By Charles Riley @CNNMoney February 2, 2012: 4:12 PM ET



President Obama tied his faith to policy issues on Thursday.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- What Would Jesus ... Deduct?

President Obama offered a new line of reasoning for hiking taxes on the rich on Thursday, saying at the National Prayer Breakfast that his policy proposals are shaped by his religious beliefs.

Obama said that as a person who has been "extraordinarily blessed," he is willing to give up some of the tax breaks he enjoys because doing so makes economic, and religious sense.

"For me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus's teaching that for unto whom much is given, much shall be required," Obama said, quoting the Gospel of Luke.

Obama wants to allow the Bush tax cuts to expire for the richest Americans, and he has embraced the idea that wealthy Americans should not be paying a lower effective tax rate than those in the middle or lower classes.

He has argued that those policies offer Americans a "fair shot" and increased equality, while implying that the policies favored by Republicans do not.

But the overt connection between religious beliefs and political policies is new.
"I know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years," Obama said. "And I believe in God's command to love thy neighbor as thyself. I know a version of that golden rule is found in every major religion and every set of beliefs."

An administration official speaking on background told CNN that Obama viewed the speech as chance to explain his personal faith practices and to show "his desire to step in the gap for those who are vulnerable."

So what does the Bible say about taxes?

Not too much. The Bible is silent on whether capital gains should be taxed at 15% or a higher rate. Ditto for other types of investment income. Payroll tax holidays are not mentioned.
"If you did a search on taxes in the Bible, you are not going to find a lot that's helpful for this discussion," said O. Wesley Allen, a Bible scholar at Lexington Theological Seminary.

Complicating matters, Allen said that one of the most commonly cited Bible passages about taxes is frequently misinterpreted.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is asked whether it is lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar, a Roman dictator.

Jesus tells his questioners to give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.
"That passage is often quoted as saying Jesus said to pay taxes. That's not what it is," Allen said. "It's important to remember that the people asking this question are trying to trick him. He gets out of the trap more than he answers the question."

Perhaps a better parallel is gleaning -- an Old Testament practice in which farmers are encouraged to leave the crops on the edges of their fields for orphans and widows.

"As a commandment, that functions as a tax on the rich for the sake of the poor," Allen said.

Allen said there are many passages throughout the Bible that mandate the poor and widowed should be cared for. "But it doesn't dictate the policies that should be pursued to accomplish that," he said.

The speech comes at a tricky time for a White House fully engaged in efforts to reelect the president.
The administration was still doing damage control over a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services policy that forces religious schools and institutions that offer employee health insurance to cover FDA-approved contraceptives.

The move has angered many Catholics in particular, who oppose the use of contraceptives on religious grounds, and view the policy as an intrusion on their religious liberty.

Since he has been in Washington, Obama has not formally joined a church. For nearly 20 years he was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

The president and his staff have noted the logistical difficulties of a sitting president attending services, but he has visited several churches in Washington and worshiped privately with his family at Camp David.


-- CNN's Eric Marrapodi contributed to this report.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/02/news/economy/obama_tax_rich_jesus/index.htm

Obama is a very sly politician, and a closet Atheist, as indicated by some of his much earlier speeches. He knows that most voting Americans are Christian morons and he plays the Jesus card very convincingly.

Prayer Breakfast 2011

Prayer Breakfast 2011 (This past week)


See how he repeats the same theme, 2011 and 2012,, pretending to be a Right-Reverend Ike in a Black church on any given Sunday: Preaching Social Justice.... Separation of Church and State, anyone? Can I get a witness, y'all?


I personally do not consider this president to be bright or articulate; That's way more of a snow job that I would ever give a 'groomed puppet' like Obama is; who has to read from a teleprompter to the public what "he" thinks America should be, or what he would have it changed into. This man is full of bologna, he doesn't fool me.
I used to play Basketball, and when I saw a person who couldn't play and perpetrated like he knew how to play--- I would consider them to be a non-player; Obama is a non-player perpetrating a fraud, and trying to impose socialism as his handlers have instructed him to do. Even Jose Feliciano can 'see' that! This guy's a phony if I ever saw one;
He reminds me of the fast talking muslim 'brothers' on 125 St. in Harlem pushing copies of Muhammad Speaks, the only things he's missing is the bow tie...



My brother, check this out!

Guarocuya,

How is Obama a Socialist?

My simple definition of a socialist is one who wants to take money from those who earn it and give it to those who don't (of course, not counting the church).

JEM:

The traits of a Socialist are all over this man's administration and his intitial goals for the Presidency. Besides his track record, the proof that he is a Socialist is endless. One can not ignore the constant theme that surfaces in his speeches and his governance: Class warfare, and pitting one group against another... Then, again if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and it quacks; It's a duck, JEM. I hope this following info will convince you?

Obama is a product of several Socialist and NWO influences: Beginning with who his parents who were a couple of activists for various Socialist causes, through his adolescence he was mentored by Frank Marshall Davis a Communist; then his work with the Gamaliel Foundation ( Gregory Galluzo a Jesuit) as a Community Organizer in Chicago. (The name “Gamaliel” refers to the Biblical wise man who was a teacher to St. Paul (see Acts 5:38-39; and Acts 22:3), whom Saul Alinsky considered to be the first great congregation-based organizer.): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamaliel_Foundation

Then, there is also Obama's acquaintance with Bill Ayers, to Reverend Wright and of course Saul Alinsky author of the book - Rules for Radicals.
http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/oreilly/2012/01/25/what-connection-between-obama-and-saul-alinsky#ixzz1leAHRsYX

And all this condemning data without even mentioning none of his top level advisers Zbigniew Brzezinski for one (also Pres. Jimmy Carter's foreign policy adviser) , the man who organized al Qaeda... http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7718


References:http://blog.ariarmstrong.com/2011/09/saul-alinsky-connection-obamas.html
http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/communism/alinsky.htm

Oh Lord, are you a conspiracy theorist?

You have failed to provide specific reasons and proof as to what Obama has done in his current administration that pertains to Socialism. Your examples can serve as some proof that he is sympathetic to Socialist causes that does not mean he is a Socialist president.

By the way, what is so evil about Saul Alinsky and Frank Marshall Davis? That they helped the living conditions of many poor and Blacks living in dire conditions? Community organizing against abuse is somehow evil to you? How so?

But again, going back to the original topic at hand, please provide me specific examples of Obama's so-called "Socialism"...because let me assure you that he is not and will provide you with accurate examples...but I'll wait for your response first.

go easy on him, JEM. my bet is on you to demolish him.

JEM:

Long time no type, girl !! Hope all is well with you.

G'Luck on trying to extrapolate anything on that ! "he's a socialist, 'cause I said so!" is probably the best you're ever going to get....

He quotes the Gospel of Luke and already they use pictures of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.....

At least he isnt claiming to have conversations with God and looking at people's souls through their eyes, and being a terrible judge on that because he was reffering to Putin!

Conspiracy theorist?
You're not gonna run that line on me, are you? What do I belong in Bellevue, now? Creedmore, maybe? What a cheap shot? Ridicule a man before you get to respond to his statements?
What do I have to do to show you he is? Bring you dead bodies or recordings of cofessions? I can see your mind is made up on this matter. No amount of information will ever convince you of Obama's Communist ideology. You are fit to be a Lawyer (liar) or a politician; In which you can see overwhelming evidence on a given subject and with a straight face deny it. Call it duplicitous selective discernment.
Conspiracy theorists? One thing that I'm not is a idol worshiper, and that's for sure. I will not condone high crimes and misdemeanors for nobody. If it walks like a duck, and looks like a duck and quacks, it's a duck. I can't burry me head in the sand and say it's an ostrich?

One example of Obama's communist agenda is Forced Government Health Care.

What's wrong with Saul Alinsky and with Frank Marshall Davis? Pero, es verdad que tu eres miope?

These instances of helping Black Poeple in the mid 20th century is no comparison to what's going on now. Black people were under Jim Crow laws back then; Many couldn't vote, attend good institutions or enter certain places. JEM, I came to the US in 1963, I was here 2 years before the 1965 Civil Rights ACT. You Don't need to tell me about that time period in American history...I lived right down the street from City College back then, I remember when practically all the students were white.
This is not the case now! Black people as well as Hispanic don't have those obstacles today, What I'm referring to is the idea of staffing an administration with dozens of Czars, instead of a regular Cabinet. Also, that Obama was groomed by Nick Galluzo a Jesuit who was the director of Gamaliel Foundation; An organization that organized Black people in the poor neighborhoods of Chicago back in the 60's - 80's. That's what I'm saying. This has nothing to do with Conspiracy Theories, it has to do with a man who has communist inclinations, and every word he utters smacks of socialism.

Obama is a Communist and a Socialist. But, then again there are many who applaud that, even here at DT. Which is something I don't share that ideology; My folks came here fleeing tyranny and dictatorial goverments, so I don't admire people who espouse Communist views. America is for free enterpprise and laissez faire, not a control of every facet of life, like in socialist China, N. Korea, Russia, and Cuba. If we wanted that I would be living there, but, my folks sought freedom, not a proletariat paradise... That's why I live here! NO more years...