Pastor Steve Anderson
It's well understood that right-wingers oppose the Obama Presidency and want to see him voted out next election. Some go so far as to publicly express their hope that the President will fail, letting their hatred of him supersede their (supposed) love of country. Now, though, an Arizona pastor has gon a step further; Steven Anderson wants the President to die of brain cancer, just like Ted Kennedy did. And he wants it to happen today.
Nope. I'm not gonna pray for his good. I'm going to pray that he dies and goes to hell." Later, rather than apologize for making abhorrent statements about the leader that the citizens of the United States elected, Anderson went even further: "I'd like to see him die, like Ted Kennedy, of brain cancer." To the pastor's credit, at least he's not demanding Obama's head over the issue of health care reform. And so yet another honorable "pro-life" person strides onto the national stage, sending letters to God begging for the Almighty to leave Michelle Obama a widow and Sasha and Malia fatherless because Obama dared to respect the law of the United States. This honorable "pro-life" person bragged about his parishioners carrying guns to church, and was nothing but proud when one of his own, a man named Christopher Broughton, attended a Phoenix event featuring President Obama while carrying a loaded rifle. The event was one day after Anderson's "death to Obama" sermon. There's nothing factually wrong with this vile fundamentalist rhetoric. Anderson's prayers for the death of our democratically elected President stem from a Biblical command to kill all "murderers," which many sects of Christianity interpret as including people who have, provide or enable abortions. All this sick man is doing is following the word of the Bible as clearly stated. It's logical, if one accepts the laws of the Bible as true and does not cherry-pick, that Barack Obama, along with all abortion providers, women who have had abortions, administrators of hospitals that employ doctors who provide abortions, and so on should get a bullet between the eyes. More moderate Christians are certainly quick to disown this man, as they did Scott Roeder, Michael Griffin, Paul Jennings Hill, John Salvi, Eric Rudolph, and James Kopp - and those are just the murderers. The list goes on; abortion providers have been shot, sent death threats and bomb threats and anthrax threats, assaulted, bombed, vandalized... They're just fundamentalists, just extremists, the moderate wing will say. How many people have to commit these appalling acts of violence before they become mainstream? In the end, though, Anderson's just being a good Christian. He is following the literal word of the Bible because he believes that is the inerrant word of God. In addition to praying for the death of America's President, he's also given a sermon on the merits of killing homosexuals (who, he asserts, "recruit through rape"). It makes sense that his followers, being convinced that Barack Obama is, if not the Antichrist, an extremely evil man, and being in possession of firearms, should move to do justice upon him. Perhaps one of them will become convinced that he is God's tool for removing Barack Obama from office and from this world; in a community of religious fundamentalists, it's just as likely as a fundamentalist Muslim believing his holy duty is to become a suicide bomber. Speaking of Muslims, how do you think the Christian right would feel if it were a Muslim man praying for the death of America's head of state?
Comments
If it were a Muslim, it would have been a fodder for the likes of Beck, Limbaugh and the radicals among the Republican leadership and the hate mongers like Spencer, Emerson and their likes. They would have feasted for months.
Think about the congregation of Anderson, how could they tolerate a hate sermon? Would Jesus have approved this? No wonder Nation is moving towards Atheism, where at least they don't preach hate towards any one. Anderson, Hagee, Robertson, Falwell are the biggest anti-christ guys in our nation who teach exacatly opposite of the teachings of Jesus - Love and embrace God's creation.
Mike ghouse
hatesermons.blogspot
FoundationforPLuralism
While I disagree with the attitude on the part of those portrayed, Limbaugh wanted failure for Obama's policies, the same as most libs wanted Bush to fail.
The hypocrisy portrayed here on the part of the author ignoring the literal hate expressed towards G.W. Bush by the radical left is typical.
I think the dialogue should remain on the issues. Obama is failing big time. No doubt about it.
His poll numbers are the lowest for any President at this stage of his tenure.
SAD DONT INTERTAIN STUPIDITY. ALL THIS GUY IS LOOKING FOR IS HIS CHANE AT BEING FAMOUS WE AS AMERICANS FEED OFF OF DUMB, IGNORANT THINGS, CHILDISH BEHAVIOR. SO HE KNOWS THAT WE WILL FEED OFF OF HIS "I PRAY OBOMA DIES" NOW IF WE READ OR GO TO CHURCH OR WORSHIP GOD WE KNOW THAT CHRISTIANS ARE SUPPOSED TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. WHAT TYPE OF PASTOR IS THIS TEACHINH HATRED TO HIS CONGRAGATION. AM ONLY 19 YEARS OF AGE HOW WOULD HE LIKE IT IF I CALLED HIM A FALSE "PROPHIT" NOW IN THE BIBLE IT SAYS THAT FALSE PROPHITS WILL BE DELT WITH BY GOD NOT BY MAN SO I PRAY THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE STOP INTERTAINING THESE CRAZY OUTBURSTS.
Larry wood: If you pay close attention, you might observe that this article is not about the "radical libs" whom you hate. The fact that you feel the need to deflect attention from the topic at hand is telling.
I first heard Steve Andersen's comments on cnn and appalled that a "so called" minister would entertain this rhetoric. I know that he was quoting the bible, but he went over the line when he said he hoped the president would die! The right wing should get a grip on reality, because the "first to be judged is the house of God". That quote is taken from the bible! It may be heard for republicans to believe this,but maybe God actually placed barack obama in the white house! Wow, what a concept!
You know pastor regardless of any strife that one is going thru or that someone is causing, you should always thank God for it because everything is his plan. Its's okay to pray for change, or understanding or the things that you don't well, understand. However, go with the flow if you really believe in Him...and we should all worry about whats in front of us right now. I'm not saying things don't need to change or maybe should change in a perfect world....but He doesn't work in a perfect world...things have to happen to get outcomes sometimes. I'm not a religious man for the most part these days, not like I should or could be. I believe thats how it should be looked at from a religious mans point of view.
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