Speaker at McCain rally says non-Christians want an Obama win
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/11/art.obama07.gi.jpg caption="A pastor at a McCain rally said non-Christians are hoping for an Obama win."]DAVENPORT, Iowa (CNN) - A minister delivering the invocation at John McCain’s rally in Davenport, Iowa Saturday told the crowd non-Christian religions around the world were praying for Barack Obama to win the U.S. presidential election.
“There are millions of people around this world praying to their god—whether it’s Hindu, Buddha, Allah—that his opponent wins, for a variety of reasons. And Lord, I pray that you will guard your own reputation, because they’re going to think that their God is bigger than you, if that happens,” said Arnold Conrad, the former pastor of Grace Evangelical Free Church in Davenport.
The remark was made before McCain arrived at the rally but the Republican nominee's campaign quickly put out a statement distancing itself from the remarks.
“While we understand the important role that faith plays in informing the votes of Iowans, questions about the religious background of the candidates only serve to distract from the real questions in this race about Barack Obama's judgment, policies and readiness to lead as commander in chief,” said McCain campaign spokesperson Wendy Riemann.
This incident comes a day after a Minnesota voter asked Senator McCain if Barack Obama was an Arab at a town hall in Lakeville, Minnesota and just three days after Lehigh GOP County Chairman Bill Platt made a speech at a McCain rally in Pennsylvania where he refered to the Democrat nominee for president as Barack Hussein Obama.
Great when the McBush drive economy to ground they can pray for food and water too. Hope lord will provide them as well. Who needs a job anyways when lord provide all things needed.
Wow – once again we see the sheer ignorance and intolerance of McCain and Palin cultists. You are Christians? You think McCain and Palin are real Christians? Adultery, fraud, greed, hate-crime language against their Democratic opponents....is your view of Christianity?
I don't what religion you actually practice but it does not resemble the teachings of Jesus and God's love of ALL people – even the misguided like you. The God I know forgives sinners and those that use his name falsely. Perhaps you should be praying for forgiveness and for God to open your minds and your hearts .
God can even perform miracles to help the "blind to see". Hopefully He will be gracious unto you and let you see the false prophets of hatred and lies entrenched in and spread by McCain and Palin.
These people are just SICK! Fake Christians!!!
What a bunch of garbage. I am a Christian, and I am voting for Obama because I feel he is the best choice for this Country's President. This is just another example of a comment designed to divide America.
What we all should be afraid of is a group of people, GOP, who pray for the demise of another. To me, that is scary! If you are a Christian, how can you hold so much hate. But know this, the scripture says, "the first shall be last and the last shall be first."
McCain’s campaign is becoming more pathetic by the day.
This is so sad. How is this rhetoric representative of the message of Jesus Christ? I do not understand what is wrong with these people. Will they ever learn to vote with their brains instead of their bibles and bigotry?
McCain has destroyed everything he has ever worked for along with his career.
I always find it hilarious when American Christians talk about Allah. Actually I shouldnt be laughing because it is very sad. Allah and God are one and the same. Open up a bible and look for the page with the names of God in different languages or find a christian Arab and ask them how to say God in arabic. They will say Allah. Please stop the ignorance.
Sarah at a rally calling Obama's position on abortion, "really radical", and that was her topic. This minister praying for his defeat to "save his God's reputation". The McCain camp allowing all of it, the terror campaign last week included, and then, after all the damage is done, disavowing it all.
Where do they find these insane people to conform to their campaign frenetic tactics?
Every day there is more reason NOT to elect these lunatics into office.
I believe both of these campaigns should be suspended until election day. Nothing sane or concrete is being offered. It is insane, absolutely insane. Sarah Palin is a manic radical pathetic excuse. I haven't seen any of her Republican female surrogates gushing over her star power this past week.
It really amazes me that a minister , or anyone else would have the gall to think that any sane person would believe that crap......
If the crowd does believe crap like that , that means they`re not sane , in which case , they probably can`t read , and can`t spell their name , meaning they can`t sign their name , ergo , their ballot is invalid ......
Was the minister Sarah Palin`s from Wasilla ? The one that laid hands upon her to ex-spell the devil from her ? The one who comes from Kenya . Good thing that laying of hands happened in Wasilla Alaska , and not Tupelo Mississippi . I`ll betch cha`.....
This is the height of desparation, pray very hard since we are praying to the same God that Obama wins. These guys are unbelievable.
Wow the McCain camp is doing everything they can to loose..... All this talk does is work up the nut jobs it far right wing ... BUT unfortunately turns off the center which is who is going to decide the election..
I cant wait for my universal health care. Thanks Sarah / Karl / Rush et all of the monosyllabic knuckle dragging nascar watchin' troglodytes.
What Arnold Conrad does not understand is that the bible warns us against judging other people because then we are doing Gods work or you are telling God that he’s wrong. We as human being we have our own weaknesses but at all cost we should not be judging other people. Obama is a Christian period.
The more I listen to these "Christians", the more afraid I get.
McCain is fanning the flames of distrust in our political process as he distributes more and more lies about Barack Obama, and he acts surprised at the result. He cannot see, like George W. Bush before him could not see, that to convince people to misjudge the character of another through lying tears apart our democracy, where the minority party must feel that the election was based on a fair judgement of facts. This misjudgement IN ITSELF is enough to disqualify John McCain from the Office of President of the United States.
What is this person and many others in that republicain camp thinking. Just goes to show you that ignorance in that camp is so spread abroad. They still don't get it and they never will. Lets just pray for them. Yes, I am a christian. I believe in the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. Now What?! And Im voting for Barack Obama. God will be forever in control.
Like errata in newspapers where they will issue a retraction in fine print on the fourth page – once you set a cat among the pigeons you cannot bring them back.
"Dear God, please show all these other religions that my God is bigger than their God."" Oh, pulleeaase!
Lord, deliver us from the religious whackos among us!
WOW !!!
THIS ELECTION IS SO IMPORTANT AND YET EVEN PASTOR'S ARE SPEAKING OUT IN DISGRACE!!!
EVERYONE MAN/WOMAN ONE VOTE SO IT DOESN' T MATTER!!!!!!!
as a christian, my faith has played an integral role in my decision to vote democratic 4 years ago and, I am 99% sure, in this upcoming election.
I've seem Obama to be a calm and humble representation of undeserved grace, qualities that reflect wisdom enough to lead our nation. McCain, however, seems less sincere and has continued the increase in misleading ads that portray his opponent poorly. Hopefully, I believe, this nation will rise above petty attacks akin to middle school rumors and elect a more positive, uplifting, and healing candidate.
“There are millions of people around this world praying to their god—whether it’s Hindu, Buddha, Allah..."
Hinduism is a religion, not a God. People who make such remarks are not only religious fanatics but they are also appallingly ignorant. This is not a crusade, this is a presidential election.
I will go vomit now...
I think it needs to be pointed out that there is no god named "Hindu". Also, to say that Buddhists either pray to or worship the Buddha is greatly misunderstanding that religion. The lack of understanding demonstrated here of the world's religions makes the obvious disdain for them demonstrated by the invocation that much more difficult to swallow.
This seems to be right in line with the direction that the McCain campaign, the Republican party, and the Christian right are heading. A downward spiral into desperate attempts to portray Barack Obama as someone we should be scared of. We have yet to hear a reference Mr. Obama as the Anti-Christ, but then there are still a few weeks to go before the election, and I would not be surprised. Shame on you all.
What is it with so-called "Christians" and their preaching the word that it's not right to judge someone, regardless of religion and set of beliefs, yet by becoming a "minister," it suddenly makes them okay to judge a person? That guy needs to do a lot of praying for forgiveness on his part for such slander.