ObamaCare and God’s Will
By Mary Theroux • Saturday March 10, 2012 1:04 PM PDT • 19 Comments
In governing style, Mr. Obama continually resets to the strategies of his community organizer roots, including enlisting members of the clergy to further his political agenda. I have already detailed his use of the Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships to hold conference calls with religious leaders, urging them to preach for ObamaCare’s passage from their pulpits, and offering supporting propaganda to distribute to their congregants.
Now, facing results from the February USA Today/Gallup poll of swing-state voters showing that 72% of all polled, including 56% of Democrats, believe that the individual mandate of Obamacare is unconstitutional, and with the question coming before the Supreme Court in two weeks—in the midst of a reelection campaign he would prefer to keep focused on victories—Mr. Obama is back in the trenches again.
On Wednesday, White House officials summoned dozens of leaders of nonprofit organizations that strongly back the health law to help them coordinate plans for a prayer vigil, press conferences and other events outside the court when justices hear arguments for three days beginning March 26.
White House officials would not release the names of groups attending Wednesday’s meeting, but presumably it included Methodist leaders, as among the activities planned during the three days of Supreme Court hearings on the bill include the establishment of a “radio row” for radio hosts to interview ObamaCare advocates at the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill.
The administration is not, of course, going to leave the matter strictly to prayer.
In the week before the Supreme Court arguments, administration officials will fan out around the country and join local groups in celebrating the second anniversary of the law, signed by Mr. Obama on March 23, 2010.
According to the New York Times, in addition to the unnamed church leaders,
Groups working with the White House include the Service Employees International Union; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Health Care for America Now, a consumer coalition that fought for passage of the legislation; Protect Your Care, a nonprofit group created last year to defend the 2010 law; and the Center for American Progress, a research and advocacy group with close ties to the White House.
It’s said that politics makes strange bedfellows, as with this mix of secular and sacred. Yet those who send up alarms over Catholic candidate Rick Santorum’s faith—as expressed so eloquently recently by Henry Giroux, “Santorum and God’s Will:”
what progressive or decent conservative for that matter would support Rick Santorum’s rejection of the separation of church and state
seem to have no problem with Mr. Obama’s continually mixing the two, as with his appeal to God’s will through a prayer vigil for ObamaCare in front of the Supreme Court. Strange indeed.
Tags: Christianity, Civil Society, Constitution, Elections, Healthcare, Nanny State, Nationalization, Personal Liberty, Politics, Presidential Power, Privacy, Propaganda, Regulation 
God Help Us!
Viola | Mar 10, 2012 | Reply
Fortunately only God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, this despite every effort by progressive democrats and progressive republicans collective efforts to usurp his role. I believe shame should fall on the minds and hearts of all professed men of faith that call eagerly for more warfare and government welfare in our lives. Both are destructive of liberty, love, life and true charity.
William R Browning | Mar 10, 2012 | Reply
Any church that becomes politically active as an organization should find itself open to taxation.
Bob Goyette | Mar 10, 2012 | Reply
When it comes to disapproval over praying, it is less about the praying and more about what is being prayed for.
Rick Caird | Mar 10, 2012 | Reply
Sad as it might be. The Bible makes it plain that a generation would be so “untoward.” They would love themselves rather than love God. The way this nation is moving we know we are close to that place. When a huge portion of the population cares more about the “RIGHTS” of those who kill their unborn children, than the rights of the churches to abstain from providing a product which violates their beliefs, I can’t help but add 2+2. If this man actually does pray, it is for God to help him force his will on people who reject his political agenda. I pray God delivers this nation from this man’s EVIL plans.
Bill in Louisiana | Mar 10, 2012 | Reply
Bob, No organization (or individual) “should find itself open to taxation” since taxation is theft (e.g., the involuntary taking of private property from those pursuing peaceful aims).
“Taxation, Forced Labor, and Theft,” by Edward Feser (The Independent Review, Fall 2000)
David Theroux | Mar 10, 2012 | Reply
Is this the same guy whose list of offenses against Christian principles, churches, organizations and traditions have been cataloged in a list labeling him the most anti-Biblical president of all time? Yes, that’s him. Say- anything-DO-anything-to-get-my-way Obama. Soooo frustrating to be ‘held back’ by the citizens of the country you purport to represent, isn’t it? He has done so many illegal and unconstitutional things, and ignored binding legal decisions concerning his actions, that 9 state attorneys general are taking his record to court. Of course, he won’t be there. Just like in Georgia, he’ll ignore inquiries, subpoenas, and evidence, and by power or pull walk away unscathed. He is beyond arrogant, beyond dangerous, and beneath consideration for the job of dog-catcher.
Mary Gentles | Mar 10, 2012 | Reply
Its amazing with this Health Care Bill plus Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid how far we have come from the original concept of a limited Republican form of Government,as envisioned by the Founding Fathers,to an unlimited centralized Mobocracy as envision by Karl Marx. Add in the Income Tax, Inheritance Taxes,Public Education Federal control of the economy plus the numbering and filing of information on American citizens and we have all 10 Planks to The Communist Manifesto in place in America. What a pity,that by either intent or default, a majority of the voting population of America have traded in their birthright of individual liberty for the presumed security of an American Welfare State. Of course,as the adage goes,in the end these same voters will have neither liberty nor security but the status of a serf.
libertarian jerry | Mar 10, 2012 | Reply
Prayer has little or nothing to do with what people think and everything to do with what God thinks.
Rick Hoelzer | Mar 10, 2012 | Reply
It’s funny how obomba is set against preachers preaching God’s word from the pulpit and associating with “preachers” that take the Lord’s name in vain until it comes to something that he knows that he did wrong like his health tax. Now he wants God to approve it? Will he turn to God next to approve him being re-elected. This “man” has no limits or morals. He is self-centered and losing his bid for re-election. That is God’s will for him.
billy hopkins | Mar 10, 2012 | Reply
AMEN, nicely said.
billy hopkins | Mar 10, 2012 | Reply
I posted a blog entry about this a while back which I have excerpted below. I think it’s a very good thing that this controversy has arisen now rather than later. It was only a matter of time and now is better than later when things have gotten even worse.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Harvesting The Whirlwind
“The bishops never seemed to oppose coercion when it benefited them, but now that they are the victims of it, they are suddenly discovering the Constitution and its First Amendment. Every day they should meditate on the line from the Epistle to the Galatians that advises, “...for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
They have sown coercion – or at least not opposed it – and now they are reaping its harvest. Even now they don’t object to the government forcing everyone to buy insurance, they only object to certain procedures that must be provided.”
Chris Sullivan | Mar 12, 2012 | Reply
Are there examples of prayer working? I can list many which did not work.
richard | Mar 13, 2012 | Reply
Agreed, Chris.
That is precisely the point I also emphasized in my earlier post, “God and Woman in the Nanny State,” which was also adapted for an op-ed that appeared in last Friday’s Washington Examiner: here.
Best wishes,
Mary
Mary Theroux | Mar 13, 2012 | Reply
Richard:
Yes, there are numerous examples of prayer “working,” a/k/a being answered precisely as requested. However, prayer is not simply something for us to “order up,” and often the answer we receive is quite different than that we sought.
As Rick above notes, “Prayer has little or nothing to do with what people think and everything to do with what God thinks.”
Ideally, prayer is our seeking to know and to do God’s will, not telling God what our will is and asking him to meet it.
With best wishes,
Mary
Mary Theroux | Mar 13, 2012 | Reply
Isn’t it ironic that the government will not allow prayer in schools or anywhere in public BUT they, by request of Obama, can pray outside the Supreme Court House???? That shows that Obama can do whatever he feels like!!!!
Dorothy May | Mar 14, 2012 | Reply
Sano well said, evil plan is correct.
judy lock | Mar 14, 2012 | Reply
Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Prayer does not change G-d (who, being perfect, is beyond the concept of change). It changes people (hopefully) and makes them more receptive to G-d.
CA | Mar 14, 2012 | Reply
If any church taking a political stand threatens its non-tax status, the lawless one is at work again.
ron sparks | Mar 14, 2012 | Reply