No Churchgoing Christmas for the First Family

[thundley4]

The Senate vote on final passage of health reform almost scuttled their plans, but it looks like the First Family will still make it to Hawaii for Christmas. They've had a whirlwind holiday season so far, starting with the lighting of the National Christmas Tree, through hosting more than 50,000 people for 27 parties and open houses, and ending with a visit by the First Lady, Malia and Sasha, and the family's dog Bo, to deliver cookies to the Children's National Medical Center. The Obamas have also started their own holiday traditions in their new home, adding a Christmas wishing tree to the decorations festooning the White House.

    But there's one common Christmas practice not on the First Family's schedule: a visit to Christmas Eve church services.
Church, in fact, has been a surprisingly tough issue for the Obamas. They resigned their membership with Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago in 2008 after Obama renounced the church's controversial former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. And while the First Family intended to find a local church to attend when they moved to Washington, concerns about crowds and displacing regular worshippers has prevented them from finding a new religious home during their first year here.
The Obamas have attended Sunday services in Washington three times this year — once at the predominantly African-American 19th Street Baptist Church, and twice at St. John's Episcopal Church across Lafayette Square from the White House. Asked at Tuesday's White House briefing whether the First Family is still searching for a local church to join, press secretary Robert Gibbs responded: "The President has attended fairly regularly up at Camp David a church that he's comfortable in and has enjoyed attending."


Read more: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1949879,00.html#ixzz0aorFUxRI

[Eupher]

Even for Obama, it's kinda tough playing a charade in which he's expected to call himself a "Christian."

That runs contrary to the new title bequeathed to him by others - The Messiah, The One, etc.

[Carl]

He just isn`t comfortable in a church that would dare to mention God and Jesus instead of telling the congregation how evil the USA is.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Oh come on!

There has to be at least one "kill whitey" church in Hawaii somewhere.

[Daisy]

Jeremiah Wright is listed as having been a guest at the White House but Obama says it was not THAT  Jeremiah Wright, it was a different one.  May we please see the Jeremiah Wright who WAS at the White House?? I am sceptical. ...

[Celtic Rose]

I'll admit, I've never actually been to church on Christmas, and I go to church almost every week.  So, I can't say too much about the Obamas on that.  But, it does seem strange that they were apparently so faithful to their church in Chicago that they attended it for so many years, and yet have not yet found a church to attend regularly in DC. 

[thundley4]

I'll admit, I've never actually been to church on Christmas, and I go to church almost every week.  So, I can't say too much about the Obamas on that.  But, it does seem strange that they were apparently so faithful to their church in Chicago that they attended it for so many years, and yet have not yet found a church to attend regularly in DC. 

They claim that going to a church in DC would be disruptive to the church they go to.  Funny, but that never seemed an issue for past presidents.

[Eupher]

They claim that going to a church in DC would be disruptive to the church they go to.  Funny, but that never seemed an issue for past presidents.

Not only that, but when they go on their interminable vacations and wedding anniversary trips, they don't seem to have a problem in disrupting those people that would otherwise not be bothered by The One.

[djones520]

They claim that going to a church in DC would be disruptive to the church they go to.  Funny, but that never seemed an issue for past presidents.

Tell that to Reagan, who used the same "excuse".

http://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/08/us/campaign-notes-white-house-explains-reagan-church-habits.html

[Eupher]

Tell that to Reagan, who used the same "excuse".

http://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/08/us/campaign-notes-white-house-explains-reagan-church-habits.html

It's true that Reagan wasn't an active churchgoer, but the last time I checked, Reagan also didn't have a pastor in Simi Valley, California, that brayed "God Damn America!" in one of his sermons, either.

I'd say that more than most presidents, Obama is far more hypocritical about his religious practices.

[rich_t]

It's true that Reagan wasn't an active churchgoer, but the last time I checked, Reagan also didn't have a pastor in Simi Valley, California, that brayed "God Damn America!" in one of his sermons, either.

I'd say that more than most presidents, Obama is far more hypocritical about his religious practices.

Do ya think they have installed the foot bath in the Oval Office bathroom yet?

[Eupher]

Do ya think they have installed the foot bath in the Oval Office bathroom yet?

Yeah, it's right next to the perfumed bidet.

[thundley4]

Tell that to Reagan, who used the same "excuse".

http://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/08/us/campaign-notes-white-house-explains-reagan-church-habits.html

I knew someone would bring that up.

I don't really remember President Reagan talking about his faith all that much. I recall more of him talking about his faith in the US and in the American people.  When did the church going thing become such a big deal for the president?  Clinton?

[Eupher]

I knew someone would bring that up.

I don't really remember President Reagan talking about his faith all that much. I recall more of him talking about his faith in the US and in the American people.  When did the church going thing become such a big deal for the president?  Clinton?

I think Carter wore his religious conviction on his sleeve for all to see - except I think he was (and is) very devout. Of course, he's a jerkoff, but that doesn't mean he can't be a Christian.

[rich_t]

Yeah, it's right next to the perfumed bidet.

 

[thundley4]

I think Carter wore his religious conviction on his sleeve for all to see - except I think he was (and is) very devout. Of course, he's a jerkoff, but that doesn't mean he can't be a Christian.

Carter recently issued an apology to Jewish people, but it had nothing to do with his grandson running for the Georgia senate.

[bkg]

Jeremiah Wright is listed as having been a guest at the White House but Obama says it was not THAT  Jeremiah Wright, it was a different one.  May we please see the Jeremiah Wright who WAS at the White House?? I am sceptical. ...

It also wasn't "that" Bill Ayers...

[SOFTBALL#4GRAMA]

For those of us who do want to go to church, and believe in God, better do it while we can, because I fear that if the big O has his way,all of the Church's will be locked down and we will forbidden to enter... I have no problem with those who don't go to church, but I do have a BIG problem if told I can't.....So if it isn't O's thing it is him who has to explain his flimsy excuses to God when that day comes, and suffer the consequences...

[Daisy]

Oooo. That must sting.,,,

[Ladywinter]

Do Muslims attend Christian church services on Christmas?

[thundley4]

Do Muslims attend Christian church services on Christmas?

If they do they are usually wearing a special vest. 

[JohnnyReb]

If they do they are usually wearing a special vest. 

"Do not congradulate the infidel on his religious holidays"....or something like that from mohammed/allah.