Obama and evangelist Billy Graham share a prayer

[darkstar3]

MONTREAT, N.C. (AP) -- President Barack Obama made a pilgrimage Sunday to Billy Graham's mountainside home, concluding his North Carolina vacation with his first meeting with the ailing evangelist who has counseled commanders in chief since Dwight Eisenhower.

The 48-year-old president made the short drive to Montreat from Asheville, where he spent the weekend, to see the 91-year-old Graham and son Franklin, also an evangelist.

During the visit, which lasted about 30 minutes and included aides and advisers to both men, Obama had a private prayer and conversation with Billy Graham. The evangelist gave Obama two Bibles, one for him and one for the first lady, Graham spokesman Larry Ross said.

...
Franklin Graham also said he thanked the president for his decision to have the government appeal a federal judge's ruling that the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional. Obama has said he plans to issue a proclamation again this year.
...

More here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_BILLY_GRAHAM?SITE=MOSTP&SECTION=DJSP_COMPLETE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-04-25-14-53-05

A "pilgrimage" to Graham? A plan to issue a proclamation about the "National Day of Prayer" even though it's now in legal limbo, and a pledge to appeal the decision that finally showed the NDOP for what it is? Sure, this is separation of church and state...

What REALLY pisses me off here is that if Obama hadn't proverbially kissed Graham's ring then he might actually have risked his re-election. It is a disgusting state of affairs when politicians have to bow down to religious leaders in order to maintain their positions.

[katmondoo]

1. Did Bill Clinton kiss Grahams ring?

I don't seem to remember him bowing down to Billy Graham.

[darkstar3]

2. Clinton gave him the Congressional Gold Medal in '96.

To my knowledge, he never visited Graham in his home in such a blatant display of kowtowing, but then again, he wasn't a black man continuously accused of being a Muslim, either.

[tbyg52]

3. Eeeeeeew! nt

[pinboy3niner]

4. Considering Graham's ill health, it's not surprising that the President . . .

would go to visit him at his home. Graham has had a relationship with every U.S. President since Truman--including Clinton--and served as a spiritual counselor to Hillary Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. A 2007 book by a couple of reporters for Time Magazine covered all of this in detail (The Preacher and the Presidents: Billy Graham in the White House).

[charlie]

5. Separation issues aside

Is it really smart to show the guy deference while there are still Nixon tapes yet unreleased? Two recent batches caught Graham yammering about The Joos.

Just let the old bugger wither and fade.

[Meshuga]

9. It is funny that he does not remember these comments

Unfortunately for him, they were caught on tape.

[charlie]

10. Yeah, funny

Especially since it was supposedly "uncharacteristic."

If I ever did something egregiously uncharacteristic in front of the PRESIDENT in the OVAL OFFICE, you'd better believe I'd remember it. Anyone would.

Some minister. Ugly then and lying now.

Good to see you again, Meshuga :hi:

[Meshuga]

12. Uncharacteristic when not in private. :-)

It's good seeing you too, Charlie!

[ZombieHorde]

6. Sigh...recommended. The U.S. is a hick country on a hick planet. nt

[katandmoon]

7. I didn't know Obama was having the government appeal the NDOP ruling.

It's so good to know that DOJ can spare time for this, since they can't spare time to prosecute any of the Bush administration war criminals.

[darkstar3]

8. Someone will inevitably claim they're playing 9-dimensional chess.

"Oh they're just appealing it so that the Supreme Court can strike down the NDOP on a national level."

[iris27]

11. Franklin's too bigoted and controversial to speak to the Army,

but apparently it's a-ok that he and his dad get a house call from the President.

*sigh*

[fishwax]

13. disgusting state of affairs indeed

"It is a disgusting state of affairs when politicians have to bow down to religious leaders in order to maintain their positions."