Bush Pastor Launches Pro-Obama Web Site

Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, Who Officiated At Jenna Bush's Wedding, Launches Site Titled "James Dobson Does Not Speak For Me"

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Krissah Williams on washingtonpost.com's blog The Trail.

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Sparks are flying in the 2008 culture wars.

The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, leader of the largest Methodist congregation in the country, launched a website yesterday titled "James Dobson Does Not Speak For Me." The site is a jab at Dobson, a stalwart of the religious right who this week called Sen. Barack Obama's interpretation of the Bible in a 2006 speech distorted "to fit [Obama's] own world view, his own confused theology."

Caldwell's site launched a day after Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program aired a harsh assessment of Obama's speech on faith and public policy and encourages readers to sign a statement declaring that Dobson does not represent them.

"I think it's a crime and a shame that Senator Obama has had to explain the fact that he's a Christian," Caldwell said in a recent interview. "Criticize his politics. Criticize his stance on whatever, but don't question his faith. Never in the history of American politics has someone said that he is a Christian and someone came back to say, 'No you're not.'"

If Rev. Caldwell's name sounds familiar, it may be because he is the same Rev. Caldwell who introduced President Bush at the 2000 Republican National Convention and last month officiated at Jenna Bush's wedding ceremony at the presidential ranch in Crawford. This election Caldwell is firmly in the Obama camp and doggedly trying to help the campaign bring other pastors and parishioners along.

Caldwell's site encourages readers to sign this statement:

James Dobson doesn't speak for me.

He doesn't speak for me when he uses religion as a wedge to divide;

He doesn't speak for me when he speaks as the final arbiter on the meaning of the Bible;

...What does speak for me is David's psalm celebrating how good and pleasant it is when we come together in unity;

Micah speaks for me in reminding us that the Lord requires us to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him;

...These words speak for me. But when James Dobson attacks Barack Obama, James Dobson doesn't speak for me.


The site also provides a side-by-side transcript of Obama's Call to Renewal speech and Dobson's critique.

Caldwell is not an official surrogate for the Obama campaign, but has for months participated on a weekly Friday morning prayer call with members of Obama's staff and other Christian ministers who dial in from across the county.

Caldwell, who oversees the 14,000-member Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, said he personally prayed with Obama before the Texas primary and talks regularly with Joshua DuBois and Paul Monteiro, the young staffers overseeing the campaign's religious outreach.

The campaign has indicated recently that it will aggressively pursue religious voters, and Obama met with 30 evangelical leaders earlier this month, including the Bishop T.D. Jakes and the Rev. Franklin Graham (son of the Rev. Billy Graham), for an off the record Q & A session. And the campaign is reportedly working on a broad outreach to young evangelicals that it calls "The Joshua Generation."

CBN reporter and blogger David Brody, who has been following the role of faith in the campaign closely, has suggested that Obama will struggle to win over many traditional Evangelicals but has a shot with younger Christians. "Clearly there are differences between Obama's more progressive views of Christianity and the conservative viewpoint. It's important to remember that while Obama will attract some conservative Evangelicals, Obama's main goal is to win over moderate Evangelicals," Brody wrote on his blog. "Also young conservative Evangelicals seem more open to Obama's 'Christian' message of caring for the poor, fighting genocide, healthcare for all, and climate change. They also like the fact that he is reaching out to try and find common ground with conservative faith voters."

For his part, Caldwell, who still considers Bush a personal friend, said he sees similarities between the President and Obama that may appeal to religious voters.

"They are both loyal to their God. They are very loyal to their country. They are very loyal to their wives and their families," Caldwell said. "They are great husbands and great dads. Both of them have a clear understanding of the role that the families play in the community."

Will that be enough for Obama to siphon off some of the heavily Republican evangelical vote, which went overwhelmingly to Bush in 2000 and 2004? If Dobson is any indication, skeptics remain.

[parrot123-2009]

It seems to be for liberals and excuse to attack christians when they can with the letter of the bible often without the spirit.

they don''''t believe in it but try to find others accountable to it.
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 07:53 PM : Jun 29, 2008

I think it''s your kind of Christian that we all need to be very wary of - How do you propose to know who Christians are and who believes in the Bible ? Then you post about Liberals attacking christians ?? How do these christians attack each other in your head again ??? How ???? ...... I''m a Christian and also consider myself very Liberal so who i''m i attacking again for being Liberal ??? It can get very confusing when you try understanding a Repug as they''ll say anything to further their political cause instead of looking at what''s best for EVERY AMERICAN. Cheers!

[obama8years]

Obama is a modern-day Marxist.


Castro and Obama share many of the same values and principles for the country''s economy:

1. Redistribute the country''s wealth - Marxism 101

2. Grow the size of the government - Create new departments dedicated to supporting Item 1

3. Blame greedy American corporations for the pains of the US and the rest of the world

4 Increase taxes on those already paying the largest percentage and total amount. The top 1% already pay 39% of all taxes.

5 Nationalize healthcare

6 Campaign on a principle based on appealing to the lower income 50% of the US to despise the rich and convince 45% of the other half that their life is miserable so that once convinced of their doom and gloom, they will support the doomsayer and will want bigger government

[obama8years]

6 Campaign on a principle based on appealing to the lower income 50% of the US to despise the rich and convince 45% of the other half that their life is miserable so that once convinced of their doom and gloom, they will support the doomsayer and will want bigger government

7. Convince the public, that America is perceived as evil, thus, hated by the rest of the world.

8. Abandon America''s principle of helping the world rid itself of dictatorships, thus, put our weapons down, throw our arms up, and retreat in shame from Iraq.

9. Support dictatorships throughout the world and elevate them to be recognized by the US as worthy leaders that need to be heard without preconditions - legitimize them

10. Grow the support base by expanding the lowest income class in the country by increasing and broadening entitlements; however, add to that the importation of poverty into the United States by giving Amnesty to well over 20 million illegal aliens in the country. Furthermore, promote this policy in order to attract even more illegal immigration prior to the granting of the amnesty in order to achieve the highest number of "new, uneducated, government-dependent poor class", I call the "new poor".

[obama8years]

11. Dictate to Americans that they should be ashamed for using 25% of the world''s energy while only having 3% of the population and that A/C thermostats in should be set at higher than 72 degrees.

12. Give up America''s sovereignty for the "good of the world" and to save the planet from "global warming" by supporting new treaties on international boundaries, not drilling in ANWR or offshore, but standing by while Castro plans to drill off the Florida coast.

13. Campaigning on a message of "change", because it sounds good.


The list can go on and on, as Castro and Obama share many principles for the formula for a failed state, but one in which the party of the "new poor" remains in power through the growth of government. As this party provides more and more entitlements for its citizens and big government prevails, the country becomes less and less productive. Eventually, America''s economy is no better off than Cuba''s. Therefore, Fidel, go ahead and send Obama that box of Cohibas, for he is a Marxist just like you.

[terrorislami]

YOU DO NOT LIKE THE USA IN THE MIDDLE EAST,,,

BLAME THE DEMONIC-RATS,,,

THE DEMONIC-RAT DOCTRINE,,,

On February 16, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the "the defense of Saudi Arabia is vital to the defense of the United States." On February 14, 1945, while returning from the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt met with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia on the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal, the first time a U.S. president had visited the Persian Gulf region.

The Carter Doctrine was a policy proclaimed by President of the United States Jimmy Carter in his State of the Union Address on 23 January 1980, which stated that the United States would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf region. The doctrine was a response to the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, and was intended to deter the Soviet Union%u2014the Cold War adversary of the United States%u2014from seeking hegemony in the Persian Gulf. After stating that Soviet troops in Afghanistan posed "a grave threat to the free movement of Middle East oil," Carter proclaimed:

Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force. (full speech)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Doctrine

[terrorislami]

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM IS THE PROBLEM,,,

DEMONIC-RAT HUSSEIN IS NOT THE SOLUTION,,,

[alanrobisch]

Ever notice that Bush/McCain supporters type in all caps?....hmmmm wonder why :lol:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by pr_boxer at 02:32 PM : Jun 29, 2008
+ report abuse
Hmm I notice someone with too much time on his hands and with a point without a reason

[alanrobisch]

barack obama is the typical elitist who tries to correct God''s Word where it doesn''t fit his views. His stance on abortion alone is absurd in the light of Christ''s teachings.

Christ showed great love for children and I doubt that it was limited to those who had come from there mother''s uterus.

His stance about homosexual marriage ditto. A person who is an evangelical believes in the the bible as the inerrant word of God not just something to justify a position but something to live by.

It seems to be for liberals and excuse to attack christians when they can with the letter of the bible often without the spirit.

they don''t believe in it but try to find others accountable to it.

[pr_boxer]

Ever notice that Bush/McCain supporters type in all caps?....hmmmm wonder why :lol:

[pr_boxer]

One by one the misquided are waking up to the lies and incompetence that has characterized the Bush administration.

[jack3213]

IT IS OBAMA WHO IS THE NEXT BUSH-( YOU MORONS )- NOT MCCAIN-

HAVE YOU ALL FORGOTTEN ( ALREADY ) HOW IT FEELS TO BE LIED TO?!!

[zerato-2009]

We can''''t afford to take a chance on a kid who still needs training wheels on his bike.

Posted by JTait2

Obama will not rule in a vaccum, and his judgment on iraq was pretty good.

[fuzzybear9]

Hello America

Today I should Like to take up the Topic of
Apartide.

what with the recent Mandella party, of all places in London.

now for our younger readers that know little of the topic, let me refresh you with history,

about oh say 30 years ago there was a movement among
the Liberal Black Caccus under the direction of Ted Kennedy, to spread on colledge campuses, the Liberal idea of Apartied. with pop singers such as Simon, Elton, etc. etc.

so Hawvard, Stanford, UC Berkley, Browns, Montana State and countless other Universities began the International, embargo against South Africa,
settled by White mainly Dutch immigrants in the 1850`s.

now South Africa had became prosperous with diamonds, gold, wheat and cattle. for nearly say 150 years.

After the White South Africans Fled to Australia and else where to avoid the unrest of Apartied, then came Nelson Mandella out of prison to run South Africa.

now 30 years later, Zimbabwee instead of being a country of vast resources, is now led under Mob rule from Apartied. and Darfor and so on and so forth.

Fuzzy were is this going ?
I only wanted to show the results of Liberal Medalling,
and to remind those Socialist Liberals of Hawvard and Stanford, how much pain and suffering their stupid ideas have had on Humanity.

sincerely Fuzzy Bear

[terrorislami]

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM IS THE PROBLEM,,,

DEMONIC-RAT HUSSEIN IS NOT THE SOLUTION,,,

[terrorislami]

YOU DO NOT WANT THE USA IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

BLAME THE DEMONIC-RATS

THE DEMONIC-RAT DOCTRINE,,,

On February 16, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the "the defense of Saudi Arabia is vital to the defense of the United States." On February 14, 1945, while returning from the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt met with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia on the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal, the first time a U.S. president had visited the Persian Gulf region.

The Carter Doctrine was a policy proclaimed by President of the United States Jimmy Carter in his State of the Union Address on 23 January 1980, which stated that the United States would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf region. The doctrine was a response to the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, and was intended to deter the Soviet Union%u2014the Cold War adversary of the United States%u2014from seeking hegemony in the Persian Gulf. After stating that Soviet troops in Afghanistan posed "a grave threat to the free movement of Middle East oil," Carter proclaimed:

Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force. (full speech)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Doctrine

[patriot12436]

realpatriot
Maybe obama and michelle stayed faithful to one another becasue no one else would have them. I thought obama starred in the movie The Night of the Living Dead, and Michelle looks like a rabid pit bull.

[nanc12]

Great post, btw Kitty-Kate

[nanc12]

The fact that Christianity EXISTS wiped out the laws of the Old Testament!
Jesus Christ! Didn''''t you people EVER go to church?
Posted by RowdyWicca

I''m going to have to tell my pastor tomorrow that Rowdywicca says he can''t talk about the 10 commandments, or Noah, or Joseph, etc. anymore. LOL

[realpatriot1]

Kitty-Kate,

Very funny! What''s even funnier is to hear RowdyWicca say that the New Testament wipes out the Old Testement. She should try selling that argument to Dobson and his like-minded followers.

I guess that explains why so many cultural conservatives cherry-pick their way through the 10 Commandments.

To be consistent they should reject McCain and vote for Obama.Obama has remained married to one woman and abided by the admonition that what God has brought together for man to not put asunder(God knows I''m paraphrasing).

McCain apparently interpreted that admonition to have a loophole that if the wife who remained faithful and stood by while you were a prisoner of war was severely injured in an accident and needed you to stand by her that it''s ok to dump her for a rich woman who can better help your career.

That''s definitely not in either Testament.

[patriot12436]

rowdywicca
Kittykat is using satirical humor to make a point here. I was greatly amused by her wit.