Fred Rotondaro (Chairman of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good): … President Obama took more than his share of verbal assaults during his 2008 campaign …. For the first time in history, a major candidate found his birth qualifications to be President questioned, in addition to false claims being made about his religion…
To his everlasting credit, John McCain was not one of those bigots who spread such lies … From what I have seen so far, I hope but do not expect such decency and true patriotism in 2012.
Four major candidates have spoken already about Barack Obama not being born in America or having a Kenyan worldview. The potential Republican candidates seem to be appealing to the worst elements of their own party … they seem terrified of confronting the bigotry that is often directed at the President. When Newt Gingrich calls Obama a “food stamp president,” he is giving a dog whistle to racists. When Michelle Bachmann said she took President Obama at his word regarding his place of birth, she was winking at the birthers. America needs better than this in 2012.
Deceit has worked its way into important debates also …. While the financial regulation bill was being discussed, Mitch McConnell met with Wall Street leaders to discuss strategy and raise campaign funds. Soon, back in Washington, he began pounding the theme that the bill was an attempt to set up bailouts for banks. This was not spinning. This was an out and out lie to the American people.
The debate about health care centered for a time on the theme of non-existent death panels after former Gov. Palin tweeted about them.….
This is where the American religious community can play a vital role by insisting on truth in public policy debates … Politicians campaign dishonestly because they can. Let’s make it difficult and let them know they will pay a price for deceptive campaign tactics. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and our country.
Full post here
** Thank you Suzanne **
The Obama Diary 
I like this article very much.
I was raised in a fundie/pentecostal environment, and I’m still recovering, lol. However, although I no longer call myself religious, I do still have an active spirituality and do recognize some positives of organized religion. The approach this organization is taking is such a positive.
It’s very smart, and reflects the best of true religion to insist upon truth telling in politics. Rather than jump into cultural wars and Bible-thumping, the call is simple: just tell the truth. No need to take sides — just tell the truth. Not liberal nor conservative: just tell the truth.
Very powerful.
Thanks Chips and Suzanne.
GOD bless you Mr Rotondaro
have a good afternoon;evening and night TOD family.May GOD bless;guide and protect the President and our country
AMEN!!!
Also the religious community should ask conservative politicians to stop using God to attack the gay community. Christian Evangelicals should put a stop on legislature going through parliament in Uganda that calls for the killing of Gay people that is being sponsored by a Christian group “the family” from Washington. If God hates gays he would not be creating them. God is good and kind.
Hi Chipsticks,
IC-span has video of President Obama at the Women’s Leadership Forum, in Washington, DC which was hosted by the Democratic National Committee.
http://www.c-span.com/Events/President-Obama-Addresses-Womens-Leadership-Forum/10737421662-1/
Thanks, I enjoyed listening to that. The President can be so funny – he has his own leadership forum at the White House with Michelle, Malia, Sasha, Mother in law – so he and Bo are trying to get a word in – Hilarious!
loved this. It was great, he is hilarious 🙂
Good for Fred Rotondaro for speaking up and calling it as it is!!!
FINALLY!
One would expect that any representative of any religion that claims to in anyway be moral, would long ago have stepped forward and demanded a halt to the lies, deceit and bigotry – no matter who the candidate, no matter who the political party.
We can only hope that we see more religious leaders speaking directly to this issue – again, no matter who the candidate or political party that might be doing the lying, inciting hatred, nurturing bigotry and intolerance.
Thank you for sharing this article!
The truth has been lefted the Republican-Tea Party along time ago, they hate this President so much, they will lie and don’t care if people know they are lying.
I was raised Roman Catholic and in those days we received an excellent education and were taught it was a sin to lie. I don’t know what they are teaching now since my kids are out of school but what he is saying crosses all religions and nonreligions.. Don’t Lie. If all Americans can follow that rule we would be a great nation. That should be a Motto.
All I remember around the last election was the Bishops going on a rampage against, Senator John Kerry, Senator Nancy Pelosci and Governor Sebelius on the abortion issue. I hope they have gotten that out of their system.
I would love to go up to every Republican with a sign, “Don’t Lie.” Maybe we should twist it up like Rep Joe Wilson and say, “You Lie.”
That article needs to be circulated. Thank you, Fred Rotondaro.
Hey Chipsticks,
I just posted this over at BWD’s place.
If you are not already on Twitter, I encourage you to do so. Plouffe is watching.:)
Can They Win, One Tweet at a Time?
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2072441,00.html
This is wonderful!