National Prayer Breakfast Today: Should Obama attend?

by Rhonda J Mangus | February 4, 2010 at 04:34 am

685 views | 54 Recommendations | 15 comments

President Obama and some members of Congress will attend the National Prayer Breakfast being held today in Washington, D.C., but should they?

The 'signature' event is held annually by a religious organization known as "the Family" who, among other claims made against them, are the US fundamentalist group at the heart of Uganda's anti-gay law.

At past breakfasts, the Family has facilitated meetings between its foreign allies and the president as well as members of Congress, outside the reach of the Department of State and traditional U.S. diplomatic protocol. Past prayer breakfast attendees have included General Eugenio Vides Casanova of El Salvador, later found liable for the torture of thousands of civilians, and General Alvarez Martinez of Honduras, later linked to secret death squads in that country.

The Family has been linked to ethically troubled politicians including Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.), Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), and former Rep. "Chip" Pickering (R-Miss.). These politicians were all at one time affiliated with the Family- run C Street House, a boarding house on Capitol Hill, which also operates as a church. Residents of C Street honored the organization's penchant for secrecy by taking a pact not to discuss their living situation.

The mixing of religion and diplomacy, regardless of U.S. interests, is a hallmark of the Family. Indeed, some members of the Family have taken to proselytizing on the group's behalf while on the taxpayers' dime. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and his staff traveled to Africa dozens of times at a cost of over $189,000 and admitted to doing Fellowship work on these trips. A group of congressmen affiliated with the Family discussed their prayer groups with President Karzai of Afghanistan and President Mushaaraf of Pakistan in early 2002.

Perhaps most troubling, members of the Family have been behind efforts in Uganda to pass draconian anti-gay legislation that includes life imprisonment -- and in some cases the death penalty -- for anyone convicted of having gay sex. The legislator who introduced the bill, David Bahati, is a member of the Family. He organizes the Family's Ugandan National Prayer Breakfast and oversees a student leadership program designed to create future leaders for Africa, into which the Family has poured millions of dollars. As late as mid-January, Mr. Bahati was scheduled to attend tomorrow's breakfast, but recently he was disinvited, undoubtedly because press coverage of his connection to the Family has proven embarrassing.

The White House confirmed yesterday that President Obama will attend today's breakfast with the explanation that: all the other presidents have attended.

The Huff's Executive Director, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Melanie Sloan wants to know:

First, does the White House really require the parental reminder that just because everyone else has done something doesn't mean the president must do it too? Second, didn't President Obama come to Washington on a platform of change, specifically promising to run his administration differently?

The Family is a cult-like secret society with unknown funding and intolerant views. It is tied to ruthless dictators abroad and unethical politicians at home. It mixes religion and diplomacy to a frightening extent, all while remaining in the shadows. In short, there is nothing about this organization that any American official, much less the President of the United States, should support.

By attending the National Prayer Breakfast, senior government officials lend their imprimatur to an organization whose ideas and practices are antithetical to the American ideals of transparency and high ethical standards -- the very ideals upon which President Obama has based his administration. Given all of this, the president and members of Congress would do well to reconsider attending the Family's National Prayer Breakfast.

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YankeeJim

at 04:46 on February 4th, 2010

It is a constituency, and when grouped for convenience and efficeincy, Obama might stop by for lunch, appearing just after, "amen."

Karen Hatter

at 06:02 on February 4th, 2010

You're right, Jim. It's a constituency.

Personally, I'm glad President Obama is going 'cause if he didn't, it would be the lead story on every network, all day long as well as analysis, on cable, for about a week, maybe two.

Every group affiliated with the Family, including politicians, would mention how EVERY President since blah, blah, blah....

Choosing to skip the breakfast had the potential for unleashing a non-stop critique, with any and everyone offering their two cents worth of input, providing another layer of negative publicity to impact the goals currently being tackled by the President.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 05:00 on February 4th, 2010

You have to stand for something or you fall for anything. Need I say more?

Uwe Paschen

at 05:05 on February 4th, 2010

Would I be the one that has to make the decision, I would attend, however, with a speech that would make them wish I never came.

YankeeJim

at 14:33 on February 4th, 2010

I would bring the Dali Lama along as a special guest.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 05:16 on February 4th, 2010

He is not going to do that Uwe. He is in the "Do you still love me mode."

harringtola

at 05:38 on February 4th, 2010

Thank you for this insightful report.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 05:41 on February 4th, 2010

Some tweets by Mark Knoller:

Pres. Obama, VP Biden, and other government leaders have started their day at the annual National Prayer Breakfast at a local hotel.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen about to speak at the Prayer Breakfast.

There are several prayer breakfasts each year. Never heard of a prayer lunch or dinner, though. God must be an early riser.

Mullen just joked that "there's more than one higher power in the room" at the prayer breakfast.

In case the Lord doesn't support the health care bill, Obama meets later this AM with Pelosi, Reid, Durbin and Hoyer to discuss strategy.

Just as Sen. Orrin Hatch was about to offer prayer at the breakfast, his cell phone began to ring. "Whoops, oh dear," he said apologetically

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:07 on February 4th, 2010

More Mark Knoller tweets:

Secy of State Clinton, who has attended Prayer Breakfasts as First Lady, Senator and SOS, says it always “inspires and motivates me.”
In blunt language, Secy Clinton says "across the world we see organized religion standing in the way of faith."
Clinton says she's seen "religion cloaked in naked power lust...used to justify horrific violence."
Clinton condemned the use of religion "as a club to deny human rights of girls" and others.

Uwe it certainly seems that Hillary Rodham Clinton said it for Obama.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:20 on February 4th, 2010

Mark Knoller on Obama:

Pres. Obama tells Prayer Breakfast it seem God's grace last month was far away from Haiti, but seen in the aid of relief workers & medics.
Obama sounds call at Prayer Breakfast that "empowered by faith, we need to find our way back to civility...to bridge divisions."

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:40 on February 4th, 2010

Knoller Cont'd
Obama concedes he's not always right. "Michelle can testify to that." But O says that's no reason to question his faith or his citizenship.

   Obama says there may be disagreement about gay marriage, but condemns "odious laws" like anti-gay measure in Uganda.

   At prayer breakfast, Obama also decried "the erosion of civility in the public square." Said it poisons the well of public opinion.
   Obama said the absence of civility in politics leaves each side little room to negotiate and makes politics "an all or nothing sport."

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:43 on February 4th, 2010

Obama Responds to Birthers at National Prayers Breakfast

James Boissoneau (not verified)

at 09:47 on February 4th, 2010

Prayer meeting--but I don't hear any praying being done, and there is so much to pray for and pray against. Has Obama ever been to a Godly prayer meeting? Obama still pushing his agenda, even at a prayer meeting. If he's been praying alot, than he should be listenng to the people. God speaks to those who seek Him. I have my doubts about the Obama's, they really need prayer...