Media silent as Obama plays the 'Cross' card

Bobby Eberle
BrookesNews.Com
Monday 19 May 2008

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 a video 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.

Bobby Eberle is President and CEO of GOPUSA, a company dedicated to promoting the grassroots conservative philosophy through the distribution of political news, information, and commentary via the Internet and special events.

Brookesnews' editor: It's the same sorry story in Australia. The leftwing journalists who mocked Bush's faith and warned against religion (meaning Christianity) in the political arena are now silent on Obama's deceitful use of Christianity to bolster his electoral prospects.

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