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Obama says Clarence Thomas wasn't experienced enough, tough decisions above his "pay grade"
August 17, 2008 | rightcoast

Posted on 08/17/2008 8:33:22 AM PDT by rightcoast

In the two stories below on Rick Warren's Saddleback Church forum, Sen. Barack Obama made two striking comments.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/16/warren.forum/index.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-saddleback17-2008aug17,0,2051277.story


When asked which Supreme Court justice he would not have nominated, Obama's answer was: Clarence Thomas. Says Obama, "I don't think he was a strong enough jurist or a legal thinker at that time for that. I profoundly disagree with his interpretation [of the Constitution]."

This is another way of saying that, in Obama's view, Thomas wasn't up to the job, and didn't have the experience or qualifications necessary for that high position. So, now... experience does matter?


When asked to define when a baby gets human rights, Obama said that the question is "above my pay grade".

So, either Obama is saying experience matters, but that he doesn't want to make the tough calls, or (and this might be frighteningly accurate) he would prefer to abdicate his responsibility on the really big moral issues to the Supreme Court, where experience really does matter.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: 2008; captainirony; election; election2008; electionpresident; elections; obama; saddleback
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To: blam
"Obama is a twit compared to Thomas."

Obama is a twit compared to a grasshopper.

61 posted on 08/17/2008 10:34:51 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (Jimmy Carter is the skidmark in the panties of American History)
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To: Hildy
He said America is SELFISH???

One quote I love is from the Talmud: "We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are."

62 posted on 08/17/2008 10:34:55 AM PDT by Free Descendant
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To: Spunky
I think it was meant to be that way though since the minister is pro-gay.

Nonsense. Rick Warren is a hate the sin, love the sinner kind of guy. There are ministries at Saddleback that help homosexual men overcome that lifestyle. Exactly what about that is "pro gay"?

63 posted on 08/17/2008 10:36:34 AM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Go, Sonics! And take the Mariners with you.)
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To: rightcoast

Oh such great wisdom out of the mouth of an arrogant EMPTY SUIT WITHOUT A CLUE.


64 posted on 08/17/2008 10:48:38 AM PDT by chiefqc
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To: Old Retired Army Guy

The community organizer is talking above his pay grade and qualifications.


65 posted on 08/17/2008 10:59:22 AM PDT by hdstmf
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To: rightcoast

Obama is not even qualified to be a US Senator in spite of the current standards of incompetence for membership.


66 posted on 08/17/2008 11:04:27 AM PDT by hdstmf
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To: Sherman Logan
" Thomas is thoroughly despised in the black community."

Where did you get that idea?

Did you mean the black activist community?

67 posted on 08/17/2008 11:07:27 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (Jimmy Carter is the skidmark in the panties of American History)
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To: SandyInSeattle
"There are ministries at Saddleback that help homosexual men overcome that lifestyle"

How can that be in a congregation that condones over 100 openly gay couples in their midst?

68 posted on 08/17/2008 11:11:09 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (Jimmy Carter is the skidmark in the panties of American History)
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To: editor-surveyor
Homosexuals are encouraged to attend. How else are they going to hear the word of God? They are not allowed church membership if they continue their homosexual lifestyle. From the church website:

The Bible very clearly says that homosexuality is a sin.

"Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin." (Lev. 18:22 TLB)

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor 6:9-11 NIV)

While all sin is destructive, Romans 6 warns us of the great dangers in sexual sin when it says, "Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body." (1 Cor 6:18 NLT) This includes not only homosexuality, but all sexual immorality: adultery, sex without marriage, pornography. We must not act as if homosexuality is the only serious sexual sin, and we must not act as if homosexuality is not a serious sexual sin.

I've heard it asked, "Isn't being homosexual something that a person is physically born with?" First of all, there are absolutely no facts to support this claim. From time to time studies have been reported in the news that seemed to indicate this, but every one of these studies has proven to be wrong. Secondly, even if some physical difference were discovered, it would be no excuse for sin. We know that some people can develop a stronger physical addiction to alcohol than others, but that's obviously no excuse for living an alcoholic lifestyle.

Finally, a word about being judgmental. It's not judgmental to say that what the Bible calls a sin is a sin, that's just telling the truth. Not being willing to talk to someone caught up in sin, or not believing that they can be forgiven, or thinking that you are not just as much in need of Jesus as they are ... that's being judgmental.

Because membership in a church is an outgrowth of accepting the Lordship and leadership of Jesus in one’s life, someone unwilling to repent of their homosexual lifestyle would not be accepted at a member at Saddleback Church. That does not mean they cannot attend church – we hope they do! God’s Word has the power to change our lives.

69 posted on 08/17/2008 11:19:59 AM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Go, Sonics! And take the Mariners with you.)
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To: All

Screw you, Hussein. You couldn’t carry Judge Thomas’ shoes.....


70 posted on 08/17/2008 11:20:31 AM PDT by Maverick68 (w)
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To: maggief
Obama scares the crap out of me.

Obama seems to be an expert about anything and everything.

I wonder if "The Messiah" could tell me what lure would catch walleyes tomorrow?

71 posted on 08/17/2008 11:21:57 AM PDT by TYVets
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To: editor-surveyor

Here’s a link to a poll of black Americans.

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/895/obamas-black-audience

They were asked about a dozen prominent blacks and whether they are a good influence.

Clarence Thomas came in second to last at 31%, ahead only of gangsta rapper 50 Cent at 17%. Bill Cosby, who has been quite controversial among blacks, came in second at 85%, behind only Oprah at 87%.

I believe Thomas is a great man. I’ve read his autobiography, and his story is compelling.

However, the vast majority of black Americans really do despise the man. I belive this is wrong and short-sighted, but that doesn’t make it any less of a fact.


72 posted on 08/17/2008 11:47:08 AM PDT by Sherman Logan (qui)
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To: SandyInSeattle
We must not act as if homosexuality is the only serious sexual sin, and we must not act as if homosexuality is not a serious sexual sin.

Bears repeating. Far too many conservatives give themselves and others a pass on sexual sin as long as it isn't homosexual in nature, or for the stricter types, extramarital.

The Bible doesn't support such a viewpoint.

73 posted on 08/17/2008 11:49:53 AM PDT by Sherman Logan (qui)
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To: Sherman Logan

You do understand what Pew is, and how their “polls” are structured?


74 posted on 08/17/2008 11:53:12 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (Jimmy Carter is the skidmark in the panties of American History)
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To: Old Retired Army Guy

Boy you are not kidding. Same thing with my brother. I told him that BO was a socialist pure and simple. My brother told me so what, maybe socialist type of government is what this country may need. I told him over my dead body that will happen.

These people are fools. They want to lead us down a road we should never ever even think about going down.

I have never seen the like.


75 posted on 08/17/2008 11:53:24 AM PDT by waxer1 (What exactly is meant by "we are going to take our country back")
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To: editor-surveyor

You have some alternative evidence indicating Thomas is loved and respected in the black community, I’d be glad to see it.

Assertions that it isn’t so aren’t enough.


76 posted on 08/17/2008 12:07:10 PM PDT by Sherman Logan (qui)
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To: Sherman Logan

Depends on what segment of black society...the endless victimhood, sociaqlist, godless liberal gang banging segment...sure they hate him and call him uncle tom.

But middle class conservagtive blaqcks don’t,

and Herman Cain sure doesn’t.


77 posted on 08/17/2008 12:22:08 PM PDT by tpanther (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing-----Edmund Burke)
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To: Free Descendant

I love that..it’s my new tagline...


78 posted on 08/17/2008 12:25:29 PM PDT by Hildy ("We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.")
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To: Pan_Yans Wife
I think when he used the “above my paygrade” answer, he was trying to say that only God knows that answer.
I'm aware of that. But it is certainly NOT too much to ask for a candidate for President of the United States to not duck a position on such an important issue for so many Americans. For me, it's less a choice of poor words as it is perhaps a window into his thinking. For that reason, it is absolutely relevant in this presidential campaign.
79 posted on 08/17/2008 2:43:36 PM PDT by rightcoast
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To: Sherman Logan

“Unfortunately, experience, education and intelligence provide no greater degree of insight into moral issues. “

That is so true.

Take Obama as an example. Supposedly smart and intelligent. And no clue whatsoever about the great moral issue of the day, and no good answer except it’s above his pay grade. Well, I am going to do my damnedest so he stays there. I want somebody decisive and ready to be president from day one.


80 posted on 08/17/2008 5:59:35 PM PDT by Ben Reyes
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