President Barack Obama is not a Christian and is probably a Muslim. He’s for big government because he’s a socialist, Marxist, Communist. And, oh yes, he doesn’t love this Christian nation.
Separation of church and state? Bad idea.
Such was the general timbre of comments from the people I interviewed Thursday at the tax day Tea Party rally in Acacia Park, which was attended by about 1,700 people.
The crowd was energetic and mostly polite, though pockets of anger existed. Four Palmer High School girls on lunch break walked through the crowd carrying a sign that said, “I [heart] Obama.” One told me they were encircled and their sign torn up. Read more about the alleged incident in the story by reporter Tom Roeder in the Gazette.
Below are highlights of my interviews with five Tea Partiers. My questions addressed religious issues surrounding Obama and the Tea Party movement.
1. Chellis Sheffield, 73, came from the Woodland Park area to attend. He was carrying a sign that spelled out the acronym RISK. “R: Repeal Health Care, I: Impeach Obama, S: Stop EPA overreaching, K: Kick out any judicial ‘legislation.’”
Sheffield said he’s never attended such a rally before, but felt drawn to attend this one because he hates what Obama has done to America.
Sheffield on if Obama is Christian: “He hasn’t been to church since he became president. His lack of religion influences his actions.”
Sheffield on the notion of separation of church and state: “We need to separate the state from running the church.”
2. Alex (not his real name) says he’s a Colorado Springs resident who’s been doing mission work in Cuba for a Springs church. The 33-year-old, clean-cut man didn’t want to give his real name because he feared Cuban communists might seek to harm him. “In Cuba, a man was thrown in jail because he’s a Christian,” he said.
Alex carried a leather-bound Bible and a bumper sticker that read: “Believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Alex on Obama: “Obama is leading us to communism.”
Alex on Obama’s faith: “I’ve read he’s admitted he’s Muslim.”
3. Joan Wolford of Colorado Springs showed up dressed as the Statue of Liberty, but with a twist. Around her arm was wrapped a Styrofoam ball and chain. “This symbolizes our debt,” she said. She carried a sign that read: “Enslaved By Debt.”
Wolford on Obama: “He’s a socialist, Marxist.”
Wolford on if Obama is a U.S. citizen: “Congress says it reviewed his birth certificate, but why are they so secretive about what they found?”
Wolford on combining politics and religion: “Christianity and freedom go hand in hand.”
4 and 5. Don and Louise Monohon of Colorado Springs sat in lawn chairs at the event. Louise held up a sign that read: “I must stand for the truth of God’s Holy Word, live and speak it’s [sic] truth and carry it into political life to change this country back to what it once was.”
Louise, 73, on separation of church and state: “I don’t think church and state should be separated.”
Louise on Obama’s faith: “I’m praying for him to become a Christian.”
Don, 76, on Obama’s faith: “I think he’s a Muslim.”
Don on Obama’s view of America: “I don’t think he loves the country. He goes to other countries and apologizes. It shows he doesn’t love our country. I am afraid for our country. America is a Christian nation, but Obama doesn’t believe it.”
PULPIT: Tea Partiers mix politics and faith is a post from: The Pulpit