by John McCormick
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Prayers and the Pledge of Allegiance were said again before Sen. Barack Obama took the stage here this evening in what was his first stop in a four-day swing through Indiana.
A greater emphasis on prayer and added patriotism at Obama events started in Indiana on the mid-March weekend when a controversy over statements made by his longtime Chicago pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, first gained widespread attention.
Asked two weeks ago about their insertion into a program in North Carolina, Obama communications director Robert Gibbs said then that he was not aware of any efforts to do so.
But there is clearly a pattern of added emphasis on Christianity and patriotism for Obama – at least in conservative-leaning places like Indiana and North Carolina -- in the wake of the Wright controversy. Such overt religious displays had been relatively rare in the first 13 months of Obama's presidential bid.
This evening, before Obama's arrival, a local pastor asked the audience to hold hands and pray to God to guide the candidate's "heart and hands as he prepares to lead our great country."
Obama, meanwhile, heard cheers and boos as he made the obligatory reference to the Irish. "How many folks from Notre Dame around here?" he asked, before starting his standard stump speech in a high school gymnasium plastered with banners for basketball championships.
The Illinois Democrat also claimed that he has probably shaken more than 100,000 hands at this point in his campaign. That's probably close: with roughly 425 days since he announced his candidacy (give or take a few days off and days in the Senate), that would mean shaking about 235 hands a day to hit that goal.
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Comments
Senator Boy Wonder is feeling comfortable that he will win the dem nomination where the Pledge and Prayer would not be tolerated by the Move-on crowd, so now the re-packaging of the Senator starts for the general election.
Posted by: Terry | April 9, 2008 11:08 PM
Patriotism and religionism (my word) should be taken out of politics. So now the people who question both Obama's religion and his patriotism will be pleased with this gesture and gladly cast their votes for him. That's the way it's supposed to work. But I don't think that will be enough. He still needs to wear the flag lapel pin, say "amen" when he agrees with someone, and bowl on Saturday nights. Then and only then will he be a true blue, dyed in the wool American. "Aaaaaaarrrrgggh!"
Posted by: GW | April 9, 2008 11:26 PM
slow down terdumb. pres obama is a righteous man. and he will pull you out of the devastating bush recession. go back to blaming bubba for something.
Posted by: crud | April 10, 2008 1:01 AM
Patriotism and religionism (my word) should be taken out of politics.
Posted by: GW | April 9, 2008 11:26 PM
I agree 100%. Unfortunately Oprahma doesn't. He put religion into his campaign from the very beginning. He was one of the early adherents of the idea that the Democratic Party should actively court the evangelical vote. As part of that strategy, Barack Obama gave a speech on Faith in America back on June 28, 2006.
And the strategy is backfiring, due largely to the inescapable presence of the malodorous Reverend Mr. Wright.
Obama made a calculated move by injecting religion (and particularly his church) into the campaign. He has even calling Wright his spiritual mentor. So now he is judged by this because he invited us to judge him by this.
Who calls the tune, pays the piper.
Posted by: MJ | April 10, 2008 6:55 AM
Opening events with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance seems traditional with Congressional sessions and Presidential inaugurations. For Obama it affirms his commitment to the country and to his Christian faith -- both of which have been questioned by his detractors. Will he lose net votes over this?
Posted by: Pete from Boston | April 10, 2008 10:04 AM
"But there is clearly a pattern of added emphasis on Christianity and patriotism for Obama – at least in conservative-leaning places like Indiana and North Carolina..."
This is like, really asking for Trouble, Senator O. Going to offend the base. Nothing but Trouble can come of this.
O.K. Just don't pin on that red and white stripe thing, with the field of blue, and all of those little star-ry things pasted over all of that blue.
And IF U do have to do that, under duress, of course, make sure to cross your fingers behind your back.
Your friend, n the outback,
Posted by: Scott - Houston, Tx | April 10, 2008 4:12 PM
Did anyone else notice the Prayer and Pledge came before the candiate came on stage? So he didn't have to participate? "before Obama's arrival" now he gets credit for it happening while he is on a conference call and not participating?
I may try that at my next job.
Posted by: Julie | April 10, 2008 4:47 PM
Julie,
What a diabolical plan. Did the diabolical Karl Rove help to design that one. Folks around here like having long, boring meetings that start at 4:45 p.m. I'm not really down with that. Will have to work that one into my little box of tools also.
Posted by: Scott - Houston, Tx | April 10, 2008 5:25 PM
Obama's campaign decides to sprinkle a little religion on the flag and "proudly" wave it before he hits the stage.
Oh brother. America will eventually wake up to what this
guy really represents.
I continue to be amazed by the number of Obamuppets that will blindly bobble behind Barack. One should never underestimate the power of Stupid Humans In transit.
Posted by: Steve Boston | April 12, 2008 1:16 PM