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Obama Makes Birther Joke At Prayer Breakfast (VIDEO)
President Barack Obama
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At this morning's national prayer breakfast in Washington D.C., President Obama made a birther joke.
Calling once again for a return to civility in politics, the president declared that civility is "not a sign of weakness" and that he's "the first to confess I'm not always right."
"Surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith," the president said, pausing for a few seconds before adding, "or, for that matter, my citizenship."
The crowd laughed and applauded.
Here's the video:
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madmatt
February 4, 2010 9:49 AM
Way to give credibility to the cultish scum that make up the family...never an opportunity missed to disappoint liberal dems!
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Skalite
February 4, 2010 10:06 AM in reply to madmatt
Are you...are you actually being serious? Because in context of this clip, that comment made so little sense it actually negated the sensibility of things around it. For a three foot circle around your comment, Euclidian geometry doesn't work. Of course, that circle has four sides and 90 degree angles.
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GillesDeleuze
February 4, 2010 10:14 AM in reply to Skalite
I'm with Madmatt. His mere presence at this cultish display of phallic religious power is giving it way too much credibility.
Then again, the same could be said for his appearance at the GOP luncheon.
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semiotix
February 4, 2010 12:02 PM in reply to GillesDeleuze
Unless you believe Michelle Malkin and the rest of the "SEEKRIT MOOSLIM!" crowd, Obama is a believing member of the "phallic religious cult" most predominant in Washington. To the extent that this was political, I'm pretty sure Obama is qualified to make those kinds of decisions for himself.
Maybe the fact of his professed faith in and of itself is too terrible a thought for some people to bear (on either side of the aisle). But we don't make our presidents sign oaths of apostasy when they take office. A secular society does not require an atheist leader, and certainly not someone temporarily pretending to be an atheist for purposes of giving the right people "credibility." (I say this as a non-believer, for what it's worth.)
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Col
February 4, 2010 2:58 PM in reply to semiotix
They're referring to the fact that the National Prayer Breakfast is put on by "The Family" (or "The Fellowship"), a secretive group of men with some very questionable associations and beliefs, NOT Christianity in general.
See Wikipediaand Jeff Sharlet's book.
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lousgirl84
February 4, 2010 5:51 PM in reply to GillesDeleuze
That's bullshit. Obama knows what he's doing with these folks. He plays chess and the fucking idiots are playing checkers.
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AJM
February 4, 2010 9:36 PM in reply to lousgirl84
RIGHT: Tell it to Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
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jsfox
February 4, 2010 10:22 AM in reply to madmatt
Obama has enough trouble with the opposition without breaking Presidential precedent going back to Eisenhower by not attending this breakfast.
Sometimes I wish folks would try and look at the bigger picture as opposed to their own personal pet peeves all the time.
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Mateo123
February 4, 2010 10:35 AM in reply to jsfox
Amen. Could not have said it any better.
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rbeats
February 4, 2010 10:37 AM in reply to jsfox
Considering the kill the gays in Uganda bill was proposed and supported by these people, I would say the nation would be better off the sooner this President broke ties with this knuckle dragging card carrying members of the flat Earth society.
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jsfox
February 4, 2010 11:05 AM in reply to rbeats
Or maybe use it a a opportunity to broach the issue? Like this:
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CT Voter
February 4, 2010 12:37 PM in reply to jsfox
Absolutely. If he declined, can you imagine the discussion?
And I don't think he was making a joke, either.
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lousgirl84
February 4, 2010 12:55 PM in reply to jsfox
Wouldn't it be nice? But not from this crowd. They are a bunch of spoiled whiners and pathetic.
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VideoHammer
February 4, 2010 10:53 AM in reply to madmatt
If YOUR skin is so thin that Obama can not ridicule the Birthers or himself, without you getting offended,..... then you are an idiot.
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oskieoskie
February 4, 2010 11:27 AM in reply to madmatt
If Barack did nothing to disappoint the liberals, that would disappoint them.
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political_observer
February 4, 2010 12:25 PM in reply to oskieoskie
lmao :) Good one oskieoskie.
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CT Voter
February 4, 2010 12:38 PM in reply to oskieoskie
If he walked on water, some on the left would bitch that he couldn't swim.
(borrowed from Hillary's observation about Republicans' attitudes towards Obama).
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Neil
February 4, 2010 6:48 PM in reply to madmatt
He's not "giving them credibility" by addressing them. They're an influential group, everybody knows that, and he's acting accordingly.
Particularly when he was just scolding them on how to behave more reasonably.
Don't be stoooopid. You sound just like a Republican winger saying that talking from a position of strength to enemies "emboldens" them or such nonsense.
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Seeryer
February 4, 2010 10:12 AM
Didn't seem he was joking. Seemed he was being serious. He should be serious about this. All of these attacks on his credibility pile up and take the shine off. He must combat them at every possible opportunity. Not his spokespeople but him. He is by far the best communicator in DC.
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IClaudia
February 4, 2010 10:15 AM in reply to Seeryer
Elizabeth Warren is the best communicator in DC. Obama is the tallest best.
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Will work for shoes
February 4, 2010 10:27 AM in reply to IClaudia
I think you're right. I waited for him to smile like he does when he cracks a funny joke. He didn't. It was a semi light-hearted crack but not a joke.
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Will work for shoes
February 4, 2010 10:30 AM in reply to Will work for shoes
Oops, that's not in the right place. Too little coffee.
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mikedrevguy
February 4, 2010 10:16 AM
I would question the headline "Obama Makes Birther Joke . . . ." Was he making a joke? Just because the audience laughed - doesn't mean it was intended as a joke. Usually when OB thinks he's be cute and funny - it shows in his face, smile; if it was a joke - he played the role of the straight-man pretty well.
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Economides
February 4, 2010 10:43 AM in reply to mikedrevguy
It was not a joke.
Nervous laughter is a reflexive response of people who feel guilty, but can't admit it.
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kmac
February 4, 2010 11:04 AM in reply to Economides
Amen!
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gpleigh
February 4, 2010 11:12 AM in reply to Economides
This didn't seem like a joke to me, either. BTW, this was an amazing speech where he spoke honestly and forthrightly about the mess that is Washington and how utterly deep in conflict it is with their virtuous posturing. A great speech.
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Reefdancer
February 4, 2010 10:18 AM
The wingnuts' problem is that they don't recognize class when they see it. They're too used to grifters like Palin/Beck and the fat oxycontin drug addict idiot
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hollywood
February 4, 2010 2:48 PM in reply to Reefdancer
Right you are! If most republicans would prefer Palin as President then you see they have no mind whatsoever for class or intelligence.
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Minnesota Raindog
February 4, 2010 10:33 AM
Did Obama address the Kill-the-Gays legislation in Uganda, evidently supported by members of this prayer breakfast group?
http://tinyurl.com/y9h9en8
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jenesq
February 4, 2010 10:46 AM in reply to Minnesota Raindog
Yes, and quite forcefully too. He brought the fight to them in a way he could not have done if he had not been there in person.
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rbeats
February 4, 2010 11:29 AM in reply to jenesq
Of course what I consider forcefully telling these thugs anything that would make a difference is that if such a bill moves forward and is passed, Obama will have legislation introduced to remove the tax exempt status of religious organizations.
That is the only way to gain any sort of attention from these misogynistic, bigoted, 13th century ideologues.
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jenesq
February 4, 2010 12:25 PM in reply to rbeats
Really? ALL religious organizations? Even ones that have nothing to do with this and may in fact be forcefully opposing the bill? Really, what a ridiculous and utterly unhelpful idea. Stereotyping all religious organizations is as utterly asinine as, say, stereotyping people of color or the GLBT community.
Indeed, do you even know for a fact that The Family is a tax-exempt religious organization?
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Msinformed
February 4, 2010 2:10 PM in reply to jenesq
They choose their beliefs. I think ALL church businesses should be taxed.
The C Street house had some sort of tax exemption.
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hollywood
February 4, 2010 2:56 PM in reply to Msinformed
Tax the churches! All of them!
Where I grew up the Catholic Church was the largest landowner in the county. They paid ZERO taxes .... but never shut their god damned mouths about abortion and gay rights. Actively lobbying the government and throwing your huge weight around in elections, but never paying a dime is just a criminal racket by another name.
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lousgirl84
February 4, 2010 5:45 PM in reply to jenesq
It was until a few weeks ago but now it's status is being investigated
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steviez
February 4, 2010 10:33 AM
When Obama is in the house, all the other politicians and pundits look like petty bickering children -- just like a lot of people who spend time spewing anger on blogs. Whether Obama told a "joke" is not the point -- he spoke the truth. In his disarming manner. And it is effective because he is not angry, and people laughed because that's what they do when they are disarmed. I love and admire this man -- faults and all.
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jeffgee
February 4, 2010 11:24 AM in reply to steviez
But, but, but Rush says all the time that Obama is angry, so who ya gonna believe if you're the base of the GOP?
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new10
February 4, 2010 10:47 AM
I think that the answer to Obama's rhetorical question is, no. They cannot question his policies effectively, which is one of the reasons why they would rather question his faith or birth. Another reason why is because policy discussion requires them to appeals to voter intellect while personal attacks appeal to voter emotions. Can't have the unwashed masses thinking too much, you know.
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ohyeathatsright
February 4, 2010 11:32 AM in reply to new10
Exactly. Well said.
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FreemanW
February 4, 2010 10:50 AM
That's nice. Obama makes a little joke about insane people that should literally be socially shunned and vilified as ignorant village idiots. I would characterize them as retarded, but that would be insulting to the mentally challenged among us.
When it is all distilled, Obama has shown he is nothing more than the latest iteration of Bubba. He's nothing but another democratic President that the GOP has no trouble living with and dictating the landscape to. Obama has surrounded himself with the corporate stooges that take care of and promote the wealthy as long as it is at the expense of everyone else.
He got elected by campaigning on the idea of change. I just had no idea when I voted for him that the change he was speaking about the the coin in my pocket.
We're all still wearing a blue dress with a stain.
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jdb316
February 4, 2010 11:05 AM in reply to FreemanW
Unfortunately, the political culture of this country is such that if Obama had tried to be a hard core liberal, he would have ended up like Howard Dean in 2004. Until the political culture changes - something which Obama himself is powerless to do - Democrats like Clinton are about as good as you're going to get in the White House.
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hollywood
February 4, 2010 3:07 PM in reply to jdb316
Obama is a hardcore Liberal, but he is smart enough to know that will not get him anywhere in this backward redneck country. He has for instance stated many times that he would prefer a single payer health care system. He then of course has to say that that would never be possible in this country with our corporations firmly in control, so he does what he can to move us in a better direction. He knows the score and is pragmatic above all else.
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jenesq
February 4, 2010 11:27 AM in reply to FreemanW
Great wingnut talking points!
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FreemanW
February 4, 2010 7:07 PM in reply to jenesq
Great wingnut talking points?
Really?
That is what you have to say to someone that thinks Obama is not much better than a Rethuglican in Democratic clothing?
I would be very happy if he threatened to fulfill just a couple of his campaign promises.
It would be really neat if he arrested the redistribution of wealth to the wealthy and corrected a small fraction of the sh@t George W. Bush shamelessly f@#$ed up.
Great wingnut talking points my ass!
The National Democratic Party is not here to help us; and neither are many of their membership. They've made that abundantly clear.
They have shown themselves to be no better than the wife-beating husband on good behavior.
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kmac
February 4, 2010 11:03 AM
"Obama has enough trouble with the opposition without breaking Presidential precedent going back to Eisenhower by not attending this breakfast.
Sometimes I wish folks would try and look at the bigger picture as opposed to their own personal pet peeves all the time."
*******
Well stated!
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Barleymash
February 4, 2010 11:08 AM
I agree that the headline on this piece is completely off-base. Obama basically called a significant portion of his audience fools. Which they are. It wasn't a joke, it was a jab.
I don't understand the posters who demand Obama confront his opponents, then get all out of joint when he shows up at a place frequented by his opponents. As Willie Sutton said about robbing banks, "That's where the money is."
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lousgirl84
February 4, 2010 1:02 PM in reply to Barleymash
How about this for a reason: a bunch of spoiled assholes.
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dustbunny44
February 4, 2010 11:36 AM
Yes, also agreed.
Not a joke but a very serious observation and criticism.
There is a difference between one's politics and policy, and one's religion and faith (even if that faith is the belief of where someone was born).
It is part of the core of the difference between church and state. And when you keep those 2 apart, then faith loses power as a political tool.
He is thrusting a sword directly at the power these idiots wield with their religious imperative over politics, saying correctly that you can disagree with my politics without questioning my personal religion (or anything else that you care to invent, like birtherism).
This is correct and a useful and powerful Democratic stance.
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MarinCat
February 4, 2010 2:55 PM in reply to dustbunny44
Absolutely. Who ever wrote this headline aught to edit it. I watched twice to confirm my initial impression.
OB was serious about the faith/citizenship comment. With this and his Uganda smack down, I'ld say OB is on a roll.
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lousgirl84
February 4, 2010 12:56 PM
Obama's brilliance is lost on my folks. He took a perfect opportunity to zing them and he did it with class like everything he does.
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steviez
February 4, 2010 2:02 PM in reply to lousgirl84
Yes!
But who are your folks?
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lousgirl84
February 4, 2010 5:46 PM in reply to steviez
Oops. Should have been "most" folks - not my folks. Thanks for catching that. I still maintain my statement as corrected.
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steviez
February 4, 2010 8:07 PM in reply to lousgirl84
And I think your statement as corrected is spot on.
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lede3957
February 4, 2010 2:09 PM
In my opinion the President did not make a joke, nor did he intend it to be funny. The few in the audience who chuckled, did so out of embarrassment or feeling uncomfortable with the truth.
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lousgirl84
February 4, 2010 6:34 PM in reply to lede3957
Yes, in watching the clip, I agree
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steviez
February 4, 2010 8:13 PM in reply to lede3957
Yes, that is the beauty of being able to speak simply and truthfully when one refutes nonsense. It is revealed for what it is. The laughter that follows can be many things -- depending upon the complicity of the listener with the falsehood or with his/her compassion with the speaker.
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Tosh
April 28, 2010 9:36 PM
That's nice. Obama makes a little joke about insane people that should literally be socially shunned and vilified as ignorant village idiots. I would characterize them as retarded, but that would be insulting to the mentally challenged among us.
When it is all distilled, Obama has shown he is nothing more than the latest iteration of Bubba. He's nothing but another democratic President that the GOP has no trouble living with and dictating the landscape to. Obama has surrounded himself with the corporate stooges that take care of and promote the wealthy as long as it is at the expense of everyone else.
He got elected by campaigning on the idea of change. I just had no idea when I voted for him that the change he was speaking about the the coin in my pocket.
We're all still wearing a blue dress with a stain.
m65 kamagra
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