The Obama Watch
Hard Knox
A convenient embarrassment to the Obama administration.
(Page 2 of 2)
In a press conference the day after the letter was released, Boehner said: "I just think that the appointment of Harry Knox to head the office of Faith-Based activities, considering his anti-Catholic rhetoric over the years, is inappropriate and that's why I signed on to the letter. I would hope that more members of Congress would raise objections as well."
No more did, and the issue has largely waned.
For his part, in response to the May 13 letter, Knox told Newsmax, "I love the Catholic Church and love my Catholic sisters and brothers very much. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Roman Catholic Church and for all the good that it does. I do think that we have a real disagreement about the role of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, both in the role of the church and in the role of public service."
It's funny how he rarely used such conciliatory language about love and honest disagreements before.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, in response to a question about the letter that Boehner and McCotter signed onto, said, "I haven't seen that letter, but I think the President is comfortable with the makeup of his faith advisory council."
To the victor goes the spoils. One would expect Obama to name to the panel such left-wing clergy as the Rev. Jim Wallis, the Rev. Otis Moss Jr. (father of the current pastor at Obama's former Chicago church, Trinity United Church of Christ) and Rabbi David N. Saperstein, who all advocate more social spending, less restrictive immigration policies and more environmental regulation. To his credit, the president has also named conservative evangelicals such as the Florida megachurch pastor Joel C. Hunter and Frank S. Page, president emeritus of the Southern Baptist Convention to the board.
Despite earlier reports that prompted objections from the gay community, former Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy -- a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage -- was not named to the council. That was likely a move to mollify an important Democratic voting bloc still peeved that Rick Warren prayed at the inauguration and that Obama is moving really slow on keeping his promise to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and the Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell military policy.
These are all reasons that Obama would not likely heed the call of conservative Catholics -- most of whom are not supporters anyway -- to throw Knox overboard, as doing so would upset an already impatient constituency. On purely political grounds, it is understandable why Obama would want to select a gay activist to serve on the faith panel. What is not understandable (unless we just chalk it up to another demonstration of infamously poor vetting system) is why the president couldn't find someone with less of a paper trail for making bigoted comments in the name of equality.
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drudge ette obama| 7.9.09 @ 6:25AM
Knox's views on the Catholic Church evidence the attitude that it's o.k. to attack certain denominations and religions, but not others.
What has this religious bigot said about Muslims and Islam's view on homosexuality? He's too timid to take that stand. Catholics don't go around killing critics, but Islamic extremists do. Obama has probably nixed any comments against Islam.
As for Gingrich's gay sister. I didn't know he had one. But does she think anyone cares what she has to say except her family? She's another coat-tailer, like McCain's daughter and countless others.
Robert Rosencrans| 7.9.09 @ 6:34AM
No matter how inclusive or exclusive, pushing faith based relationships through the federal government becomes a religion of it's own.
appleby| 7.9.09 @ 8:59AM
Obama sticks firmly to what he imagines the Sixties were all about, from what he saw on teevee (probably the movie version of Woodstock) and heard from the people who claim they remember what they experienced there (if you can remember, you were not there). His whole act is similar to the kid whose parents go on holiday leaving him the keys to the house and come home to find it completely trashed and the police sifting the ruins for evidence.
How many of the "parents" who voted for this clown will stand wringing their hands and moaning, "But we gave him EVERYTHING, how could he DO this to us?"
Lots.
bob| 7.9.09 @ 10:43AM
obama chose and keeps knox precisely because he insults catholics and other conservatives.
obama's tactic is to show and provide "balance" for an era that denounced adult loving relationships between homosexuals as "the same as" or "causing" child molestation, incest and bestiality.
it's an insult game. on both sides. all the time.
Hermit| 7.9.09 @ 3:41PM
This is what comes when with all good intentions you invite the government into religious institutions.
Flowing federal funds to religious charities, programs increase in scope and size.
Governments change hands and a whole new set of priorities are put in place.
Tell me again how over time these religious institutions will not face coercive pressure to mute or alter their message.
brutus6| 7.9.09 @ 4:14PM
I just don't understand how people like Knox reconcile themselves. Not just call themselves Christians, but even assume earthly positions of religious leadership. Hmmm. I can buy a "clean" version of a CD, with the curse words removed from the songs. Maybe Mr. Knox can get Bibles with scriptures like ICorinthians 6:9,10 removed from their pages?
That said, He (that would be God, not Obama..) created us all in His image, and He loves us all. But He hates the sin and won't let us into His kingdom with it.
Just saying what God says in my Bible. I wonder what Mr. Knox's Bible says...
Agnostic| 7.9.09 @ 4:18PM
"Absolutely. The pope needs to start telling the truth about condom use. We are eager to help him do that. Until he is willing to do that and able, he's doing a great deal more harm than good -- not just in Africa but around the world."
Couldn't agree more.....He may be a whacky-gay-lefty, but that statement is true!
Sally Anne| 7.9.09 @ 10:44PM
Get your own damn condoms--leave the Pope out of it.
Marc Jeric| 7.10.09 @ 5:50AM
The purpose of the government in protecting the institution on marriage (by definition it is a union of man and wife) is their progeny - future soldiers and taxpayers. Paying health care costs, Medicare, Social Security pensions, and other government goodies to homosexual and lesbian couples goes against that purpose. How do you apportion a Social Security pension to a retired homosexual who had 24 "stable" relationships in his life?
Oldefarte| 7.10.09 @ 4:04PM
It is humiliating and sad that America has allowed our current president to be elected [and to appoint this sick homosexual to a position of power/influence]. Homosexuals have nearly destroyed the Catholic Church, is presently destroying other protestant churches, and the final straw will be the destruction by them of this country. Their sickness can only be curtailed via the ballot box, and America would be wise to begin to vote intelligently if we are to survive as a nation!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nbvcn| 2.25.10 @ 2:56AM
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