Even before Barack Obama was elected president, there were signs of a growing far Right-Wing fringe movement that seemed to want to destroy him. And pretty much since day one, Obama has had to deflect preposterous accusations that he is a fascist or a communist or a Nazi, or a racist, etc. And that rhetoric has increased even as the Obama Administration has opened a dialogue with the American people in a way that no administration in recent memory has done, with local town hall meetings to discuss the important issue of healthcare reform.
But now it's gone beyond just harmless hyperbolic rhetoric. Fanatics are starting to act out in some of the most abject ways. And now the fanatics have started packing heat. After another incident of a fanatic bringing a gun to a town hall event, last week, an Arizona man named Chris Broughton brought an assault rifle and a handgun to an event where President Obama himself was in attendence. Broughton had the day before this event attended Faithful Word Baptist Church, where Pastor Steven Anderson delivered an hour-long sermon devoted to nothing but describing in extreme and vitriolic detail the depths to which he hates Barack Obama, appropriately titled "Why I Hate Barack Obama." Further, Anderson went out of his way to explain that he doesn't just hate Obama's values or politics, but everything about him and that, according to Anderson, so does god. Also in the sermon, Anderson repeatedly emphasized how he planned to pray for Obama's death, how Obama was going to burn in Hell, and how he wanted Obama to "melt like a snail."
Two major issues that have been raised over this have been whether guns should be allowed so close to the president and whether Pastor Anderson's sermon can be reasonably viewed as inciting violence.
First, with regards to the gun issue, those defending guns being allowed near the president (about 99.9% of which seem to be anti-Obama), the main arguments are that it's their Second Amendment right and that in the heartland, guns are nothing more than harmless fashion accessories not intended to be viewed as a form of intimidation or violence. And quite frankly, I find these excuses to be unbelievably disingenuous and absurd. When Bush was in office, citizens weren't even allowed to wear t-sihrts critical of him at events where he was present. Now, given the long history of political assassination in this country and the 400% increase in threats to the president's life, anyone who genuinely doesn't think allowing armed citizens close to the president is naive at best.
I have no problem with people having the right to carry guns, but that doesn't mean they have the right to bring guns anywhere they please. Moreover, it most certainly was not the Founding Father's intention for the Second Amendment to be used to justify lethal weapons becoming fashion accessories. It goes without saying that when attending an event where the president will be in attendence, you should leave your weapon at home and find some other way to showcase your manhood. We don't know what is going on in these people's heads and if they're a potential presidential assassin, but we shouldn't have to find out after the fact. Reasonable precautions should be taken, and keeping out armed citizens is a reasonable precaution. It's common sense. Nobody's taking people's guns away. You just shouldn't be allowed to bring them to an event where the president is attending. If you really can't understand why, I recommend seeing the film, Inglorious Basterds. And if you're carrying an AR15, you're dangerous even if you have no intent to use it because an AR15 is not a fashion accessory but a lethal weapon. It doesn't help that everyone who's strongly disagreed with me on this point so far has revealed a completely callous attitude to the idea of Obama being shot and killed.
But then there's the issue of Anderson's sermon. He clearly holds a position of influence, plus he's claiming to be promoting the word of God himself.
So can this be seen as inciting violence? Is this akin to shouting fire in a crowded theater? After hearing it, Chris Broughton brought guns to the Obama event. And though Broughton claims he had the idea to bring the gun in advance, even if that's true, it doesn't necessarily get Anderson off the hook. Such extreme rhetoric could push an already unstable man over the edge. Now I agree with Mike Brooks from the CNN interview linked to above when he suggests Anderson is one of these people who knows how to walk that fine line without making a direct threat on the president's life. And while I'm usually a defender of free speech, when you add the influence of a religious leader who claims to speak on behalf of God, I'm not so sure Anderson gets a pass.
Are we cutting him more slack than we normally would because he's hiding his manipulation behind the curtain of religious freedom? Had this been outside of a religious context, would people be quicker to say he's inciting violence? I don't know. But one thing is clear. He can reasonably defend his position using the Bible without distorting it and as much as people like to believe the Bible teaches peace and love, it doesn't. While you'll find no passages in the Bible singling out Obama as any worse than anyone else, on purely Biblical grounds, he's not far off the mark in his indictment. The god of the Bible does hate Obama and pretty much everyone else too. If Anderson's view of the Bible has one flaw, it's that he's cherry-picking his passages, which Alan Colmes surprisely does a fantastic job of exposing in this interview with Anderson. And in that interview, after already admitting to incorrectly branding Barney Frank a criminal in another equally vitriolic rant intended for a completely different person, Pastor Anderson denies any and all responsibility for any actions that might be incited by others who have been influenced by his words.
Fortunately, so far, no serious damage has been done and as far as I know, nobody has been harmed as a result of Anderson's sermon. Next time, we might not be so lucky. But regardless of whether or not Anderson has a legal right to deliver his hate speech in the manner he did, one thing that I think most rational people can agree upon is that his preaching such passionate preaching from the pulpit for the president to die was inappropriate and irresponsible. And if you can listen to the whole sermon in one sitting without finding it repulsive, it's a good sign that you're mentally disturbed.
Comments
Nobody with a gun got anywhere near Obama! The Secret Service would never ever allow this. Please stop with the outright lies!
poor people that believe to all this nonsense. the bible is a BOOK written by people...there is nothing in the sky apart from satellites...nobody is hearing your prayers...you are so stupid to listen to this racist & bad guy ( "I'm a nice guy but i want obama to die!!!!"). free the earth from gods & you'll be free for real. wake up !
Put aside all the hate that is expressed by a supposed man of god, which is in itself repulsive and wicked, and what you have is a guy preaching against all that is democratic. We live in a society in which we can all have different beliefs. Insisting that yours is the only way is a sure sign of a theocracy not a democracy so stop saying that you love this country when everything you preach is un-american. Including calling for the death of the president that was elected by a majority of Americans. Stop using our wonderful democracy to to defend your radical religious beliefs. Praying for the president to die is going to put blood on your hands. You religious freaks oughta be ashamed of yourself.
Ben, the gun controversy is over whether or not a person should be allowed to get close to Obama. And a random citizen being allowed to enter a town hall event where the president is speaking with a semi-automatic weapon could potentially get close enough to kill the president. So what outright lies are you referring to?
"...guns are nothing more than harmless fashion accessories not intended to be viewed as a form of intimidation or violence. And quite frankly, I find these excuses to be unbelievably disingenuous and absurd."
Disingenuous and absurd? So Swirtzerland and it's people must be extremely disngenuous and absurd, since they really don't care if someone is carrying an assault rifle in the supermarket.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caroline-Migros-p1000507.jpg
The obviously bizarre and disturbing content of this sermon is only highlighted by Anderson's admission that he enjoyed pouring salt on snails as a child. What an insane, dangerous person.And how sad that he fails to see that his ability to say such things without consequence is the direct result of the broad freedom our country grants everyone, not evidence of an unfailingly accurate spiritual path.
Is it just me or does the pastor look a bit like Norman Bates?
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Now whether you as a person believe what is right and what is wrong who is fair and who is not is based mostly on your upbringing. When you say you hate someone it is an emotion evoked by something that person has said or done that effects you. Stop arguing over things like this. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, even if it is not politically correct.
Vitor,
I didn't say anything about people carrying guns in supermarkets. I was talking about carrying guns when in the presence of the president. Does Switzerland allow anyone to get close to their leaders with semi-automatic weapons?
Trudith,
Yes, every1 is entitled to their opinion. That doesn't mean certain opinions aren't wrong. If I thought every1 should stone their disobedient children to death, the morality of that opinion wouldn't be up for debate or simply a matter of one's upbringing. No sane society could accept such an ideology.
But it fascinates me to no end that the very next sentence after you tell me to "Stop arguing over things like this," you absurdly state that "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion."
It's funny how every1 seems to have a right to express their opinions...except me, who you think should just shut up. You hypocritical New Agers annoy me the most. At least I can understand where Anderson's coming from. But people like yourself defend the hatemongers while simultaneously telling those who criticize them in order to minimize their potential damage to society that we haven't the same right to state our opinions.
See my article entitled: "New Age and the paradox of paradise"
This man is crazy as hell.
I can't stand how these so called Christian pastors make us real Christians look bad... This man is so ridiculous.
This is case of Christian Supremacists gone wild, and Beligerent Gun Owners gone crazy. 1. The only reason to openly carry a loaded weapon to a public debate is to intimidate. There is no other explanation. Its reminiscent of the Voter issues we see in Middle Eastern Countries. All that's missing is some sand and some dead beheaded dissidents not on the take, who don't go to the right church. Pastor Anderson shouldnt get a pass. He is inciting violence. Calling Obama Evil and comparing him with snails and slugs and telling people to pull out the young lion's teeth. Obama is a leo after all, Keeping in mind that in this crazy world, symbolism becomes all important in recreating sacred cosmology.This Pastor is inciting violence and he is using his pulpit to do so while simultaneously making politically charged statements. That church should loose its tax exempt status as well be under surveillence for violent and seditious speech. The pastor is making a call for his flock to be salt...
Here go another jim jones Fake as pastor
This man is a poor excuse of a Christian we need to pray for him his mind is twisted and dilusional he needs prayer
I wonder how many bodies are buried in his back yard....
Anderson claims he hasn't been given the opportunity for interviews with CNN like they said, except taped interviews which could be sliced and spiced, and that the Secret Service has never interviewed him. But I would like to say that Anderson's inflammatory speech does not represent all the good and decent Christians who believe President Obama needs prayer and God is in control of the situation. And there are a lot of us who do not hate.
I am suffering since 18 monthe Iam not allowed to use my P.C. by USA Internet Goggle bitch- si I say that this dirt Bitch should die Agnes
Shari,
Yeah, we had "God" in the White House for 8 years. It no worky so good. Apparently, god's a terrible commander and chief. I think Obama would benefit from having more reason.
I was a teenager during the sixties and it wasn't all Woodstock: it was a lot of good men assassinated for trying to make this a better country. I'll be damned if I'll go through that again. The right wing fringe thinks exercising one's 1st and 2nd amendment rights means shouting down opposing ideas and carrying a gun to intimidate people. Fine. Two can play that game. My husband and I spent an hour yesterday target practicing with handguns. Not all liberals are pacifists.
Anderson is an a-hole, but his speech is protected. See Brandenburg v. Ohio, speech is protected unless it leads to "imminent lawless action." caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=395&invol=444
The only thing that makes sense is the Baby's squealing... This guy has totally lost it!!
I presume Pastor Anderson is not alone these days, lots of people seem to hate the President. Too bad for them, if they consider themselves to be Christian, certainly have demonstrated they have NOT accepted Jesus. It's their hatred and they bear the consequences.
I cannot believe this man is a representative of our Jesus Christ or the Christian faith. To Pastor Anderson: You preach love and you believe in being a proponent of LIFE, but yet you want to take a life. You are a disgrace and a total hypocrite to the Christian tenets. I think you are a nobody who wants to attack people to be able to make yourdelf feel good. A total Hate Monger who has no place representing the good Christians among us. What a shame you give our religion a bad name!!!
I cannot believe under the guise of Christianity, which preaches love, a "minister" can spew such hatred.
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