08/12/2008
Focus on the Family: Pray for Rain at Obama's DNC Speech
Focus on the Family producer Stewart Shepard asks the group's followers to pray for rain during Obama's speech at Invesco Mile High stadium during Obama's Democratic National Convention speech. The clip was pulled by the group this morning, but it has shown up on YouTube again.
Shepard: "You might ask, now why would I pray for that? Well, I'm still pro-life, and I'm still in favor of marriage as being only between one man and one woman. And I'd like the next president who will select justices for the U.S. Supreme Court, to agree..."
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
(via marc ambinder)
Posted 12:28 PM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Democratic National Convention, Democratic Party, Denver, JAmes Dobson, News | Permalink
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He needs to pray for our economy and all the people adversely affected by Bush's senseless war and pray that the next president will work to fix all that.
Posted by: Michael W. | Aug 12, 2008 12:34:01 PM
Would it be so wrong to pray that people like Mr. Shepard finally get a clue?
Posted by: Dan | Aug 12, 2008 12:37:14 PM
So...if it doesn't rain, does that mean god isn't listening to him and he'll shut the hell up?
Posted by: scientitian | Aug 12, 2008 12:41:49 PM
Actually that's not a bad idea, Colorado has been having a bit of a drought this summer so they could probably use it.
As sweet as Democrats are, we're not made of sugar and we won't melt in the rain!
Posted by: NaughtyLola | Aug 12, 2008 12:50:00 PM
That is a better Obama ad than any that his campaign has put out to date.
Just listen to this man's words:
"You might ask, now why would I pray for that? Well, I'm still pro-life, and I'm still in favor of marriage as being only between one man and one woman. And I'd like the next president who will select justices for the U.S. Supreme Court, to agree..."
Think about who and what he represents and then try to justify a vote for McCain or any other candidate that would vicariously give McCain the presidency.
Posted by: Joe | Aug 12, 2008 12:51:51 PM
What a douche bag.
Shepard: "You might ask, now why would I pray for that? Well, I'm still pro-life, and I'm still in favor of marriage as being only between one man and one woman. And I'd like the next president who will select justices for the U.S. Supreme Court, to agree..."
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If that's true, your main point being the right candidate be married to one woman, that would be Obama, not McSlut who married a rich bimbo drug addict. Besides, didn't Farwell play that card with the attacks on the Towers and Katrina, that God was mad at us? Didn't sell then, good luck with it now.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Aug 12, 2008 12:52:03 PM
Sorry, Scientitian, he covered that in the video with the very nice sidestep often used by the faithful (of which I count myself a member) to deflect the inefficacy of direct prayer. If it happens it proves they were right, but it if doesn't, they were right anyway, but G-d has his designs and man is not always privy to the reasons. I also liked how he noted there would be people praying for good weather, but dismissed the possibility that good weather would prove their prayers were answered, "Hey, this isn't a contest."
Posted by: Jonathan | Aug 12, 2008 12:53:34 PM
not that i believe for a nanosecond that this snake oil spook is actually going to make rain or anything but this is just plain vindictive. just because he disagrees with obama's views is no reason to wish ill upon his main event.
Posted by: alguien | Aug 12, 2008 12:53:57 PM
Does anyone else think he's just another sadly closeted fundie preacher type?
Posted by: Andy in Denver | Aug 12, 2008 12:56:33 PM
typical Sick, White, Fundamentalist
Posted by: opinionated | Aug 12, 2008 1:04:13 PM
Jonathan makes a great point regarding the "loopholes" Christianity utilizes to eternally squash all nay-saying. Literally, it's worked for millenia, and it is precisely what we are up against.
We don't have a supernatural cushion to fall back on on this side of the culture war. Collectively, we're not about to say, "Oh well, those Christians are being blinded by the lies of Satan, even while they contend the opposite. It's beyond their control- it's a supernatural, spiritual war they don't even know they're fighting."
But that's exactly what they say about us. It doesn't matter how reasonable, or how humanly compassionate, or even plainly logical our arguments may be. They will always be simply Satan working in and around us to hide the power of God from our eyes and keep us from the Truth. That was Adam and Eve's problem, it was Lot's problem, it was Judas' problem, and it's every unrepentant sinner's problem, especially us.
How in the world can we fight that? How can we pull people to our side when they have been brainwashed into believing that sympathizing with us in even the slightest way- showing the tiniest bit of empathy or acceptance- is literally separating them from God.
It is nothing short of societal emotional and mental abuse, and no one can escape it without serious soul-searching, introspection, a conscious, thorough rejection of guilt so deeply ingrained as to be woven into our psyche, and a true desire for freedom. It's not an easy task for any individual (been there), but on a collective level, downright impossible.
So we can only smile and live and love, and hope and vote for the best.
Posted by: JeffRob | Aug 12, 2008 1:11:01 PM
Matthew 5:43-48 – "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Luke 6:37 – "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
Clearly, they're not interested in following Jesus, as these are his own words. They have an entirely different agenda.
Posted by: Jon | Aug 12, 2008 1:14:26 PM
This guy is such an asshole....yea you stupid sheeple...vote republican and see MORE of our country devolve...he's pro-life, but LOVES WAR! I'd like to punch this guy in the face!
Posted by: Disgusted American | Aug 12, 2008 1:27:10 PM
Interesting ... many Native Americans and also shamanic peoples believe that rain is Creator's blessing on an event.
Posted by: Raybob | Aug 12, 2008 1:27:53 PM
So when it doesn't rain in Denver, will that expose this mythical "gawd" as simply an impotent construct, created by primitive peoples to explain things they didn't have the scientific understanding for, or will it reveal that this almighty and all powerful "gawd" really is a democrat??
Posted by: MikeinSanJose | Aug 12, 2008 1:28:57 PM
Excellent point, Raybob. People of all religions should get together and state that they too will be praying for rain that day. (They can insert whatever reason they like which motivates them.)
Then, if it rains, everybody wins. (And nobody's religion seems more valid.)
And if it doesn't, we can all laugh.
Posted by: Rey | Aug 12, 2008 1:36:37 PM
I'm not ashamed to admit that after watching that I'd like to punch him in the face until teeth fall out and blood paints his face. Wrong, I know, but it would give me immense, existential satisfaction in that moment.
Posted by: Ben | Aug 12, 2008 1:55:59 PM
i'd rather pray for a hot piece of ass... and yes, god answers your prayers...
Posted by: the queen | Aug 12, 2008 2:09:42 PM
I think he already got his wish. Obama is cautiously pro-life and against gay marriage (with lots of hemming and hawing). And that was during the primaries. Now that he has to run as a centrist, all talk of eliminating DOMA will probably evaporate. Will the Obama administration be a drought for gay rights?
Posted by: anon | Aug 12, 2008 2:36:01 PM
Is this the Middle Ages? What next, a hex?
While we're wishing for weather... can I wish for lightning to strike these ignorant SOBs? Complete morons.
Posted by: SeanR | Aug 12, 2008 2:44:30 PM
This just illustrates yet AGAIN the infantile mean-spiritedness of the GOP. Oh, and by the way, down here in Georgia, our government-payed legislators—on the taxpayers' dollar—pray for rain on the steps of the State Capitol during what is a fairly long-standing drought.
Posted by: LD | Aug 12, 2008 2:50:31 PM
Oh, don't worry guys... I just got done making a voodoo doll of this fucktard Stewart Shepard. I'm currently holding a Bic lighter under his balls and praying... that it doesn't stink up my newly redecorated living room too much!
Any requests while I have him in my vice grip?
Posted by: johnny | Aug 12, 2008 3:13:37 PM
Everyone please clog their prayer request system at... http://family.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/family_prayer.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php
Posted by: Joes Milersee | Aug 12, 2008 3:42:55 PM
The people I would like to try to explain away this video are the ones who are pushing faith-based initiatives in the Democratic party. Religion at its base really is this dumb, petty, and mean-spirited. If this story were in the Bible rather than on YouTube, I would studied it in Sunday School and been told it proved God's majesty and love. It's horrifying that people want to give this destructive mass delusion MORE sway in modern politics.
Posted by: Landon Bryce | Aug 12, 2008 4:05:54 PM
If drinking chicken blood would bring in the money like preaching does, the fundie preachers couldn't get to the chicken blood fast enough.
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Aug 12, 2008 4:26:06 PM