Prayer video that sought a Barack Obama drenching gets yanked

Political lesson of the day: Be careful what you ask people to pray for; you may find yourself embroiled in a public relations flap.

The political arm of the socially conservative Focus on the Family religious group today yanked from its website a video that called on folks to ask God to open the heavens and let precipitation pour on Barack Obama just before his nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 28.

Stuart Shepard, director of digital media at Focus Action (and a meteorologist to boot), wrote and appeared in the video (see below) that he posted in late July.

In it, he rhetorically asked if it would be wrong to ask people to join him in praying for rain two minutes before Obama takes the stage for his big moment at Invesco Field in Denver. And not just a drizzle -- in friendly, conversational fashion, Shepard said he had in mind "abundant rain, torrential rain, urban-and-small-stream flood-advisory rain."

He added: "Not flood-people-out-of-their-houses rain, just good old swamp-the-intersection rain."

Responding to initial questions raised about his message, Shepard said he was aiming to be "mildly humorous."

But, as he made clear at one point in the video, his bid for bad weather stemmed from his concern about the possible fallout of an Obama presidency on issues such as abortion.

“Well, I’m still pro-life," he told his listeners, "And I’m still in favor of marriage being only between one man and one woman. And I'd like the next president, who'll select justices for the U.S. Supreme Court, to agree."

As the video attracted more and more views, those questioning its propriety included some members of Focus on the Family, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported. The video was then pulled from the website of the group's political unit.

"If people took it seriously, we regret it," Tom Minnery, Focus Action vice president of public policy told the newspaper.

Focus on the Family, of course, is headed by James Dobson, who has had his issues with John McCain. But, as Dobson spelled out in a recent radio address, he really has problems with Obama.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[NinaK]

When God spoke to the people, according to The Old Testament, the clouds would darken and the skiies would break out with lightening and thunder and then God would speak. Wouldn't it be something if God surprised us all and did this just AFTER Senator Obama's speech?? Just thinking.....

[Richard]

Sophomoric, silly, stupid and completely in character.

These are the folks who have been instrumental in shaping public policy in the last eight years of the Bush administration The results are clear, the worst president, the worst administration and as bad an eight years as our dear country has ever had to endure.

The party of Lincoln has dwindled to a confederacy of dunces. This Republican is voting for that great young
Senator from Illinois, for desperately needed change.

[LoverofLife]

these "Focus on the Fetus" folks are so narrow minded and hateful, their Leaders sleep in same bed as devil (not referring to gay... I mean politicians) They express no remorse for sending young men & women to their deaths fighting an unjust war. they do nothing to stop the bloodshed (except pray for troops) What are their motives in attacking fellow Christians? What is it Obama says or represents that they object to? (Do they actually listen to his speeches in entirety?" ... I doubt it) True Christians care for their living children's future , they don't march them off to warsand all christian Parents should ensure their children inherit an Earth that is at least as good as we have now. F0CUS ON; Peace on EARTH, Goodwill towards Men (don't just sing it every Christmas)

[sb baptist]

I doubt we can ever find Christianity in the "hopeful rain prayer" or many of the naive comments following it. What it looks like is that many on the right feel like they alone stand with God, although they cannot find peace and love in their hearts. Curious. Everywhere in my King James Bible, I see love and compassion for fellow man as foundations for living a Christian life. That goes for many of the presumed liberals that take the rain prayer as license to shout hatred for Conservative values, or at least Bush and his false Gods of War.

[Viet Tran]

Wow. Truly Christians - Not. Rather, some of the most selfish, arrogant, childish, homo sapiens to ever get the chance to walk the beautiful Earth.

[joseph c]

wow...because republicans are such good christians with their war-mongering, money centered politics?

[Jean Q Publique]

CosmosMarinerDU at 09:51 PM said:

> > "Isn't it interesting that all the comments that support the message of videos
> > like this one are not only very un-"Christian" - but are virtually always - and not
> > only in this blog - misspelled, mispunctuated, and grammatically garbled?
> > And not only that, but very often are extraordinally hate filled as well?"

I did a very quick survey of the comments here in this thread.

And this is what I found: Of the 44 comments to this point in time there were 7 that fell within what Cosmos' noted.

Just by coincidence that falls into the 16-18 percentile of highly emotional/irrational-type individuals who are consistently found throughout the "normal newsgroup" internet comments sections. Politically speaking, it's the dead-ender authoritarian enabler crowd. In all fairness, these individuals should not be considered mainstream Republican citizens, so much as a fringe element that are commonly found at the same percentage within the population who are also found to be susceptible of being influenced by cult organizations.

Unfortunately for us all, these people are being preyed upon by much more intelligent and lecherous people in our society.

Just an observation.

~JQP~
.

[Triet SJ]

Be careful what you ask for! I hope it does rain just like these clowns ask for. BTW - using religion as a tool for your political agenda is definitely a straight ticket to hell, ask Al Qaeda. These guys are no different.

I hope it does rain, rain hard and everyone will stay. Not one people will leave and they will cheer even louder!

I'm not a fanatic Obama supporter but he's miles and leaps above the competition.

[macumazahn]

And this country is supposed to have an adequate educational system.
"All priests and shamans should be presumed guilty until proven otherwise." - RAH

[Ed]

Still explaining rain through God! Oh man, religion in hands of idiots sounds like a joke.

[joey]

The members of Focus on the Family should all leave that evil empire run by James Dobson. I use to listen to that guy's radio program as a young Christian of Jimmy Swaggarts Ministries. If I had not developed a personal relationship with God away from ministries like Dobson' s and Swaggart's I would be as crazy as they are.

[son]

it would seem that the message of Christ has been distorted, misunderstood and or ignored.

[ron]

i'm supprised that Focus on the Family is so politically involved.
There are more important issues than politics and poverty... the return of Christ. Are you ready to meet God?

[Scotti]

Oh my goodness! Jesus must be rolling in his grave!

[sisuphus]

Barack Obama certainly has made a lot of conservatives very funny, you know, suddenly they started finding humor in everythig..

[Koriko]

I dunno...it might provide something more interesting than the usual political banter at these window dressing ceremonies. Remember when we used to have real political conventions? Why is the Democratic Party even bothering? At this point Hillary has virtually conceded defeat. Hopefully her supporters will have the guts to launch a floor fight, but that's highly unlikely.

[Will D.]

This is SO typical of charlatans and religious leaders. Well, duh... yes, it could possibly rain. And now if it does, these idiots will say- SEE I TOLE YOU... GAWD DON'T LIKE THAT OBAMA GUY! I'm getting so tired of this non-sense infusing itself into America's secular politics.

[Tom in Alabama]

Why should Focus on the Family pray only for rain at the Democratic convention in Denver? Why not go all the way with their negative prayers and beg for swarms of locust, rivers turning into blood and a little brimstone to pelt the heathen masses huddled together for Obama's speech.

[baz]

Amazing how these Cult leaders, have so much influence on the Electorate, in 21st Century America.
The more I see of this new Conservative coalition, and how the Media gives them so much credibility, the more I realize this Nation is swiftly reaching the flip-point, back into the Stone ages.
These people are not focused on the Family, since if they were, the last thing they'd want is another GOP Presidency.
One of the keys which led to the founding of our Nation, was that Religion & Politics don't mix.
If it does rain during Obama's speech, imagine the Media frenzy, proposing this Cult as prescient.

[Jesse]

Let he that is without sin cast the first stone.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

hmmm

[rajah kahn]

Do these people call themselves Christians?????????????? I am stunned......When Jesus came to this earth, he loved everyone and postitute3s, gays , lesbians were not excluded.

[L_C]

I saw nothing wrong with the video.

[Paul]

I thought it was good humor!

[marty]

i'm just gonna call for a curse like elisha.
2 Kings 2:23-25 :
From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!" 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.

[Brett]

People make mistakes. Thank God we are all covered by His blood shed on the cross. Some of you should remember that before posting your hate, anti-Bush and anti-Shepard comments. Have you ever sinned/made a mistake before?

WWJD? Pour down fire on GWB? Support a pro-abortionist (for the record he is more than pro-choice!)? Are you serious?

Don't take my word for it, see what God says:
Matthew 7:1
John 8:7

For the record, most of the problems we are seeing today started in 2006 when Ms. Pelosi and the Democrats took over Congress. Look up the price of oil/gas in 2006...Try to remember that when you are pulling the lever for the "anoited one." Whatever you do Ms. Pelosi, don't let any of the oil companies drill so that we and our children can see affordable gas sometime in our lifetime. That is what I see as pathetic. She could AT LEAST let them vote on it. Instead, she went on vacation without a care in the world while we suffer. Who stayed? The republicans. Yeah, the same party that "the devil" GWB is in and BHO isn't. This really isn't rocket science people!

I pray that God pours out His blessing on our country, no matter who is president and let "Him" be in charge for once. Maybe then we would see how truly great America could be. God bless the USA!
Brett