God and Man at the National Prayer Breakfast

DR. PAUL KENGOR

President Obama spoke yesterday at the National Prayer Breakfast. I've long studied the sitting president's remarks at these breakfasts, particularly President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, and President Ronald Reagan. I note this to hopefully lend a little credibility in putting my observations into historical context, while also not avoiding the current political climate--as Obama certainly did not.

This is an ecumenical gathering, and Obama was precisely that, warmly acknowledging the different faiths assembled. On the other hand, Obama was so ecumenical that he never once mentioned "Jesus" or "Christ" or called himself a follower of Jesus Christ or a Christian. It wasn't as if the president was pinched for text; this was a 2,000-word oration, with numerous figures mentioned.

The most common figure in this speech was Barack Obama. In a 17-minute address, one that included the word "humility," Obama referred to himself 30 times. He thereby continued the brisk pace of at least one self-reference per minute on rapid display in his lengthy State of the Union address the previous week.

On the plus side, the president several times referred to "God," including "God's grace," "God's mercy," and the phrase "for the grace of God go I." He also used the word "Christian" once--in reference to the truly God-sent abolitionist Wilberforce. This section was excellent. Obama stated: "Remember William Wilberforce, whose Christian faith led him to seek slavery's abolition in Britain."

Here was a poignant reminder by Obama, one the angry secular left--which voted for Obama stronger than almost any group (see "I'm Pagan and I Vote")--needs to hear repeatedly, as it blames Christianity for every sin under the sun over the last 1,000 years. For Obama to highlight the indispensable role of Christians in ending slavery is a splendid rejoinder to the "God-Is-Not-Great" crowd. Bravo, Mr. President.

Unfortunately, where Obama went next in the speech troubles me somewhat. He spoke of "crimes of conscience that call us to action." No doubt, my bias studying Bush and Reagan reflexively leads me to expect moving words to follow on the sanctity and dignity of human life. That was my inclination when I heard President Obama speak of "common humanity," "denied ... humanity," and "life's most sacred responsibility." In this speech, however, the "right to life," or the essentially dignity of all life, was not mentioned.

Of course, this is not a surprise. President Obama did likewise in his Inaugural, heralding "liberty and equality" but not "life and liberty"--words akin to the French Revolution's Declaration of the Rights of Man but not the American Revolution's Declaration of Independence (see "Viva La Revolucion").

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