Bush's faith-based initiative gets embrace from Obama

You know it's a strange political year when Barack Obama -- who is trying to convince voters that John McCain represents a third term for George W. Bush -- embraces one of President Bush's signature domestic programs.

But that's exactly what happened today.

Obama, campaigning at a church youth program in Zanesville, Ohio, called for expanding Bush's controversial faith-based initiative. Obama took issue with how the Bush White House has handled the program, citing a lack of adequate funding and a partisan ax to grind. But he embraced the idea of empowering "millions of Americans who share a similar view of their faith, who feel they have an obligation to help others."

Obama's support did not come as a surprise at the White House. Bush has noted that 35 governors have faith-based programs -- 19 of them Democrats. And spokesman Tony Fratto, citing the good works done by faith-based groups in cutting recidivism of former prisoners and dealing with global health issues, told reporters, "If the future potential presidential candidates support it, I think that's something that we all would be very happy about."

But perhaps the most striking aspect of Obama's speech at the East Community Ministry is that at times he sounded a little like the president.

Obama: "The challenges we face today ... are simply too big for government to solve alone."

Bush: "Bureaucracies can put money in people's hands, but they cannot put hope in a person's heart."

Obama: "Change comes not from the top down but from the bottom up, and few are closer to the people than our churches, synagogues, temples and mosques."

Bush: "Groups like yours have harnessed a power that no government bureaucracy can match."

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Jae C. Hong/AP

Comments

[JM@rt]

Come on people...I think we are jumping the gun on this. I think that what Obama wants to do is include the not for profit world in the task of improving the state of this nation. I know that for hardcore Secularists it is a hard pill to swallow, but the faith community is the best bet we have at tackling some of these issues without all of the red tape of government. He clearly mentions "churches, synagogues, temples and mosques." He clearly wants to support all of us regardless of our faith, whereas Bush's policy was directed at paying back the religious right for political favors during his campaigning. There is a huge difference between BUSH and OBAMA for anyone who is willing to give this a clear and honest look. Instead we all just react to how Ms. Neuman chooses to frame this issue.

[X_POLYGAMIST WIFE]

Did anybody notice the 99.99% white attendees at the republican convention? CNNs cameras were hard put to find a person of color. I saw three Hispanics huddled together and two African-Americans. That's scary!

Sarah Palin sounds like a polygamist wife pushing the white
patriarchal agenda. She and McCain should join the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and move to Colorado City, Arizona where there are plenty of down syndrome babies, tons of teenage pregnancies, and ALL women support white male supremacy.

http://www.bankingonheaven.com

Vote for change - Vote for Obama!