, noted:

Joe Biden's "Catholic and working class roots have been a source of solidarity for him with hard-working American families who are suffering the most from the current economic crisis."

Joe Biden gets it because his iife wasn't easy, either. In the words of C.S. Lewis, he went through moments of difficulty and crisis "not without pain, but without stain." When Biden went to Washington, he sought to end the abuse of power, empowering Americans in the process. Speaking on his personality, Doug Kmiec, a professor at Pepperdine University, related, "You can't find a more regular guy than Joe Biden. He would be the kind of guy you would expect to find in the parish hall, in the neighborhood." Not as someone running to be Vice President of the United States.

Convention Experiences

Amanda Scott — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:23:37 EDT

Chuck, a supporter in Portland, Oregon, recently shared his experience at the Democratic National Convention with us...

Two meetings of the “Faith Caucus” were held during the Democratic National Convention. These meetings were historic. It was the first time the Democratic Party had invited religious leaders to their conventions. Panels discussed issues of concern to America’s diverse religious community. I was there and you can read my reflections on the meetings here and here.
It was clearly evident from the gatherings that Barack Obama has developed a coalition of people who want deeply to end the divisions we face in this nation and to seek common ground in addressing our common challenges.
Being there to watch Barack Obama accept the nomination of his party to serve as the next president of the United States was simply awe inspiring. But I was also inspired each of the four days by meeting and hearing from people of faith from across our nation whose deepest beliefs have propelled them into action supporting Senator Obama's agenda of change for the future.

Barack Obama on Ramadan

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:48:07 EDT

In honor of the month of Ramadan, Senator Obama made the following statement:

Today marks the beginning of Ramadan, a special time for American Muslims. This is not only a month of fasting and prayer -- it is also a time to reflect on the needs of those who are less fortunate. In the weeks to come, Michelle and I want to wish all American Muslims our very best wishes. We hope Ramadan brings you happiness, good health, and a sense of renewal.

Backstage Tonight: Kayla Whitaker of North Dakota

Bradley Portnoy — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:01:02 EDT

Kayla is a 20-year-old student and evangelical Christian who credits Barack for her newfound interest in the political process. Tonight, she will join Barack backstage before his acceptance speech.

"As a Christian, I have seen it repeated that evangelical Christians are 'required' to vote Republican. When I heard Barack's 'Call to Renewal' speech, I was surprised... This is change I can believe in and many other young, evangelical Christians can believe in, too. For the first time in my life, I got hooked on politics."

She now plans to register to vote so that she can cast her ballot for Barack in November. Among Kayla's top concerns are health care, teacher pay, and the environment. In an effort to convince her mom to become involved in politics, she has brought her to Denver.

Kayla was covered in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, as well as the Rocky Mountain News. Read the articles here and here.

Backstage Tonight: Barb Sackman of Montana

Bradley Portnoy — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:14:06 EDT

Tonight, Barb Sackman of Fallon Montana will join Barack backstage as he accepts the nomination. Barb is a teacher living in a small town of 150. She lives on her family's wheat and cattle farm, and rising fuel prices are making it hard to get by. She hopes Barack's plan for alternative bio-fuels will help the struggling economy in rural Montana.

Barb volunteers for her church, sits on a hospital board, and organizes community events in Fallon. Barb says Barack "genuinely cares about the problems of people like me. We appreciate his continued trips to Montana to let us know that we are not forgotten." She is attending the convention with her husband.

Check out this post about Barb on the Montana blog, or this local news story from CBS’s Montana stations. She was also mentioned in this article from the Rocky Mountain News.

Backstage Tonight: Eric Melder of Pennsylvania

Bradley Portnoy — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:26:00 EDT

Joining Barack backstage tonight will be Eric Melder. Eric is a 59-year-old married father of three sons and a grandparent to seven grandchildren. A retired YMCA director, he has worked at Diakon Wilderness Center for the past 13 years counseling young men with drug, alcohol, and family problems.

"The boys call me 'E-rock' and I do all I can to make a difference in their lives," writes Eric.

A self-proclaimed "values voter" and evangelical Christian, Eric switched his allegiance from Mike Huckabee to Barack, convinced by Barack's ability to lead and build coalitions. Eric has brought Anthony, a former student at the Wilderness Center, who overcame immense hardships, including an absent father and a drug-addicted mother, to ultimately become Program Director of the Center.

"Barack needs to meet him," Eric says.

The Pennsylvania blog wrote about Eric's selection to meet Barack backstage; read more about it here. MSNBC's First Read also wrote a feature on Eric, which you can check out here.

Convention Caucuses: "Barack is the man for the job"

Nikki Sutton — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:30:45 EDT

Earlier today marked the second round of caucus meetings at the Denver Convention Center, where delegates join with community and political leaders to reflect on accomplishments of the past and goals for the future. Today's meetings included the Women Caucus, Disabilities Caucus, Youth Caucus, Faith Caucus, and Veterans and Military Families Caucus.

At the Faith Caucus a number of panelists took questions from the audience as part of a conversation about the values and priorities of the Faith community. Former Indiana Congressman, Tim Roemer, spoke about how he always keeps with him a picture of Mother Theresa that says, "Do small things with great love," to remind him of how much each of us can do, one small action at a time, to influence the world around us for the better.

Also at the Faith meeting, Wes of Falls Church, Virginia shared why he supports Barack Obama and why he has been working to help register new voters.

Barack Obama is able to hear all viewpoints without alienating people. So, even those who disagree with the final decision can respect it because they have been heard.

Larry from North Carolina participated in the Veterans Caucus today. He is a Vietnam War veteran and part of the Lumbee First American Tribe. He originally voted for Senator Clinton in the North Carolina primary, but today he explained why he is now supporting Barack Obama.

I'm a veteran. John McCain is a veteran, but I'm not supporting John McCain because he's not about what I'm about. I'm about fair wages, the environment, healthcare... I support Barack Obama. He is the man for the job.

Larry also shared why he first became politically active.

I got involved in politics because, when I was in Vietnam in 1969, I made a promise to God that if He helped me get out of there I would do whatever I could to make sure no one else had to be in a situation like that.

The convention caucuses provide an opportunity for people like Larry to have a role in the American political process and ensure real people who are taking action to renew America's promise are heard.

The Women Caucus was one of the largest today, as women from across the nation came together to celebrate Women's Equality Day, the anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.

Check out pictures from today's caucus meetings . . .

Host A Convention Watch Party

Amanda Scott — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:26:19 EDT

UPDATED: Due to the incredible response, we've expanded our shipping operation and have extended the deadline for event creation to midnight tonight (Thursday). All event hosts who create their event online before the deadline will receive an official Watch Party packet.

In eight days, Barack will accept the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

It will be the biggest night of the campaign so far, and you can share the moment with millions of fellow supporters across the country.

Before Barack delivers his speech, we're inviting our supporters to gather with friends and neighbors to start planning organizing efforts for the short time we have left before November.

There's no better way to reach out to your friends and family than to invite them to be a part of this historic moment. This is a unique opportunity to continue growing our movement in your community and watch as we make history together.

Right now, volunteers at the national headquarters are hard at work assembling and mailing packets to all of the event hosts. Thursday night is the final night to register your event in order to receive an official packet.

Patriot Games

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:56:44 EDT

Barack called it once before: “It’s silly season in politics, folks.” While Obama continues to press his case for President, speaking to foreign policy and a host of domestic challenges, he has been accused of not loving his country enough, which reeks more of games and “gotcha” politics than genuine progress. That’s why Senator Obama wants to restore integrity to our political process as well as have integrity reflected in our policies.

Speaking to the group Veterans of Foreign Wars, Senator Obama asserted:

“If we think that we can secure our country by just talking tough without acting tough and smart, then we will misunderstand this moment and miss its opportunities. If we think that we can use the same partisan playbook where we just challenge our opponent's patriotism to win an election, then the American people will lose. The times are too serious for this kind of politics.” […]

“One of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can’t disagree without challenging each other's character and patriotism. I have never suggested that Senator McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition. I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America's national interest.”

When people impugn his character or patriotism, Obama will respond directly: “I will let no one question my love of this country. I love America, so do you, and so does John.” Obama extends the same good faith to his opponent, a mark of true integrity no matter how small the politics. Obama closes with this injunction for civility: “So let’s have a serious debate, and let's debate our disagreements on the merits of policy – not personal attacks.”

Reactions to Saddleback

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:17:29 EDT

Reflective, “anchored in Scripture,” and compassionate – these were some of your reactions to Barack at Saddleback. What else did people of faith have to say?

George remarked, “As to Obama’s response about America’s greatest moral failure, it was right on. I can really relate to his sentiment about caring for “the least of these.” This is what Jesus was all about and what every Christian should be about.” In that same vein, Harry said, “I agree with Senator Obama that we have failed to live up to Matthew 25 and the Sermon on the Mount … we have preferred the dualistic, either/or mentality instead of the way of agape love.”

Commenting more generally on our fractured government, Dorothy Marie asserted, “I really appreciated Senator Obama’s explanation that Washington’s politics are impeding the efforts of those to help others. Senator Obama put the spotlight on the specific area of helping the disadvantaged … it was the first time I grasped what it means to have a ‘broken politics.’” Throughout the evening, Pat observed, “Barack hit at the heart of the problem – lack of respect in our politics. The trivializing of a candidate’s aspirations to do something for the country is certainly not what the Bible dictates.”

On a personal note, Rita affirmed, “I was very encouraged that the Senator was anchored by Scripture, which formed the foundation of his responses during the evening.”

Rachel offered these words in summary:

Obama managed to connect emotionally to the crowd as well as appeal to our intellect. His answers provided a clear understanding of who he is and what he believes. The most telling question had to do with the presence of evil and how we approach it. Obama recognized that in our pursuit of good, we must have a sense of humility. Good intentions don’t always bring about positive results, and so we must be thoughtful and reasoned before fighting in the name of what’s good.

Road to Denver: Ashley from Louisiana

Bradley Portnoy — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:03:59 EDT

Ashley's interest in community leadership began with a race for middle school treasurer and has only grown from there. She's now a staffer in newly-minted Congressman Don Cazayoux's office. "It was second nature," she said. "My family's always been involved and abreast of what's going on in the country and with politics."

As a community leader, one of Ashley's biggest priorities is service, which she typically performs in conjunction with her church and her sorority. She is a regular worker in the local soup kitchen and also serves the community in various other capacities.

Her experience working in the community helped her identify with Barack:

I would listen to him talk about how the only way the election and campaign could work is from the bottom up. I agreed with him and thought that was truly the only was it could work. I asked myself what I could do, how I could help in my state and really contribute.

Ashley typed in her zip code on My.BarackObama.com and was instantly connected to other local supporters. From there it was easy.

I joined the grassroots organizations and started meeting people who had the same interests. During the primary, we would do voter registration, pass out flyers, and phone bank. After the primary was over, I was still trying to figure out how I could contribute more, so I went to the DNC website to see how I could become a delegate.

Ashley discovered that she would have to apply and then appear before a committee, with the committee making the final selections. Although many delegates waited until the day of interviews, Ashley took proactive steps.

I wrote a letter about why I wanted to be a delegate and why I supported Senator Obama, and I e-mailed and snail-mailed that to all the people on the committee. There were about 200 of them. Because people received my info before the meeting and already knew my name, they could just put a face to my name. The meeting lasted forever. It started at about 11:00 that morning and didn't end until 6:00 that evening. I talked to all the committee members at least three times or more, just telling them about myself and how I've been involved. And because of the that, they chose me as an at large delegate.

Ashley hopes to use her position as a delegate to advance the issues that are important to her -- education and health care.

Education is a main issue for me... I'm in graduate school and paying back loans and having that financial stress is a big concern. Also health care is a big deal because I'm 24, and with my mom's insurance you get kicked off at 23. So that's a major issue -- making sure you're covered. I don't have time as a student to get a full-time job with those benefits to be able to cover myself, so that's a top issue.

With six days to go until the start of the Democratic National Convention, excitement is building in Denver and across America. Soon, delegates from all fifty states will convene in the Mile High City to cast their ballots for Barack Obama and witness his acceptance of the Democratic Party's nomination for president of the United States.

Thursday, August 28th will be the biggest night of the campaign so far. Even if you can’t be in Denver, you can be a part of this historic convention by attending a Convention Watch Party in your area.

Why Obama Hopes To Be President

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:30:17 EDT

For those tuning into the Saddleback Civil Forum on Saturday night, a recurring theme throughout Senator Obama’s conversation with Pastor Warren was “caring for the least of these.” Obama was honest in admitting his past shortcomings, owning up to a “fundamental selfishness” in his youth. What’s compelling about this period of his life – as was revealed in the faith forum – is that Obama grows to embrace an empathetic and interconnected worldview. When asked what America’s greatest moral failure was, Obama remarked...

I think America’s greatest moral failure has been that we still don’t abide by that basic precept in Matthew that whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me. That basic principle applies to poverty, racism, sexism. It applies to not having … ladders of opportunity for people to get into the middle class. There is a pervasive sense that this country is wealthy and powerful, but we still don’t spend enough time thinking about the least of these.

It’s interesting to note the parallels between Obama’s reflections on America’s greatest moral failure and his answer to the question, “Why do you want to be President?” That same conviction and worldview emerges once again: empathy, guiding compassion toward the least of these. It’s not simply a private matter for Senator Obama; it’s essential to what he wants to accomplish as chief public servant:

I remember what my mother used to tell me. I was talking to somebody a while back and I said the one time that she’d get really angry with me is if she ever thought that I was being mean to somebody, or unfair to somebody. She said, imagine standing in their shoes, imagine looking through their eyes – that basic idea of empathy. And that I think is what’s made America special is that notion that everybody’s got a shot. If we see somebody down and out—if we see a kid who can't afford college—we care for them too. And I want to be President because that’s the America I believe in, and I feel like that American Dream is slipping away. I think we are at a critical juncture economically; I think we are at a critical juncture internationally. We’ve got to make some big decisions not just for us, but for the next generation, and we keep on putting it off. And unfortunately, our politics is so broken and Washington is so broken that we can't seem to bring together people of goodwill to solve these common problems. I think I have the ability to build bridges across partisan, racial, and regional lines to get people to work on some commonsense solutions to critical issues, and I hope that I have the opportunity to do that as President.

Road Blog: Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:58:36 EDT

It was a bright and blue day in Orange County, CA, where both Barack Obama and John McCain came to speak with Pastor Rick Warren at the Saddleback Worship Center. According to local officials, over 4,200 people were on hand here to watch the event, both live and on closed-circuit television.

To start the event, Barack and Pastor Warren shook hands and sat down at a table, preparing to discuss faith-based issues, as well as many of the tough questions that address all of us.

In the discussion, Barack addressed the need for our country to come together towards the betterment of our nation - especially at this crucial time. Barack acknowledged that today's event is an example of exactly the kind of "forums we need" and that based on conversations like these, the American people can make a good judgment on who to vote for in November.

In response to Pastor Warren's question of "What would you tell the American public if you knew there wouldn't be any repercussions?" Barack answered:

Well, you know what I would tell them? That solving big problems, for example, energy, is not going to be easy. Everybody is going to have to get involved, and we are going to have to all think about how are we using energy more efficiently. There's going to be a price to pay in transitioning to a more energy-efficient economy and dealing with issues like climate change and if we pretend like everything is free, and there's no sacrifice involved, then we are betraying the tradition of America.

I think about my grandparents' generation, coming out of a depression, fighting World War II. They've confronted some challenges we can't even imagine. If they were willing to make sacrifices on our behalf, we should be able to make some sacrifices on behalf of the next generation.

Barack also stressed the importance that the American people "have good information -- that they're not just consuming negative ads or the kind of nasty tit-for-tat that has become so common in politics."

Barack finished by saying that if "people know where we stand on issues, you know, I trust in the American people. They're going to make a good decision and we're going to be able to solve the problems that we face."

Sharon Barnes
Aug. 16, 2008
Long Beach, CA

Faith, Family, Values: Barack at Saddleback!

Alyssa Martin — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:35:29 EDT

On Saturday, August 16, 7pm CT, Senator Obama will join Pastor Rick Warren and Senator McCain to discuss compassion, leadership, and civility at Saddleback church in California. Promising to avoid “gotcha questions that produce more heat than light,” Pastor Warren will explore what motivates and centers these candidates.

To give you a flavor of what the event may cover, Barack recently spoke to Ladies’ Home Journal about what allows him to stay steady throughout the campaign process: “One thing is my faith. God will hopefully keep us – meaning this country and this world – moving in a better direction … The second thing is my family. The third thing, though, is a real belief that no one person moves this country forward … It requires a lot of citizens to get behind something, citizens who’ll hold me accountable … that gives me more confidence that this is a team effort, and not just me out there by my lonesome.”

For Senator Obama, this will be the second time he has visited Saddleback alongside his friend, Pastor Warren. In December of 2001, he gave a landmark address on the global AIDS crisis. Resonating a theme of compassion, Obama affirmed, “The reason for us to step up our efforts can’t simply be instrumental. There are more fundamental reasons to care. Reasons related to our own humanity. Reasons of the soul. Like no other illness, AIDS tests our ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes – to empathize with the plight of our fellow man.”

In addition to embracing moral issues like the AIDS pandemic, the forum promises to be humanizing and personal, so make sure you tune in on Saturday to hear Senator Obama!

Obama's National Director of Religious Affairs On Values

Alyssa Martin — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:29:08 EDT

Joshua Dubois, National Director of Religious Affairs for the Obama campaign, spoke with Moody Radio today about Senator Obama’s upcoming trip to Saddleback megachurch (Aug. 16) as well as the values he brings to bear as a leader.

“[Obama’s] heading out to Pastor Warren’s church to talk about his values, and it’s a subject he’s never been afraid to talk about. He’s been very open about both his personal relationship with Christ but also what we can to do reconcile religion and politics in this country. He went out there in December of 2006 to talk about faith and values. He’s given a couple major addresses about his personal faith and also laid out a plan for faith-based initiatives. So this is territory that Senator Obama’s very comfortable with. He wants to talk about how to strengthen families. He wants to talk about the best plan for America. You’re not going to agree with him on every issue, but you will agree that he’s a straight shooter, and I think that’s what he’s going to go out to Saddleback to do.

Folks will identify with his integrity, with the fact that he is a family man who loves his two girls and loves his wife, and with the fact that he’s going to try his best to lead our country in the right direction.

Even if you disagree with him on some issues, you know that he's speaking from his heart and he’s going to try his best to do the right thing. So if folks feel a little closer to Barack, if they learn a little something about him that they didn’t know before, if some issues are debunked—you know, there’s a lot of rumors and myths spreading out about him, so if he can address some of those—then I think we will have had a good day.

We encourage you to check out the interview! It’s time to come together as people of faith to look at the full range of moral-values issues facing this country. Get to know the individuals who are pioneering the way! Joshua DuBois devotes his time, energy, and self to this movement. So what motivated him in the first place? A line in Senator Obama’s DNC Convention Speech in 2004: “We worship an awesome God in the Blue States.” He had been wrestling with going into ministry or politics. “I was trying to figure out a way to bend the two together in a way where I could be an instrument of God’s will on Capitol Hill,” recalled Joshua. “I believe very strongly in Senator Obama and the values that he stands for and I’m just happy to be working for him.”

"Saturday: Barack Discusses Faith"

Amanda Scott — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:05:48 EDT

National Director of Religious Affairs Joshua DuBois just sent out this email...

Dear Amanda,

Don't miss a great opportunity to hear Barack Obama speak about his faith and values.

This Saturday, August 16th, at 7:00 pm CDT, Barack Obama will be speaking at the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency hosted by Pastor Rick Warren. The forum will be broadcast live from California on CNN, and I encourage you to tune in.

This will be the first event attended by both Barack Obama and John McCain since winning their respective primaries, and the nation will be watching to learn more about both candidates.

Here are the details:

     Saddleback Civil Forum
     with Barack Obama and John McCain
     Saturday, August 16th at 7:00 p.m. CDT
     Live on CNN (Please check your local listings as well)

This is a great opportunity for people interested in faith to learn more about Barack, his values, and this campaign for change, so spread the word.

Invite your friends and family to watch the Saddleback Forum.

Reaching out to people of faith is an important component to growing this movement for change, and it will require people of all faiths and backgrounds to get involved.

Your participation and input is crucial to our success.

Thanks,

Joshua

Joshua DuBois
National Director of Religious Affairs
Obama for America

P.S. -- If you would like to learn more about our faith outreach efforts, pledge your support as a person of faith, and more, join People of Faith for Obama:

http://faith.barackobama.com/faith

In Your Words -- Faith and Politics

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:02:53 EDT

A Colorado Delegate for Obama, Lynn has been a critical part of the movement for change. But she doesn’t only contribute on-the-ground; she has also shaped the emerging dialogue on faith and politics. By participating in the Values Question of the Week and providing an “American Values” interview, Lynn has inspired progress on some of the most important yet volatile issues in our country, as evidenced by her response to the question: “How do faith and politics come together in your daily life?”

At the end of each worship service we sing a paraphrased version of the scripture from Micah 6: “What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, love kindness, walk humbly.” To me, this describes completely the intersection of faith, politics and daily life. I seek to approach all people with joy and reverence. I take courageous stands, especially on behalf of those who are in some way marginalized. This often happens in small but powerful ways, like paying for the young mother in the grocery line whose food stamps won’t cover the baby formula. There are ample opportunities to create a world that is more just, more whole, more aligned and healthy. I vote. I serve on community boards. I recycle. This past year I’ve dedicated much of my life to realizing an Obama presidency—campaigning across America—and I now feel deeply honored to have been elected to serve as an Obama Delegate from Colorado to the Denver National Convention. This is an authentic, active convergence of faith and politics!

If you would like to add to the growing dialogue like Lynn, sign up to become an American Values supporter or email Faith@BarackObama.com.

Obama Maintains Strong Christian Support

Alyssa Martin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:28:06 EDT

According to a recent poll by The Barna Group, a large swath of Christians supports Senator Obama over his opponent, with the race tightening among evangelicals. The results:

Among non-evangelical, born-again Christians, Obama leads 43-31%. This lead among the born again group is particularly significant, Barna notes, because this would represent the “first time in more than two decades that the born again vote has swung toward the Democratic candidate.”

Among Catholics, Obama has opened a wide lead of 39-29%. Among Protestants, Obama also has a resounding lead of 43-34%.

Among “notional” Christians, Obama leads 44-28% and among those who adhere to other faiths, Obama leads 56-24%.

Barna also noted that the “McCain candidacy does not seem to be gaining momentum among evangelicals,” and his support has in fact “declined significantly.”

(Note: faith was not self-reported in this survey, and was instead a result of the poll’s questions and Barna’s own inductions.)

This bodes well for the candidate who has not been afraid to talk candidly about his faith and values. In one of his most influential speeches to date, Obama remarked, “I’m hearing from evangelicals who may not agree with progressives on every issue but agree that poverty has no place in a world of plenty; that hate has no place in the hearts of believers; and that we all have to be good stewards of God's creations.” Obama understands the centrality of faith in peoples’ lives because it’s central to his own life; faith motivates him to create bridges rather than wedges among people of different political and religious persuasions. The Barna poll reinforces the message that the Obama campaign has sought to reinforce from the beginning: unity is the true agent of change.

Values QOW -- "Energy" Worth the Sacrifice

Alyssa Martin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:32:40 EDT

While I anticipated enthusiastic responses to this week’s Values Question on energy, I wasn’t quite prepared for the depth and passion with which you reacted: Do you feel compelled from a values perspective to promote energy conservation or alternative energy? If so, what measures have you taken? In these times of economic difficulty, how much should Americans sacrifice in order to ensure an oil independent future?

Instead of simply voicing your frustrations over the energy crisis, many of you have made concrete sacrifices to reduce your carbon footprint and promote alternative energy. You affirmed that the issue of “energy” involves multiple, interconnected values, of which I will list a few: environmental stewardship or care for the Earth; obligation to our children and posterity; and equity with regard to the impact of our natural exploitation. On top of all that, Heather from Minnesota asserted, “energy issues are inseparable from issues of human rights and poverty.”

Echoing some of these values, Jack from Indiana has personally sacrificed in the following ways:

My faith calls me to be a good steward of this world God created, and I feel compelled, as a father and grandfather, to leave my children and grandchildren with a world at least as healthy as I inherited. I personally have begun with simple steps such as having energy efficient appliances, including low-watt light bulbs; using reusable canvas bags for grocery shopping; driving a more fuel efficient car whilst promoting better fuel mileage, including properly inflating the tires; and turning off and unplugging electric items when not in use. Also, those of us who can afford more expensive conservation items should work to assist less fortunate people with upgrading to more efficient items.

Omar from Florida brought a faith-based perspective to bear on energy:

Today, as modern people living in a post-industrial age, we are less familiar with the context of the Bible, which broadly consisted of nomads, farmers, and traders who were more communal than individualistic, and whose liveliness was more tied to the earth. For most Americans, going back to a simpler time isn’t feasible, but in order to sustain our modern world in a way that demonstrates charity toward everyone – and in a way that will continue to support societal progress and advancement – it’s critical that we find ways to use less energy, conserve more natural resources, and adopt lifestyles that take the long view into account rather than saddle the problems of energy dependence onto the backs of future generations.

Every faith has much to say about responsibility to our environment and to our fellow human beings, and Christianity is no exception. Christians, as well as people of all faiths, are called to act toward society in such a way that will bring about renewal in this life even as we await redemption in the next life.

What ultimately united your responses was respect – respect for each other, for our future, and for our planet. And the belief that respect for our common wellbeing begins with the individual.

Family's Value

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:46:33 EDT

“Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded that family is the most important.” When When Obama spoke these words on Father's Day, he was urging fathers to assume a more active role in the family structure by being physically and emotionally present, instilling values of “excellence and empathy” in their children.

Politicians routinely talk about strengthening family, but what does this look like in practice? How can we provide support to this most intimate, basic structure? Robert Gordon of The New Republic recently reviewed a book – Grand New Party – on this very subject, offering the following synopsis: “A much-praised new book wants the GOP to stand up for families. It's a great idea—and Obama's already doing it.” The premise for Grand New Party is that economic, social, and cultural disparities largely arise from family instability, as young people raised outside of marriage are at higher risk for poverty.

According to Gordon’s review, while Senator McCain “mechanically invokes ‘family values,” Obama has concrete policies that will uplift American families, fortifying our country’s base and ensuring our collective prosperity.

Family’s Value [Robert Gordon – The New Republic]

In their smart and fun new book, Grand New Party, Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam urge Republicans to spend trillions of dollars on policies to shore up working-class families. Several critics have pointed out that the Republican Party will likely remain much more interested in spending trillions of dollars on tax breaks for rich people. What's been less noticed is that Democrats could easily adopt much of the family agenda Douthat and Salam propose—and that, more than his opponent, Barack Obama already has. […]

More than half of McCain's tax cuts are for corporations (and hence the holders of capital); another big chunk is for upper-income taxpayers, through repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax … By contrast, Obama would offer two tax breaks that benefit low-wage workers: the expansion of the EITC and a $500 per worker credit against payroll taxes. And he also cuts the EITC marriage penalty. According to the Tax Policy Center, Obama's tax plans are better than McCain's for the bottom 80 percent of families with children, and vastly superior for the bottom 40 percent. […]

Obama is better positioned than the Republicans … and most other politicians to talk about families. He can push fatherhood in part because he is an African American dad pushing back against a stereotype about black fathers. Raised mostly by his strong mother and grandparents, he naturally avoids the harsh tone toward single parents at which most Americans recoil. You will not catch him saying government should “stigmatize illegitimacy.”

Obama likely understands both the need to address family structure and the need to do it gently. Unlike, say, health care or energy, family is something government can properly influence only on the margin.

The Energy to Realize Change

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:59:02 EDT

Senator Obama gave a crucial address today in Lansing, Michigan on the future of American energy. While we need to continue harvesting oil for immediate, transitional purposes, it’s time for America to invest in a bold, sustainable solution to our energy crisis. As Obama declared, “We have to make a serious, nationwide commitment to developing new sources of energy.” The following is an excerpt from Obama's speech, "New Energy for America":

Energy independence will require an all-hands-on-deck effort from America – effort from our scientists and entrepreneurs; from businesses and from every American citizen. Factories will have to re-tool and re-design. Businesses will need to find ways to emit less carbon dioxide. All of us will need to buy more of the fuel-efficient cars built by this state, and find new ways to improve efficiency and save energy in our own homes and businesses. […]

If I am President, I will immediately direct the full resources of the federal government and the full energy of the private sector to a single, overarching goal – in ten years, we will eliminate the need for oil from the entire Middle East and Venezuela. To do this, we will invest $150 billion over the next ten years and leverage billions more in private capital to build a new energy economy that harnesses American energy and creates five million new American jobs.

Senator Obama outlined three major steps to achieve energy independence: 1) Invest in fuel-efficient cars like the 150 mpg plug-in hybrids and improve fuel-mileage standards; 2) Require that 10% of energy comes from renewable sources by investing in wind power, solar power, clean biofuels, and safe nuclear power; 3) Mobilize business, government, and the American people to reduce demand for electricity 15% by 2020. Obama will also encourage innovative, market solutions to the problem of climate change by promoting a cap-and-trade system, which provides incentives to businesses that reduce carbon emissions.

As Obama noted in his address, the past 30 years have been marked by inaction and inefficiency when it comes to energy. Former Vice President Al Gore has consistently advocated for a concerted effort to tackle global warming, which he identifies as the common, albeit “ironic,” source for our economic, environmental, and national security problems.

This isn’t simply a matter of dollars and cents, or domestic politicking. Our planet and sense of security are at risk; some will suffer more than others, increasing the panorama of injustice and moral urgency. Senator Obama spoke with moving conviction on this matter: “My religious faith teaches me to take an intergenerational view, to recognize that we are borrowing this planet from our children and our grandchildren. And so we've got this obligation to them, which means that we've got to make some uncomfortable choices.”

Seeking Hearts and Minds

Alyssa Martin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:05:26 EDT

Much has been made of the Obama campaign's faith outreach, especially with regard to evangelicals. People across the country are ready to reclaim what it means to be a "Values Voter," and they have found a refreshing outlet in the Obama campaign. They are playing an active role in the emerging conversation about faith, morals, and politics, discussing these matters in broad, concrete terms at American Values House Parties and via a Values Question of the Week.

We have already seen the substantive fruits of this labor on both sides of the ideological spectrum. As Cameron Strang - editor of Relevant magazine for young evangelical adults - put it in a recent article, "I've never seen this before in the Christian community. They're staunchly morally conservative still, but they're saying maybe there's a different paradigm."

Strang, a Republican who voted for Bush, said the hot topic among his readers is "broadening the definition of pro-life" to include the fight against poverty, war, disease, global warming and genocide - as well as abortion. "What I'm hearing is that out of the two candidates, one of them is pro-life on five of the six" issues, he said of Obama. "And one is pro-life on one of the six." (Lakshmanan - Bloomberg)

Even on some of these most contentious issues, people are looking to find common ground. Recalling the Compassion Forum, Obama stated, "We must acknowledge that there is a moral dimension to abortion, which I think that all too often those of us who are pro-choice have not talked about or tried to tamp down. I think that's a mistake because I think all of us understand that it is a wrenching choice for anybody to think about."

Naturally, at the end of the day, the faith outreach team wants your vote and support. But this campaign also seeks to have an impact on this critical national dialogue on religion and politics.

In Your Words -- Engaging With People of Different Faiths

Alyssa Martin — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:57:01 EDT

Moushumi, a prominent Muslim lawyer and community activist, recently talked to me about her experience in connecting with people of different faith backgrounds:

I have always believed that to be Muslim is to engage with people of different faiths or no faith. I learned a great deal from these interactions – mostly that every faith reinforces the principle of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. My most important interfaith learning experience came from being the first Muslim Manager of my college’s Kosher-Hallal Kitchen. Mount Holyoke’s Kosher-Hallal Kitchen was unique in that it was the first of its kind to combine the dietary needs of both the Muslim and Jewish students, as it was jointly run by a Muslim and Jewish Manager. Every Wednesday, we had a dairy meal where we discussed topics like women in Islam and Judaism, and Islamic / Jewish spirituality. On Fridays, we had a Shabbat meal where I learned to love matzo ball soup and appreciate the deep Jewish heritage. This Kitchen opened in 1989 during the first Palestinian Intifada, so it was a formative experience in teaching me the importance and possibility of literally breaking bread despite our differences. I feel very fortunate to have had this positive experience so early on as it shaped my fundamental belief that no matter how intractable religious or political differences may seem, at the end of the day we are all human beings with the same basic needs and feelings.

If you are interested in reading more about what American Values Voters for Obama have to say, make sure to check out this week’s issue of the American Values Report. If you would like to sign up for the Report, please email the Religious Affairs dept. at Faith@BarackObama.com.

Faith in Iowa Youth Getting Involved

Zachary Scott Edwards — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:28:24 EDT

We’ve seen a tremendous outpouring of support at our 20 local offices across Iowa, especially from people who are getting involved in their first election. Yesterday, about a dozen young supporters who had been attending a Jewish summer camp stopped by our Des Moines office to volunteer. Between making phone calls and signs for our office, we had a chance to hear why they had decided to get involved.

“It feels good to be part of Obama’s campaign, doing something useful and historic.” - Laura
“It was really fun and educational to talk to the people of Iowa about their opinions and views of politics – it expanded my knowledge about the American people’s viewpoint of politics.” - Hannah
“It was cool to represent one of the presidential nominees, and to help their campaign.” - Zach

As school kicks back up here in Iowa, we are happy to announce that there are now even more opportunities at our offices and on campuses across the state to get involved and join our campaign. For more information about becoming a youth organizer, click here.

If you don’t have time to join our campaign through one of these programs, our 20 offices are always buzzing with excitement. Even if you haven’t ever been involved in a campaign--- now is the time to get involved and make a difference!

Faith-Based Initiatives: An Optimum Balance

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:01:10 EDT

As a former faith-based community organizer, Obama understands the power of faith-based initiatives – like the Catholic Campaign for Human Development – to translate compassion into tangible improvement in the lives of ordinary Americans. As a former constitutional law professor, Obama values the separation of church and state, which has helped preserve the integrity of both religious practice and governance.

As someone with keen and intimate experience when it comes to federal-faith partnerships, Obama knows that a delicate middle ground can be struck – federal dollars toward secular, nondiscriminatory programs. An optimum balance of values – maintaining the separation of church and state while realizing the fruits of humanity and service.

Recently, there were two exceptional articles that speak on this issue. While some on both sides of the aisle have been skeptical of Obama’s plan to enhance the role of faith-based initiatives, if you take a closer look, you will appreciate the nuance and clarity behind this sensibly ideal vision. We do not need to make a trade-off between protecting the church-state separation, and protecting one another:

Faith-Based Obama [The Washington Post]:

Mr. Obama is right to want to tap into the power of faith-based groups to deliver social services. He is also right to want to prevent government funds from being used to subsidize discriminatory practices. His position strikes a sensible balance in a delicate area.

Why Obama seized the faith-based mantle [Amy Sullivan – USA Today]:

This wasn’t just a matter of political opportunism designed to remove an arrow from the GOP’s quiver. The Democratic nominee believes in the Bush program, and he’s upping the faith-based ante with fresh ideas. […]

By embracing the idea of partnerships between government and faith-based institutions, Obama isn't moving to the right so much as reclaiming an issue Democrats used to support. For decades, religiously affiliated organizations like Lutheran Social Services and United Jewish Communities received, without a hint of controversy, government funds to provide social services. […]

Values QOW -- Gauging a Candidate's Character

Amanda Scott — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:31:14 EDT

This week's Values Question asked, "How do you gauge a candidate's character? What attributes are most important to you with regard to personality, life experience, and values?"

Based on the responses I received, I can tell that people care deeply about this topic. It revives the classic debate: does character actually count when it comes to presidential ability? Or should we be more concerned about policies and issues when considering performance? The vast majority of respondents believe that character is an integral component of leadership. Character does count. But how do we even begin to gauge something so elusive?

Ailene of Indiana remarks:

Look at their past for a pattern of behavior. One or two missteps are not necessarily indicative of anything nefarious (just bears watching as a tendency). However, a pattern of behavior, especially in times of stress, pressure, or general adversity, reveals much about a person's character. In this day of instability, synthetics, and faux reality shows, people want someone real and consistent.

Likewise, Elizabeth of Texas looks for "consistency of adhering to values" as she makes sure that "a candidate's actions match their words and stated beliefs." Elizabeth went on to say:

The major quality I think any American President should manifest is a deep personal conviction that he or she is accountable to the people, an awareness that they are not a monarch, that they are "up front" in keeping the people informed, seeking the people's will and common good.

Constancy, accountability, empathy, and compassion – all traits you identified with strong character. Someone who is more than a drone; someone who has a human side. Someone who can make a seamless transition between public and private life, rejecting disguise and charade. Applying this to Senator Obama, Linda offers the following insight: "'Dreams From My Father' gives us the best window into Obama's character and values. Character is the fruit of a life lived thoughtfully and honestly. Obama showed both of these qualities, learning from the pain and joy of his life."

Young Evangelical Christians Uniting Behind Obama

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:53:59 EDT

Senator Obama is making confident waves among the evangelical community. Young evangelicals have been particularly receptive to his message, as they are increasingly concerned with issues like poverty, the Iraq War, climate change, genocide in Darfur, human trafficking, and religious freedom at home and abroad.

A recent Pew Forum poll of evangelical voters found McCain's lead among evangelicals smaller than Bush's in 2004, and this has many Republicans strategists worried. U.S. News and World Report recently quoted a “major McCain fundraiser” as saying, “The evangelical movement is changing … It's moving to a bigger place.”

I’m personally excited to announce that young evangelicals will be able to carve out a “bigger place” for themselves in the Obama campaign via a website project that boldly proclaims: “Young. Evangelical. For Obama.”

The site will allow young evangelicals to unite in their support for Obama and his broad moral agenda. In addition to showing their support, the group will engage in community service projects and American Values house parties geared toward youth.

For more information, see David Brody’s preview of Obama’s Young Evangelical Outreach.

Senator Obama called on youth to rise and overcome the challenges that still obstruct us:
The previous generation, the Moses generation, pointed the way. They took us 90% of the way there. We still got that 10% in order to cross over to the other side. So the question, I guess, that I have today is what's called of us in this Joshua generation? What do we do in order to fulfill that legacy; to fulfill the obligations and the debt that we owe to those who allowed us to be here today?"

Obama to Revisit Saddleback Church

Alyssa Martin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:00:34 EDT

Senators Obama and McCain will appear at Saddleback Church on August 16 as part of the “Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion.” Pastor Rick Warren plans on keeping the talk centered around morals, addressing the scope of challenges facing the US and the world. This is not the first time Senator Obama has visited the California Megachurch – he spoke at the church on Global AIDS Day in 2006. You may recall that Senator Obama asked us to broaden the debate about combating AIDS:

[HIV/AIDS] is a test not only of our willingness to respond, but of our ability to look past the artificial divisions and debates that have often shaped that response. When you go to places like Africa and you see this problem up close, you realize that it's not a question of either treatment or prevention - or even what kind of prevention - it is all of the above. It is not an issue of either science or values - it is both.

Obama, McCain to attend joint forum at Saddleback Church

The Lake Forest megachurch’s pastor, Rick Warren, will moderate the joint appearance, which will take place on the eve of the two national party conventions. After a brief appearance together, the two candidates will separately spend an hour talking with Warren.

"This is a critical time for our nation, and the American people deserve to hear both candidates speak from the heart – without interruption – in a civil and thoughtful format absent the partisan ‘gotcha’ questions that typically produce heat instead of light," Warren said.

"The primaries proved that Americans care deeply about the faith, values, character and leadership convictions of the candidates as much as they do about the issues," Warren said.

"While I know both men as friends and they recognize I will be frank but fair, they also know I will be raising questions in these four areas beyond what political reporters typically ask. This includes pressing issues that are bridging divides in our nation, such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, climate and human rights."

The Value of Self-Reflection

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:20:31 EDT

Most of us are creatures of habit. We settle on a plan, or a line of thought, and we seldom deviate. Jason was a single issue, single party voter in strongly Republican territory. He never ventured outside of party lines, in thought or deed. He was driven by a sense of certainty and conviction, but he rarely paused to consider “Why?” After voting for President Bush twice, he now dons an Obama t-shirt and respectfully challenges the one-issue, one-party mentality.

That doesn’t mean he’s “hitched his wagon to the Democratic party,” or that he no longer cares about the issue in question, but he has done what many of us are reticent to do: he challenged himself. He sought a reason and purpose behind his actions. Regardless of where you fall on the ideological spectrum, the exercise of revisiting and renewing your motives can be highly worthwhile, as Jason found. It has prompted him to expand beyond one issue, as he now conceives of his faith in a broader social sense. Jason’s message to you: be confident in your ability to discern what’s right and wrong without falling back on routine, or relying on what the people around you are saying.

I know – easier said than done. Last year I was a sophomore, which technically means “wise fool.” The implication is that as a sophomore, you accumulate some knowledge, but it goes to your head, giving you a false sense of certitude and wisdom. Perhaps the sentiment is best expressed by Mark Twain: “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” It’s not easy to admit that we have some learning and reflecting to do, that our conception of the universe may not be perfect.

It’s a lesson worth coming back to: “challenge your own thought process.”

Senator Obama is not immune to this lesson. He once received an email from a doctor asking him to use “fair-minded words” when addressing sensitive, moral issues. Rather than stick to “standard Democratic boilerplate language,” Senator Obama took the doctor’s message to heart and scrubbed his website of the offensive terms. He was not afraid to challenge the conventional wisdom, or the conventional politics. Obama realized that part of being fair-minded is being open-minded, which calls for genuine self-reflection.

American Values Report

Alyssa Martin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:03:13 EDT

The Religious Affairs department has put together a newsletter called the “American Values Report,” which contains top news stories, interviews with people of faith, and commentary on faith and politics. We’re excited to bring you this week’s issue as it addresses a range of social and moral issues. Other highlights include:

How Barack Obama plans to move forward on the foreign policy front with his briefing on “A New Strategy for a New World”
Insight into Obama’s faith and the faith outreach program
An interview with Naomi, who is from a Reform Jewish background. She wonders why those who often quote scripture in the public square tend to bypass the parts about immigration: “The stranger among you shall be to you as the native born, for you know the ways of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.”
An interview with Jason Herron, who is from a Pentecostal Assembly of God background. A former “one issue,” single party voter, he now urges, “challenge your own thought process. Be confident in your ability discern what’s right and wrong without relying on what the people around you are saying.”
Responses to the Values Question of the Week on the country’s moral agenda
Ways to get further involved in the campaign as an American Values supporter!

If you are interested in subscribing to the American Values Report, please send an email to Faith@BarackObama.com. This is the most comprehensive report we have for all values news as they relate to the Obama campaign.

Extending An Olive Branch

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:10:00 EDT

In an article appearing in USA Today, Tom Krattenmaker uses theological and practical evidence to show the peaceful side of religion. Elements of “just war” theory – just cause, right intention, last resort, proportionality – exist in many religious traditions. Peacemakers are extolled. In practice, initiatives like Interfaith Youth Core, Seeds of Peace, and “A Common Word Between Us and You” are all about embracing the humanity of everyone, regardless of faith background. They inspire Christians like Greg Mortenson to venture into the Middle East bringing “books not bombs,” as his initiative builds schools in poor areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Religion can help end wars, too

Faith is sometimes the fuel that feeds conflict and spreads strife. History is a witness to this. But lest we forget, believers also can be the salve to bring people and religions back together.

Religion — a solution to the problem of religiously motivated conflict and violence? Yes, actually. Because in their best traditions, the world's two dominant faiths do promote peace, both through their central teachings and the lessons-by-example taught every day by innumerable Muslims and Christians who take their scriptures seriously.

Yet if skeptics are going to hold religion accountable for the atrocities committed under the banners of faith, so, too, must they credit religion for the unifying and uplifting deeds performed in its name. We cannot dismiss the countless acts of compassion and peace-making by devout believers — acts that are central to the teachings of the Bible, Koran and other holy books.

So how we will know religion in the final analysis? By its peace or by its violence? The scriptures have had their say. It's now up to the believers — through their words and works — to settle the account.

Colorado House Party

Alyssa Martin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:38:35 EDT

In Colorado Springs, Terri and Debbie hosted a successful, albeit atypical, house party – an American Values House Party.

It began as a group of 20 curious guests gathered in their living room. In addition to being Terri and Debbie’s home, Colorado Springs is home to a large military apparatus of Air Force and Army bases. This backdrop helped influence the nature of discussion, as Karen and John drew upon their military experience when talking about their story.

Part of the way the American Values House Party encourages discussion is by focusing on stories instead of just issues. How do media-driven issues play out in our daily lives? Karen and John expressed their unique story on the issue of health care. Their son has a health disorder, and they are concerned that as he gets older, how will the benefits for retired military be set up? Their son will need long-term care. They are worried that they may not be able to afford it or be able to take care of him themselves, as any devoted parent would want. This affects them dearly in the context of their faith and values, which taught them about taking care of your own.

The guests felt comfortable talking in a large group. They did not feel compelled to break into small groups when discussing topics like “What can the next President do for your faith?” This question caused guests to contemplate their values in relation to politics, as they took turns in responding. Honesty. Listening. Unity. In effect, the goals of the house party were reflected in what the people said they want from their next President. They spoke of changing the tone in Washington, which tends to be combative and fractured.

Based on the discussion, the participants also wanted a change of policy in Washington. As Barack Obama once stated, “We’ve had politicians in Washington talk about family values, but we haven’t had policies that value families.” How can the next President help your family? One woman talked about reinvigorating education in this country by paying teachers who demonstrate a willingness to work and improve. She also pushed for more parental involvement in the education system. Teachers should enfranchise parents, bringing them into the fold of their children’s learning.

On a final note, the guests contemplated how they can take personal responsibility for some of our country’s challenges. When the recent increase in gas prices was brought up, the people did not jump to assign blame or find a scapegoat. Instead, they talked about the value of self-discipline through staying at home more often and saving energy.

We would like to thank the hosts and guests for making the American Values House Party in Colorado a meaningful experience, and for providing a sterling example for future house parties. If you would like to add to this already growing discourse by hosting your own American Values House Party, email us at Faith@BarackObama.com.

Newsweek: "Finding His Faith"

Amanda Scott — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:50:39 EDT

Newsweek printed an article today on Barack's faith journey...

...Obama has spoken often and eloquently about the importance of religion in public life. But like many political leaders wary of offending potential backers, he has been less revealing about what he believes—about God, about prayer, about the connection between salvation and personal responsibility. In some respects, his reticence is understandable. Obama's religious biography is unconventional and politically problematic. Born to a Christian-turned-secular mother and a Muslim-turned-atheist African father, Obama grew up living all across the world with plenty of spiritual influences, but without any particular religion. He is now a Christian, having been baptized in the early 1990s at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

...The story of Obama's religious journey is a uniquely American tale. It's one of a seeker, an intellectually curious young man trying to cobble together a religious identity out of myriad influences. Always drawn to life's Big Questions, Obama embarked on a spiritual quest in which he tried to reconcile his rational side with his yearning for transcendence. He found Christ—but that hasn't stopped him from asking questions. "I'm on my own faith journey and I'm searching," he says. "I leave open the possibility that I'm entirely wrong."

...Though Obama was a serious student in Hawaii—and, even then, a seeker—"Dreams" describes an adolescence there of predictable teenage drinking and smoking (and basketball). During his first two years of college at Occidental, he says, he was "not taking anything particularly seriously, or at least, on the surface, not taking anything particularly seriously." After transferring to Columbia, though, the spiritual quest began in earnest.

...Obama says his spiritual quest was driven by two main impulses. He was looking for a community that he could call home—a sense of rootedness and belonging he missed from his biracial, peripatetic childhood. The visits to the black churches uptown helped fulfill that desire. "There's a side very particular to the African-American church tradition that was powerful to me," he says. The exuberant worship, the family atmosphere and the prophetic preaching at a church such as Abyssinian would have appealed to a young man who lived so in his head. And he became obsessed with the civil-rights movement. He'd become convinced, through his reading, of the transforming power of social activism, especially when paired with religion. This is not an uncommon revelation among the spiritually and progressively minded. ("There's no more dramatic story in American life" than the story of the civil-rights movement, says North Carolina Rep. David Price, who knows Obama professionally and writes about politics and religion. "You could not continue to be kind and gentle in your personal life and also be denying other people's humanity.") When Gerald Kellman recruited Obama to go to Chicago as a community organizer, he remembers, the young man was "very much caught up in the world of ideas." He was devouring Taylor Branch's "Parting the Waters," which is part history of the civil-rights movement, part biography of Martin Luther King Jr.

In Chicago, Obama found that organizers and activists there (and elsewhere) were employing a progressive theology to motivate faith groups to action. Using the writings of Paul Tillich and, especially, Reinhold Niebuhr—and also King, African-American and Roman Catholic liberation theologians, and Christian fathers like Saint Augustine—local religious leaders emphasized original sin and human imperfection. Christ's gift of salvation was to the community of believers, not to individual people in isolation. It was therefore the responsibility of the faithful to help each other—through deeds—to respond to the call of perfection that will be fully realized only at the end of time. Adherents of this particular theology frequently refer to Matthew 25: "Whatever you neglected to do unto the least of these, you neglected to do unto me." Everyone, in other words, is in this salvation thing together.

Obama's organizing days helped clarify his sense of faith and social action as intertwined. "It's hard for me to imagine being true to my faith—and not thinking beyond myself, and not thinking about what's good for other people, and not acting in a moral and ethical way," he says. When these ideas merged with his more emotional search for belonging, he was able to arrive at the foot of the cross. He "felt God's spirit beckoning me," he writes in "Audacity." "I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth."

...Nevertheless, his spiritual life on the campaign trail survives. He says he prays every day, typically for "forgiveness for my sins and flaws, which are many, the protection of my family, and that I'm carrying out God's will, not in a grandiose way, but simply that there is an alignment between my actions and what he would want." He sometimes reads his Bible in the evenings, a ritual that "takes me out of the immediacy of my day and gives me a point of reflection." Thanks to the efforts of his religious outreach team, he has an army of clerics and friends praying for him and e-mailing him snippets of Scripture or Midrash to think about during the day.

Host an American Values House Party!

Alyssa Martin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:16:35 EDT

I was taught that there are two subjects you don’t broach in front of company: politics and religion. Although I understood the logic behind this argument, I remember thinking, “But these are the subjects that actually matter! They motivate and direct us, whether or not we acknowledge their power in conversation.” Unfortunately, silence can breed misconceptions – like who counts as a “values voter.”

For the sake of honesty and common growth, supporters of Senator Obama will begin hosting American Values House Parties, which will open dialogue on the “elephants in the room” and bridge religious – political divides.

American Values House Parties are small gatherings you host in your home or in another location (library, school, etc). You invite your fellow worshipers, community members, friends and family to come share in an invigorating discussion about faith and values in America; Barack Obama's perspective on these issues; and how we can work together to find common ground.

We'll provide you with a curriculum and DVD and give you all the guidance you need to make the party a success. These parties are the most important thing we do to build the "ties that bind" in communities across the country and engage communities of faith in Senator Obama's campaign.

If you are interested in hosting a party, or have any questions, please contact us at FAITH@BARACKOBAMA.COM with the subject line “American Values House Party.”

What does an American Values House Party actually look like? See an insider’s perspective on a house party in Cincinnati: Obama campaign talks faith and values

Values QOW -- What's On Your "Moral Radar"?

Alyssa Martin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:54:37 EDT

This week’s Values Question prompted many animated and diverse responses:

“Are there any moral issues that you believe should get more prominent attention? Are there any moral issues that have received too much attention?”

Even though this question was fairly broad in scope, some common themes emerged from your responses: we should focus more on issues of “social justice,” like poverty and inequity; we should focus more on issues of environmental stewardship; we tend to focus too much on issues of “personal sexual morality”; all issues related to life are essentially moral issues, and thus deserve our utmost attention.

David of Highland Park, IL outlined some of these core ideas:

“We must always remember that each person is of infinite value. With that as a guiding principle, then of course we make sure that:
Every person has a good education
Every person has an opportunity for meaningful employment at a living wage
Disease is conquered, and, in the meantime, all who are ill are cared for and treated
We are better at creating peace than we are at waging war
We find ways of keeping a civil society without incarcerating so many people, and that even those that are in jail are safe and given an opportunity to lead meaningful lives.
In short, in every way, that all people are treated as equals. Put another way, love your neighbor as yourself.”

The value you placed on poverty reduction coincides with a recent poll dispelling the notion that Americans don’t care about this issue (LINK). In that survey, 56% of respondents disagree with the statement that the media spent "an adequate amount of time during the presidential campaign covering the issue of how to fight poverty in the U.S."

Anne of Ohio reaffirmed this “social justice” emphasis, but wishes the Democratic party would expand its platform to cover abortion:

“Catholic Christians have long been known for their ‘option for the poor,’ their support of the working class, their ‘just war’ theory, their stance against capital punishment and euthanasia, and many other social justice issues. Years ago, the Democratic party was considered the party most in harmony with the teachings of the Catholic church. I believe it still is that party…except for the platform regarding abortion. I know there are many pro-life Democrats. Is it possible that our voices will ever be heard?”

While several people framed their opinions in religious terms, many simply noted that every issue is a moral issue. We may hold certain causes “near and dear” to us, but almost anything can be shown to have moral, human implications. Nevertheless, based on your input, most people view poverty as an ever more pressing issue to unify against.

Help Us Draft Our Platform

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:52:23 EDT

Someone recently asked me whether or not this was a “listening campaign.” Rather than explain why I think this campaign does in fact listen, we would like to show you by giving you a voice in drafting our platform. What issues are on your “moral radar”? We value your input on matters of faith and conscience.

Every four years, the Democratic Party assembles a platform that outlines the party's position on a number of issues. Traditionally, the drafting of the platform is not open to ordinary people. This year, that's going to change.

For two weeks in July, people all across America will hold Platform Meetings in their own communities to discuss the issues and share their input. The outcome of these meetings will be reviewed by the Drafting Committee as it creates the final Platform.

No political experience is required. Your thoughts and experiences are all that matter, and they will shape a platform that -- like this campaign -- is owned by the people.

Sign up to host or attend a Platform Meeting in your neighborhood:

http://my.barackobama.com/listening

This year, ordinary people like you will gather in their homes, community centers, places of worship, and even coffee shops to discuss the issues that matter to them and help decide what should be at the heart of the Democratic platform for change.

The input we get from these meetings will help shape the platform at the Democratic Convention in August.

Platform Meetings are a great way to connect with fellow supporters and help write the next chapter in the history of the Democratic Party. We'll make sure you have all the resources and support you need to succeed. All you need to provide are your ideas for America and your hunger for change.

To get started in your community, just log onto My.BarackObama.com and go to our Platform Meetings page. (If you don't have a My.BarackObama.com account, creating one is simple and easy.)

Sign up to host or attend a Platform Meeting now:

http://my.barackobama.com/listening

I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to make your voice heard in the political process.

Thank you for all that you do,
Barack

Complex Challenges

Alyssa Martin — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:58:34 EDT

Hope does not overlook hardship, and a recent report by Jeffrey Sachs indicates that hardship is in large supply. Unfortunately, many of the world’s problems are interconnected, leaving no quick fixes. According to one Haitian proverb, “Giving people medicine without food is like washing your hands and drying them in the dirt.” In other words, the problems of the 21st century will require comprehensive solutions aimed at underlying causes, rather than symptoms.

Land, Water, and Conflict

“The world will experience a growing risk of conflicts over food, energy and water in coming years. The population rises each year by about 80 million people, with most of the increase in impoverished regions already facing environmental stress. Climate change, water scarcity and tighter oil supplies will add to the stresses. As violence increases, in new crises resembling those now underway in Darfur, Somalia and Afghanistan, the tendency might be to look to the military for solutions. We'll need to keep in mind that engineers and doctors will be the only ones who can truly keep us safe.

Hundreds of millions of people live on the margin of survival, and their numbers will increase if we continue on our current trajectory. The poorest of the poor tend to be found in remote, environmentally stressed regions, such as the drylands of Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia…

“Real solutions will require bold investments in sustainable development. The United States, Europe, China, India and wealthy oil states will have to join forces to help conflict-prone parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia to raise food output, increase access to education and family planning, and improve productivity through investments in roads, power, irrigation and telecommunications.”

Senator Obama understands this, but also acknowledges that the challenges of war, poverty, and education are not simply “technical problems.” These are moral problems that require bold investment and broad mobilization. We can’t afford to leave people on the “outskirts of hope,” which is why we need a leader who isn’t fazed by complex challenges.

Community Organizer, Inside-Out

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:11:46 EDT

Words, words, words, some say. Change, unity, hope. Where's the meat? When people ask me something to that effect, I point them to Senator Obama's life experiences, and the very human principles he embodies as a result of those experiences. The stirrings of change, the roots of unity, and the buds of hope often can be traced to Obama's formative years as a community organizer in Chicago. In his book "Dreams from My Father," we see some themes emerge from this "searing" experience: change is bottom-up; better to build alliances than alienate people; hope does not overlook hardship. For those seeking concrete evidence of "change we can believe in," look at what he believes in, and look how he translates that belief into action – connecting with people from all walks of life.

In Organizing, Obama Led While Finding His Place

The year was 1985 and Gerald Kellman, a community organizer, was interviewing an applicant named Barack Obama to work in the demoralized landscape of poor neighborhoods on this city's South Side. He liked the young man's intelligence, motivation and acutely personal understanding of how it felt to be an outsider. He also remembers that Mr. Obama drove a hard bargain.

"He challenged me on whether we could teach him anything," Mr. Kellman recalled. "He wanted to know things like 'How are you going to train me?' and 'What am I going to learn?'"

Mr. Obama's three-year stretch as a grass-roots organizer has figured prominently, if not profoundly, in his own narrative of his life. Campaigning in Iowa, Mr. Obama called it "the best education I ever had, better than anything I got at Harvard Law School," an education that he said was "seared into my brain." […]

In recent days, Mr. Obama has imbued those years with even greater significance, invoking them last week as inspiration for his plan to deliver social services through religious organizations. He told a conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church on Saturday that as a community organizer he "let Jesus Christ into my life" and "I dedicated myself to discovering his truth and carrying out his works."

Barack At The African Methodist Episcopal Church Conference

Amanda Scott — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:20:42 EDT

Barack just finished speaking at the annual conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Louis, Missouri. He told the crowd that he would make faith-based social services an important part of his administration...

The challenges we face today -- war and poverty, joblessness and homelessness, violent streets and crumbling schools -- are not simply technical problems in search of a 10-point plan. They are moral problems, rooted in both societal indifference and individual callousness -- in the imperfections of man. And so the values we believe in -- empathy and justice and responsibility to ourselves and out neighbors -- these cannot only be expressed in our churches and our synagogues, but in our policies and in our laws.

Here are some pictures from the event...

A Brief History Of The African Methodist Episcopal Church

Amanda Scott — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:46:32 EDT

Barack Obama will spend a part of his Independence Day weekend visiting the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church General Conference 2008, in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Church holds a special place in American history, representing civil rights, freedom of worship, and the belief that all people are created equal. The AME was born in protest against slavery, as the first major Western religion to reject the belief that people of African descent were second-class citizens.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church grew in the years following the Civil War, when AME clergy moved into the former Confederate states to bring newly freed slaves into the congregation. The Church today has more than 3 million members.

Throughout its rich history, the Church stressed the moral, social, political, and educational needs of African Americans, making great contributions to the struggle for racial equality and social change in the United States.

The AME’s longs tradition of political activism is reflected in Barack Obama’s own story -- from his African heritage, to his own work advocating for the rights of those in Chicago’s South Side communities. Barack’s historic campaign embodies AME’s work over the past 200 years, breaking the barriers of social and political equality and working towards positive change in American society.

The 2008 AME Conference is chaired by another barrier breaker: Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, who was elected in 2005 as the first female bishop in AME history.

Relevant Interview with Senator Obama

Alyssa Martin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:53:02 EDT

Following his address on faith-based initiatives, Senator Obama answered the burning questions on many peoples' minds, ranging from the subject of his address to abortion. Cameron Strang of Relevant magazine conducted the interview, which we encourage you to take a look at:

Relevant Interview with Senator Obama

Strang: Your plan [with faith-based initiatives] specifically prohibits discriminatory hiring policies based on religion. Don't you think faith-based organizations that would otherwise want to join this program would bristle at the limitation that they can't hire a staff that reflects their organization's values?

Obama: I think it's important to distinguish between people who are hired as part of a church to carry out that church's mission or ministries, or administer the church. There's always a religious exemption there from Title VII. It's important for us to make sure that a Christian church can hire Christians or a Jewish church can hire people of the Jewish faith. That's different from programs that are specifically funded by the federal government and offered to the public. […] And that's not going to encroach on the ability of those faith-based organizations to do what they need to do when it comes to their core religious mission. They are going to be able to hire and carry out those functions of a church, or synagogue, mosque or temple, but they can also participate in federal programs as long as those are done in a way that is not encroaching on a separation of church and state, is open to the public and is not involved in proselytizing.

Strang: Based on emails we received, another issue of deep importance to our readers is a candidate's stance on abortion. We largely know your platform, but there seems to be some real confusion about your position on third-trimester and partial-birth abortions. Can you clarify your stance for us?

Obama: I absolutely can, so please don't believe the emails. I have repeatedly said that I think it's entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother. Now, I don't think that "mental distress" qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term. Otherwise, as long as there is such a medical exception in place, I think we can prohibit late-term abortions….

The Catholic Bloc

Alyssa Martin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:35:56 EDT

A recent TIME article called them the “holy grail” for presidential candidates. Catholics – a critical swing group with a peculiar habit of being on the “winner’s side.” In eight out of the past nine elections, the winner received a majority of Catholic votes (with the exception of Al Gore). A new Pew report, highlighting the fluidity of America’s religious landscape, revealed that after voting for Bush in 2004, Catholics are now shifting Democratic by a margin of 48-33%.

What issues are on the minds of Catholic voters this election season? How are they balancing multiple issues of moral value? The TIME article below gives us insight into one Douglas Kmiec, a contemplative Catholic who surprised many when he declared his support for Senator Obama:

The Battle for Catholic Voters

"Douglas Kmiec is the kind of Catholic voter the GOP usually doesn't have to think twice about. The Pepperdine law professor and former Reagan Justice Department lawyer (Samuel Alito was an office mate) attends Mass each morning. He has actively opposed abortion for most of his adult life, working with crisis pregnancy centers to persuade women not to undergo the procedure. He is a member of the conservative Federalist Society and occasionally sends a contribution to Focus on the Family.

He is also a vocal supporter of Barack Obama. Kmiec made waves in the Catholic world in late March when he endorsed the Democratic candidate. But Kmiec insists that while he still considers himself a Republican, his choice is clear this election year. ‘I have grave moral doubts about the war, serious doubts about the economic course Republicans have followed over the last seven years, and believe that immigration reforms won't come about by Republican hands,’ he says. ‘Senator McCain would not be the strongest advocate for the balance of things that I care about.’" [...]

"The American bishops also made an effort to broaden their teaching. In the fall of 2007, they released Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility, an unusual document that counsels against divisive politics and reminds Catholics that ‘all life issues are connected.’ Such statements have cleared the way for Catholics like Kmiec to re-evaluate what it means to cast a pro-life vote. ‘It's been 20-some years of trying to get the next vote on the court to overturn Roe,’ says Kmiec, ‘and I asked myself, What does that amount to?’ He worries that by backing the GOP strategy of holding out for a ban on abortion, pro-life voters have not focused on more pragmatic ways to reduce abortion rates." [...]

"Obama, whose work as a community organizer was partly funded by a Catholic social-justice group, recently laid out his plan for a new and improved faith-based initiative. It is a policy extension of the phrase he often uses—"I am my brother's keeper"—to express his belief that members of a society are responsible for one another. And it is an idea rooted in the Catholic concept of the common good. This "bottom-up, personal responsibility" message, as he describes it, appeals to Kmiec, allowing him to be not just a McCain skeptic but also an Obama supporter."

In Your Words -- Why Do You Support Senator Obama?

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:14:45 EDT

Grant Gallicho, Associate Editor of Commonweal Magazine – a Catholic review of “religion, politics, and culture”:

Why do you, as a person of faith and conscience, support Senator Obama?

“Charity. Without sacrificing the toughness a successful political campaign must show, Sen. Obama has demonstrated that a candidate need not demonize his or her ideological opponent in order to win votes. The virtue of charity, as any cable-news watcher knows, is in short supply in our political culture. Sen. Obama's remarkable 2006 speech about faith and politics may prove to be a watershed moment for the post-Bush Democrats. I can't count the number of friends and family members who contacted me with something approaching awe that a Democrat would speak so movingly and authentically about the legitimate role of religious values in our political discourse. A lot of Catholics I know hadn't heard a Democrat speak so, well, charitably about religion in decades.”

Barack's Speech In Zanesville, Ohio

Amanda Scott — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:55:14 EDT

Earlier today, Barack spoke at the East Side Community Ministry about faith and politics. Watch part of his speech below...

You can watch more videos and highlights at YouTube.com/barackobama.

Photos from Eastside Community Ministry, where Obama spoke on Faith-Based Initiatives

Alyssa Martin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:24:14 EDT

Senator Barack Obama appeared today at Eastside Community Ministry in Zanesville, OH. Before speaking on the subject of faith-based initiatives, Obama toured Eastside Community Ministry, a group that seeks to "break the cycle of poverty" through individual and community assistance. Smiles were in large supply as Obama interacted with children at the Ministry. Obama also conversed with Ministry leaders, who he believes should become active partners with the government in meeting the challenges of the 21st century.

Senator Obama Addresses Faith-Based Initiatives

Alyssa Martin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:53:52 EDT

Today, Senator Obama gave a momentous and timely speech on the future of faith-based initiatives. Obama spoke with immense personal experience and conviction, arising from his work as a community organizer. Senator Obama notes:

I believe that change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up, and few are closer to the people than our churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques. That’s why Washington needs to draw on them. The fact is, the challenges we face today – from saving our planet to ending poverty – are simply too big for government to solve alone. We need all hands on deck.

Senator Obama does not intend to diminish the work of secular initiatives, but instead wants to unite all forces – all hands – in rising to the challenges of the 21st century.

While President Bush may have established the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives with these intentions in mind, the Office has not lived up to its promise. Senator Obama affirms:

Support for social services to the poor and the needy have been consistently underfunded. Rather than promoting the cause of all faith-based organizations, former officials in the Office have described how it was used to promote partisan interests.
Well, I still believe it’s a good idea to have a partnership between the White House and grassroots groups, both faith-based and secular. But it has to be a real partnership – not a photo-op. And that’s what it will be when I’m President.

However, as a former constitutional law professor, Senator Obama will not trespass on the separation between church and state. He appreciates the separation as preserving not only the integrity of the state, but also and more essentially, the integrity of religious practice. As such, he lays down some ground rules for future faith-based initiatives:

First, 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. Second, federal dollars that go directly to churches, temples, and mosques can only be used on secular programs. And we’ll also ensure that taxpayer dollars only go to those programs that actually work.

Senator Obama wants to renew our commitment to faith-based partnerships by creating a new Office, which will have moral authority and the ability to empower, from the grass-roots up:

I’ll establish a new Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The new name will reflect a new commitment. This Council will not just be another name on the White House organization chart – it will be a critical part of my administration.
And my Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will also have a broader role – it will help set our national agenda. Because if we are going to do something about the injustice of millions of children living in extreme poverty, we need interfaith coalitions like the Let Justice Roll campaign standing up for the powerless. If we’re going to end genocide and stop the scourge of HIV/AIDS, we need people of faith on Capitol Hill talking about how these challenges don’t just represent a security crisis or a humanitarian crisis, but a moral crisis as well.

In addition to its broader moral role, this Council will also strengthen faith-based groups by “making sure they know the opportunities open to them to build on their good works.” Senator Obama will empower already established and successful organizations to “pay it forward” and train smaller organizations in order to create real, bottom-up ‘armies of compassion.’

John DiIulio, the first Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, had this to say about Senator Obama’s proposed reforms:

Senator Barack Obama has offered a principled, prudent, and problem-solving vision for the future of community-serving partnerships involving religious nonprofit organizations. He has focused admirably on those groups that supply vital social services to people and communities in need. His plan reminds me of much that was best in both then Vice President Al Gore's and then Texas Governor George W. Bush's respective first speeches on the subject in 1999. Especially in urban America, all the empirical evidence continues to show that local faith-based organizations can make a measurable civic difference. His constitutionally sound and administratively feasible ideas about community-serving partnerships hold special promise for truly disadvantaged children, youth, and families. Many good community-serving initiatives can be built, expanded, or sustained on the common ground that Senator Obama has staked out for us here.

We invite your comments on the Senator’s address.

Barack Speaks About Faith In Zanesville, Ohio

Amanda Scott — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:42:42 EDT

Barack was recently at the East Side Community Ministry in Zanesville, Ohio, to talk about the future of Faith Based Outreach programs. Here's a little bit about what Barack said...

You know, faith based groups like East Side Community Ministry carry a particular meaning for me. Because in a way, they're what led me into public service. It was a Catholic group called The Campaign for Human Development that helped fund the work I did many years ago in Chicago to help lift up neighborhoods that were devastated by the closure of a local steel plant.

Now, I didn't grow up in a particularly religious household. But my experience in Chicago showed me how faith and values could be an anchor in my life. And in time, I came to see my faith as being both a personal commitment to Christ and a commitment to my community; that while I could sit in church and pray all I want, I wouldn't be fulfilling God's will unless I went out and did the Lord's work.

There are millions of Americans who share a similar view of their faith, who feel they have an obligation to help others. And they're making a difference in communities all across this country – through initiatives like Ready4Work, which is helping ensure that ex-offenders don't return to a life of crime; or Catholic Charities, which is feeding the hungry and making sure we don't have homeless veterans sleeping on the streets of Chicago; or the good work that's being done by a coalition of religious groups to rebuild New Orleans.

You see, while these groups are often made up of folks who've come together around a common faith, they're usually working to help people of all faiths or of no faith at all. And they're particularly well-placed to offer help. As I've said many times, I believe that change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up, and few are closer to the people than our churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques.

That's why Washington needs to draw on them. The fact is, the challenges we face today – from saving our planet to ending poverty – are simply too big for government to solve alone. We need all hands on deck.

Here are some pictures from his time in Zanesville...

Read the full remarks, as prepared for delivery...

Barack to outline plans for partnering with communities of faith

Laurin Manning — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:19:02 EDT

Barack will be in Zanesville, OH today, where he will discuss his plan for creating partnerships between government and faith-based and other nonprofit community groups to provide services to the needy. Under an Obama Administration, these groups will serve as active partners in renewing America. Click here to read the plan.

As president, Barack Obama will establish a new President's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships within the White House. The Council will work to engage faith-based organizations and help them abide by the principles that federal funds cannot be used to proselytize, that they should not discriminate in providing their services, and they should be held to the same standards of accountability as other federal grant recipients. The Council will:

Train the Trainers to enable local faith-based organizations to learn best practices, grant-making procedures and service delivery so that they can better apply for and use federal dollars.
Partner with State and Local Offices so that federal efforts build on successes made at the state and local level.
Hold Recipients Responsible by conducting rigorous performance evaluation, researching what works well and disseminating best practices.
Close the Summer Learning Gap by focusing faith-based and community-based efforts on summer learning programs for 1 million children.

Introduction and Invitation

Max Temkin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:55:06 EDT

My friends,

My name is Max Temkin. I'm an intern for the religious outreach department at Obama for America. I'm here to work on new media communication and graphic design, as well as a host of other miscellaneous projects for Joshua DuBois, the Director of Religious Affairs, and his deputy, Paul Monteiro.

It is an incredible privilege to work for Senator Obama - like many of you, the Obama campaign fills me with hope and optimism. Every morning on my walk to work I feel blessed by the opportunity we all have at this point in history to unite and heal our country.

Last summer I participated in a Birthright trip where I developed a deep and personal investment in the State of Israel. It is especially inspiring to me to see so many people come together in Senator Obama's religious outreach program to discuss their faith and values, and talk about issues like the protection of Israel that unite us.

As the campaign progresses, I look forward to the opportunity to bring everyday Americans into the amazing movement that's forming. To begin, I would like to personally invite you to join our interfaith morning prayer circle, every Monday through Friday at 8:30am central. To join us in prayer or just listen in, you can dial (866) 228-9900 and enter the passcode 1175507#.

No matter what you believe in, we can't wait to hear from you and see what your voice has to add to this amazing effort to bring hope back to America.

Thanks,

- Max Temkin

Values Question of the Week

Alyssa Martin — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:57:30 EDT

I received many wonderful and thought-provoking responses to the Values Question of the Week:

"What sacrifices should be made in order to have fruitful interfaith dialogue (including people of
non-faith backgrounds)? Should we even make a sacrifice, or does sacrifice for dialogue's sake
dilute our faith?"

Ms. Jacqueline Jill Rito of East Meadow New York took a philosophical approach:

"No sacrifice made in earnest is wasted. If the goal of dialogue is understanding, peace, and acceptance, then working towards this end from an interfaith standpoint is an objective worth pursuing. It is important for each of us representing various faiths to embrace that part of each faith that seeks to unify rather than divide, and create alliances and understandings rather than adversity and division. There are principles within each organized religion, within each religion's interpretation, for this kind of connection.

The sacrifice is sometimes being willing enough to look into the eye of your brother and sister and therein see your own reflection."

Mr. Michael Mills of Midland Texas took a personal approach:

"The sacrifice that I would see for me is a sacrifice of self, with my ego and insatiable need to be right. I am discovering that I seek to have others around me justify my existence and sense of worth in that I want to surround myself with people who think like I think and who have views on life and faith that justify my correctness.

For too many years I could not have a genuine interfaith dialogue! Why? Because I was personally threatened by someone who had views that are different than my own or different than the culture I was living in at the time. To accept their difference was to dismantle my identity and my own sense of values and purposes.

Interfaith dialogue for me is actually a step of faith and growth. It reflects an attitude of humility in realizing that I do not have God and faith all figured out. It allows me to see things from a totally different perspective, and it stretches me by placing me where I do not always feel safe and secure. Personally, this journey has been an amazing one of release, trust and learning to love!"

The responses I saw tended toward a common theme: the tension between unity and diversity. While many praised interfaith dialogue as a means to promote unity and mutual respect, some expressed concern that this would result in "sameness," or a loss of individual identity. In effect, we would have to sacrifice a bit of diversity of belief. Nonetheless, several people did not view this is a sacrifice, but saw it as a positive step toward peace and reconciliation.

Here's the rub: how do we promote an idea of unity without drifting toward sameness? How do we affirm unity while preserving valuable differences?

The "Value Issues"

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:57:03 EDT

In recent news, the Christian Coalition of Alabama seeks to broaden the universe of Christian moral responsibility by giving greater weight to the issue of health care access.

--Christian Coalition lobbies for uninsured--

Article link: http://www.al.com/news/press-register/index.ssf?/base/news/1213780612190380.xml&coll=3

“The event may defy conventional wisdom about Christian Coalition priorities and partnerships, but it is only the latest example of what the group's leader says is an effort to expand its focus.

‘Yes, we're ardently pro-life. Yes, we're ardently for marriage,’ said Dr. Randy Brinson, chairman of the state Christian Coalition. ‘But beyond just that, there's other moral failings that are having (an) impact. ... Not enough emphasis is put on that.’

One such problem is the number of people who lack medical care because they are uninsured or underinsured, said Brinson, a Montgomery physician and lifelong Republican, during a news conference with state Sen. Linda Coleman, D-Birmingham. Brinson and Coleman said the rising cost of gas and food exacerbate the plight of the uninsured, forcing them to choose between transportation, sustenance and basic medical care.”

Who dictates the “value issues”? The Christian Coalition of Alabama has had to confront this question head-on, as they have received criticism for diverting attention away from other hot-button issues.

For people of faith and conscience, policy issues generally fit into a larger narrative, a greater creed so to speak. Putting that creed or philosophy into tangible motion begs the question: how do we weigh many issues of great personal value?

A Testament to Change

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:35:30 EDT

Rather than pursue a strategy of avoidance, Senator Obama has affirmatively sought to include evangelicals, a voting bloc that many dismiss as “out of reach” for him.

--Obama Steps Up Outreach to Evangelicals--

Article link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-18-obama-evangelicals_N.htm

“It's a move that's caught off guard some conservative evangelicals, who say they are surprised and dismayed to see a progressive-minded politician attempting to conscript their troops. At the same time, they say Sen. John McCain has done little to court their affections.

"I've never seen anything quite like it before," said evangelical author Stephen Mansfield, who wrote The Faith of George W. Bush and has a forthcoming similar book about Obama.

"To be running against a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, and to be reaching into the Christian community as wisely and knowledgeably as (Obama) is — understanding their terms and their values — is just remarkable.”

What I personally find remarkable about this effort is the ease and style with which Senator Obama approaches people who may or may not share his positions. Simply disagreeing leaves no room for movement; agreeing to disagree at least paves the way for further engagement.

Is it working? Some say that the polls have remained static (see article). But there’s promise in that the outreach is not merely nominal. By “understanding their terms and values,” Senator Obama seeks to effectively mediate rather than mandate.

Greetings

Alyssa Martin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:43:04 EDT

Hello, all!

My name is Alyssa Martin, and I’m excited to be interning with the Religious Affairs department of the Obama campaign. I will be posting regular updates, and I look forward to having many positive faith-based discussions over the course of the summer. But first, allow me to introduce myself:

Originally from heartland Nebraska, I am a rising junior at Stanford University. I plan to double major in International Relations and Religious Studies, though I’d be lying if I said this originated from a purely academic interest. Raised Catholic by my father, I don’t recall the newness of mass – for all intents and purposes, I woke up one day with the entire Catholic service ingrained into my being, ready at a Sunday’s notice. However, my faith goes beyond regurgitation, as it informs my inner convictions and outer spirit.

To give you a fuller, more authentic, introduction of myself, I would have to mention my experience with other religious traditions as well. As a young girl, I would watch my Hindu grandparents do puja (prayer), not knowing that I would have the opportunity to observe its roots in India, where religion is omnipresent. I went from knowing 3 Jewish people in Nebraska to becoming involved in Israeli-Palestinian events on campus with my 2 Jewish best friends. I attended an overseas seminar in Italy regarding Judeo-Christian relations, and promoted interfaith dialogue on campus.

Ultimately, I found myself drawn to Obama’s appeal to people of all faith backgrounds. A committed Christian, he does not eschew the topic of religion, but embraces it in a straightforward, refreshing manner. Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr once said, “Power without love is brutality, but love without power is mere sentimentality.” By organizing people of all backgrounds from the grass-roots up, Obama bridges love and power, faith and action. By opting to visit California’s Saddleback Church instead of a more “conventional” stronghold, he challenges typical slice-and-dice politics by seeking unity – which is something that I, a person of faith, can truly believe in.

I look forward to communicating with you all this summer!

With warm blessings,

Alyssa

Faith Outreach In The News

Rev. Chuck Currie — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:25:51 EDT

On this - the day after Senator Obama won the nomination - there are two article about the campaign worth looking at. First, the new issue of Newsweek has an article about religious leaders who gather each week by telephone to pray for Senator Obama and the nation. Here's a quick look at what they write:

The Houston mega-pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell—who presided over Jenna Bush's wedding last month and has offered spiritual counsel to her father—is a Christian VIP, so busy that his cell-phone voicemail says, "Do not leave messages here." But on Friday mornings, whether he's at church, in the car or on the golf course, Caldwell tries to dial into a certain highlevel conference call. At 9:30 Eastern time, a group of religious leaders gathers "telephonically," as Caldwell puts it; for 15 minutes, they pray for Sen. Barack Obama.
"Typically," Caldwell says, "whoever is praying always prays for the senator and his wife. For his safety, surety, soundness of mind, clarity of thought." One person leads the prayer; everyone else listens. The leaders pray that planes land safely and that Secret Service agents keep their eyes open. (When Caldwell does the blessing, "he also prays for Senator Clinton and Senator McCain," says the Rev. Michael Battle, president of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.) The number of participants ranges from a handful to 100.

Click here for the full story.

Bloomberg.com also has a new story up about the campaign's outreach to faith communities.

- The Rev. Chuck Currie

Oregonians Show Support For Barack Obama

Rev. Chuck Currie — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:47:29 EDT

Tonight over 80 house parties were held in Oregon to raise support and money for Barack Obama. U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (a supper delegate supporting the campaign) and former U.S. Senator George McGovern (a one-time Clinton supporter who recently endorsed Senator Obama) held a conference call with participants. I was honored to speak at one of those 80 house parties tonight. Allyson Spencer invited family, friends and neighbors over to show their support for the senator. This was the first time Allyson had ever held a house party for a candidate and her house was packed. The people there shared their admiration for Senator Obama’s courage in taking principled and progressive positions. Oregon’s vote-by-mail primary is May 20th. Show your support for Senator Obama’s campaign by making a contribution here. As always, I also urge all my friends in America’s diverse religious communities to make a special show of support by joining People of Faith for Barack.

- Rev. Chuck Currie

"Parishioners surprised by unexpected guest "

Rev. Chuck Currie — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:07:28 EDT

From the Lebanon Daily News:

Kelly Bell sensed something was different when her family arrived for yesterday morning’s worship service at St. Mark’s United Church of Christ.
“When we pulled in, I saw the cones there,” Bell said, referring to orange traffic cones that had been set up to block off parking spaces on the church’s north side along Mifflin Street.
“Then I got the kids out of the van and asked Ginny (Yingst, the church secretary, who was standing outside with a camera) what was going on, and she said, ‘The senator’s coming,’” Bell said.
“The senator” was Barack Obama, who is a member of a United Church of Christ congregation in Chicago....
Zachary Diehm, a sophomore at Cedar Crest High School and a church member, had a tough time finding a word to describe Obama’s visit before settling on “honorable.”
“We talk about it a lot in class,” he said of the presidential race. “It shows a lot of character for him to come to a church and not make a big deal out of it.”

Click here for the full story.

Pennsylvania Catholics For Obama

Amanda Scott — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:58:55 EDT

This past Friday, Policy expert and former Congressman Tim Roemer served lunch to 40 chronically homeless men at Philadelphia's St. Columba home. Student volunteers from Villanova University joined Tim in reaching out to the homeless.

The group performed this act of service in honor of the Pope's visit to the United States. Similar events took place in other cities across the US.

While participants were brought together by their support of Barack Obama, the event was open to anyone wanted to join in: Catholics, members of other faith communities, and anyone who wanted to honor the Pope's visit and message of peace.

To learn more about Barack’s personal faith visit here.

Obama Statement Pending the Arrival of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

Sam Graham-Felsen — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:39:02 EDT

CHICAGO, IL - Today Senator Obama issued the following statement to mark the arrival of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for his apostolic journey to the United States...

On behalf of our family, Michelle and I want to extend our warmest welcome to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI as he arrives for his historic apostolic journey to the United States. As committed Christians, we join millions of Americans – Catholics and members of all faith communities – in offering our prayers for the success of the Holy Father’s visit.

At a time when American families face rising costs at home and a range of worries abroad, the theme of Pope Benedict’s journey, "“Christ Our Hope," offers comfort and grace as well as a challenge to all faith communities to put our faith into action for the common good. It will not only be Catholics who are listening to the Holy Father’s message of hope and peace; all Americans will be listening with open hearts and minds.

"A More Perfect Union"

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:33:09 EDT

As Prepared for Delivery...

“We the people, in order to form a more perfect union.”

Two hundred and twenty one years ago, in a hall that still stands across the street, a group of men gathered and, with these simple words, launched America’s improbable experiment in democracy. Farmers and scholars; statesmen and patriots who had traveled across an ocean to escape tyranny and persecution finally made real their declaration of independence at a Philadelphia convention that lasted through the spring of 1787.

The document they produced was eventually signed but ultimately unfinished. It was stained by this nation’s original sin of slavery, a question that divided the colonies and brought the convention to a stalemate until the founders chose to allow the slave trade to continue for at least twenty more years, and to leave any final resolution to future generations.

Of course, the answer to the slavery question was already embedded within our Constitution – a Constitution that had at is very core the ideal of equal citizenship under the law; a Constitution that promised its people liberty, and justice, and a union that could be and should be perfected over time.

And yet words on a parchment would not be enough to deliver slaves from bondage, or provide men and women of every color and creed their full rights and obligations as citizens of the United States. What would be needed were Americans in successive generations who were willing to do their part – through protests and struggle, on the streets and in the courts, through a civil war and civil disobedience and always at great risk - to narrow that gap between the promise of our ideals and the reality of their time.

This was one of the tasks we set forth at the beginning of this campaign – to continue the long march of those who came before us, a march for a more just, more equal, more free, more caring and more prosperous America. I chose to run for the presidency at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together – unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction – towards a better future for of children and our grandchildren.

This belief comes from my unyielding faith in the decency and generosity of the American people. But it also comes from my own American story.

I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton’s Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. I’ve gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the world’s poorest nations. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slaveowners – an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters. I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.

It’s a story that hasn’t made me the most conventional candidate. But it is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts – that out of many, we are truly one.

Throughout the first year of this campaign, against all predictions to the contrary, we saw how hungry the American people were for this message of unity. Despite the temptation to view my candidacy through a purely racial lens, we won commanding victories in states with some of the whitest populations in the country. In South Carolina, where the Confederate Flag still flies, we built a powerful coalition of African Americans and white Americans.

This is not to say that race has not been an issue in the campaign. At various stages in the campaign, some commentators have deemed me either “too black” or “not black enough.” We saw racial tensions bubble to the surface during the week before the South Carolina primary. The press has scoured every exit poll for the latest evidence of racial polarization, not just in terms of white and black, but black and brown as well.

And yet, it has only been in the last couple of weeks that the discussion of race in this campaign has taken a particularly divisive turn.

On one end of the spectrum, we’ve heard the implication that my candidacy is somehow an exercise in affirmative action; that it’s based solely on the desire of wide-eyed liberals to purchase racial reconciliation on the cheap. On the other end, we’ve heard my former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, use incendiary language to express views that have the potential not only to widen the racial divide, but views that denigrate both the greatness and the goodness of our nation; that rightly offend white and black alike.

I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy. For some, nagging questions remain. Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely – just as I’m sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed.

But the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren’t simply controversial. They weren’t simply a religious leader’s effort to speak out against perceived injustice. Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country – a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America; a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam.

As such, Reverend Wright’s comments were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity; racially charged at a time when we need to come together to solve a set of monumental problems – two wars, a terrorist threat, a falling economy, a chronic health care crisis and potentially devastating climate change; problems that are neither black or white or Latino or Asian, but rather problems that confront us all.

Given my background, my politics, and my professed values and ideals, there will no doubt be those for whom my statements of condemnation are not enough. Why associate myself with Reverend Wright in the first place, they may ask? Why not join another church? And I confess that if all that I knew of Reverend Wright were the snippets of those sermons that have run in an endless loop on the television and You Tube, or if Trinity United Church of Christ conformed to the caricatures being peddled by some commentators, there is no doubt that I would react in much the same way

But the truth is, that isn’t all that I know of the man. The man I met more than twenty years ago is a man who helped introduce me to my Christian faith, a man who spoke to me about our obligations to love one another; to care for the sick and lift up the poor. He is a man who served his country as a U.S. Marine; who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country, and who for over thirty years led a church that serves the community by doing God’s work here on Earth – by housing the homeless, ministering to the needy, providing day care services and scholarships and prison ministries, and reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

In my first book, Dreams From My Father, I described the experience of my first service at Trinity:

“People began to shout, to rise from their seats and clap and cry out, a forceful wind carrying the reverend’s voice up into the rafters….And in that single note – hope! – I heard something else; at the foot of that cross, inside the thousands of churches across the city, I imagined the stories of ordinary black people merging with the stories of David and Goliath, Moses and Pharaoh, the Christians in the lion’s den, Ezekiel’s field of dry bones. Those stories – of survival, and freedom, and hope – became our story, my story; the blood that had spilled was our blood, the tears our tears; until this black church, on this bright day, seemed once more a vessel carrying the story of a people into future generations and into a larger world. Our trials and triumphs became at once unique and universal, black and more than black; in chronicling our journey, the stories and songs gave us a means to reclaim memories tha t we didn’t need to feel shame about…memories that all people might study and cherish – and with which we could start to rebuild.”

That has been my experience at Trinity. Like other predominantly black churches across the country, Trinity embodies the black community in its entirety – the doctor and the welfare mom, the model student and the former gang-banger. Like other black churches, Trinity’s services are full of raucous laughter and sometimes bawdy humor. They are full of dancing, clapping, screaming and shouting that may seem jarring to the untrained ear. The church contains in full the kindness and cruelty, the fierce intelligence and the shocking ignorance, the struggles and successes, the love and yes, the bitterness and bias that make up the black experience in America.

And this helps explain, perhaps, my relationship with Reverend Wright. As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children. Not once in my conversations with him have I heard him talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms, or treat whites with whom he interacted with anything but courtesy and respect. He contains within him the contradictions – the good and the bad – of the community that he has served diligently for so many years.

I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.

These people are a part of me. And they are a part of America, this country that I love.

Some will see this as an attempt to justify or excuse comments that are simply inexcusable. I can assure you it is not. I suppose the politically safe thing would be to move on from this episode and just hope that it fades into the woodwork. We can dismiss Reverend Wright as a crank or a demagogue, just as some have dismissed Geraldine Ferraro, in the aftermath of her recent statements, as harboring some deep-seated racial bias.

But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America – to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality.

The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we’ve never really worked through – a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American.

Understanding this reality requires a reminder of how we arrived at this point. As William Faulkner once wrote, “The past isn’t dead and buried. In fact, it isn’t even past.” We do not need to recite here the history of racial injustice in this country. But we do need to remind ourselves that so many of the disparities that exist in the African-American community today can be directly traced to inequalities passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow.

Segregated schools were, and are, inferior schools; we still haven’t fixed them, fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education, and the inferior education they provided, then and now, helps explain the pervasive achievement gap between today’s black and white students.

Legalized discrimination - where blacks were prevented, often through violence, from owning property, or loans were not granted to African-American business owners, or black homeowners could not access FHA mortgages, or blacks were excluded from unions, or the police force, or fire departments – meant that black families could not amass any meaningful wealth to bequeath to future generations. That history helps explain the wealth and income gap between black and white, and the concentrated pockets of poverty that persists in so many of today’s urban and rural communities.

A lack of economic opportunity among black men, and the shame and frustration that came from not being able to provide for one’s family, contributed to the erosion of black families – a problem that welfare policies for many years may have worsened. And the lack of basic services in so many urban black neighborhoods – parks for kids to play in, police walking the beat, regular garbage pick-up and building code enforcement – all helped create a cycle of violence, blight and neglect that continue to haunt us.

This is the reality in which Reverend Wright and other African-Americans of his generation grew up. They came of age in the late fifties and early sixties, a time when segregation was still the law of the land and opportunity was systematically constricted. What’s remarkable is not how many failed in the face of discrimination, but rather how many men and women overcame the odds; how many were able to make a way out of no way for those like me who would come after them.

But for all those who scratched and clawed their way to get a piece of the American Dream, there were many who didn’t make it – those who were ultimately defeated, in one way or another, by discrimination. That legacy of defeat was passed on to future generations – those young men and increasingly young women who we see standing on street corners or languishing in our prisons, without hope or prospects for the future. Even for those blacks who did make it, questions of race, and racism, continue to define their worldview in fundamental ways. For the men and women of Reverend Wright’s generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years. That anger may not get expressed in public, in front of white co-workers or white friends. But it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table. At times, that anger is exploited by politicia ns, to gin up votes along racial lines, or to make up for a politician’s own failings.

And occasionally it finds voice in the church on Sunday morning, in the pulpit and in the pews. The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright’s sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning. That anger is not always productive; indeed, all too often it distracts attention from solving real problems; it keeps us from squarely facing our own complicity in our condition, and prevents the African-American community from forging the alliances it needs to bring about real change. But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.

In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. Most working- and middle-class white Americans don’t feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race. Their experience is the immigrant experience – as far as they’re concerned, no one’s handed them anything, they’ve built it from scratch. They’ve worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor. They are anxious about their futures, and feel their dreams slipping away; in an era of stagnant wages and global competition, opportunity comes to be seen as a zero sum game, in which your dreams come at my expense. So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committ ed; when they’re told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time.

Like the anger within the black community, these resentments aren’t always expressed in polite company. But they have helped shape the political landscape for at least a generation. Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition. Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends. Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.

Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze – a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns – this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding.

This is where we are right now. It’s a racial stalemate we’ve been stuck in for years. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naïve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy – particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own.

But I have asserted a firm conviction – a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people – that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice is we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.

For the African-American community, that path means embracing the burdens of our past without becoming victims of our past. It means continuing to insist on a full measure of justice in every aspect of American life. But it also means binding our particular grievances – for better health care, and better schools, and better jobs - to the larger aspirations of all Americans -- the white woman struggling to break the glass ceiling, the white man whose been laid off, the immigrant trying to feed his family. And it means taking full responsibility for own lives – by demanding more from our fathers, and spending more time with our children, and reading to them, and teaching them that while they may face challenges and discrimination in their own lives, they must never succumb to despair or cynicism; they must always believe that they can write their own destiny.

Ironically, this quintessentially American – and yes, conservative – notion of self-help found frequent expression in Reverend Wright’s sermons. But what my former pastor too often failed to understand is that embarking on a program of self-help also requires a belief that society can change.

The profound mistake of Reverend Wright’s sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It’s that he spoke as if our society was static; as if no progress has been made; as if this country – a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of white and black; Latino and Asian, rich and poor, young and old -- is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past. But what we know -- what we have seen – is that America can change. That is true genius of this nation. What we have already achieved gives us hope – the audacity to hope – for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

In the white community, the path to a more perfect union means acknowledging that what ails the African-American community does not just exist in the minds of black people; that the legacy of discrimination - and current incidents of discrimination, while less overt than in the past - are real and must be addressed.   Not just with words, but with deeds – by investing in our schools and our communities; by enforcing our civil rights laws and ensuring fairness in our criminal justice system; by providing this generation with ladders of opportunity that were unavailable for previous generations. It requires all Americans to realize that your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams; that investing in the health, welfare, and education of black and brown and white children will ultimately help all of America prosper.

In the end, then, what is called for is nothing more, and nothing less, than what all the world’s great religions demand – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us be our brother’s keeper, Scripture tells us. Let us be our sister’s keeper. Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well.

For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle – as we did in the OJ trial – or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright’s sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she’s playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.

We can do that.

But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we’ll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.

That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, “Not this time.” This time we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native American children. This time we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can’t learn; that those kids who don’t look like us are somebody else’s problem. The children of America are not those kids, they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st century economy. Not this time.

This time we want to talk about how the lines in the Emergency Room are filled with whites and blacks and Hispanics who do not have health care; who don’t have the power on their own to overcome the special interests in Washington, but who can take them on if we do it together.

This time we want to talk about the shuttered mills that once provided a decent life for men and women of every race, and the homes for sale that once belonged to Americans from every religion, every region, every walk of life. This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn’t look like you might take your job; it’s that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit.

This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag. We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that never should’ve been authorized and never should’ve been waged, and we want to talk about how we’ll show our patriotism by caring for them, and their families, and giving them the benefits they have earned.

I would not be running for President if I didn’t believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation – the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.

There is one story in particularly that I’d like to leave you with today – a story I told when I had the great honor of speaking on Dr. King’s birthday at his home church, Ebenezer Baptist, in Atlanta.

There is a young, twenty-three year old white woman named Ashley Baia who organized for our campaign in Florence, South Carolina. She had been working to organize a mostly African-American community since the beginning of this campaign, and one day she was at a roundtable discussion where everyone went around telling their story and why they were there.

And Ashley said that when she was nine years old, her mother got cancer. And because she had to miss days of work, she was let go and lost her health care. They had to file for bankruptcy, and that’s when Ashley decided that she had to do something to help her mom.

She knew that food was one of their most expensive costs, and so Ashley convinced her mother that what she really liked and really wanted to eat more than anything else was mustard and relish sandwiches. Because that was the cheapest way to eat.

She did this for a year until her mom got better, and she told everyone at the roundtable that the reason she joined our campaign was so that she could help the millions of other children in the country who want and need to help their parents too.

Now Ashley might have made a different choice. Perhaps somebody told her along the way that the source of her mother’s problems were blacks who were on welfare and too lazy to work, or Hispanics who were coming into the country illegally. But she didn’t. She sought out allies in her fight against injustice.

Anyway, Ashley finishes her story and then goes around the room and asks everyone else why they’re supporting the campaign. They all have different stories and reasons. Many bring up a specific issue. And finally they come to this elderly black man who’s been sitting there quietly the entire time. And Ashley asks him why he’s there. And he does not bring up a specific issue. He does not say health care or the economy. He does not say education or the war.   He does not say that he was there because of Barack Obama. He simply says to everyone in the room, “I am here because of Ashley.”

“I’m here because of Ashley.” By itself, that single moment of recognition between that young white girl and that old black man is not enough. It is not enough to give health care to the sick, or jobs to the jobless, or education to our children.

But it is where we start. It is where our union grows stronger. And as so many generations have come to realize over the course of the two-hundred and twenty one years since a band of patriots signed that document in Philadelphia, that is where the perfection begins.

Senator Obama's Statement on Rev. Wright

D. Paul Monteiro -Deputy Director of Religious Affairs — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:58:47 EDT

Below is Senator Obama's statement on the controversy surrounding his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. He will be speaking tomorrow morning in Philadelphia to further expound on this but also touch on the broader issue of race in America.

***

The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He's drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents.

Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.

Because these particular statements by Rev. Wright are so contrary to my own life and beliefs, a number of people have legitimately raised questions about the nature of my relationship with Rev. Wright and my membership in the church. Let me therefore provide some context.

As I have written about in my books, I first joined Trinity United Church of Christ nearly twenty years ago. I knew Rev. Wright as someone who served this nation with honor as a United States Marine, as a respected biblical scholar, and as someone who taught or lectured at seminaries across the country, from Union Theological Seminary to the University of Chicago. He also led a diverse congregation that was and still is a pillar of the South Side and the entire city of Chicago. It's a congregation that does not merely preach social justice but acts it out each day, through ministries ranging from housing the homeless to reaching out to those with HIV/AIDS.

Most importantly, Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life. In other words, he has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor. And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.

The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments. But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church.

Let me repeat what I've said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country.

With Rev. Wright's retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss, III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good. And while Rev. Wright's statements have pained and angered me, I believe that Americans will judge me not on the basis of what someone else said, but on the basis of who I am and what I believe in; on my values, judgment and experience to be President of the United States

Senator Obama in Plainfield, Indiana: 'We have to come together'

Sam Graham-Felsen — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:27:29 EDT

Senator Obama reflects on Robert F. Kennedy's famous speech on the night of Martin Luther King's death, and says the we must move beyond the divisions of the past and come together...

Senator Obama's faith

Sam Graham-Felsen — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:20:08 EDT

To learn more about Senator Obama's church, take a look at these two videos.

Meet Jane Fisler-Hoffman, a UCC minister and member of Senator Obama's church...

And here is the Reverend Otis Moss, the senior pastor at Trinity, who is replacing the retiring Reverend Wright...

Check out Faith.BarackObama.com for more on Senator Obama's faith and the different faith communities supporting Barack.

Talking About Barack Obama On NPR's Day-to-Day

Rev. Chuck Currie — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:08:50 EST

Tomorrow (Thursday) I'm scheduled to appear on NPR's "Day to Day" news magazine talking about my personal support for United States Senator Barack Obama.

Since its 2003 launch, Day to Day with hosts Alex Chadwick and Madeleine Brand has redefined the newsmagazine concept to become NPR's fastest-growing new program. Day to Day, produced at NPR West studios in Culver City, California, has nearly two million listeners on 200 stations around the country.

My interview - which also deals with religion and politics in general - was recorded this morning.

Visit their website to find out where you can listen in your area and for the online audio archive.

- Rev. Chuck Currie

Barack Meets With Jewish Community Leaders

Caitlin Harvey — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:45:47 EST

Last Sunday, Barack held a meeting in Cleveland, Ohio with about 100 Jewish community leaders. He discussed his commitment to the security of Israel and the friendship between the United States and Israel, reaching out to people of different faiths, and how his own faith influences his life.

Here is an excerpt from what Barack said:

The U.S.-Israel relationship is rooted in shared interests, shared values, shared history and in deep friendship among our people. It is supported by a strong bipartisan consensus that I am proud to be a part of and I will work tirelessly as president to uphold and enhance the friendship between the two countries. Two years ago I had a chance to travel to Israel and it left a lasting impression on me...I know how much Israelis crave peace. I know that Prime Minister Olmert was elected with a mandate to pursue it. I pledge to make every effort to help Israel achieve that peace. I will strengthen Israel’s security and strengthen Palestinian partners who support that vision and personally work for two states that can live side by side in peace and security with Israel’s status as a Jewish state ensured so that Israelis and Palestinians can pursue their dreams.”

Watch this video of Barack discussing Israel's right to exist as a state.

Here's another clip of Barack discussing actions he has taken in the past to bridge differences.

Read about People of Faith for Obama and join the movement here.

On Super Tuesday Barack Obama = Hope

Rev. Chuck Currie — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:14:42 EST

Sitting down last year and reading about each of the candidates running for president it impressed me that I found much to agree with from candidates on both sides of the aisles. For example, conservative evangelicals – represented well by Gov. Huckabee in this race – have been some of the most prominent advocates for actions to end the genocide in Darfur. John McCain has been one of the most important voices on campaign finance reform. On the democratic side, all of the candidates are people voters can be proud of.

Barack Obama, however, stood out above them all. We share a common faith, yes, but we also share a common vision for America. Senator Obama wants to restore this nation and to give hope to all those who feel left out of the American dream. He wants to fight global warming so that our children will not grow up in a world in peril. He wants to create opportunities that lift people out of poverty. He wants to extend health care coverage for all those who have no coverage. And he wants to end the war. No other candidate comes close to his experience and his passion. His campaign is unifying the American people while campaigns waged by old-style politicians are tearing at the fabric of our nation. Barack Obama is a different kind of politician. He is a man of deep values and solid ethics. He’ll make a different kind of president. I’m honored to be a supporter. Join the campaign today.

- The Rev. Chuck Currie

Obama on Christianity Today

Joshua DuBois - Director of Religious Affairs — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:30:47 EST

Senator Obama gave a major interview to Christianity Today this week. CT is the flagship Evangelical publication, not the normal stomping ground for most Democrats. But Barack held his own, with candor and without pandering. Check it out below, followed by some of the comments from the CT website.

Q&A: Barack Obama"I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."Interview by Sarah Pulliam and Ted Olsen | posted 1/23/2008 02:18PM
Barack Obama wants to set the record straight. He is not a Muslim, as recent e-mails falsely claim.
The Democratic presidential candidate is fighting the e-mails that have been widely circulated. Obama has been continually speaking about the role of faith in politics since his Call to Renewal address in June 2006.
In the days before the South Carolina primary, he is driving efforts to speaking with media to emphasize his Christian beliefs. His campaign also sent out a recent mailer portraying the candidate with his head bowed in prayer and says that he will be guided by prayer when he is in office.
The senator from Illinois spoke with Sarah Pulliam and Ted Olsen today about his faith, abortion, and the evangelical vote.
What do you think your biggest obstacle will be in reaching evangelicals?
You know, I think that there's been a set of habits of thinking about the interaction between evangelicals and Democrats that we have to change. Democrats haven't shown up. Evangelicals have come to believe often times that Democrats are anti-faith. Part of my job in this campaign, something that I started doing well before this campaign, was to make sure I was showing up and reaching out and sharing my faith experience with people who share that faith. Hopefully we can build some bridges that can allow us to move the country forward.

What would you do in office differently than Hillary Clinton or John Edwards that would appeal to evangelicals?
I have not focused on all of their policies so I don't want to speak about what their positions will be. I know that as president, I want to celebrate the richness and diversity of our faith experience in this country. I think it is important for us to encourage churches and congregations all across the country to involve themselves in rebuilding communities. One of the things I have consistently argued is that we can structure faith-based programs that prove to be successful — like substance abuse or prison ministries — without violating church and state. We should make sure they are rebuilding the lives of people even if they're not members of a particular congregation. That's the kind of involvement that I think many churches are pursuing, including my own. It can make a real difference in the lives of people all across the country.
So would you keep the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives open or restructure it?
You know, what I'd like to do is I'd like to see how it's been operating. One of the things that I think churches have to be mindful of is that if the federal government starts paying the piper, then they get to call the tune. It can, over the long term, be an encroachment on religious freedom. So, I want to see how moneys have been allocated through that office before I make a firm commitment in terms of sustaining practices that may not have worked as well as they should have.
One of the critiques of the Bush office on faith-based initiatives — beyond the church and state question — is that while it opened up competition to religious organizations or church-based organizations to compete for some of these federal funds, there was no additional allocation; there was no change in the funding. Instead, there were more organizations competing for the same the slice of pie.
I think that's right. There's always a danger in those situations that money is being allocating based on politics, as opposed to merit and substance. That doesn't just compromise government. More importantly, it compromises potentially our religious institutions.
For many evangelicals, abortion is a key, if not the key factor in their vote. You voted against banning partial birth abortion and voted against notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. What role do you think the President should play in creating national abortion policies?
I don't know anybody who is pro-abortion. I think it's very important to start with that premise. I think people recognize what a wrenching, difficult issue it is. I do think that those who diminish the moral elements of the decision aren't expressing the full reality of it. But what I believe is that women do not make these decisions casually, and that they struggle with it fervently with their pastors, with their spouses, with their doctors.
Our goal should be to make abortion less common, that we should be discouraging unwanted pregnancies, that we should encourage adoption wherever possible. There is a range of ways that we can educate our young people about the sacredness of sex and we should not be promoting the sort of casual activities that end up resulting in so many unwanted pregnancies.
Ultimately, women are in the best position to make a decision at the end of the day about these issues. With significant constraints. For example, I think we can legitimately say — the state can legitimately say — that we are prohibiting late-term abortions as long as there's an exception for the mother's health. Those provisions that I voted against typically didn't have those exceptions, which raises profound questions where you might have a mother at great risk. Those are issues that I don't think the government can unilaterally make a decision about. I think they need to be made in consultation with doctors, they have to be prayed upon, or people have to be consulting their conscience on it. I think we have to keep that decision-making with the person themselves.
You've talked about your experience walking down the aisle at Trinity United Church of Christ, and kneeling beneath the cross, having your sins redeemed, and submitting to God's will. Would you describe that as a conversion? Do you consider yourself born again?
I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life. But most importantly, I believe in the example that Jesus set by feeding the hungry and healing the sick and always prioritizing the least of these over the powerful. I didn't 'fall out in church' as they say, but there was a very strong awakening in me of the importance of these issues in my life. I didn't want to walk alone on this journey. Accepting Jesus Christ in my life has been a powerful guide for my conduct and my values and my ideals.
There is one thing that I want to mention that I think is important. Part of what we've been seeing during the course this campaign is some scurrilous e-mails that have been sent out, denying my faith, talking about me being a Muslim, suggesting that I got sworn in the U.S. Senate with a Quran in my hand or that I don't pledge allegiance to the flag. I think it's really important for your readers to know that I have been a member of the same church for almost 20 years, and I have never practiced Islam. I am respectful of the religion, but it's not my own. One of the things that's very important in this day and age is that we don't use religion as a political tool and certainly that we don't lie about religion as a way to score political points. I just thought it was important to get that in there to dispel rumors that have been over the Internet. We've done so repeatedly, but obviously it's a political tactic of somebody to try to provide this misinformation.
Is there any sense of how wide this e-mail has been distributed?
This is similar to these smear tactics that were used against John McCain in 2000. We have to continually chase down this stuff. It's obviously being sent out in a systematic way. You guys really help by getting the story straight.

Comments:
Aaron Posted: January 25, 2008 11:58 AM

Dave is right. I believe Obama when he professes to be a practicing Christian and, as such, a part of the community of faith and my brother. I personally don't agree with Obama's position on many issues, socially and economically. I am, and always have considered myself a "conservative," but Obama reinforces my beliefs that, as "conservatives," we often get too caught up in political issues that demonstrate our lack of compassion. I realize "liberals" are guilty of the same thing in some arenas; but we, in the name of "conservatism" and Christianity, take hardline positions that may be right to take in some cases, but evidence that we place political gamemanship and, in many cases our opinions, above our concern for people and the love that Christ commanded us to have for others. Jesus was neither a Republican or a Democrat. He cared only for people's souls and He took the opportunity to address their needs whenever he had the chance ... whatever polical affiliation they had.

Vae Posted: January 25, 2008 6:17 AM

Dude is one of the few who actually manages to walk the fine line between belief and that incomprehensible urge to imprint the exact nuances of your own belief on others. Keep it coming, president Obama.

Barack Obama Honors The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Rev. Chuck Currie — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:38:21 EST

Sppeaking today at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Senator Obama marked the Martin Luther King, Jr. hoilday with stirring words:

Unity is the great need of the hour - the great need of this hour. Not because it sounds pleasant or because it makes us feel good, but because it's the only way we can overcome the essential deficit that exists in this country.
I'm not talking about a budget deficit. I'm not talking about a trade deficit. I'm not talking about a deficit of good ideas or new plans.
I'm talking about a moral deficit. I'm talking about an empathy deficit. I'm taking about an inability to recognize ourselves in one another; to understand that we are our brother's keeper; we are our sister's keeper; that, in the words of Dr. King, we are all tied together in a single garment of destiny.
We have an empathy deficit when we're still sending our children down corridors of shame - schools in the forgotten corners of America where the color of your skin still affects the content of your education.
We have a deficit when CEOs are making more in ten minutes than some workers make in ten months; when families lose their homes so that lenders make a profit; when mothers can't afford a doctor when their children get sick.
We have a deficit in this country when there is Scooter Libby justice for some and Jena justice for others; when our children see nooses hanging from a schoolyard tree today, in the present, in the twenty-first century.
We have a deficit when homeless veterans sleep on the streets of our cities; when innocents are slaughtered in the deserts of Darfur; when young Americans serve tour after tour of duty in a war that should've never been authorized and never been waged.
And we have a deficit when it takes a breach in our levees to reveal a breach in our compassion; when it takes a terrible storm to reveal the hungry that God calls on us to feed; the sick He calls on us to care for; the least of these He commands that we treat as our own.
So we have a deficit to close. We have walls - barriers to justice and equality - that must come down. And to do this, we know that unity is the great need of this hour.

Click here for Senator Obama's full remarks.

- The Rev. Chuck Currie

Support The Campaign Today

Rev. Chuck Currie — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:11:04 EST

Today I made another small contribution to support Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Consider doing the same. Senator Obama’s historic campaign for the White House – a run based on values – is fueled by small-time contributors and not the DC powerbrokers. I want Barack Obama in the White House because of his positions on Iraq, the environment, poverty and health care. Please join me this week as a person of faith supporting Barack Obama.

- The Rev. Chuck Currie

"A Defining Moment in our History"

Joshua DuBois - Director of Religious Affairs — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:52:57 EST

A few hours ago in front of a packed crowd in Des Moines, Iowa, Senator Obama delivered a speech that Mark Halperin from TIME Magazine called “a tour de force…the best written speech of the campaign.” In the speech Barack declared:

“…That’s the future within our reach. That’s what hope is – that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better is waiting for us around the corner. But only if we’re willing to work for it and fight for it. To shed our fears and our doubts and our cynicism. To glory in the task before us of remaking this country block by block, precinct by precinct, county by county, state by state.
“There is a moment in the life of every generation when, if we are to make our mark on history, this spirit must break through.
“This is the moment.
“This is our time.
“And if you will stand with me in seven days – if you will stand for change so that our children have the same chance that somebody gave us; if you’ll stand to keep the American dream alive for those who still hunger for opportunity and thirst for justice; if you’re ready to stop settling for what the cynics tell you must accept, and finally reach for what you know is possible, then we will win this caucus, we will win this election, we will change the course of history, and the real journey – to heal a nation and repair the world – will have truly begun.”

***

Your support has already helped Senator Obama make history. Never before has a political candidate engaged the faith community in the way he has – robust and honest, rooted in the belief that we can come together as Americans, and reconcile the beliefs of each, with the good of all:

You’ve helped Senator Obama win accolades from sources as diverse as the Associated Press and the Christian Broadcasting Network, leading USA Today to put him in a “religious league of his own.”
Thousands have signed up online as a “Person of Faith for Barack.”
Barack delivered a candid speech on faith lauded as: “the best [he has] ever given…the rhetoric of Evangelicalism while eschewing its occasional anti-intellectualism and hubristic certainty…as rare as it is exhilarating.”
An unprecedented group of top religious leaders across the nation and the early primary states have endorsed in strong support.
We’ve held nearly 100 Community Faith Forums across the country, where people from across religious, ethnic and political lines came together to discuss and define our common values.

In short, with your help Barack Obama has fundamentally changed what it means for candidates to articulate their faith in the public square.

Now, with 7 days until the Iowa caucus, we need your help more than ever. Here are a few ways you can lend a hand in these final few hours:

Phone a friend in Iowa. If you have friends or family in Iowa, give them a call and encourage them to caucus for Barack Obama on January 3rd at 6:30 p.m. Caucusing is easy – all you have to do is show up. You can register on the night of the caucus. Just have your friends call 888-OBAMA-IA to find their caucus location. Drop us a line at faith@barackobama.com to let us know who you’ve contacted.
Sign up as a “Person of Faith for Barack” and become a “Faith Community Contact.” You are the best spokesperson Senator Obama has in your faith community. No matter where you are, you can spread the word about Obama to people of faith you know. Become a Faith Community Contact here. Be sure to include your testimony about why you support Barack.
Lift us up in prayer. More than ever, please keep Barack, Michelle and their daughters in your thoughts and prayers. Join us in prayer every morning until the Iowa caucus at 8:30AM Central. Dial (866) 228-9900 and enter 1175507.
Contribute. Your financial contribution in any amount will go a long way towards getting Senator Obama past the finished line. Contribute here.
Join a faith group. Dozens of groups have been formed on the my.barackobama.com website, from “Evangelicals for Barack” to “Utah Catholics for Obama” and everything in between. Just visit http://my.barackobama.com and find the group that suits you.
Join our weekly discussion on faith. Each week we ask a different question on faith and politics and solicit responses from our supporters. Just send an email to faith@barackobama.com with the subject line “Faith discussion” to join the dialogue.

Thank you for the good work that you do in our communities each and every day. We couldn’t have made it this far without you. And we’re so grateful that you’ll be with us the rest of the way.

Hanukkah Greetings from Barack

D. Paul Monteiro -Deputy Director of Religious Affairs — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:59:15 EST

On this final night of Hanukkah we bring you greetings from Barack and his family:

My warmest greetings to all who are celebrating Hanukkah.

Hanukkah is a fitting time to give thanks and hope for a more peaceful
and free year throughout the world. As Jews throughout America and
around the world come together to light the menorah and remember the
miracle of Hanukkah, we are thankful for the blessing of religious
freedom in America. We stand with all those who are oppressed around
the world for their religious beliefs.

The story of Hanukkah serves as an inspirational reminder that
perseverance and faith can sustain us against difficult odds.
Hanukkah's lessons inspire all to be hopeful for the future and to find
light in times of darkness. Michelle and I extend our best wishes for a
memorable Hanukkah observance and for peace, joy, and hope in the coming
year.

Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha

African-American Religious Leaders Rally Behind Barack in Charleston

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:45:06 EST

African-American religious leaders from across the state and the country joined together today the Avery Center in Charleston, SC to rally in support Barack Obama and announce the formation of Senator Obama's national and state-wide African-American Religious Leadership Committees.

Civil rights luminaries Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery (above) and Dr. C.T. Vivian (below) were among the incredible religious leaders who fired up the crowd on Barck's behalf and declared their support.

The South Carolina committee features nearly 130 senior pastors from some of the largest and most important churches across the state.

Meanwhile, the National committee features the presidents of two of the largest national Baptist conventions; the most senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; and living legends in the struggle for civil rights, such as Rev. Lowrey and Dr. Vivian. (See the complete lists here)

Video: Reverend Joseph Lowery in Des Moines, Iowa

Michael Blake — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:55:48 EST

Michael Blake is the Obama campaign's Iowa Director of Faith Outreach

Yesterday Reverend Joseph Lowery, one of the cofounders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and The Coalition for the People’s Agenda, and a close friend of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr, spoke at Corinthian Baptist Church in Des Moines.

Reverend Lowery also heads up the Lowery Institute. He has been honored by the NAACP, the National Conference of Black Mayors, the Progressive National Baptist Convention and many other organizations for his role in the civil rights movement.

Hearing one of the leaders of the civil rights movement talk about why he supports Barack Obama and what his candidacy means for our country was an incredibly moving experience. Check out this video Greg put together:

Diwali: Celebration and Renewal

Prianka Sharma — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:06:46 EST

During this past weekend thousands of Hindus world-wide celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights and New Year. During this important festival, Hindus remember the mythological triumph of good over evil, and pray for success and happiness in the coming year. Being a fellow Hindu, I pray not only for self-renewal and success for my loved ones, but also for a renewal of faith in that which I value: freedom, democracy, the chance to have all voices heard.

As a Hindu, but also as an American, I am proud to live in a country where faith can be openly discussed in the spirit of learning and mutual understanding. It is my hope, that even if this is not your faith, you will be inspired by the sense of renewal that comes with Diwali, and the optimism and hope that it transcends for our country and its people.

40 Days of Faith and Family Redux: Colleton, Dorchester, Sumter, Kershaw & Lancaster Counties

D. Paul Monteiro -Deputy Director of Religious Affairs — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:52:02 EDT

Here are some of our many experiences along the road of our 40 Days of Faith and Family Tour:

Walterboro:
The Faith Forum tour rolled in to Walterboro last night on the campus of the University of South Carolina, Salkehatchie. It’s named after the river that runs through each of the five counties that support the campus. We met in the main building and got to mingle with several members of the community. There's a lot of Obama love in the area; the crowd broke out in a round of applause after seeing a brief biography of the senator on DVD. We had an engaging conversation about the issues facing Walterboro and Colleton County.
Mrs. Taylor spoke of the downturn in business given the high cost of gasoline that hinders tourism in her part of the state. She works as an artist weaving sweetgrass baskets made solely from natural materials indigenous to the Low Country. Bishop Taylor (no relation) expressed his worry over the growing appeal of gangs and drugs to so many young people. Mrs. Callender expressed the anxiety of many over the outsourcing of jobs and diminishing opportunities for employment. But we also spoke of the values of our beliefs that spur us to remain hopeful in spite of the weighty issues we face in our communities and in our country. We made a wish list of qualities we want to see in our next president: honesty, integrity, compassion and a person who lives their values instead of simply talking about them. Next stop: the College of Charleston on Thursday!

College of Charleston
On Thursday we visited the College of Charleston --home of the Cougars and the oldest university in South Carolina. We were blessed by the school’s gospel choir who opened this Faith Forum up with song. Folks from all over the community came together and shared in our discussion. The lack of healthcare again was at the forefront of the conversation. Dee who works on peace initiatives in Charleston spoke of her desire to see a sustained focus on creating a more peaceful community and country and promoting values that lead to less conflict and strife in our society.

Sumter
Somewhere along Route 378 we took a wrong turn and ended up arriving late to our forum in Sumter. We were as anxious as the crowd to begin the dialogue; however, once we did our guests did not disappoint. We heard of the need to ensure safety in our communities. Mrs. Taylor spoke of the increasing gang activity and violence in Sumter that needs to be addressed. Mr. Davis spoke frankly of his pessimism that the president would be able to get anything done without the support of Congress. We all agreed that it's imperative our next president be a uniter in the truest sense of the word. Ms. Bohanon, a veteran, shared her story of working with Tricare -- the military version of Medicare -- and the steep drop off in coverage and benefits once she reached 65.

Camden
Last night were in Camden at the historic Price House. The conversation touched on several of the issues that we’ve been hearing about: healthcare, the war in Iraq, education and the affordability of higher education. Audrey spoke of the need for education to break the cycle of poverty in American families. As a beneficiary of parents who saw the need for higher education she considers it crucial that a college education or some vocational training be made available for all. We also talked about our collective desire to see our country once again viewed by the world as a force for cooperation and international goodwill.

Lancaster
Tonight’s forum was, in a word, unusual. We shared the Lancaster Community Center with the Barr Street Seniors and their “Everybody’s Birthday” program. There was prayer and selections by the Bright Light Choir. Before the keynote speaker of the program began she gave Joshua a few minutes to speak about Senator Obama and what he’s bringing to this campaign. We walked away with a committed group of seniors ready to work to advance this movement for change. The forum was unusual because it was occurring simultaneously in a room connected to the banquet hall. We had a great discussion and new folks were constantly joining the conversation with plates of food in hand. We left Lancaster with some great ideas and full stomachs. Tomorrow morning we’ll be in Rock Hill for a forum at the Freedom Center.

Senator Barack Obama's Statement On Donnie McClurkin Controversy

Rev. Chuck Currie — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:03:25 EDT

A controversy has erupted over the scheduled appearance of a gospel singer at a concert event for Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Donnie McClurkin, a well know gospel star, reportedly has views that run counter to the Senator's on the issue of gay rights. Senator Obama restated his views on the subject in a statement issued yesterday:

"I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country.
I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division."

Senator Obama has a strong record of support for the GLBT community. America needs leaders who will confront these issues head-on and who also keep lines of communication open to others who might disagree. I'm confident that Barack Obama is that kind of leader.

Two Great Articles!

D. Paul Monteiro -Deputy Director of Religious Affairs — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:56:17 EDT

The Washington Post

Obama Reaches Out to Religious Voters

Chicago Sun-Times

God Trusted Us to Care for Environment, Obama Says

Audio: Barack at Greenville, SC Church

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:06:04 EDT

Barack attended church yesterday morning at Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville, SC.

The nearly 5,000 members in attendance Sunday welcomed Barack, and Pastor Ron Carpenter thanked Barack for choosing to worship with his diverse faith community.

"There's 714 churches here in Greenville… and there's about 410 restaurants. You had options, but you got up, you did what you had to do, and you came here, and I want you to know that I'm grateful for that... I don't take it for granted. You didn't have to be here, you came."

After the warm introduction from Pastor Ron, Barack had an opportunity to share a short reflection with those in attendance.

This is the second Sunday in a row that Barack has worshiped with members of the faith community in South Carolina - in the midst of the campaign's 40 Days of Faith and Family in the state, which you've probably read about in other posts by Joshua Dubois or D. Paul Monteiro right here on the SC blog.

As Barack described to AP Reporter Jim Davenport,

"...my job is to try to draw a connection between the values that I express to the church and the challenges and issues that we face in politics. ... I don't think there's anything wrong with expressing faith in the public square, and I think there's nothing wrong public servants expressing religiously rooted values."

40 Days of Faith and Family: Horry, Bamberg and Jasper counties

D. Paul Monteiro -Deputy Director of Religious Affairs — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:16:03 EDT

It's been a busy few days as we've crisscrossed the state of South Carolina on our Forty Days of Faith and Family tour. On Friday we visited Myrtle Beach and spent the evening hearing from the community about the issues that affect them and those closest to them.

The connection between faith and healthcare dominated our discussion as Mr. Struthers spoke of waiting for four hours in a hospital emergency room - a visit that cost him $2600 - and how this was offensive to the values of his faith. Ms. Goodman told her story of working for the local corrections department for more than 25 years - only to now be told that her insurance does not cover her illness. Ms. Graeves suggested that everyone in the room exchange contact information so that the discussion on faith and politics can continue and lead to collective action.

After coffee and snacking on doughnuts aptly named Minister Sweet led us in a closing prayer before we hit the road again.

Want to find out more about what's been going on recently on our "Forty Days of Faith & Family" tour?

Click here to read more>>

NPR's "Tell Me More with Michel Martin"

D. Paul Monteiro -Deputy Director of Religious Affairs — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:09:02 EDT

Joshua spent some time speaking with NPR's Michel Martin on her program "Tell Me More." You can listen to the interview at:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15030345