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TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY

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Obama explains his faith

August 20, 2010
Radio Clips

The Glenn Beck Program

GLENN: Now, is he a Muslim? What is the latest poll on this?

PAT: There's a Pew poll. Yesterday I think we talked about the Gallup poll which was at 24% think he's Muslim. This Pew poll says 18% think Obama's a Muslim and that's up I think from 11%.

GLENN: That's amazing.

PAT: You know, but as the article who wrote that article? As the article says, part of that's his own fault.

STU: Oh, Byron York.

PAT: Byron York, yeah. Part of that's his own fault. I mean, it is he who has said a number of things that, you know

GLENN: Let's ask the question on this: Out of that 18%, how many are like, "Oh, I think he's a Muslim. I don't know what he is. I think he's a Muslim." And how many are like, "He says he's a Christian but I think he's a Muslim."

STU: Yeah, the percentage is low there.

GLENN: That's the important question. Is he a stealth Muslim? Is that what you think?

STU: Right.

GLENN: Or you just think because you were listening to a speech and you don't pay attention to politics at all, you don't pay attention to the president and you heard a speech and you are like, oh, I think he's a Muslim. That's good, we just elected a first black Muslim president.

STU: Yeah, like they are not even thinking

GLENN: It's a bad thing. How many think that he is a Muslim just because they're stupid and how many people think because they think that it's some sort of Muslim conspiracy that got in?

STU: Because Byron York makes some good points in his column talking about when Obama wants to emphasize that he was born with, some Muslim background and everything else. He does that, but I honestly don't think that's the reason why these polls turn out this way. I mean, really the only thing that America knows about Barack Obama's religion is Jeremiah Wright.

GLENN: Yes.

STU: And they don't are they identifying that as Muslim? No. They are just saying, like, I don't understand, it's not the Christianity that I recognize, I don't know what it is.

GLENN: Yeah, you don't know what he is. You don't know what he is, except, except there is this amazing there's this amazing article. Let me see. This is on beliefnet.

PAT: I think it came out in 2004 he had this interview, right?

GLENN: Yeah. 2004, a faith interview, Chicago Sun Times columnist Cathleen Falsani, when he was running for the U.S. Senate. And some amazing things: What do you believe, Falsani said. Obama: I'm a Christian. I have deep faith and I draw from the Christian faith. On the other hand, I was born in Hawaii. Obviously there are a lot of Eastern influences. I lived in Indonesia, a large Muslim country, between the ages of 6 and 10. My father was from Kenya. He most accurately was labeled an agnostic but my father was a Muslim. And I say I've drawn as much from Judaism as from any other faith.

Okay. So what is he?

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: He claims

PAT: And then so he says all of that and then says a really weird thing: So I'm rooted in the Christian faith. No, you're not. You've just said

GLENN: No, you just said that between 6 and 10

GLENN: No, you're rooted in agnosticism and Islam. That's what you're rooted in because those are your roots.

GLENN: Right. And it's not a bad thing. That's just your roots.

PAT: Yeah, this is where you were.

GLENN: Okay. So it doesn't really work. He says, I believe there are many paths that the same place. That it is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are all connected as people.

PAT: And see, that would confuse any Christian.

GLENN: That's Oprah.

PAT: I believe that there are many paths to the same place? That is the church of Oprah.

GLENN: It is.

PAT: That's what she said a couple of years ago.

WINFREY: One of the mistakes that human beings make is believing that there is only one way to live and that we don't accept that there are diverse ways of being in the world, that there are millions of ways to be a human being, and many ways, many paths to what you call God. Her path might be something else and when she gets

GLENN: Okay. So what you call God.

PAT: Wow, that is not Christianity.

GLENN: I don't care what your religion is, but God is God. God doesn't change. That's the only constant in the universe.

STU: You've talked about before and we could go into this a little bit more in depth if I'm understanding it right. But you talk about how you look through history, you look through these sort of religious tracts through history and you see a lot of the same stories being told, and there are a lot of commonalities in that but there's not a multiple God platform that you look up there and choose. Is that what she's trying to express or is that something completely different?

PAT: I don't know. But if you are a Christian, you know there's one way, there is one way. He said, I am the way, the truth and the light and nobody, no man cometh unto the father but by me. And so there's to Christians, if you are a Christian, and that's fine if you are not and you don't believe this. But if you say you are a Christian, that's what you believe, there's one way.

GLENN: Now he goes on and says, there are values that transcend race or culture that move us forward, and there's an obligation listen to this. There is an obligation for all of us individually and collectively to make sure that it is our responsibility to take make sure that those values are lived. So collectively

PAT: Again, collective.

GLENN: Again. So anyway, he says, have you always been a Christian, she asked? I was raised by a Christian, any particular flavor, blah, blah blah. And then, do you actually go for an altar call? Yes, absolutely. How long ago? 16, 17 years ago, '87, '88. So you are born again? Yeah, although I don't retain it from my childhood and my experiences growing up, I have a suspicion of dogma, I am not somebody who is always comfortable with the language that implies we have a monopoly on truth or that my faith is automatically transferable to others. I'm a big believer in tolerance. Religion at its best comes with a big dose of doubt. I'm suspicious of too much certainty in the pursuit of understanding just to think that people are limited in their understanding, blah, blah blah.

So again he goes into tolerance. Do you still attend Trinity Church? Yep, every week, 11:00 service. Ever been there? It's a good service. I actually wrote a book about Dreams From My Father, it's kind of a meditation on race. There's a whole chapter on the church in that and my first visits to Trinity. Wow.

STU: And by the way, you've got to point out there that in 2004 he said he was going every week.

GLENN: Every week.

STU: Where were the clips that we saw from Jeremiah Wright, where were they?

GLENN: Either he was lying then or he's lying now. I don't know which one it is actually, yes, I do. Obama, she says: Do you pray often? Now listen to this. Do you pray often? Yes, I guess I do. It's not formal, me getting on my knees. I think I have an ongoing conversation with God. I think throughout the day. I'm constantly asking myself questions about what am I doing and why am I doing it. That's not prayer.

PAT: That's interesting. Does he believe he's God because if he's having conversations with himself, that's only prayer if you're God.

GLENN: I don't understand that one, I'm constantly thinking to myself. That's not prayer.

PAT: (Laughing).

GLENN: What is it?

STU: That's a good thing to do but it's not praying.

GLENN: Do me a favor and if you are not signed up for our free e mail newsletter, sign up now and make sure you make sure you get it at GlennBeck.com. Sign up for the free e mail newsletter and let's enclose it today at GlennBeck.com.

GLENN: We're talking about Barack Obama and the new poll out that 18% think that he's a Muslim. That needs to be broken out, and is it stupid people that think he's a Muslim and just like, yeah, I don't know what he is. Or is that some sort of a, I think he's a KGB agent and a Muslim. Which is it? You know what I mean?

STU: I think it's one of those things, too, you find in polling a lot of times, when you ask a question to people, they assume there's a debate on it. So even if you ask, if you say, you know, bring up any crazy scenario and ask it to people, there's going to be about at least 10 to 15% of people that will generally go with the other side because they don't know and they answer from the context of the question. They assume there's a debate because you're asking about it. You're a pollster. You are asking about this. There must be people on both sides. "I'll choose that one." There's a lot of that sort of uncertainty that shows up in polls all the time and pollsters know that.

GLENN: Well, I think part of the confusion is you don't know who he is as a Christian. Listen to this. Who is Jesus to you? This is from the Chicago Sun Times in 2004. Who is Jesus to you? Obama: Right. Umm, he's a historic figure to me. He's a historic figure to me.

PAT: Who says that?

GLENN: Oh, yeah, this is Obama saying that. He is a historic figure to me. He is also a bridge between God and man in the Christian faith. Nobody's he's not a bridge between God and man. He is the savior of all mankind in the Christian faith. And the one that I think is powerfully precisely because he serves as a means of us reaching something higher. He's also a wonderful teacher. I think it's important for all of us of whatever faith to have teachers in the flesh and teachers of history.

So Jesus is a teacher.

STU: He is a great teacher, but that's not how I would define it.

GLENN: I think that would probably be way down on the list of my attributes to Jesus. If somebody asked me who was Jesus, I could say, well, he was a teacher, he was a son of God, he was a savior, blah, blah blah, but I and I would describe him more in man terms. But if somebody asked, who is Jesus to you, I wouldn't start at, "He's a historic figure."

STU: Carpenter! I think the guy built a great, great, uh, you know, uh he had stools that he built that were wonderful.

GLENN: Okay, so is Jesus someone you feel you have a regular connection with now, a personal connection in your life? Yeah, yes. I think some of the things I talked about earlier addressed through or channeled through my Christian faith and personal relationship with Jesus. Do you read the Bible? Not as regularly as I like, but I don't have much time for reading or reflection.

PAT: I thought he just said he reflected all the time.

GLENN: All the time. I thought that's how he

PAT: I thought he did it all day long.

GLENN: Do you have people, do you have people in your life that you look to for guidance? Well, my pastor, Jeremiah Wright, is somebody who I have enormous amount of respect for.

PAT: Oh, yeah. Well, who doesn't?

GLENN: 2004.

PAT: Who doesn't.

GLENN: My pastor Jeremiah Wright, right away: Well, my pastor Jeremiah Wright. But I have a number of friends who are ministers. Reverend Meeks is a close colleague of mine in the Senate and father Michael Pfleger.

PAT: Oh, he's wonderful.

GLENN: Is my dear friend and someone I interact with closely.

PAT: He's wonderful.

PFLEGER: I would not allow them to tear down Metger, I would not allow them to tear down Malcolm, and I'll be damned if I'm going to sit back while you tear down Farrakhan and Jeremiah Wright! How dare you! How dare you! How dare you!

PAT: That's love.

VOICE: Seek to reduce Jeremiah Wright who's one of the greatest biblical scholars this nation has to a 30 second sound beat and try to demonize him and trivialize him! You cannot do that!

PAT: Yeah.

STU: We played an entire sermon of his actually.

GLENN: Oh, I remember that. Holy cow. He says, are those your two friends? They will keep you on your toes. He said, oh, yes, they're very good friends.

[NOTE: Transcript may have been edited to enhance readability - audio archive includes full segment as it was originally aired]

Riots & White House defiance: What may come AFTER Roe ruling

youtu.be

Many members of the far-left already are calling for a ‘Night of Rage’ after the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and the White House has been discussing plans to defy the ruling too. In fact, one idea floated by Biden Administration officials, according to the New York Times, includes providing abortions on military bases. So, will America experience another summer of riots? Are YOUR taxpayer dollars at risk? And what does this mean for deep-blue states? Josh Hammer, legal expert and opinion editor for Newsweek, joins Glenn to discuss what may come next...

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Josh Hammer, he's the opinion editor of Newsweek. He's the host of the Josh Hammer show. He is really quite brilliant. One of the leading minds in the conservative movement, I think. Josh Hammer joins us now.

To tell us, what did you find in this decision?

JOSH: Glenn, great to be back with you, on such a momentous, and really such an emotional day, honestly. So, you know, look, as you said, this dropped recently. Funny enough, I was in the middle of getting a guest lecture from an organization on the advisory board as to when it drops. So I barely had any time to kind of skim through, let alone guess the concerning dissenting opinions. But it looks like this looks very similar, to the draft opinion that was leaked, by the Politico story, a month and a half ago, in early May. And I think those of us who were praying that the five justices from this leaked draft opinion, would have the fortitude to stiffen their spines against this unprecedented assault. Now knows that our prayers were answered, Glenn. That's really my takeaway right now.

This looks a lot like the leaked opinion. Justice Thomas and Justice Kavanaugh have some reconcurring opinions.

But unbelievable. And really just holding aside the constitutional law stuff for a second hear. Just speaking as pro-lifers, on a day like today, I think we really just need to pause. And I tweeted this out earlier. We need to just be grateful for our half century of pro-life activist forbearers. You know, this -- Glenn, this issue could have gone away after 1973. That was a long time ago. 1973. I mean, this issue could have just gone away. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the pro-life moral activist. Political activist. And, of course, yes. Legal activist. Who fought day in and day out, that makes sure this great injustice stayed front and center of our national, political conscience. And in many days, the culmination of a half century of fighting for truth and justice. But in many ways, it's also a new beginning for the pro-life fight as well, interestingly.

STU: How do you mean a new beginning for the fight? I just it's going to turn, I think we're going to see abortion turn even darker in those states that allow it. Is that -- is that what you're meaning by this?

JOSH: Well, look, for a half century now, Roe vs. Wade, and its project any, specifically, the Planned Parenthood versus Casey case of 1992.

They took away from the states obviously. They arrogated authority away from the states, the ability to attempt to nationally codify one view of the morality of abortion.

It happened to be a profoundly immoral view. So these -- the fight now shifts to the states. And the pro-life activists. And all the 50 states. Especially, obviously in red states. Purple states. I mean, admittedly some blue states like New York and California, probably won't be able to touch them there.

But we have to make sure that our side is well positioned in the state Capitols for every red, purplish, probably even light blue state, to make sure we fight for successful, cogent, and morally consistent pro-life legislation. The state of Oklahoma, actually, just north of Texas. Right where you are now, Glenn. They have been leading on this actually. Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law, a fantastic pro-life bill there in Oklahoma. A few weeks ago. Maybe a month ago or so at this point, that basically just bans abortion straightforward from conception. And there are some -- you know, obviously, likable the mother. So forth. But we really need to start thinking about trying to craft legislation now, at the state level. But to your point, I do fear that the blue states will only double down in their radicalism. Unfortunately within that will only lead to an ever greater divide, in our country, that we have today. But obviously, at the end of the day. We're going to save at the end of the day, millions and millions of unborn children. We are going to save human beings who can grow up to cure cancer, who can win Nobel prices.

I mean, this is just a tremendous win for the human species. I don't know how to say it other than that.

GLENN: I will tell you, I saw the stat, that I think it was last year or the year before. 20 percent of all pregnancies ended in abortion. 20 percent.

JOSH: Wow.

GLENN: That is -- that is a shocking number. And we do have our -- our work cut out for us. Because I -- I think that these states are going to double down. But I think, you know -- God doesn't waste anything. You know, there is no waste with God. Even the -- even the worst things that could possibly happen, turn out to be something good. You know what I mean? You're like, holy cow, how did that just happen.

And I think that evil is going to fully come unmasked. I'm telling you, Josh. I don't know how you feel about this. I think this could be the day of America's Kristallnacht. I can see these pro-life centers being burned to the ground today. They're calling for a night of rage around the country. I think evil is going to show itself. And that will scare the American people, hopefully.

JOSH: You know, I've been thinking about this a lot this week, actually. Because I've been bracing for a new kind of George Floyd summer of love, happening this summer. Coming to a city or suburb near you. Unfortunately, myself. Look, I live in Florida. I know, Glenn, you live in Texas. It is in moments like this, where I do think that where you live matters. And who your mayor is. Who your governor is, matters.

Because law and order and rioting and anarchy is not really a federal issue. It is to a limited extent. June 2020, Tom Cotton wrote this op-ed that was pretty controversial at the time.

I happen to agree with it. Where he said, quote, unquote, send in the troops. And there is some federal legislation from the reconstruction era that would justify that.

But most kind of quelling and quashing of anarchy does happen. Constitutionally speaking, at the state and local level. So at a moment like this, where I fear that you're probably not wrong. I take some solace. That Governor DeSantis is my governor. I think Texans should take some solace, that they are represented by -- by a Republican governor. The legislature there as well. So I -- I fear that you are right. I pray obviously, that no one -- it's hard.

I fear that it's something -- that something bad is happening. At the end of the day, of course. It does not mean that justices cannot do what they are supposed to do. So thank God they did that.

GLENN: So, Josh, have you looked into what the White House has been saying? The White House yesterday. In fact, do we have a clip of -- of this?

What the White House said yesterday, about the guns. And then they were turned to the -- the Scott us ruling, for Roe vs. Wade. Do we have that, please?

JOSH: Will the president accept this decision, even if he disagrees with it?

VOICE: I think it's going to come from the Supreme Court. So it's a decision we certainly are going to respond to. I'll leave it at that. Just like any other Supreme Court decision. Just like the one they did today on guns.

GLENN: So the White House won't say that they're going to accept it.

Which I don't think they will. They're talking now about taking doctors and moving them into places like Oklahoma or Texas, where abortions will be outlawed. And putting doctors on our military bases to perform abortions.

I mean, where does this go, when you have a government, that is in defiance of -- of one branch of the government?

JOSH: So there's a lot to unpack here. So we should start from first principles. The idea of judicial supremacy, and this is a peculiar thing, to say on a day like today, where such a pro-life victory has happened in Italy. But if we're going to be consistent here, the idea of judicial supremacy. The idea that the justices, have the sole and exclusive ability to interpret the Constitution for themselves. And no other Constitutional actor, in article one or article two, let alone the state. Has the ability to tentatively interpret it. That is erroneous. In fact, actually it was really Abraham Lincoln actually, who in the Dred Scott case, famously opposed judicial supremacy and flouted the Dred Scott ruling, at least as it pertains to everybody other than Dred Scott himself. I have actually argued, a former legal scholarship, in a law review article actually, that the Laconian view of how each branch of government should interpret the Constitution for itself, is correct.

Having said that. Having said that, there is a thing called prudence. And there is a thing called comedy. And in a moment like today, when it really does look like -- and I agree with you, that we are now bracing for riots through the streets. When the political rhetoric is at DEFCON one. When people are trying to assassinate Supreme Court justices. I think it would be -- at its bare minimum, a profoundly imprudent act. For the Biden administration, to try to undermine this ruling.

Now, what they might do, is they might try to kind of issue some kind of executive orders, or issue some regulations, that might try to kind of undermine it, at the edges here. But at the end of the day, the idea that this returns to the state. There's not really a whole lot they can do about that. Basically, at this point, throughout the country. Kentucky within West Virginia. Kansas. Whatever. If they want to go ahead and ban abortion, what can the Biden administration literally do about that? I mean, short of sending in the National Guard, to protect Planned Parenthood, if the state legislature of Kentucky goes ahead and bans it. There's not a whole lot they can do. And it's very difficult to envision a world, in which the Biden administration literally sends in troops to red states, to protect Planned Parenthood, if that state legislature goes ahead and bans it. So for practically speaking. This is a lot of tough talk and rhetoric. Obviously the campaign here in 2022. There's not really a whole lot that practically speaking, they can do to actually prevent red and purple states from enacting pro-life legislation.

GLENN: I'm glad to -- I'm glad to hear that. I know that they have been working on things. I mean, he has said, you know, there's executive orders, that I can employ. There are things that I can do. He's talked about a national public health emergency. Which I think is just -- is crazy. But I would hope, that the president would come out and say, we strongly disagree with this. And you're right. The court is not the end all. But the court did not end abortion. It just said, the people should decide. I think that's the best kind of court ruling, on any of it. The people should decide what this is. And send it back to the states. Josh, I thank you very much. Appreciate your time. Was there -- there was another ruling, that came out today. Was it important?

JOSH: Oh, no. In comparison to this. A total nothing burger. A 5-4 decision on Medicare reimbursement related. So nothing, honestly.

GLENN: Great. Thank you very much. Appreciate it, Josh. Josh Hammer, opinion editor for Newsweek. And the host of the Josh Hammer show.

Good vs EVIL seen in Dobbs case reactions

youtube.com

GLENN: There are two things trending on twitter right now.

Number one is praise God.

Number two trend is Night of Rage.

Good verses evil.

Build up or tear down.

'Lord, we are SORRY it has taken us this long': BlazeTV hosts react to historic Roe v. Wade decision

Photo by Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Supreme Court of the United States officially overturned Roe V. Wade, and the debate over abortion rights has been given back to the states. On this historic day, BlazeTV hosts celebrate the Supreme Court's incredible decision and take a look at some of the insane reactions as the left comes completely undone.

Jason Whitlock: Today will forever stand as a pivotal moment in our nation’s history

The Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade. The decision and the reaction to it have already revealed a lot about our people and politics. Pro-life groups celebrate, pro-choice groups call for “a night of rage,” and Nancy Pelosi just seems completely confused by the United States Constitution.

Glenn Beck reacts LIVE to Roe v. Wade ruling: 'Lord, we are SORRY it has taken us this long'

I never thought that in my lifetime, I would see Roe v. Wade be overturned. But today, that day has come. The Supreme Court has voted 6 to 3 to return decisions about abortion to the states. But this fight isn't over. We are about to see good versus evil side by side. Many states will stand with the unborn. But others will become abortion mills. It's your turn to choose now, America!

Allie Beth Stuckey: 'Praise God, Roe v. Wade is overturned!'

I don't know about you, but I just had the most euphoric feelings. It almost seems too good to be true. I didn't think there was any way that this would actually happen, especially with all the backlash, intimidation, and violence toward the Supreme Court justices. And yet, here we are. Roe v. Wade has been overturned. This is an amazing day!

Dave Rubin: Big disagreement on what happens next now that Roe v. Wade is overturned

Dave Rubin, Libby Emmons, Jeffrey A. Tucker, and David Reaboi debate what will happen in the wake of the Supreme Court’s breaking decision on Roe v. Wade. Now that abortion rights have been pushed back to the states, will there be a summer of massive riots or not? Will the Roe v. Wade ruling make America’s political polarization significantly worse?

Stu Burguiere: Here are the reasons SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade

I never thought this would happen. I never thought I would see this day. I just never ever ever ever never ever believed that Roe v. Wade would actually be overturned. I really didn't. But let's take a look at the reasons this day has finally come ...

The Rick & Bubba Show: 'This is history! Unfortunately we're 60 million lives too late'

We were live on the air when news broke of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Parkland survivor tries to delete 'inciting' tweet about SCOTUS justices — but the internet is forever

Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for WE Day

Today, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned its controversial 1973 Roe v. Wadeopinion, concluding that there is no constitutional right to an abortion.

"The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives," the syllabus of the decision reads.

As expected, the leftist outrage erupted instantaneously, fueled largely by the misinformed idea that overturning Roe v. Wade means abortion will be banned nationwide. But, as stated in the above-mentioned Supreme Court syllabus, the authority has actually been returned to individual states and their duly elected lawmakers.

One such misinformed leftist, Parkland shooting survivor Cameron Kasky, was infuriated that those awful Supreme Court justices "just voted to kill women." So he took to Twitter to urge people to go to the homes of said Supreme Court justices to "let them know how you feel."

"Go to the home of every Supreme Court justice who just voted to kill women. Let them know how you feel," Kasky tweeted.

The backlash was immediate:

Kasky decided to delete his original tweet because he is apparently "sick of republicans talking to [him]." But, unfortunately for Kasky, the internet is indeed forever:

Speaking from the White House, President Joe Biden dutifully helped spread the misinformation about the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and took the opportunity to prompt voters to elect more Democrats in November so that Congress can write abortion protections into law. Did the president just let slip the real reason Congress hasn't made any effort to start writing such laws in the nearly two months since Justice Samuel Alito's draft opinion was "leaked" in early May?

Watch Glenn Beck and producer Stu Burguere discuss how Biden's speech reveals that Democrats are absolutely terrified of the upcoming midterm elections. Can't watch? Download the podcast here.

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