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Presumed Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama of Illinois has recently been blasted by James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, for “Bible distortion.”
In the past few weeks, news reports have revealed that that Evangelical Christians would be one bloc of voters that may not be exclusive to the GOP this year. For a very long time, the GOP has enjoyed strong backing and support from the Evangelical Christian voting bloc. These voters had even also made up a good part of the GOP’s conservative voting bloc.
It has been explained that Conservative Christians have made up a core part of the Republican Party. However, presumed GOP nominee Senator John McCain of Arizona has yet to get the support from Conservative Republicans. As I have written in past reports, McCain has several balancing acts to juggle.
Back in May, there was a report that the Evangelical Christian voting bloc could be split this year. Like many others, there are Evangelical Christians looking for “change.” Presumed Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama of Illinois could get some support from this voting bloc.
However, this may look easier said than done. Of course the possibility of Obama getting such support is already difficult. Now, Obama has been blasted for a speech he made to the liberal Christian organization called Call to Renewal. So far, it has brought backlash from James Dobson, founder for Focus on the Family.
The speech was given back in June of 2006. Obama when giving the speech gave off the indication that it would not be practical to govern a country based only on text from the Bible. Obama pointed out things in the Bible such as the allowance of slavery and how eating shellfish was unacceptable.
In dietary laws of certain faiths, it is forbidden to eat shellfish. But, that is a whole different story for a whole different time. Shellfish are considered “unclean.”
In the speech, Obama talked about Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Obama said that the United States Defense Department would not be likely to last with the “Sermon on the Mount” passage by Jesus Christ.
Dobson blasted Obama on his radio show. He added that Obama should not be citing references that are no longer relevant. Keep in mind, there are several versions of the Bible. There is the Old Testament, the New Testament, the King James Bible, and so forth. I myself am not that familiar with the different versions of the Bibles.
He accused Obama of manipulating the Bible for his own view on the world. In a nutshell, Dobson had all sorts of interesting things to say about Obama.
The Obama campaign’s reaction should be interesting. It had already given an offer to meet the group. No further details have been given out yet in the matter.
But, this could potentially wind up as powerful ammunitions in the hands of the McCain campaign.
Be prepared, it will be a very interesting political brawl between Obama and McCain. Race is inevitably a factor that will be in play. Also, do not discount religion as another possible factor.
If McCain does use this as ammunition, will it help him court Evangelical Christians?
In the case for Obama, it could be the Reverend Jeremiah Wright incident all over again.
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Keep in mind, there are several versions of the Bible. There is the Old Testament, the New Testament, the King James Bible, and so forth. I myself am not that familiar with the different versions of the Bibles.
The Old Testament and the New Testament are not two versions of the Bible. They together are the Bible.
Old, before Jesus, new after Jesus was born.
The many versions pretty much agree they are just written differently. The newer versions are mostly written in modern language. No thees and thous.
Quick Bible lesson. :-)
Good report. -
Yesm there are different versions of the Bible. More than you could count on both hands.
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Dobson blasted Obama on his radio show. He added that Obama should not be citing references that are no longer relevant. Keep in mind, there are several versions of the Bible. There is the Old Testament, the New Testament, the King James Bible, and so forth. I myself am not that familiar with the different versions of the Bibles.
Old and New Testaments are both parts of the Bible, not versions of it.
He accused Obama of manipulating the Bible for his own view on the world. In a nutshell, Dobson had all sorts of interesting things to say about Obama.
He does. I've heard him misquote more scripture than a nervous preacher first time behind the pulpit.
I'm not much of a huge supporter of Dobson, either, but if Obama is going to quote references from the Bible, no matter which translation he uses, he should get the context of it right.
Oh, as to Dobson's remark that certain parts of the Bible are irrelevant? That doesn't fly with a greater number of people who study it than he thinks. -
Obama believes that he is the new ''political Messiah.''
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Basically our MASKED Manufactured Puppett showed once more that He does not know of which he speaks since his idea that we are no longer a Christian Country reflects the fact that 76% of Americans still believe in the Judeo-Christian principles on which our GREAT COUNTRY was founded.. 2 % of the Population is Muslem as are Hindus and others of which he Misrepresented..
GUESS that the Jeremiah/ Alinsky version of whatever he call a BIBLE must be printed in Sanskrit!
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Speaking of "nutshells" manipulating the Bible for their "own purposes" Dobson is a prime example. He has no authority to declare parts of the Bible he does not like "no longer relevant."
He may "interpret" the Bible for his followers, if they allow him to, but the whole idea behind the Protestant movement is that each individual is supposed to read the Bible for themselves and come to their own conclusions.
Others may disagree but no one has the authority to issue a Fatwa deciding for others what is and what is not "relevant."
Obama was right and as usual the Conservatives were wrong. Historically the Evangelical Christians have as often (perhaps more often) been on the side of the Liberals than on the side of the Conservatives.
After all, Jesus was a Liberal.
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@ lensman67
Speaking of "nutshells" manipulating the Bible for their "own purposes" Dobson is a prime example. He has no authority to declare parts of the Bible he does not like "no longer relevant."
He may "interpret" the Bible for his followers, if they allow him to, but the whole idea behind the Protestant movement is that each individual is supposed to read the Bible for themselves and come to their own conclusions.
Others may disagree but no one has the authority to issue a Fatwa deciding for others what is and what is not "relevant."
Obama was right and as usual the Conservatives were wrong. Historically the Evangelical Christians have as often (perhaps more often) been on the side of the Liberals than on the side of the Conservatives.
After all, Jesus was a Liberal.
Liberal in the sense of fredom as derived from the Latin Origin or "liberal" as Loon Progressives are attempting to redifine the real Meaning..( AKA Marxism or Sevitude for the masses ) Keep in mind that our Founding Fathers were LIBERAL ( Freedom seeking patriots in the Jeffersonian version of the Original meaning of LIBER) -
Jesus was beyond such distinctions. =)
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The speech was given back in June of 2006. Obama when giving the speech gave off the indication that it would not be practical to govern a country based only on text from the Bible. Obama pointed out things in the Bible such as the allowance of slavery and how eating shellfish was unacceptable.
Can Tran, might i suggest you find the speech transcript, if possible, and link to it? That would make discussion a little more fruitful.
As it stands I think Obama was addressing a very contentious debate as to the nature of modern day Christianity and its relevance in the old testament as opposed to the new covenant.
I will just quote Jesus and people can take it from there.
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished" (Matthew 5:17-18).
This website is great for explaining the concept of Law and Christianity. -
If you click the link in statement 9, I encourage you to follow up with this..
Question: "Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament law?"
Answer: The key to understanding this issue is knowing that the Old Testament law was given to the nation of Israel, not to Christians. Some of the laws were to make the Israelites know how to obey and please God (the Ten Commandments for example), some of them were to show them how to worship God (the sacrificial system), some of them were to simply make the Israelites different from other nations (the food and clothing rules). None of the Old Testament law applies to us today. When Jesus died on the cross, He put an end to the Old Testament law (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:15).
In place of the Old Testament law, we are under the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2) which is to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). If we do these two things, we will be fulfilling all that Christ wants for us to do, “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Technically, the Ten Commandments are not even applicable to Christians. However, 9 of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament (all except the command to observe the Sabbath day). Obviously, if we are loving God we won't be worshipping other gods or worshipping idols. If we are loving our neighbors, we won't be murdering them, lying to them, committing adultery against them, or coveting what belongs to them. So, we are not under any of the requirements of the Old Testament law. We are to love God and love our neighbors. If we do those two things faithfully, everything else will fall into place.
I do not know what exactly what Obama said, but if he was going where I think he was going, this can answer alot of questions. To get where my mind is going with this the link in comment 9 will help.
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It appears to me there are two sets of quotes and statements that might be mixed together.
"Dr. James Dobson took exception to comments made by Barack Obama in a recent speech, saying that Obama has 'distorted' the Bible and that he is "dragging biblical understanding through the gutter." Dobson's main issue with Obama seems to be that he is saying, for example, 'that I can't seek to pass legislation that bans partial birth abortion because there are people who don't see that as a moral issue'. Dobson's response: "Now that is a fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution. We don't have to go to the lowest common denominator of morality which is what he is suggesting. Am I required in a democracy to conform my efforts in the political arena to his bloody notion of what is right with regard to the lives of tiny babies?"
taken from an email from Glenn Beck about Dobson appearing on his show tonight.
The other issue that is found if the link provided is looked at and read seems to be about Obama in a speech from June 2006. Obama is talking about not following the things from the books of Leviticus in the O.T. that is suggesting that slavery is OK and that shellfish should not be eaten or from the O.T. book of Deuteronomy which suggests stoning your child he strays from the faith? Then he says Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount?
He then says "So before we get carried away, let's read our Bible now. Folks haven't been reading their Bible."
Dobson said that Obama should not be referencing antiquated dietary codes and passages from the Old Testament that are no longer relevant to the teachings of the New Testament. I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own world view, his own confused theology"
Dobson added that Obama is "dragging biblical understanding through the gutter."
I see it that Obama is saying we need to read our Bible and follow the teaching of Jesus.
Dobson himself I am sure does not believe in slavery, might even enjoy shrimp and wouldn't stone his kids even if they didn't follow what he preaches.
Shoot if I followed that I would be able to stone two of my children and at times i might have been tempted to stone all four of them :-) Just kidding, just kidding. :-) -
Here is Dobson blasting Obama on the Bible.
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@ Can Tran (TFactor)
Here is Dobson blasting Obama on the Bible.
There he is only talking about partial birth abortion. -
Here you can check out today's broadcast.
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So much for separation of church and state (politics/politicians).
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Dobson is a person you folks take seriously, I presume...
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@ Jedediah Redman
Dobson is a person you folks take seriously, I presume...
Some do some don't, how about you? -
I think he'd feel at home as a citizen journalist...
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Lensit67: After all, Jesus was a Liberal.
That seems a bit far fetched. Even using a Message Trans. it doesn't compute.
Not certain if Jesus' teachings translate to current political thought on either side of the aisle. If I remember right He did mention not to harm 'the little ones". (and also mentioned a millstone)
Correlate that to 'right to choose" if you can? -
@ Gar Swaffar
That seems a bit far fetched. Even using a Message Trans. it doesn't compute.
Not certain if Jesus' teachings translate to current political thought on either side of the aisle. If I remember right He did mention not to harm 'the little ones". (and also mentioned a millstone)
Correlate that to 'right to choose" if you can?
Then you have not read the Bible, or American history, as closely as you should.
The Progressive Movement of the late 19th and early 20th century was spearheaded by Evangelical Christians in the "Social Gospel" movement, which preached the same social justice and anti-poverty ideology as that espoused by modern Progressives.
The core of Jesus' social teachings are contained in Matthew 25:31-46
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
The authoritarian moralistic garbage spouted by Dobson and other Right Wing "evangelicals" has no warrant in the Gospels, which takes a very "lassie fair" approach to personal sexual morality.
Most of what the Right considers "family values" is, in reality, an attempt by narrow authoritarian bullies to impose their opinions and "values" on others by using religion as a club to beat people with.
Jesus would not have approved of their so called "morality." -
This just in:
The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, a Methodist pastor from Texas and longtime supporter of President Bush who has endorsed Obama, said Tuesday he belongs to a group of religious leaders who, working independently of Obama's campaign, launched a Web site to counter Dobson at [url=http://www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com/]http://www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com. The site highlights statements from Obama and Dobson and asks visitors to compare them.
So even Conservative Christians are saying that Dobson has either "misread" the Bible or is twisting it for his own evil (Conservative) ends.
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@ lensman67
Then you have not read the Bible, or American history, as closely as you should.
The Progressive Movement of the late 19th and early 20th century was spearheaded by Evangelical Christians in the "Social Gospel" movement, which preached the same social justice and anti-poverty ideology as that espoused by modern Progressives.
The core of Jesus' social teachings are contained in Matthew 25:31-46
The authoritarian moralistic garbage spouted by Dobson and other Right Wing "evangelicals" has no warrant in the Gospels, which takes a very "lassie fair" approach to personal sexual morality.
Most of what the Right considers "family values" is, in reality, an attempt by narrow authoritarian bullies to impose their opinions and "values" on others by using religion as a club to beat people with.
Jesus would not have approved of their so called "morality."
"The core of Jesus' social teachings are contained in Matthew 25:31-46" What a crock of krap - as usual. You really should leave the teaching of the Bible to those who are called to teach. You are simply twisting it to serve your own 'evil' purposes - lota good that will do for you and anyone with the misfortune of listening to your teaching.
For those who really know the Bible, the core of Jesus social teaching is found in the parable of the good Samaritan - loving your neighbour as yourself - something Lensman67 has no concept of since he lynches anyone who dares to disagree with him. He should start applying Jesus' social teachings first to himself before he starts preaching it to others. He needs to remove the plank from his own eye before looking at the speck in Dobson's or anyone else's. -
Okay well I for one, am not going to even engage in the whole is "Jesus a liberal" bullshit because I think most of us here agree he is beyond the distinction of Liberal or Conservative.
So let Lensman live in his fantasy land and I am going to now talk with Picasso.
Picasso, thank you for posting that, you completely validated everything I was thinking about Obama's statements. I am pleased that people looked to the Bible, and to Transcripts instead of relying on Dobson. As if there isn't enough crap Obama has done, I don't think anyone wants to hear the made up stuff.
The debate of whether the old laws are applicable or not is never going to be settled for the masses, but it seems as if they can be in the hearts of individuals.
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@ Dave G. (TruthMan)
Obama believes that he is the new ''political Messiah.''
Question:
In Order to attend a Muslim School in Idonesia.. Can Non Muslims be accepted in that Islamic School Sytem???
Just wondering if Barry has done also a Religious Waffleroo! -
@ lensman67
This just in:
So even Conservative Christians are saying that Dobson has either "misread" the Bible or is twisting it for his own evil (Conservative) ends.
Here is the QUESTION:
Can you formulate any ideas without Quoting other Non experts?? or Newsweek, or Moren .org... What do you actually ( if ) Think and what do you understand that the issue really is??
Take your time and ..... -
.. HOW about the latest BOMB laid down by Barry the HO..
" I Voted for Milityary benefits on the last appropriation bill"
REALITY .. NO HE DID NOT.. He was one of SIX LOONS that REfused to Vote.. Now can we Believe anything that he is NOT SCRIPTED to say???? A true Manufactured DOLT of a Mechanical being!!!
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@ Sheba
"The core of Jesus' social teachings are contained in Matthew 25:31-46" What a crock of krap - as usual. You really should leave the teaching of the Bible to those who are called to teach. You are simply twisting it to serve your own 'evil' purposes - lota good that will do for you and anyone with the misfortune of listening to your teaching.
For those who really know the Bible, the core of Jesus social teaching is found in the parable of the good Samaritan - loving your neighbour as yourself - something Lensman67 has no concept of since he lynches anyone who dares to disagree with him. He should start applying Jesus' social teachings first to himself before he starts preaching it to others. He needs to remove the plank from his own eye before looking at the speck in Dobson's or anyone else's.
Yes, we can certainly see all the "love" you have for your neighbors. If you had any more hate in your soul you would probably die of toxic shock.
So you are calling Jesus a liar? Jesus said that anyone who does not follow the social policies that he outlined in Matthew 25:31-46 was going to Hell, simple as that. Have a nice trip. ;o) -
And now it is beginning to look as though most of you are superstitious as well as rightwingcrazy..?
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@ Sheba
"The core of Jesus' social teachings are contained in Matthew 25:31-46" What a crock of krap - as usual. You really should leave the teaching of the Bible to those who are called to teach. You are simply twisting it to serve your own 'evil' purposes - lota good that will do for you and anyone with the misfortune of listening to your teaching.
For those who really know the Bible, the core of Jesus social teaching is found in the parable of the good Samaritan - loving your neighbour as yourself - something Lensman67 has no concept of since he lynches anyone who dares to disagree with him. He should start applying Jesus' social teachings first to himself before he starts preaching it to others. He needs to remove the plank from his own eye before looking at the speck in Dobson's or anyone else's.
Do you even listen to yourself? -
@ Sheba
"The core of Jesus' social teachings are contained in Matthew 25:31-46" What a crock of krap - as usual. You really should leave the teaching of the Bible to those who are called to teach. You are simply twisting it to serve your own 'evil' purposes - lota good that will do for you and anyone with the misfortune of listening to your teaching.
For those who really know the Bible, the core of Jesus social teaching is found in the parable of the good Samaritan - loving your neighbour as yourself - something Lensman67 has no concept of since he lynches anyone who dares to disagree with him. He should start applying Jesus' social teachings first to himself before he starts preaching it to others. He needs to remove the plank from his own eye before looking at the speck in Dobson's or anyone else's.
@ Samantha A. Torrence
Okay well I for one, am not going to even engage in the whole is "Jesus a liberal" bullshit because I think most of us here agree he is beyond the distinction of Liberal or Conservative.
So let Lensman live in his fantasy land and I am going to now talk with Picasso.
Picasso, thank you for posting that, you completely validated everything I was thinking about Obama's statements. I am pleased that people looked to the Bible, and to Transcripts instead of relying on Dobson. As if there isn't enough crap Obama has done, I don't think anyone wants to hear the made up stuff.
The debate of whether the old laws are applicable or not is never going to be settled for the masses, but it seems as if they can be in the hearts of individuals.
Here's an "amen" from the agnostic of the group. -
@ redhawk
Question:
In Order to attend a Muslim School in Idonesia.. Can Non Muslims be accepted in that Islamic School Sytem???
Just wondering if Barry has done also a Religious Waffleroo!
According to truthorfiction.com the truth is
"Some of the most definitive information about Obama's faith comes from an interview he did with journalist Cathleen Falsini. She writes that Obama was born in 1961 in Hawaii to a white mother who came from Protestant Midwestern stock but whom Obama describes in his own book as a Christian but "a lonely witness for secular humanism." Obama's father was a black African from the Luo tribe of Kenya. Obama called him agnostic. Obama's grandfather on his father's side was Muslim. When he was six years old, Obama's mother and father divorced and she married an Indonesian man who was a non-practicing Moslem. They moved to Indonesia where Obama said he attended a Roman Catholic school until he was 10. An article Scott Turow on Salon.com in 2004, however, said that while in Indonesia, Obama spent 2 years in a Moslem school then 2 more in the Catholic school." -
@ Jedediah Redman
And now it is beginning to look as though most of you are superstitious as well as rightwingcrazy..?
AHH Yes.. Why is it that when the Leftoistas HIT the WALL all they can do is to attempt to sound as though they have anything to say while showing nothing but ZEWOS! -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
According to truthorfiction.com the truth is
SO what does that really mean:?
1) is he a black man?? Thechnically NOT! White mother Black Father ..= Not reallt anything but amIxed race.. some may say MUlatto...
2) is he a Christian?? At best Part time
3) is he a MOOSLEM .. Technically at least partially so...
SO WHO IS THIS MASKED MAN???? -
@ Jedediah Redman
Dobson is a person you folks take seriously, I presume...
As seriusly as Barry the HO is taken by some partially Void Minds perhaps??? -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
There he is only talking about partial birth abortion.
Now here is another Question regarding our Empty Suited Masked Man:
Can a Christian really be in Agreement with any kind of ANBORTION??? Apparently Barry of Ho is of the opinion that Some abortions are OK... -
Any reason any man should have anything to say about abortions?
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@ Jedediah Redman
Any reason any man should have anything to say about abortions?
Perhaps you Momma should have talked to him??? -
Evidence, certainly, of an I.Q. lower than your shoe size, hawk...
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@ Jedediah Redman
Evidence, certainly, of an I.Q. lower than your shoe size, hawk...
Possibly Jeddd but tall enough to stand on your Scrawny head!!! -
I'm sure you're a tough, hawk.
Most rightwingcrazies ultimately have to depend on violence.
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@ Jedediah Redman
I'm sure you're a tough, hawk.
Most rightwingcrazies ultimately have to depend on violence.
ONLY for certain Delusional Small minded SHORT statured in the mind with certain Fallable states of unbelievable short sightedness and the propensity for continuing to make fools of themselves.. But then you fit the bill! -
As mikey says--thankee...
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@ Jedediah Redman
As mikey says--thankee...
So you admit to Mindless Staetements.. There yet may be hope for your CRP outcome! -
I suspect you are just a wussy, hawk.
But you certainly talk tough...
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@ Jedediah Redman
I suspect you are just a wussy, hawk.
But you certainly talk tough...
NO talk Potted plant No talk.. But then you'd probably Drop a load if it came to a face to face like a typical Whiner loking for MOMA to save its widdle sreawny little PUTZ! -
@ Jedediah Redman
As mikey says--thankee...
You are NOt refering to Mickey Obama are you? Watch it or Obamanaiacs will call you Correctly as a Small Minded racial PUTZ! Add a Comment
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Obama Blasted For 'Bible Distortion'
