national prayer breakfast

Obama Calls for ‘Civility’ at Prayer Breakfast
By todayinusa

President Obama urged Democrats and Republicans to not question one another’s motives and to make an effort to move beyond the cynicism and skepticism that has weighed down the politics of Washington, saying: “Civility is not a sign of weakness.”

In an appearance today at the National Prayer Breakfast, Mr. Obama conceded that policy differences would often separate the political parties. But he challenged lawmakers and religious leaders to step beyond their comfort zones and unify on at least some daily challenges, not only when a calamity like the Haiti earthquake strikes.

“Too often that spirit is missing without the spectacular tragedy,” Mr. Obama said. “We become numb to the day-to-day crises. We become absorbed with our abstract arguments, our ideological disputes, our contests for power. And in this tower of babble, we lose the sound of God’s voice.”

The National Prayer Breakfast, which has been held for the last half-century in Washington, drew criticism by some liberal groups this year because the sponsor of the event, an evangelical Christian network called The Fellowship, is allegedly tied to legislation in Uganda that calls for the imprisonment and execution of homosexuals.

The president, along with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, denounced the proposal in Uganda.

“We may disagree about gay marriage,” Mr. Obama said, “but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are, whether it is right here in the United States or as Hillary mentioned more extremely in odious laws that are being proposed most recently in Uganda.”

He added, “Surely we can agree to find common ground when possible, parting ways when necessary, but in doing so, let us be guided by our faith and by prayer.”

Mr. Obama spoke openly about how he has been sustained during his first year in office by faith and prayer. He does not frequently attend Sunday church services, but often speaks with a small circle of pastors, who provide spiritual guidance and support.

“While prayer can buck us up when we are down, keep us calm in a storm, while prayer can stiffen our spines to surmount an obstacle – and I assure you, I’m praying a lot these days – prayer can also do something else,” Mr. Obama said. “It can touch our hearts with humility. It can fill us with a sense of civility.”

The president also addressed something that he rarely speaks about: his citizenship. Questions were initially raised by conservative groups during his presidential campaign and continue to regularly flare up on talk-radio programs and Tea Party rallies.

“Surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith,” Mr. Obama said, “or for that matter my citizenship.”

The crowd applauded and laughed. The president did not.

Mr. Obama struck similar tones to previous speeches in which he has called for civility, including his appearance last year at the National Prayer Breakfast. He acknowledged that politics has always been messy, saying: “We shouldn’t over-romanticize the past.”

“But there is a sense that something is different now, that something is broken, that those of us in Washington are not serving the people as well as we should,” Mr. Obama said. “At times, it seems like we are unable to listen to one another, to have at once a serious and civil debate. This erosion of civility in the public square sews division and cynicism among our citizens. It poisons the well of public opinion.”

Along with Mr. Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, a bipartisan array of Washington officials was seated on the dais at the National Prayer Breakfast, including several heads of state, members of the Cabinet and members of Congress.

Mrs. Clinton delivered the keynote address at the prayer breakfast, speaking openly about how her faith has sustained her. But she denounced “religion cloaked in naked power lust, used to justify violence” in Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond.

The solemn morning was interrupted by a few moments of humor, including when Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, stepped to the microphone to offer a prayer. Just as he did, the alarm on his Blackberry went off and was amplified throughout the hotel ballroom.

As he apologized and fumbled to turn it off, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota, turned to him and said: “It’s time for prayer!”