Barack Obama takes a page from the Bush Administration playbook

While John McCain was jetting south, Barack Obama went to Ohio today and chatted up his belief in the Bush Administration's faith-based initiative. Our colleagues at Countdown to Crawford delve into it here.

The unusual thing is that Obama has made a point of saying a first McCain term would be little more than a third Bush term, but then he goes and gloms onto a signature issue of the Bush years (admittedly of less note than some other issues from the Bush years).

And Obama accented his support for the program in a session with reporters, with our colleague Peter Nicholas in the scrum. Obama was asked whether he would elevate the faith-based initiative to the cabinet level:

"I want this to be central to our White House mission. Just as I want a White House office on poverty to be -- which I've already discussed previously, and urban policy -- to be part of high level discussion in the White House.

"So whether we're actually creating a new cabinet position or we're simply making sure this person has a direct line to me and is working with all the cabinet officers to coordinate faith-based initiatives, we'll figure out the organization as we move forward in the context of our overall White House organization. But the important principle is that using the talents and the gifts of the kinds of folks who are here at Eastside Community Ministries -- their passion and commitment to empower the community -- making sure they can compete for the resources that are made available by the federal government to reduce poverty or help children or feed the hungry or house the homeless -– that we are getting those resources on the ground so that the people who are closest to those in need are able to access them. That is going to be a central principle of our administration.''

McCain addressed the issue in an interview in April, saying that he believed Bush's faith-based initiatives had "done very well," our colleague Maeve Reston reports. But he said he was less glowing, saying he would assess the program's effectiveness before making any decision on changes to it. But McCain cited the faith-based response to Katrina as particularly note-worthy:

"They didn’t get a heck of a lot of government help, but they got some government help, and some of the people that I talked to in those neighborhoods said they [the groups] were very effective in helping the people of New Orleans restore their daily lives."

"So I think there’s many examples of where faith-based organizations have been very successful," McCain continued. "There are times when they haven't -– so you learn the lessons. But I think the overall experiment has probably been good for America."

--Scott Martelle

Photo credit: Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Comments

[Katy]

Oh come on folks - let's just admit it and face it -- Obama (and Axelrod) are using the Karl Rove Playbook to Getting Elected. Obama is going to turn out to be the ultimate panderer and will be known as the "Say Anything Do Anything Kid" -- he's not going to be able to fulfull any of these promises - he has the thinnest resume, the least experience, knowledge and his abilities are totally unknown and untested.

So the way to win is to do what Rove did for Bush - and that's what's working for Obama. Its a shame, its sad and its sickening. But too many people keep buying into this - so they are getting the government they deserve and the rest of us stuck with it.

[Rev. Chuck Currie]

As the chair of the faith-based working group of the National Coalition for the Homeless, I spent much of 2001 studying how President Bush intended to use faith groups to help implement his public policy position. In the end, the National Coalition for the Homeless joined the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church and many other religious organizations in opposing President Bush’s efforts.

Senator Barack Obama today will call for the creation of a new White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Unlike President Bush’s plan, Senator Obama has proposed an effort that is respectful of the Constitution and that seeks to hold all programs obtaining federal funds accountable for outcomes. For example, President Bush did not hold religious charities to the same high standards as secular charities. Senator Obama promises not to make that mistake and will ensure that that government funds are not used to promote religion.

I have spent my entire adult life working to fight poverty, hunger and homelessness. We need partnerships between government, faith communities and the private sector to accomplish our goals. But only the government – with all the vast resources at the state’s disposal – can set the economic conditions that will truly reduce poverty. We need an extension of the Earned Income Tax Credit and universal health care, for example. We need better schools. As Senator Obama will say today, “We need all hands on deck.”

I applaud Senator Obama for his willingness to address poverty so directly and to look outside the box for answers to America’s most pressing problems.

- The Rev. Chuck Currie

[carlos from philly]

As far as i'm concerned, anything he can do to ensure his election in November is a good thing. And to be quite frank, roping in a couple of extra fencers with talk of commitment to faith isn't a bad thing, regardless of which "play book" he took it out of. Pander to whomever you want on the superficial "issues" as long as you make a difference where it counts.
I think his organization knows what they're doing and those who pay attention know exactly what really matters in his campaign.

[Say it aint so!]

And the extremism continues. Obama and Bush (so much for McCain being 4 more years. Doesn't Obama realize that there is a SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!!!!!

Wake up moron!

[Dave]

Okay, should Obama also try to repeal Bush administration initiatives regarding AIDS in Africa? If you disagree with faith-based initiatives, say so. Don't criticize Obama for believing in something simply because Bush does, too. It would be like a Republican being criticized for supporting Bill Clinton's welfare reforms.

[Jeremy]

I am an Obama supporter, and as such I am embarrassed that he supports Bush's supposed "faith-based" initiative. The fact the he could support one of the most brazen and clearly illegal violation of the very first Amendment in the Bill of Rights, what our founding fathers (rightly) saw as the highest of importance: government and religion must be completely separate.

How exactly does an Government office that specifically has "faith-based" in the name keep government and religion separate?

Treason.

[Lobster]

I don't care if people say "God" in the pledge, I don't care if "God" is on my money, I don't care if politicians say "God bless America," but it's this sort of thing that makes atheists like me feel like second-class citizens. Like we don't deserve to enjoy the support of a community if that community isn't centered in a church.

[Barbara Mandas]

Dissapointed to hear that faith-based initiatives will be a principle part of Obama's administration. This is where we have already wrong. Religion has no role whatsoever in the running of the country, not to say that the flowdown efforts of certain churches and organizations should not focus their efforts on helping people in need. But the government should not be involved in faith-based efforts per se. Besides, faith-based usually means Christian and many people do not select chriatianity as their source of spirituality so there is the rub. Also, many of the hierarchy who operate these faith-based organizations are doing it only for the money and are completely corruptible. This sounds like the politician talking, not the man. Hope he doesn't go there.

[Charlie]

i think Obamas stance is wrong not because its Bush's initiative but because faith based welfare does not work. The government has to take the lead roll in combating poverty. Ive worked in NYC shelters and know its a horrible system - even when there open.

Furthermore im not sure what the last comment meant but Bush's policies regarding aids in Africa are retarded. Not sure what you were getting at.

Im really starting to like Obama less and less. Was a strong supporter not to long ago. His strength, at least in my mind, was from his fresh ideas.

[TulsaDavid]

Obama is not only kissing up, but so is the media by slurping his actions in a favorable light. This is smoke and mirrors, with little or no condemnatory language by any media coverage. And his party knows it. And the goal is simply to win a few non-left votes.

[Peter Rosenblum]

I've been a free thinking Democrat all of my adult life,
For the first time in 40 years I'm thinking of voting for a republican, Here's why!..........
The single most important thing that made our country free and uniqe is the ""Separation of Church and State!" Without that, freedom quickly erodes. In all known history, there has never been freedom when any church influences a government!
Our founders knew that it is the most important tenet in our government and put it in stone that the "Separation" must never be breached.

Isn't it what went wrong in Iraq? Bush could never conceive of this and has done everything he could to breach this taboo here at home.
Barak: today you lost me.

[ben]

Just another politician. As life-long Democrat who has never voted for a Republican, I was ready to vote for Obama as the lesser of the evils. I cannot possibly vote for McCain. But Obama has lost me with this one. I cannot possibly accept the faith-based programs. I strongly believe in the separation of church and state. Those who say 'anything to get elected' as carlos from philly stated are treading on dangerous ground when they will let a candidate say anything to get elected. Follow blindly if you must and if you have no scruples or care about our country, but some of us wil not stand for it. The change you are calling for is not the change I first thought Obama meant. This looks like more of the same to me.

[Candace Hammond]

Basicallly, I trust the honesty of Barack Obama. I am for a Cabinet position facilitating real connection to the poorest in our nation with direct input to Barack. If faith-based communities of ALL faiths have input, and are the best available means to get funds directly from the government distributed with accountability to the workers on the street, then I am for his position. But I also want to be reassured that there is a complete separation of Church and State in our country. No one should have to attend a certain faith or church to be helped with government funds. Barack, make CLEAR how your position differs from the horrible situation after Katrina when the only help was from volunteer church organizations. We NEED OUR GOVERNMENT to act to protect
church and state separation while aiding faith-based communities, and helping with efficient disaster relief.

[Rodney Lamprey, jr.]

Bush's faith based programs have already been exposed as nothing more than diverting tax dollars to specifc Christain organizations that politically supported Bush. it has been nothing more than a political payoff much like the illegal paybacks to Jack Abramoff and other lobbyists.

[A]

If I'd have known he'd do this I'd have put my energy into getting Hillary voted in.

[enn]

Fighting poverty and helping the disavantage is not something tht was important to Bush or Karl Rove, buying and getting the vote of the religious groups was.This addreses the errors of the current programs.Getting churches involved in helping the needdy is a good thing. for all those that think that govt and church should not cooperate in this process, pls come up with different ideas. This is not about just doing what the Republicans under the Bush administration do everytime they see a problem, throw money at it.

[Samantha West]

I commend Barack on this issue.
We are a goverment that separates GOV and STATE.
He is not forcing religon into anyone, only making sure that the Americans who have faith and a sense of community are able to receive the benefit of the goverments dollar. The "faith based" community projects often reach those that our goverment does not help. They reach for those who are left out the most. This is a great way to enrich our communities.

[Adam from Houston]

One: Show me where in the constitution that it says the words "separation of church and state." You can't. It's not there. In fact, the framers meant it NOT to keep religion out of politics, but to keep the government out of religion (ala Church of England).

Two: I echo the statement that you can't fault Obama for agreeing with Bush on an issue. To be against an issue just because Bush is for it is just plain dumb (and childish).

Three: If he is pandering, it IS a bad thing. If he truly believes it, and I think he does, then that's all well and good. But if he is just playing politics, then it makes him no better than what the democratic party was looking to change.

Four: I never want to hear the term "change" in this campaign again unless its followed by details. Its annoying.

[Mark Bunch]

Oh wow, is this all republicans pretending to be democrats? I think so. It's good that Obama is reaching out. It won't be like Bush's admin. It will actually probably do some good. I've never seen people bitch so much.

[Dave Long]

I can't believe this guy. First he has a surogate bring up his worst possible arguement against McCain (military experience) highlighting the fact that he has none, then he goes and talks about faith-based initiatives as if he needs to remind us of his scary religious connections. Who is running his campaign ayway? This must be the lets make every mistake we can this week, so we have them out of the way plan. What kind of stupidity does he have planned for tomorrow?

[Gavin]

I think we all need to see the details of this ... I have read Obama's book "The Audacity of Hope," and know he thinks of religion as an agent of change in communities. Certainly, a black man would not be a serious contender for president without the work of Martin Luther King, and Obama knows this. Churchs can mobilize large groups of citizens in times of disaster, or to assuage some of the effects of poverty in a community, among other things. If it is done constitutionally and well, I see no problem with this. Why undo everything Bush has done? One or two of his initiatives might find merit.

[Eric]

I will help to get Obama elected and then I will support the Freedom From Religion Foundation lawsuit again him for blatantly ignoring the first amendment establishment clause. If he wants to support faith based initiatives, he must also support atheist based initiatives.

I hope he is just pandering...

[Tim Irwin]

Obummer is just a scam artist.Listen to his buddy priest Wright for 20 years and others he surrounds himself with.BEWARE---ANTI-CHRIST he is.He's a black Muslim Marxist how dare him talk anything of GOD.

[Milton Viils]

At least IRAQ and SAUDI ARABIA do not *pretend* to keep church and state separate.

The US is *worse* that IRAQ and S.A.
We preach about the separation of church and state, then shack up with the holy mythology crowd like whores. ANYTHING for a VOTE.

[Eric]

First sentence of the first amendment to the United States constitution (Part of the Bill of Rights):

"Congress shall MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"

To translate for you, the United States may not support religion and it may not prevent religion from existing.