Just as seven years ago the Foundation condemned Pres. George W. Bush's creation of his misguided "faith-based initiative," today the Foundation protests the shortsightedness of candidate Barack Obama in endorsing its continuation.
This is the wrong direction for our country. The next president should have the integrity and courage to back off from Bush's fiasco and abolish the so-called faith-based initiative. It has been a waste of taxpayers' money, has injected religion into politics, deprived needy clients of the best help, and has punched a huge hole in America's vaunted "wall of separation between church and state."
It's lovely to say, as Obama does, that "I believe deeply in the separation of church and state." But actions speak louder than words. There is negligible difference between Obama's and Bush's stated provisos on the faith-based initiative. Like Obama, Bush claimed the faith-based initiative would not allow religious groups to use public grants to proselytize or discriminate against clients, and that public money going to places of worship was only to be used for secular programs. But there is no accountability and no monitoring provisions, as the GAO audit of 2006 documented.
It's also fine for Obama to say the government and its recipients are going to follow the law. But every day at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, we field complaints about violations of the separation between church and state even over established law, such as school prayer. Obama offers no plan for monitoring the constitutional pitfall of a "partnership" between religion and government.
The Foundation has taken and won many court challenges against the faith-based initiative. For instance, a federal judge in our Faith Works case in Milwaukee ruled in 2002 that $800,000 in direct federal subsidy to a ministry that existed to "bring homeless addicts directly to Christ" was unconstitutional. The funds were spent (and wasted) by the time we won the case. In 2005, we halted the final federal grant to MentorKids USA, in which volunteer mentors had to sign a statement that they believed literally in the creation story before they could go on to openly proselytize children of prisoners. We stopped a "parish nursing program" in Montana in 2003, and in 2007 a "chaplaincy" in Indiana set up to minister to state employees. Important and pioneering as our legal cases have been, they are a mere drop in the bucket in terms of the public financing of proselytization under the faith-based scheme.
Obama praises Take Youth Education for Tomorrow, a program run by churches and church schools to teach reading after school and during the summer, largely in church settings. Churches and the offices of religious organizations are innately coercive environments. What about parents who don't want their children to have to go to church in order to get reading help? When taxpayers are footing the bill, such programs should be held in a neutral setting--there is, after all, no shortage of public schools, already tax-supported!
It is not only the 16% of the population who is nonreligious who is offended. Many Muslims are forbidden to enter Christian churches. Jewish children may not feel comfortable entering a Christian church. Even many Christian sects are uneasy about adherents entering churches run by competing denominations. The idea is fraught with practical and constitutional peril.
Weirdly, Obama criticizes Bush for failing to reach out to faith-based groups about how to apply for federal dollars. Yet this was a cornerstone of Bush's faith-based initiative. At countless regional and federal faith-based conferences, hands-on technical support at public expense (including "free lunches") is exactly what the Bush Administration has offered churches and religious agencies for seven expensive years!
Obama says "we all have to work together--Christian and Jew, Hindu and Muslim; believer and nonbeliever alike--to meet the challenges of the 21st century." True, even laudable. But that does not mean "we" should all be taxed to support churches or religious agencies. Many Americans proudly are descended from immigrants who came here to escape mandatory tithes and taxation in support of churches against their consent.
Obama's tone is more balanced than Bush's. But he spoils the effect by criticizing those "who bristle at the notion that faith has a place in the public square." Secularists have never said faith can't be displayed in public. We do insist that faith should not be part of government, subsidized by government or promoted by government. The genius of the founders of our secular republic was to recognize that keeping religion and government separate is the way to prevent religious corruption and coercion.
Obama's reference to needing "people of faith on Capitol Hill"--as if Capitol Hill weren't at the moment dominated by "people of faith"--is both a naive platitude and exclusionary. How would religionists feel if Obama had said: "We need people without faith on Capitol Hill"?
Let's abolish the faith-based initiative and go back to the days before John Ashcroft first proposed so-called "charitable choice." Religious social services have always been free to bid for social service grants, but they were expected to create a secular arm, keep separate books and take their crosses down. A return to the status quo is the simple answer to the mess created by Bush's faith-based initiative.
Obama's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is merely a renaming of Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Ironically, nearly everything Obama criticizes Bush's initiative for ("it was used to promote partisan interests," "it has to be a real partnership--not a photo-op") can be said of Obama's plan and his "photo-op" speech today. Same taxi, different driver. Where's that vaunted "change" that Obama's campaign has been promising?
On a related topic, we are appalled at the arrogant, presumptuous hubris of politicians who claim to know "God's will." Obama joins an unfortunately long line of political candidates and public officials (which includes more than its fair share of despots), who talk about "fulfilling God's will" and "doing the Lord's work." Why are these politicians so special that they possess a direct pipeline to a divinity? The presidential candidates have crossed the line between acknowledging sincere personal faith to wearing faith on their sleeves and unapologetic political pandering. Both John McCain and Obama have been burned by their past close associations with pastors. Why can't they see that religion mixed with politics is always a combustible mixture?
--Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, The Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Your Moment! When the times are too great, and the paradox are set for equality, this moment is that time.When the world is at its lift and the constellation meets the mitts; this moment is that time.When those that mock, and mark the leadership qualities in a candidate that has been opposed, this moment is that time.When the opposing incumbent party is cynical of the ideas that the opposition presides, and says that's not leadership and then rephrases those ideas, to make a claim on them; is a true lack of leadership. That's when you know this is the time.This time the political gamesmanship on pandering politics -- where the bureaucrats only seek gaming the political system, to have power and control; where they spend hours looking at their profits and not the harm to the economy -- this is the moment in time that change has come. That's when you know this is the time.Change is not about: A Man with pigment in his skin, change is not about a women on a ticket; Change is not about an elder being begged to change their stubborn ways. Have you ever tried to get an elder to change their old habits -- It's hard work but it takes a spirited leader: Like Barack Obama and a nobody like Omar Dyer: two community Organizers to organize change.Change is not about; saying this person is a better American, and the other is fraud. Change is when noticeable theories are not correct and a new course is needed; a true leader will say, "I made this move because that's the change we need."Change is when a person makes the ultimate sacrifice in good of the people they represent. If you follow your candidate: Follow, if you believe your candidate: Believe. You don't need to be little others because they don't have the same views as you. That's when you know it's time to change. That's the type of politics we need to change!We are in a moment where the bitterness of someone's' pigment in their skin has no barring on the character on the content of their minds -- in a new direction to lead.We can't afford to demonize an American child because they don't come from my hood. We can't afford to demonize an American child because they don't have the same ideological thinking as you do! This campaign is not about being a celebrity in politics, making one before the other: this campaign is about all Americans, coming together and forming: One Nation. One America, a speech John Edwards wrote; a vision Abraham Lincoln saw, a dream Martin Luther King Jr. spoke -- a Hope, Barack Obama preached, and a grassroots campaign achievement by a local community organizer; in which help bring in more community organizers to unite this country from the bottom up. As one of the leaders in Barack Obama's New Jersey's Grassroots Finance Committee in campaigning and organizing; a local community organizer, and other locals like: "Omar Dyer: TheFanNJ," has helped transformed the internet as a reliable source of organizing marching and bringing people to Barack Obama's campaign. TheFanNJ has been strictly better than Karl Rove; and it was done on clean politics.
Your Moment!
When the times are too great, and the paradox are set for equality, this moment is that time.
When the world is at its lift and the constellation meets the mitts; this moment is that time.
When those that mock, and mark the leadership qualities in a candidate that has been opposed, this moment is that time.
When the opposing incumbent party is cynical of the ideas that the opposition presides, and says that's not leadership and then rephrases those ideas, to make a claim on them; is a true lack of leadership. That's when you know this is the time.
This time the political gamesmanship on pandering politics -- where the bureaucrats only seek gaming the political system, to have power and control; where they spend hours looking at their profits and not the harm to the economy -- this is the moment in time that change has come. That's when you know this is the time.
Change is not about: A Man with pigment in his skin, change is not about a women on a ticket; Change is not about an elder being begged to change their stubborn ways. Have you ever tried to get an elder to change their old habits -- It's hard work but it takes a spirited leader: Like Barack Obama and a nobody like Omar Dyer: two community Organizers to organize change.
Change is not about; saying this person is a better American, and the other is fraud.
Change is when noticeable theories are not correct and a new course is needed; a true leader will say, "I made this move because that's the change we need."
Change is when a person makes the ultimate sacrifice in good of the people they represent. If you follow your candidate: Follow, if you believe your candidate: Believe. You don't need to be little others because they don't have the same views as you. That's when you know it's time to change. That's the type of politics we need to change!
We are in a moment where the bitterness of someone's' pigment in their skin has no barring on the character on the content of their minds -- in a new direction to lead.
We can't afford to demonize an American child because they don't come from my hood.
We can't afford to demonize an American child because they don't have the same ideological thinking as you do!
This campaign is not about being a celebrity in politics, making one before the other: this campaign is about all Americans, coming together and forming: One Nation. One America, a speech John Edwards wrote; a vision Abraham Lincoln saw, a dream Martin Luther King Jr. spoke -- a Hope, Barack Obama preached, and a grassroots campaign achievement by a local community organizer; in which help bring in more community organizers to unite this country from the bottom up. As one of the leaders in Barack Obama's New Jersey's Grassroots Finance Committee in campaigning and organizing; a local community organizer, and other locals like: "Omar Dyer: TheFanNJ," has helped transformed the internet as a reliable source of organizing marching and bringing people to Barack Obama's campaign. TheFanNJ has been strictly better than Karl Rove; and it was done on clean politics.
This blog is directly addressed to Senator Barack Obama. In the name of GOD and you (Mr. Obama); I am ready to assist in any effort directed by you in this time of major concern. I am an IT specialist with over a decade of management experience that happens to be built like a football player. So I make myself available for anything from assisting in the network and communication efforts to cleaning up debris from the street.
The time is now Mr. President, (to be), to take charge, to lead, to react without haste but with keen foresight, to do what you do best. I'm behind you!!!
Please tell me America isn’t this gullible. Why does John McCain feel that he can elect a woman as his VP and somehow level the playing field with Obama and Biden? I tell you this is dirty politics at its best and it tells you that John McCain thinks the average American is stupid...
Electing Sarah is like picking your little brother to play on your team because your mother told you to, or else! It’s like getting stuck with that fat kid with no athletic ability because there’s no one else left to choose from. If the republicans think that this somehow appeals to the female voters or the Hilary supporters; I have one thing to say.
They should be ashamed of themselves. This is a slap in the American face. Hilary not only proved through her career but also over the past months that she deserved to be in the race, deserved the 18 million votes, deserved to be a part of history. Let's not blemish this landmark in history with an Average Jo-Ann, just to make a point. Hilary has set the bar and let me tell you it's pretty darn high. Who ever takes the glory of being the first woman anything, should be well worth the hype.
America please don’t be fooled and fall for these ridiculous tricks of a suffering political group. Sarah Palin isn’t someone that will compliment as a counter balance to John McCain. This is just another crony of the republican system just thrown into a skirt, (I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t have a slew of pant suits).
I think a smart move would be for Barack to announce Hilary as his number three, and then brush the McCain camp under his red carpet where they belong.
Download my new FREE McCain Fact Check Flyer http://www.freewebs.com/supersonic94/5%20things%20about%20mccain.rtf
It has taken me quite some time to become interested in politics again. Safe isn't the right word, but it's the first that comes to mind. After weeks of carefull pondering and sleepless nights I finally reached my decision to back the personified pillar of hope that is Barack Obama.
I've never been too large a fan for the word hope. It's conotations suggest inactivity; a chance of change. Because of this for a great while I was without what society would qualify as hope. I began to believe that The United States of America was only a place that I resided, and no longer a home or an ideal. This tortured my mind; how could everything I had every been taught about the founding fathers and the history of this great country be gone? How could the values upon which this country was unified degrade into unrecognizeable nothingness? It was at this time that I began to follow the primaries, almost more out of desperation for hope rather than for actual interest.
From the beginning on my observations Obama stood out to me as a cut above the rest. Through his actions and disposition I was able to connect and share the views that he possesses that are of monumental imorportance to our country at this time. The very views and ideals that founded this country and will someday unite it once again in a battle not unlike the revolutionary war. Perhaps the means will be different, less violence, no guns, but for all intents and purposes we are starting a battle with a new declaration of independence. The declaration that says that we will not be subject any longer to the dictates of corrupt leaders. The declaration that says that we have the power, and will use it, to change what has permiated in our society, the stench and rotting of stagnant policies that serve only those who put them into effect. This declaration will make clear that we will have unity and we will work and fight for it. We will no longer fall victim to hopelessness. We will no longer toss and turn at night knowing that great ideas and people are disregarded on principle of race, creed, religion, backround, class, or any other false belief based on prejudice. We truly live in a time where change is not only in sight, but wholly possible based on our actions.
No longer must we sit still, tortured by what society and the government has done to distort the idea of hope. We will once again know and teach what it means to be an American. We will work together as one. THE WHOLE WILL BE GREATER THAN THE SUM OF IT'S PARTS. We will show those who would stand in our way in favor of selfish ideals that hurt this great nation that hope is not a tool to apease the masses, but a driving force that inspires action and change. We will be one. Through the voices of many our problems will be heard and our needs will be met.
It is no longer a time where we vote based on parties or groups, but on the ideas and leaders that will bring true change. The leaders that are openminded to all suggestions that would benefit the nation regardless of affiliation to any organization. We live in a time where we can work towards the most important allegience, the allegience of Americans. Our actions and ideas will be seen as those of fellow members of this great nation first and foremost.
This will take time. It is a battle that must be fought if we are to remain successful as a nation. Hope is regaining it's meaning. We will fight, we will work, we will change, and we will continue down this new and unprecedented path to greatness.
