Let's step back in time just a moment to Christmas, 2007. After months of campaigning, GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee decided to create a Christmas television ad. He didn't talk about taxes or foreign policy or Social Security, but rather, he wished everyone a merry Christmas. The ad was the focus of media attention, with multiple stories implying that Huckabee "had gone too far mixing religion and politics."
If a Christmas ad warranted so much criticism, why is Democrat Barack Obama getting a free pass as he sends out campaign flyers showing him at the pulpit of a church? Huckabee was criticized for a bookcase in the background of his commercial that some said was a subliminal cross. Obama is standing in front of a real cross and church organ, and nothing is being said. If Huckabee went "too far" in "mixing religion and politics," what is Obama doing? It seems Obama will do anything in this campaign to sell himself to voters except actually telling them where he stands on the issues.
Last December, Gov. Mike Huckabee put out the following commercial:
As the camera panned past the bookcase, some news stories reported that a "subliminal cross" was being shown. This brought accusations that Huckabee, an ordained minister, had crossed the line. Now, as the Democrats campaign in Kentucky, below is an image of a flyer that is being circulated by the Obama campaign.
As noted in a posting by the Christian Broadcasting Network, author David Brody states that Obama is "making a direct appeal to Evangelicals with flyers that mention his conversion experience and they highlight a big old cross. Remember Mike Huckabee’s supposed subliminal cross in his Christmas campaign ad? Well, the Obama campaign ditches the subliminal and goes for the in your face cross."
The Obama campaign has consistently believed that their candidate can compete for the “religious vote”. A lot has been made about how Obama hasn’t done as well with Catholics compared to Clinton. But let’s remember one thing: Obama has a story to tell about how Jesus came into his life. You can bet we will be hearing more details about it on the stump in the fall. (if Obama is the nominee)
Obama's Christian message is being broadcast over the radio as well. In a Kentucky.com news story, the organization reports that "Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, who endorsed Obama on Sunday, narrated a new radio spot for Obama that highlights the Illinois Senator's upbringing and values, including how Obama is 'a strong Christian.'"
First, as a Christian, let me state that one's religious beliefs should never be excluded from political discussion. That is not the point here. The point is that Obama is blatantly campaigning not on issues, but rather on religion, and he is getting a pass from the media. Huckabee was criticized for a Christmas ad, and Obama's blatant pandering to Evangelicals is not being covered.
Additionally, it is more than hypocritical to tout one's Christian faith and also accept the endorsement of the pro-abortion group NARAL. I only hope that John McCain has the sense and fortitude to expose the real Barack Obama and not give him a pass as the media outlets are doing.
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Okay, so maybe someone can explain why it's wrong for a preacher (who admittedly was running for political office at the time), who was sending a Christmas message to America to have a cross in the video at all, much less one that was formed by the lighting on a bookshelf, but it's alright for another candidate (at a later time) to stand at what appears to be a church lectern with a large cross behind him?
I would expect a preacher to have a cross in his house just as I would expect a rabbi to have a menorah or a Star of David prominently displayed in his house. And, oh my gosh! he had a Christmas tree in the video as well. He must wish people a "Merry Christmas" instead of the PC "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings".
I personally don't care if Senator Obama has a photo op in every church, synagogue, temple or whathaveyou in the United States. But I have to wonder if this isn't just damage control after the Reverend Wright debacle. Has he decided that he must show himself to be a man of religion by this photo op? Is he next going to say that he's surrounding himself with questionable characters so that he can guide them to the light and save their souls? (There seems to be an awful lot of people who need saved in his orbit). That can be a double-edged sword. One can pick up bad habits as well as rehabilitate the bad in others.
In any case, in my opinion it's bad form to pose in front of a cross when you've criticized someone else for having an unintentional one in a Christmas time video.
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