Christian leaders meet privately with Obama

Barack Obama discussed Darfur, the Iraq war, gay rights, abortion and other issues Tuesday with Christian leaders, including a conservative who has been criticized for praising the Democratic presidential candidate.

Bishop T.D. Jakes, a prominent black clergyman who heads a Dallas megachurch, said Obama took questions, listened to participants and discussed his “personal journey of faith.”

The discussion “went absolutely everywhere,” Jakes told The Associated Press, and “just about every Christian stripe was represented in that room.”

Jakes, who does not endorse candidates and said he also hopes to meet with Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said some participants clearly have political differences with Obama. His support for abortion rights and gay rights, among other issues, draws opposition from religious conservatives. Some conservatives have criticized Jakes for praising Obama.

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Posted in * Culture-Watch, * Economics, Politics, Religion & Culture, US Presidential Election 2008

8 comments on “Christian leaders meet privately with Obama

  1. Carol R says:

    If he’s looking for a new “spiritual advisor” I guess Jakes would be a better choice than those he’s chosen so far.

  2. robroy says:

    I wonder what how a John McCain – Colin Powell ticket would fare.

  3. John Wilkins says:

    A much broader group of religious leaders, I suspect, than I recall Bush discussing things with.

  4. libraryjim says:

    Isn’t Jakes non-Trinitarian? I haven’t read any of his works, but hear that from friends, so the info may not be accurate.

  5. Chris Molter says:

    #3, good thing Bush isn’t running against Obama, then. I think you’ll find McCain is NOT BushIII (thank the Lord)

  6. libraryjim says:

    Robroy,
    A McCain-Powell ticket has been mentioned before, and the danger there is Powell’s liberal attitude on certain issues, which would not endear the ticket to the conservatives in the party.

    For McCain to really rock the party, he would need to pick a strong conservative (or at least a person with more conservative than liberal views) for his running mate.

    How about J.C. Watts?

  7. Chris Molter says:

    #6, I think the current Gov of Alaska would make a superb running mate for McCain. It would certainly alter the identity politicking status quo!

  8. libraryjim says:

    She sounds good!

    But —- uh-oh! What’s this? Oil and gas commission? Oh, no, ties to big oil?

    Well, not really, but that’s what the ‘other side’ might accuse.

    Frankly, from her [url=http://gov.state.ak.us/bio.php]bio page[/url] on her website, she DOES sound like she’d make a good choice.