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Like Clinton, Obama Attended "Shadowy" Group's Prayer Meetings
April 04, 2008 11:21 AM
Stories on the "stealth" ministry of Douglas Coe have been cropping up recently on blogs and online publications, linking him unfavorably to Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.
Comparing Coe to Obama's inflammatory pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barbara Ehrenreich wrote at HuffingtonPost.com, "When it comes to unsavory religious affiliations, she's a lot more vulnerable than Obama."
But the story may not be so simple. Indeed, as Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign confirmed yesterday, he has also attended Coe's prayer meetings.
Coe’s group, "the Fellowship," reportedly shuns publicity while focusing on ministering to those in power in the United States and around the world. In Washington, D.C., Coe sponsors a weekly Senate prayer breakfast and an annual National Prayer Breakfast regularly attended by U.S. presidents.
Coe’s group has been called "shadowy," and Coe has made some unusual comments which have raised more than a few eyebrows. In recorded presentations, he has seemed to praise Hitler and other totalitarian leaders for brutally enforcing their followers’ allegiance to doctrine over allegiance to family, and suggesting that was a model for teaching children about Jesus.
"[T]here is something deeply strange about the group," wrote the Atlantic magazine's Joshua Green, who has reported extensively on Coe's Fellowship and Hillary Clinton.
Ehrenreich and others have noted that Hillary has been a regular attendee at his weekly prayer meetings, and spoke warmly of Coe in her autobiography, "Living History."
But if Clinton has a Coe problem, then it seems Obama would also: a quick call to the Obama campaign elicited a confirmation that the junior senator from Illinois had also attended "a couple" of Coe’s meetings. And, like Clinton reportedly has, Obama spoke at one of the meetings about his faith, spokesman Bill Burton confirmed.
April 4, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (62)
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We all have to remember that the Media is on one side...The side that makes money...I think this guilt by association thing is really out of hand...Hillary has Bill, Barack has Rev. Wright and McBush his drug stealing addict reciept losing wife and BFF with Bush...The Dems are going to cream him...
Posted by: Beka13 | Apr 4, 2008 1:42:59 PM
Maybe they were trying to convince Obama and Hillary to transport a particular piece of jewelry to a volcanic mountain and toss it in...
Could happen.
Posted by: David | Apr 4, 2008 1:49:18 PM
McCain also attended these meetings. What is with you guys? Is there an intentional bias
Posted by: Graham | Apr 4, 2008 1:56:59 PM
HAH! Be careful what you wish for obamanation lovers...
Your guy's going down.
Posted by: Josh | Apr 4, 2008 2:00:35 PM
We need to know more about this man and group. If our leaders are turning to him for faith then we need to understand the whole "Hitler is good" attitude. We need to know that our future leaders don't buy into that.
Posted by: Brandy | Apr 4, 2008 2:01:58 PM
Funny, I grew up in a fairly mainstream Christian Church and we were taught to follow Jesus over all others, including family and politicians. While I am no longer religious, and nobody ever praised Hitler, that teaching sounds awfully familiar, and easily distorted. Especially when the news agencies are looking for a hot new story *rolls eyes*
Posted by: Liz | Apr 4, 2008 2:04:30 PM
Those are the contradictions that are red flags for me in reference to Obama. There have been many. Having to give a speech in reference to racial insensitivity at this early of a junction should not have been necessary. Especially after finding out that your pastor spoke to a congregation with racial undertones. Then to physically dig up information about Hillary's pastor, to turn the heat off of your pastor. BUT, to find out later you spoke at the church. What is wrong with this picture? Is this how we want to waste our time. America is in pain two wars, a failing economy, we know of the racial issues. I'm black I know. But, right now is not the time to address them we could be stuck here forever..
Posted by: mgck59 | Apr 4, 2008 2:06:21 PM
What about anama Joh's "shadowy groups"?
Posted by: BlueJersey | Apr 4, 2008 2:16:21 PM
So is the left leaning Huffington Post also making it clear that Sen Obama also attends the fellowship meeting?
Guess not. Maybe they will just stop printing the story since it will also damage their candidate.
THE POWER OF MEDIA. ISN'T IT AWFUL THAT THEY ARE CHOOSING THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR US??
Posted by: politicsIsdirty | Apr 4, 2008 2:17:53 PM
I just heard that Michigan has decided not to hold a re-vote in the Democratic Primary. Sen Clinton says that we should not disenfranchise voters in Michigan. Well...ok...since Senator Obama was not on the ballot let's split it 50 - 50. Do you think she will would like this plan to enfranchise the voters of Michigan? I doubt it. She is only interesed in enfranchising them if she is decalared the winner.
Posted by: DavidE | Apr 4, 2008 2:18:06 PM
Here they go, trying to buddy-up a religious crazy to Hillary, noting a couple of prayer meetings she attended. Com'on, Obama...you can do better. YOU on the other hand, have been affiliated with your "Africa supremist" for over 20 years! This is another attempt by the media to make Hillary look bad. Pitiful.
Posted by: gdguyinbalt | Apr 4, 2008 2:25:01 PM
I'm sure if Coe "sponsors a weekly Senate prayer breakfast" Senators Clinton and Obama are not the only senators that have attended his sermons. And if he's "shadowy" why is he even allowed to give prayer breakfasts at the Senate?
Posted by: Linda | Apr 4, 2008 2:25:20 PM
Why is there all this talk about the religous going-on's with the Dems but no one is really discussing the fact that McCain is accepting backing from Pastors that say controversial things like all gay people are going to hell.
I feel like there is a kind of double standard here...
Posted by: Matt | Apr 4, 2008 2:26:05 PM
Of course, Coe would have a bipartisan membership . The members range from Ashcroft and Meese to democrats, Lieberman and Pryor. My point is this group encompasses a number of well known politicians but the article is only pinpointing two of its many members.
Posted by: katrina | Apr 4, 2008 2:30:25 PM
Yeah! Let's stop all this nonsense about who's religion is more scary. THEY ALL ARE. Folks, God is a fairy tale, just like Santa Claus. This belief in God that allows religion to take on a role in controlling people has many good aspects to it. It gets people to help each other and love each other. Unfortunately, it can also get people to hate each other, as we'll see in the posts here. We should all be grown up enough to know that helping each other and loving each other is a human thing to do. We don't need a God to tell us to do it. God bless us atheists. We need it as much as the children of God. But God doesn't need to save us, we are responsible for ourselves and our own actions.
Posted by: Dan, TX | Apr 4, 2008 3:00:20 PM
Yes, Obama may have checked out a couple of meetings, but Hillary is a permanent member. I think, all things being equal, that the media should make an video of the worst several minutes that this man has spoken and play it 24/7. I'm sure the Clinton supporters would think this was only fair.
Posted by: Eileen from Maine | Apr 4, 2008 3:08:32 PM
Attending a couple of meetings is a heck of a difference than being a MEMBER for over 20 years LOL She should be held to the SAME yardstick as he has been...but do I expect the media to bring this to light? No....most are too afraid of the Clintons and what will happen to them IF Clinton is allowed to steal this election.
I mean come on, here ABC is "reporting" it but the main thrust of this article is that Obama attended a couple of meetings LOL Talk about media bias! This is it along with that idiot piece about Obama lying about smokin....CLINTON HAS LIED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS and ABC wants to tell us that Obama is still smokin..Grow up ABC and report the news as it is not as some on your staff want it to be. I've seen King Makers in my life and NO ONE on your staff is one so please stop trying or in the next poll you could join FOX who can't seem to just report the news.
Posted by: Deanna | Apr 4, 2008 3:13:57 PM
What a shock... more scandal. The Clintons sought out "advice" from Reverend Wright during the 2nd term of the first Clinton, no surprise that they are tied to another religious figure who is shady. Worse still are the people who criticize Rev. Wright and fail to notice that Reverends Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell said America brought the 9/11 attacks on themselves and it was God's punishment. Why is that gettign no play? Oh yeah, they are white and friends of HillBilly.
Posted by: Chgosaint | Apr 4, 2008 3:15:00 PM
Obama attending a couple of meetings is one thing. Perhaps the real story is that Clinton has been a member for OVER 20 years! Let's try reporting that fact.
Posted by: Sam | Apr 4, 2008 3:18:28 PM
I guess if nothing else comes of this Presidential campaign, we will get a chance to reject all forms of religious going's on that should not be tolerated.
It's time to send a message to these religious leaders that we don't approve of their methods or their outrageous opinions and claims.
We want to go to church for hope and humanity, not hell and damnation.
Posted by: sherr | Apr 4, 2008 3:23:14 PM
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