Is Barack Obama's political career an expression of God's will?
In an article looking at Obama's first political fight and loss against Congressman Bobby Rush, the former Black Panther, the New York Times looks at what Obama learned from that loss and how it helped him frame his message of "hope" today. He went on to win a Senate race where opponents had to fall out of the race due to personal scandals and he ended up crushing Alan Keyes who wasn't even from Illinois. How to explain that victory? Was it just coincidence or were higher powers at work. Congressman Rush, also a minister, and now a supporter of Obama has his own explanation.
“I think that Obama, his election to the Senate, was divinely ordered,” Mr. Rush said, all other explanations failing. “I’m a preacher and a pastor; I know that that was God’s plan. Obama has certain qualities that — I think he is being used for some purpose. I really believe that.”
Hmmm. If one of a Republican candidate's supporters started talking about his political career being part of "God's plan" wouldn't a few eyebrows be raised? I know that it always irritated me when President Bush's supporters implied that God had a plan that included American politics. Congressman Rush may well believe that Obama's political success is part of God's plan but the Obama campaign might want to squelch that sort of talk. They'll do better to focus on how he's part of Oprah's plan, rather than the Lord's.
In an article looking at Obama's first political fight and loss against Congressman Bobby Rush, the former Black Panther, the New York Times looks at what Obama learned from that loss and how it helped him frame his message of "hope" today. He went on to win a Senate race where opponents had to fall out of the race due to personal scandals and he ended up crushing Alan Keyes who wasn't even from Illinois. How to explain that victory? Was it just coincidence or were higher powers at work. Congressman Rush, also a minister, and now a supporter of Obama has his own explanation.
“I think that Obama, his election to the Senate, was divinely ordered,” Mr. Rush said, all other explanations failing. “I’m a preacher and a pastor; I know that that was God’s plan. Obama has certain qualities that — I think he is being used for some purpose. I really believe that.”
Hmmm. If one of a Republican candidate's supporters started talking about his political career being part of "God's plan" wouldn't a few eyebrows be raised? I know that it always irritated me when President Bush's supporters implied that God had a plan that included American politics. Congressman Rush may well believe that Obama's political success is part of God's plan but the Obama campaign might want to squelch that sort of talk. They'll do better to focus on how he's part of Oprah's plan, rather than the Lord's.
