What OBAMA said to God
What OBAMA said to GodNBC15 Blog Listing
What OBAMA said to God
Topic Author: Christine Bellport
Posted: 12:54 PM Jul 26, 2008
Replies Posted: 18 comments
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Hi All, 

Did you hear about this?  (**I have the AP story after my comments if you have not seen it yet.)

Personally, I was saddened that someone would do this to Barack Obama (or anyone).  Is nothing sacred anymore?  Seems strange that a news person would ask that question, right?  I would never steal someones prayer.  Never. 

On the other hand, if I were running for President, I would choose my words very carefully anyway, fully aware someone might steal my prayer and publish it.  For example, I certainly wouldn't write, "Please Lord, let me beat McCain by a landslide in November!"  and leave it on a prayer wall. 

Thoughts?

 

JERUSALEM - An Israeli newspaper's decision to publish a handwritten prayer left by Barack Obama in the cracks of Jerusalem's Western Wall drew criticism Friday as an invasion of his privacy and his relationship with God.

In the note, placed at Judaism's holiest site Thursday, Obama asks God to guide him and guard his family.

"Lord — Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will," reads the note published in Maariv.

Maariv ran a photograph of the note on its front page Friday. It said the note was removed from the wall by a Jewish seminary student immediately after Obama left.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs would neither confirm nor deny the note was Obama's, but the handwriting was similar to another message written by the presidential candidate during his time in Israel this week.
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  • by Yehuda Location: Madison on Nov 6, 2008 at 06:02 AM
    Hi Christine you should try ballroom dancing sometime if you need some one to dance with let me know
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Sherry Location: Janesville on Oct 8, 2008 at 08:27 PM
    Just because Obama is running for President, he is still a human being. Some things deserve to be left private, and besides, if it looks like his handwriting, doesn't prove it is his anyway. I can write like a doctor, it doesn't mean I am one.
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Jake Location: Sauk City on Sep 23, 2008 at 12:44 PM
    Well I sure would hate for the media to focus on any real issues. Unfortunately this is what we have for news coverage nowadays.
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Wizard101 Location: Madison on Sep 20, 2008 at 07:10 PM
    Obama who??
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Michelle Location: wi on Sep 12, 2008 at 12:39 PM
    I think that taking any persons prayer from the wall is wrong, but since Obama thinks that he is god and our savior and we should follow him, maybe it is okay you might have picked up some godly information.
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Mary Location: Marquette County on Aug 22, 2008 at 06:20 PM
    I think Obama's prayer or communication to God should "stay in his heart" - not be posted on a wall.
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by dave Location: montello, wi. on Aug 14, 2008 at 02:17 PM
    hi christine, i little funny, now that bretts a jet maybe hilary should get out of politics and become a cherrlead for same, we would be happy wisconsinites. ps you are a very beautiful lady.. thank you for being a morning news lady your great. hugs....dave
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Carl Location: Mt. Horeb on Aug 6, 2008 at 07:46 AM
    Very good Filbert, I'm sure ultra-conservative Rupert Murdoch's "Weekly Standard" has some interesting things to say about Obama. As far as the trip overseas goes, do you recall McCain goading Obama into a trip because he questioned how Obama could speak intelligently about foreign affairs without visiting these foreign countries? Well, Obama did and then was attacked by McCain for taking the trip.
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Filbert Location: Anytown, USA on Aug 5, 2008 at 07:32 AM
    Carl - see the poll numbers. Nothing was gained from this trip, especially the Euro part, of substance. BTW - read the Weekly Standard of B.O.'s legislative record in Illanoy and the Senate. A TAX and SPEND Liberal, no wonder he doesn't want us to know what he did (or didn't do).
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Carl Location: Mt. Horeb on Jul 29, 2008 at 07:52 AM
    Filbert, could you define "substance" as it relates to a campaign? Obama is a candidate for President. He can't come away from this trip with signed treaties. He can only talk about problems facing the world and how he'll try to fix them. McCain can do no better either. The image of 200,000 people coming out to see him in a foreign county is amazing. They were not like the hand picked town hall attendees that George rounded up for his campaign stops.
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Darlene Location: SUn Praieie on Jul 28, 2008 at 11:51 PM
    Please send me your email address Christine,so I can send you some Picturess I lost the paper you wrote on Monady night at the contrect
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Filbert Location: Anytown, USA on Jul 28, 2008 at 10:57 AM
    Hmmmm, I was hoping he'd put in a good word for the Brewers in this upcoming series against the Cubs. B.O. is probably a Cubs fan, though. Too much image on this trip, very little substance. But hey - substance doesn't matter anymore.
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Cindy Location: Blue Mounds on Jul 28, 2008 at 09:48 AM
    They should remain private. His prayers are between him and God. It was wrong to be published.
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Bob Location: Monroe on Jul 27, 2008 at 07:58 AM
    A person's private prayers are just that private. By your republishing and placing it on your blog you are also violating his privacy and not showing or giving the proper respect. You questioned "is nothing is sacred anymore". The answer you have provided yourself by your own actions. Perhaps I am being overly critical, but as a reporter you have the obligation to hold yourself to a higher standerd. You could have discussed the question without repeating the prayer and there by respecting his privacy. But you chose to reprint the prayer. I do not suport nor do I intend to vote for B.O. but I do believe that he said a good prayer. As a public figure in today's world one should expect that not stone will be left unturned. It is not that he has something to hide in his prayer, but he should have the right to expect the content of the prayer to be kept confidential. The fact that he left a prayer is news worthy and deserves comment. It will help him more than it will hurt him.
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
  • by Mike Location: Madison on Jul 27, 2008 at 02:23 AM
    Good question/ topic Christine! I'm torn on this one- I feel there should be a universal ethical standard amongst media professionals worldwide on such things as a person's thoughts. I also can't help thinking perhaps this was a cleverly orchestrated attempt by the campaign staff to show his link to God to the voters at home, and the foreign support he could gather there? I also feel, if you are going to run for PUBLIC office, then the public has a right to know everything- I even support 24/7 camera coverage- just so there is honesty in the process, and no back stage dealing w/ groups. Finally, I have to frown upon his choice, as a public figure, to choose such a way to communicate to his maker, in a foreign land, where the press may operate under different ethics/ guidelines. Could this be part of the inexperience other politicians spoke of? personally, I think the focus should be the editor, and his/ her ethics. a seminary student? wonder how the seminary feels about student morals
    Reply [ Report Abuse ]
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