Orrin Hatch to Obama: Don't Tout Christianity for Public Policy - That's My Thing!
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is offended that President Barack Obama quoted scripture to make the case for a fairer tax policy.
Speaking to a group of mostly-conservative politicians at the annual National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, the president proved that conservatives do not have a monopoly on using religion to advocate for specific public policies.
“And when I talk about shared responsibility, it’s because I genuinely believe at a time when folks are struggling, at a time when we have enormous deficits, it’s hard for me to ask seniors on a fixed income or young people with student loans or middle class families who can barely pay the bills to shoulder the burden alone," Obama explained. "And I think to myself, if I am willing to give something up as someone who has been extraordinarily blessed, give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy — I actually think that’s going to make economic sense."
“But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’s teaching that for unto whom much is given, much shall be required,” the president added.
Only a few hours later, Hatch, who normally favors co-mingling government and religion, was on the floor of the Senate expressing outrage at the president for using the Bible to make a point.
"Just this morning at the National Prayer Breakfast, the president took what has always been a non-partisan opportunity for national unity and used to promote his political agenda," Hatch complained. "He suggested to the attendees that Jesus would have supported his latest tax-the-rich schemes. With due respect to the president, he ought to stick to public policy. I think most Americans would agree that the Gospels are concerned with weightier matters than effective tax rates."
"In 2008, the president declared that his nomination was the world historical moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal," Hatch recalled.
"Someone needs to remind the president that there was only one person who walked on water, and he did not occupy the Oval Office."
Hatch, however, has made the case for religion in public policy when it suits his needs.
During a Republican presidential debate in 2000, the senator from Utah declared, "if I had my way, I'd have a silent prayer reflection constitutional amendment that would give kids a moment of silent prayer reflection at the beginning of every school day."
He has also leaned on the Bible to make the case against gay rights.
"It's a religious belief to me that homosexuality flies in the face of biblical teachings," Hatch, who is Mormon, told The Salt Lake Tribune in 1999.
(H/T: The Hill)
Impossible to attack the President quoting directly from the bible, so asshole Hatch goes after Obama personally.
Tired ass strategy only appeals to the most nasty anti-Obama bigots.
HRC famously said about John Bolton's criticism of President Obama: "If President Obama, you know, walked on water, [Bolton]'d say he couldn't swim."
Now, when President cites the ethics of Jesus, he is accused of being Messianic. Figures. This from the party that sees education as indoctrination and facts as having a liberal bias.
Their manufactured outrage is even more hypocritical and transparent considering Bush cited Jesus as his favorite "political philosopher." I guess Jesus is only political when it suits the partisan goals of Republicans.
Here in Arizona the conservatives have been calling President Obama "the messiah" ever since his election.
Election 2012: Be Educated! Be Active! Vote!
www.PhoenixJustice.com
Orrin ought to know, since he is a direct descendant of Satan.
Didn't this guy die a few years ago? It looks like he was stuffed, and they have a puppet master pulling strings on his jaw.
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
Orrin Hatch is mad because he himself is not JC.
me-oww!
Since he's Mormon, he believes he will be a god after he dies (if Joseph Smith lets him), so not too far from the truth based on his beliefs.
"...no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 289).
HA HA - CULT!
Almost as funny as the magic underpants. Why are people such suckers for a cult, still, after all these years?
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Republicans rightly consider Jesus their intellectual property.
They bought the copyright through Sony's Cayman Islands tax haven.
Jesus, Inc.
You can't very well both reject, and embrace something at the same time!, Can you?
Well you can, I often do, but most people can't;) Groups are seldom smart enough to do it!
How do you let everyone in the group in on the joke, without spilling the beans to those outside
the group?
I find the whole premise of the National Prayer Breakfast an afront to the constitutional provision that no religious test will be applied for qualification to hold office. Also, the fact that the whole farce is the creation of the Coe Family, of "C" St. fame as well as numerous other shady activities designed to insinuate fundamentalist christian ideology into the mechanism of what should be our secular state should give all citizens of this nation who believe in equality and the rule of civil law pause when considering the corrosive influence of dogma on the body politic. Prior to Eisenhower this kowtowing nonsense did not exist and Obama's willingness to perpetuate this asinine ritual speaks to his willingness to do or say anything to maintain his grasp on power!
Agreed.
far left loon >.<
we should all be worried when any elected official is playing up the fact they believe in a religion that other beliefs are wrong and sinful.
however hearing hatch talk about it is especially terrifying and amusing. debate using logic is no longer the norm.
Where Jesus plainly says only hypocrites pray in public ..
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
You start off by making great points, but then you say: "...Obama's willingness to perpetuate this asinine ritual speaks to his willingness to do or say anything to maintain his grasp on power!"
The last 12 words sound rather trollish, like something you'd hear from President Obama's opponents. Somehow, I don't think that you do oppose him and would rather see Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich win the next election, but I could be wrong.
If he were really willing to "do or say anything to maintain his grasp on power" why does he keep saying and doing things that his opponents, those that might actually have the ability to take away his "power", don't agree with? What would the obstructionist Republicans be obstructing?
As for his "willingness to perpetuate this asinine ritual", do you really think that his refusal to attend would keep it from being perpetuated? You said yourself that, "...the whole farce is the creation of the Coe Family, of "C" St. fame as well as numerous other shady activities...." I'm pretty sure those fuckers would be all too happy to use the refusal to attend by Obama, who is still considered by many to be a Muslim, to bolster their "activities designed to insinuate fundamentalist christian ideology into the mechanism of what should be our secular state." I don't think him doing something like that would go over too well with a lot of voters, either.
So, given that the only alternative to Obama "maintaining his grasp on power" is a Republican president, I think you should reconsider your opinion on his attendance at this bogus American ritual in which, according to you, every President since Eisenhower has been a participant.
Also, he is a Christian. We knew that when we voted him in. At least, he seems to be one of the good ones judging by the biblical quotes he used, as opposed to those Republicans who seem to want to impose some type of "Christian" sharia law.
I can live with Romney, Newt, Huntsman, and even Santorum! So long as Ron Paul is thrown of in disgrace! These guys will not change, or throw the policy off coarse by more than two degrees! Just as President Obama did not change Bush's course by more than 2 degrees.
Once we bankrupt this nation as we've bankrupted Greece, Spain and much of Europe we can have our wars, get Americans to fight, and pay for them! Then create a one world government, currency, and legislature. Together with new technologies make it impossible for any group to oppose it.
All mankind will prosper, and there will be world peace from world unity!
Hatch's now-infamous polygamy comments at a southern Utah town meeting in April 2003, just 35 miles from the fundamentalist Mormon polygamy cult's headquarters in Utah, and Hatch in denial about the statements.
http://www.childbrides.org/politics_scoop_rep...
Bob Curran, director of an anti-polygamy group in St. George called Help the Child Brides, asked Hatch if he knew girls as young as 13 and 14 were being forced into marriages with older men living in the nearby twin polygamous towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz. (prophet Warren Jeffs compound)
"I wouldn't throw accusations around unless you know they're true," Hatch cautioned Curran and another speaker, Sonja Blancke, who also questioned the senator on his position.
"I'm not here to justify polygamy," Hatch said. "All I can say is, I know people in Hildale who are polygamists who are very fine people. You come and show me evidence of children being abused there and I'll get involved. Bring the evidence to me." (Hildale was in HIS state, not AZ)
....
Cut to Colorado City, Ariz" 1/2 an hour away from where Hatch said "You come and show me evidence of children being abused there and I'll get involved. Bring the evidence to me." - (8 years ago.)
"Colorado City still FLDS stronghold" July 7, 2011
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/0...
"More than a dozen churchmen have been imprisoned for taking teenage brides, and their prophet, Warren Jeffs, is on trial in Texas on charges of bigamy and sexual assault of two underage children he allegedly married."
"A half-dozen local police officers were stripped of law-enforcement authority because they pledged allegiance to the church rather than to the law."
yah, bring Hatch the proof. Don't make him look for it or ask the Feds to investigate. He knew the locals are full of FLDS.
Wall Street is just a parasite on the actual labor and investments of average Americans.
Banks play with futures, debt paper, complex financial instruments, and other peoples incomes.
Sell 'em short & help 'em crash - Tear 'em apart & sell the pieces
Colorado City Press Conference: January 23, 2004
The following is the speech given by Ross Chatwin after being excommunicated from the FLDS Church two weeks proir.
http://www.childbrides.org/ross_MCN_CCity_pre...
"We need your help to stop Warren S. Jeffs from destroying families, kicking us out of our homes, and marrying our children into some kind of political dollar browny point system.
This Hitler like dictator has got to be stopped before he ruins us all and this beautiful town." -Ross Chatwin
Wall Street is just a parasite on the actual labor and investments of average Americans.
Banks play with futures, debt paper, complex financial instruments, and other peoples incomes.
Sell 'em short & help 'em crash - Tear 'em apart & sell the pieces
..Hatch is just another one of these wonderful Mormons who have commandeered the political landscape recently.
Romney alone has tarnished the Mormon brand via his lying, hypocrisy, love of mammon, hatred for the poor & vulture capitalism.
Now the Mormon, Orrin Hatch, is pouring his toxic sewage over the legacy of our blessed Brigham Young.
If any authentic, charity-oriented Mormons are reading this, you need to reign in your aforementioned boys.
They are single-handedly destroying your religion.
When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in excess body fat & carrying a misspelled sign.
has gone out of his underwear
Please explain how someone is exploited or coerced in anyway in a voluntary society. If this is what you mean. Capitalism is the only freedom- once Gov. gets involved the initiation of force is legalized. Politicians shouldn't be mentioning religion- we're not a theocracy. But you shouldn't be carrying judgements onto a church because of what subscribers do- but what the doctrines teach them to do. Orrin Hatch can be accused of exactly what he's accusing Obama of. Hatch has also burdened this country with 17 votes to increase the debt = 7.6 trillion dollars. www.hatchrecord.com
totally full of shit!
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
Orin Hatch is a Manchurian ass clown mobster. Just like all the rest of the Reptilicans.
No more. Out of Washington, now!
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
religion crap out of my government...a bunch of pandering ass clowns, every damn one of them who stoop to this shit. I'm very disappointed in my President at the moment.
"In 2008, the president declared that his nomination was the world historical moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal,"
Hatch recalled.Hatch lied.Apparently Orrin doesn't worry about following the whole thou-shalt-not-bear-false-witness stuff.
If we are indeed a "Christian Nation" we should be demanding that our government do more for "the least of us" instead of just waiting around for them to do something or making sure we can get more for ourselves.
As a whole the people do not put their faith in Christ, or God! The people put their faith in the
Government to provide them what they need, want, desire!
Your Religion is whatever you worship, or put your faith in! The Ivy League Universities, and Hospitals
were originally Christian Institutions. Now they are as secular as the public libraries:)
"if I had my way, I'd have a silent prayer reflection constitutional amendment that would give kids a moment of silent prayer reflection at the beginning of every school day."
He has also leaned on the Bible to make the case against gay rights.
This is exactly why NO ONE should be using the Bible for politics. Not Hatch. Not Obama.
far left loon >.<
"Now .. YOU Christians believe .. and therefore .."
..instead of "WE Christians .."
I enjoy flogging them with quotes from their own scripture ..
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
There are over 800 errors in translation from the original text, and I love to see them twist, and squirm when I quote the mis-translated scriptures :) Most of which were originally translated in the day by Jewish scholars;) who hated Christians.
You can tell it really got their pantiehose bunched up when their politicians go all righteous outrage on Obama's words. Expect this to be the Fox News story for a few days.
I love it...
just watching these jeezus-bleating ChristoCreeps get their bibles shoved up their rectums...
Couldn't be more fun.
No offense, I hope.
Ignorance is parent to religion.
Religion is parent to Hate.
Remember Matthew Shepard:
http://vimeo.com/fuksnickityClam/matthew
Who threw the money-changers out of the Temple?
In case it's never been explained, the money-changers of old are the banksters of today.
That's why the traditional bank actually looks like a temple - because that's where the banksters started.
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
If memory serves, He was asked about taxes and his response was to "Render unto Caesar, that which is Caesar's." so we can't really say Jesus was against taxation. Nor would He likely have been against public health care or the Head Start program or social security... and the list goes on.
This discussion came up in class many years ago. This happened while the Jewish people were buying their sacrifices in the Temple grounds to atone for their sins of the previous year. The Temple Rabbis would not accept the Roman gold coins because they had an image of a Pagan Emperor on them. So the people had to exchange them for Temple gold coins. However the Temple had a monopoly on their gold coins. Which they sold at a high premium. Then they'd melt down the Roman gold coins to make more Temple gold coins.
This was an oft complained practice by the people, and learned of the day. The fact that they did not have Jesus removed in chains is evidence that the Rabbis knew they were stealing from the people.
Just go put on your magic PJ's and you won't have to worry about whether Obama tinks he's Jesus or just being UPPITY
Isn't the time for invoking the spiritual at the National Prayer Breakfast?
I seem to remember from my Catholic schoolgirl days something about camels and needles and rich folks and heaven.
I only wish I still believed there was somewhere where these people were held accountable in the next life. I guess they believe the phrase goes: Blessed are the rich for they shall inherit everything and the rest of humanity has to be responsible for themselves. Amen.
At least he didn't start with "I believe." Too bad he went downhill from there.
our white man's religion - you mixed race savage.
God belongs to the republican party.
First they ignore us..then they ridicule us..now they are feeding us chicken crap- sign my petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/fda-stop-feed...
www.ickenittlepost.com
REST OF WORLD to Orin - F**K YOU.
Show us your magical underwear Orrin!
Me to Orrin Hatch: Kiss my liberal & proud of it ass.
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
- Albert Einstein
i must have missed that speech
Things that reptilicans say are not intended to be fact, but rather LIES. Lies are all they have now, other than hate, fear, elitism and bigotry.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Why don't you and your band of counterfeit holy rollers pray for some humility instead of boasting that your mutant form of deity is THE genuine article?
And actually Orrin, the Gospels were concerned about things greater than your conceit and arrogance. They were concerned about compassion and love for all, two concepts that you despise.
"We will find fulfillment not in the goods that we have, but in the good we can do for each other."
Robert F. Kennedy
Love and Compassion are like kryptonite to the republicans. It makes sense that they will squeal like stuck pigs when they are faced with love, empathy, community, and compassion. Republicans have tried to make them dirty words, the way they try to make the word liberal dirty.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
I wonder how much money Mr. Hatch gave to Charity compared to President Obama? Mr Obama gave till it hurt before, and all during his political career!
"That's my
ThingSchtick"FTFY. :D
You aint a christian Hatch, you're nothing but a corrupt old thief.
It is just miserable when you get your magic underwear in a wad at the National Prayer Breakfast. Actually maker you hallucinate and tell fibs. Time to retire, Orrin.
The good life is a day at the beach.
religious is a scam, jesus is a myth, and god is just pretend
does the Hummingbird's wing have 7 distinct adaptations to allow it to hover, and fly backwards? When if any one of those perfect adaptations did not exist, the Hummingbird would be a flightless animal!
Evolution is also a religion that calls for faith in something unseen, and impossible to prove!
And this proves the existence of a magical being how? The ignorance and superstition of the average person is astounding. Which, of course, explains just how a nation can be propagandized into yet another disastrous war, trotting out exactly the same tired (and false) claims made 10 years ago.
"Atheism Is a Religion Like Abstinence Is a Sex Position"
"There is a growing trend in this country that needs to be called out, and that is to label any evidence-based belief a "religion." Many conservatives now say that a belief in man-made climate change is a "religion," and Darwinism is a "religion," and of course atheism -- the total lack of religion -- is somehow a "religion" too, according to the always reliable Encyclopedia Moronica."
Not only should religion never be part of the public sphere, but Christianity is biblically mandadet to be a strictly private affair - or have you never read Matthew 6:5-6? It's obvious Orrin Hatch hasn't.
That should have been biblically mandated.
dear god, please protect me from those who believe in you
Hmm, well it wasn't evolution and God is true, why the hell did he take hundreds of thousands of years the give the hummingbird that ability? I mean, what kind of a god is he if he couldn't just snap his fingers and make it happen?
Why is it that 'evolutionists' seem to know a hell of a lot more about religion than creationists do about science?
3rd Law of Thermodynamics invalidated by the theory of evolution? You have to take it on faith:)
is a giant Mormon tool.
Religion will be the downfall of Humanity.
Hatch is an Anti-Christ canker sore of a human being. He's a terrible person. If Jesus said it - He said it (I'm a believer). The President was quoting a pertinent saying of Christ. Of course, an Anti-Christ old canker sore of a human being wouldn't didn't like it. No surprise there. Hatch does the Devil's bidding. He is an evil old man. When he was younger, he was the scum of the earth.
Tilly
are we a nation of laws or religious beliefs? Is the Senator creating laws or philosophizing on Jesus's intentions? Get to work a$$hole.
Christian men will work in our factories to pay their insurmountable debts!
This old fool will remain a senator and faithful servant to the corporate interests until he literally crumbles into a pile of dust on the senate floor. Assuming the country survives that long.
What is this Phony Manufactured Turd doing pretending he is OUTRAGED, ROFL. Your talking about a Criminal A Turd a LOSER, a Anti American corporate OWNED NO BRAIN COWARD.
This Anti American TRAITOR supporting ASS WIPE, has nothing to say that is worth hearing unless it is his usual, Anti American lets surrender attitude and GIVE UP. A true COWARD and can NOT be trusted ASS WIPE.
hateful pissbag.
Some stuff you can't make up!
Obama was totally out of line here- this Country isn't a Theocracy- we shouldn't be in the business of legislating morality. Hatch is out of line here as well- and he can be accused of the same. Hatch redistributes plundered funds to his buddies just like Obama is doing. www.hatchrecord.com Government should not be picking winners and losers- this isn't a Socialist State. Orrin Hatch voted for the Auto and Bank Bailouts- this is exactly what Obama is doing- same philosophy.
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