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Conservative Christians attack Obama for godless Thanksgiving address

Michael Stone's photo
Portland Humanist Examiner

 Conservatives are angry President Barack Obama failed to mention God in his annual Thanksgiving address.

Obama delivered a fairly straightforward holiday message, claiming that he and his family, like many Americans, would spend Thanksgiving day "eating great food, watching a little football, and reflecting on how truly lucky we are." He went on to thank military service members who were "eating Thanksgiving dinners far from your families" and Americans who "are taking time out of their holiday to serve in soup kitchens and shelters...this sense of mutual responsibility, the idea that I'm my brother's keeper, that I'm my sister's keeper, has always been part of what makes our country special."
 
However, Obama failed to mention “God” in his Thanksgiving Address, and it was this omission that has some conservative Christians up in arms with self-righteous indignation. ABC offers a catalogue of manufactured right wing rage:
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"Holy cow! Is that one screwed up or what?" columnist Sherman Frederick of the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote in a Thanksgiving-morning blog post.

"Somebody ought to remind Obama (and his speechwriter) that when Americans sit down around a meal today and give thanks, they give thanks to God."

Over on the website of Fox News Radio, radio host Todd Starnes also took issue. "His remarks were void of any religious references, although Thanksgiving is a holiday traditionally steeped in giving thanks and praise to God," Starnes wrote.

"The president said his family was 'reflecting on how truly lucky we truly are,'" Starnes said. "For many Americans, though, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on how blessed and thankful they are."

The popular website of London's Daily Mail has taken the issue global, with a story under the headline "What a Turkey! Outrage as Obama Leaves God Out of His Thanksgiving Address."

It is worth noting that the self-appointed right wing piety police failed to note that three of the 2012 Republican presidential candidates – Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum – issued Thanksgiving statements that also omitted any reference to God.
 
 
And it is also worth noting that many secular Americans were pleased to see Obama omit any reference to God in his public address. For many secular Americans, serious reference to what amounts to religious superstition is insulting to the intelligence, and constitutes a cynical pandering to the weak minded.
 
The following is a collection of relevant tweets from Friday’s Twitter stream:
Breaking News: Obama leaves 'God' out of Thanksgiving address. In related news, Founding Fathers leave 'God' out of Constitution.
 
So Obama omitted God out of his Thanksgiving address and the conservatives are pissed. I LOVE IT!
 
Thank you, President Obama, for keeping mythological superbeings out of your Thanksgiving Address #atheist
 
Christians: 45k Americans die from no healthcare per year. When that matters to you more than Obama mentioning "God" I'll take you seriously
 
Obama left God out of his thanksgiving address. This is a bad thing whyyy?
 
Well Obama didn't thank god in his weekly address. I think it's a good idea but the idiots of America are pissed
 
Calling Obama atheist for not mentioning God in Thanksgiving address? Come on, conservatives.
 
This attack against #Obama for not saying #God in his speech is ridiculous. #Republicans are sad, sad individuals. Hope they grow up.
 
What do you think? Leave a comment - express yourself.
President Barack Obama takes heat from Christian right
President Barack Obama takes heat from Christian right
Photo credit: 
Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images
President Obama's Address on Thanksgiving 2011

Video: President Obama's Address on Thanksgiving 2011

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, Portland Humanist Examiner

Michael Stone is a progressive freethinker and freelance writer residing in Portland, Oregon. Informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion, Michael’s task is to question the world in pursuit of the good. You can reach Michael at stonemichael@hotmail.com.

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