Evangelist Graham in Presidential Hot Water Over Comments

Agape Press ^ | 11/20/01

[truthandlife]

In what is believed to be a first in American history, there were prayers to Allah last night at the White House where President Bush hosted a formal Ramadan celebration with dozens of Muslim leaders.

The Ramadan event was another effort by the Bush Administration to prove its war on terrorism is not a war against Islam. However, conservative voices like Gary Bauer have been sharply critical of that effort. He says he has heard from a number of people within the U.S. intelligence community who are shocked and demoralized that some of the Muslim leaders who have been spending time with the President have been known to speak out in favor of terrorism.

Bauer notes that while these people are getting the red carpet treatment at the White House, reports indicate the President is distancing himself from one of the country's best-known evangelicals. According to reports, Franklin Graham upset the Bush Administration when he recently referred to Islam as being "wicked, violent, and not of the same God."

Shortly after the attacks of September 11, Graham had commented, "I don't believe [Islam] is a wonderful, peaceful religion." Asked by NBC News on Friday to clarify his statement, he repeated his charge that Islam, as a whole, was evil.

"It wasn't Methodists flying into those buildings, it wasn't Lutherans," he told NBC News. "It was an attack on this country by people of the Islamic faith."

In a follow-up statement yesterday, Graham said he is deeply concerned with "the teachings of Islam regarding the treatment of women, and the killing of non-Muslims or infidels."

The son of Rev. Billy Graham and the designated successor of his father's extensive evangelical ministry, Graham delivered the benediction at Bush's inauguration in January. As NBC News observed, "A presidential friend and supporter now finds himself at odds with both the Muslim world and the message from the White House." But conservative columnist Chuck Baldwin calls Graham "a breath of fresh air" for standing firm and not apologizing for his statements.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reports a Muslim advocacy organization has sent a letter to Graham inviting him to meet with them to discuss his remarks. In the letter, Nihad Awad of the Council on America-Islamic Relations says, "Negative impressions of Islam are most often based on a lack of accurate and objective information."

Positive Outcome
As a national holiday approaches, President Bush says Americans of various faiths will be "joined in prayer" this Thanksgiving. "On this holiday, we give thanks for our many blessings and for life itself," Bush said. "Thanksgiving reminds us that the greatest gifts don't come from the hands of man, but from the Maker of heaven and earth. This week, American families will gather in that spirit."

Since the September terrorist attacks, church attendance has increased and there have been more prayer gatherings on Capitol Hill. Evangelist Pat Robertson believes people have been shocked into examining what their true values are.

"What we're seeing is that this awful attack, as horrific ... and as heart-rending [as it was], is bringing about one of the greatest spiritual revivals in the history of America," Robertson says. "[T]he churches are full ... people are turning to God, they're turning to their families, they're turning to the fundamental values, and they're getting away from all this fluff of the last decade."

Robertson made his comments today on CNN.

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AgapePress writers Fred Jackson, Jim Duke,

[ohioman]

Just reading about this Arse-kissing Ramadan meal is about as bad as being force fed Tofuturkey. Did they serve Pigs in a Blanket?

[hsszionist]

No, but they did serve food to pigs in towels.

[norraad]

Well, there's no doubt Sneakyman, Inc. is in biz to stay, however, not all islambs are terrorists, but all the terrorists who have "bothered" us recently are islambs.

[mountaineer]

Where's the presidential hot water? Nothing in the article indicates Bush has chewed out Graham for his comments. At the most, he might disagree (although I doubt he does so privately).

[PoorMuttly]

This is a WAR, and the President is doing what he can, however repugnant, to win it for us, and the free world. Others are doing what seems right to them, from their position. Squeak and moan all you want, but we are rolling.

[Uri’el-2012]

"W" 's father was so stupid as to say "no new taxes" and then signed new taxes.

"W" claims to be a Christian then "prays that the world convert to Islam."

Upon further inspection "W" is not a follower of the Christ; he is a Methodist.

The dad was run out of office and I believe the son will be as well.

Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
(Proverbs 16:19)

Maranatha

XeniaSt

[EternalVigilance]

In what is believed to be a first in American history, there were prayers to Allah last night at the White House where President Bush hosted a formal Ramadan celebration with dozens of Muslim leaders.

The Muslims want to kill us all, and we let em in the front door...stupid, stupid, stupid.

The true God is Jehovah (Yahweh), and when you boil it down, He is the only security American has, or has ever had.

Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. -Psalm 127: 1

Islamists praying to a false God (one that represents tyranny and murder) in our White House offends the h*ll out of me, but if I were the President, I would be more worried about offending the one true God.

The whole thing causes me great concern for our Republic, frankly.

[ohioman]

I am 100% behind Bush. I also understand that he is placating the politically correct members of our society. I hope he is doing this because Iraq, and many other Middle Eastern hellholes, will soon be hit hard !

[P8riot]

To find out just how peaceful Islam is go here.

[SerpentDove]

>>In what is believed to be a first in American history, there were prayers to Allah last night at the White House where President Bush hosted a formal Ramadan celebration with dozens of Muslim leaders.<<

Who's the brainiac who came up with that one? This is getting absolutely ridiculous.

Graham told the truth. Deal with it.

[F16Fighter]

The title of the article is disingenuous.

And if Graham is "in hot water" over referring to Islam as inately "evil", then Free Republic by and large is also.

[Eyeball-roll] Gimme break.

[EternalVigilance]

Franklin Graham is a breath of fresh air in a world where most 'leaders' are too cowardly to just tell the truth straight out.

May God richly bless him, as He did the father.

[Woodkirk]

Good for Frank for being "frank" -- he has ministered personally in southern Sudan and seen first hand the atrocities wrought by that "peaceful" religion. GW should spend a day there before sharing his goat with any more mullahs.

[texasbluebell]

At the most, he might disagree (although I doubt he does so privately).

I'd love to know what's really on W's mind!

[netman]

I say Lets give Franklin a positive Freep. I did.

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[mountaineer]

Looks like he's wondering why that man is wearing a dish towel on his head.

[pubmom]

Good grief, what do you want a World war? Declare war on Islam, thus proving Bin Laden's point? I don't think so! Bush is doing exactly what he is supposed to do as President of all the people of the United States. Perhaps he has some insight into the situation that the Lord has given that we don't?

I don't know about the rest of you, but I pray for W to have uncommon wisdom, and that he follow whatever instructions God gives him, even when it doesn't make sense. God works in mysterious ways, and they aren't our ways.

Franklin Graham can speak his mind as an evangelist, and he should. I happen to agree that Islam is not a peaceful religion, but a deception. That said, I do not believe all Moslems are radical, but deceived and in need of Christ.