Is Obama Using ‘I Am My Brother’s Keeper’ to Peddle Redistribution of Wealth?
- Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:49pm by
Billy Hallowell
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The Blaze has covered the Obama administration’s take on the Bible before. At least one college professor has even posited that the president may be ”the most explicitly Christian president in American history.” While Obama has been more than open about his allegiance to the Christian faith, there are many who question the tenets he adheres to. In a speech on Friday, he advanced some Biblical ideas that may, once again, have people questioning how his faith worldview impacts his economic policies.
On Friday, Obama appeared in a campaign speech in Vermont where he spoke about helping others and the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. In his address, the president condemned what he sees as “you’re-on-your-own economics” and argued, as CNS News alleges, for policies that would transfer wealth from one group to another.
“I hear politicians talking about values in an election year. I hear a lot about that. Let me tell you about values,” Obama said. “Hard work, personal responsibility — those are values. But looking out for one another. That’s a value. The idea that we’re all in this together. I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper. That’s a value.”
Watch Obama speak about this subject, below:
CNS News explains the biblical significance of this mention:
In Genesis, Adam and Eve’s first-born son is Cain and their second-born son is Abel. Cain becomes a farmer and Abel becomes a shepherd. When Cain offers the fruit of his farming to God and Abel offers a lamb, God is pleased with Abel’s offering but not Cain’s. Cain then kills Abel. When God asks Cain where Abel is, Cain says: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Obama’s use of the sentence, of course, was rooted in his opinion that hard work and personal responsibility aren’t the only values worth promoting. While the vast majority of society would agree with him that it’s essential to help those in need, the major disagreement is over who — the government versus private individuals and enterprises — should be footing the bill. This was the very subject that Glenn Beck tackled in his recent CNN Belief Blog article about charitable giving.
“Real News From The Blaze” producer Nick Rizzuto published his own personal analysis of the “brother’s keeper” comments on The Blaze Blog earlier today. He wrote:
But the president’s focus on that particular episode in the book of Genesis is instructive. This use of the Cain and Abel story is classic liberation theology, the tasty slurry of Christian teachings and Marxist class struggle that was characteristic of the Church the Obama family attended in Chicago for 20 years. The story of Cain and Abel has a special meaning to liberation theology that sets it apart from most mainstream Christian denominations. In most Christian churches, the idea of original sin is usually associated with the narrative of Adam and Eve, who disobeyed God when they fell to temptation and ate the forbidden fruit. In Liberation theology, on the other hand, Adam and Eve’s original sin is largely abandoned and replaced by an increased significance on Cain’s betrayal of his brother.
Further explanation of this significance comes from Christopher Rowland and Mark Corner’s 1989 book Liberating Exegesis: The Challenge of Liberation Theology to Biblical Studies:
The story of Cain and Abel (Gen. 4) is read as an example of the kind of struggle which goes on in society between the landed and the landless, the farmers and the shepherds…The cause of Abel’s death is the division of labour, which creates social classes and the ensuing struggle for land.
As a central theme of the class-struggle preached at church the President attended, he’s clearly drawing from a familiar well.
Regardless of where these sentiments were rooted in a grander spiritual underpinning based on the president’s past experience or in a mere attempt to showcase his urge to see the government “help” others — Obama went on to discuss other plans and proposals. These included: the need to offer more resources to public education, his urge to freeze government-subsidized student loan interest rates, his pledge for more “investment” in stem cell research and climate change research and plenty more.
“An economy built to last is one that supports scientists and researchers and science,” he proclaimed. “Whether we’re talking about stem cell research or climate change, we don’t need science deniers. We need people to understand that America has always succeed because of our belief in science, our investment in research.”
(H/T: CNS News)
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Comments (169)
youdidthis
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:16pmhang the illegal pos…dam sick of this fargin criminal.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:35pmNow this is VERY interesting .. doesn‘t Obama’s brother live in a HUT … who‘s brother is he keeping because it isn’t his own . and how about his illegal Uncle and Aunt .. they live off US! Who the H does he think he is fooling .. oh that is right Obamatrons .. too stupid to take care of themselves!
OMG 2012!
Report Post »HKS
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:39pmStrange how these liberals want to play mommy & daddy forever. They never want to get out of the basement, I think that is quite evident in today’s society. Obama thinks he’s the big mama and needs to take care of all of those basement dwellers that will never be ready for the big leagues, where people actually win and loose. I guess they think the middle is OK, just exist and live off others. Is this government education great or what.
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:43pmCatB
So true. George Obama would not agree with his brother Barrack. George lives in a grass hut on under $100.00 a year one would think that Barry and Moooochelle could send him an extra $100 and double his income for the year. Oh that’s right liberals never spend their own money, if Barry could figure out a way to send George some taxpayer money he would.
Report Post »db321
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:54pmObama – Jesus is my keeper – God gives me hope – you can keep your Hope and Change – Obama, you are of your father the Devil!
Report Post »seeker9
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:56pmThe government should stay out of it! Govt is too greedy, too corrupt, and too POLITICAL. Self responsibility is the key.
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 3:09pmAround 10 years ago and who knows how long before that..the “liberal” colleges were teaching through environmentalism (EPA) that the third world countries wanted to come up to our standard of living, so we would have to pay more for energy..What I am seeing is that we are being brought down to third world status. quite quickly.. Now..is it just the interloper in office..or is it the ones behind him? Is it George Soros..whose current wealth is 22 billion? http://www.forbes.com/sites/kerenblankfeld/2011/09/21/forbes-400-billionaire-george-soros-cracks-into-the-top-ten/ or is it the Rothchilds..whose estimated worth has been told at 500 trillion.. Me thinks it is the Rothchilds…who own Rueters and as I have heard, the rest of the media..Now..when one has that kind of wealth and it is ill gotten gains from the Federal Reserve..one can’t help but to rule the world..can one? This is how it works. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+rothchilds&mid=6B1289A1F90FE9B2F25B6B1289A1F90FE9B2F25B&view=detail&FORM=VIRE1
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 3:14pm“Is Obama Using ‘I Am My Brother’s Keeper’ to Peddle Redistribution of Wealth?”
No, Obama really means that he is his brother’s keeper… meaning his bros… as illustrated by Holder.
Report Post »Drives Like Jehu
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 3:16pmAm I my brother’s keeper??? Short answer: NO; long answer: hell NO.
Does Jesus want Christians to help someone in dire need that He brings into their life? Yes. Does Jesus demand Christians help some lazy liberals that band together in order to steal from their neighbors because someone has a Rolls Royce and they don‘t or because someone has a swimming pool and they don’t or because someone has a private airplane and they don’t? No.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 3:56pm@CATB good show, chap.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 5:13pmNo…I am not my brother’s keeper. My brother is free to do as wishes within the bounds of the law.
Report Post »Paul
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 5:27pmbarry islama “ain’t been readin his Bible”
Oh yea the six things that God hates….
Proverbs 6:16 KJV, who fits this to a T ?
16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Report Post »gramma b
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 5:54pmThen do it with your own money. Leave mine alone. You can’t take credit for “keeping” your brother if you are doing it with money confiscated from others.
Report Post »johnnylingo
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:07pmDid Jesus make himself rich under the guise of redistributing others wealth?? No Are Moocheles extravagant vacations at the expense of the poor in this country a Christlike example??NO. Socalism, Communism and the Welfare mentality are all ways the imposters line their own pockets while claiming Christian values. They are Satans counterfeit to a consecrated life espoused by our Saviour. By their fruits you shall know them, Biden 460 dollars to charity Oboma 2,000. Any tithing Christian who makes 20,000 tithes 2,000. how much did the Obummers amke last year vs their charitable contributions??Truley their fruits speak loudly for themselves.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:10pmIf O (et al) and others knew the Bible, they would recognize that “quote” as incorrect. It is from the Gensis story of Cain and Abel. God asked Cain where is Abel. Cain offers a smart aleck answer back to God, why are you asking me, am I by brothers keeper. Of course Cain had just killed his brother Abel.
So listening thru the prism of the real context of that phrase (as is a requirement for listening to O) I have to wonder what he really means because I know he doesn’t mean it the way he wants us to hear it Like fundamentally transforming America, was taken to mean restoring honor, integrity, etc to those who weren’t really listening
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:16pmOh, just got the answer to my own question from Real News from the Blaze on GBTV – seems that is a recommended phrase and idea from Alinksy – Rules for Radicals….
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:50pmI was behind a 375 pound Obama voter at the grocery store, yes, she was using foodstamps…..what’s wrong with this picture ?
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:52pmObama is a treu,sincere, believer in taking from those that have to portion out to those who don’t.
Report Post »Karl Marx would have been so proud. Of course the vast majority of the ELITE leaders gorged themsleves on the wealth they took from the Classes. How is that Golf game going Barry? You must be a scratch golfer by now! Just where did/is all your money coming from??
poorrichard09
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:58pmInteresting…this “brothers keeper” quote is from Cain (the first murderer) after he killed his brother Abel.
Report Post »JGraham III
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:52pmI have forgotten more of the Bible than the prez will ever know or understand. When Cain gave “the fruit of the ground” he was ‘giving’ God what was left over. Abel on the other hand gave “the firstlings of the flock and the fatness thereof”…in other words Able honored God with the first and best. Cain’s offering was more like the big middle finger to God (not unlike the lefties and atheists do now…) God accepted Abel‘s offering because He knew where Abel’s heart was. Cain’s heart was dark and thus became the first murderer. The argument that the struggle was between farmers and shepherds is laughable and the proponents of it have been watching too many westerns. The struggle has always been between the Seed of the Woman (Jesus Christ) and the seed of the serpent (those who flip God off) The two can ALWAYS be know by the fruit they bear. Not too good a harvest from the Lefties or the Commies… sucks to be them.
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 10:31amWell Obama has every right to be his brothers keeper…HE DOESN’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DRAG EVERYONE WITH HIM. He has millions and he can do whatever he wants with it. I for one see it as feeding a stray cat. If you feed it,it won’t hunt and it will bring more stray cats to your door. Until you’re the crazy cat person on the block. Give a man a fish and he’ll be back for two tommorow. I say give him the opportunity to learn to fish. If he refuses learn and demands more free fish he lay in the bed he makes for himself.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 11:06amOnce again Obama gives us the FINGER.
Report Post »Nemo13
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:15pmNone of this matters. The only thing that matters is Obama is a proven fraud, and a domestic enemy. Our military generals, who have sworn to protect the Constitution from enemies foreign & DOMESTIC should arrest Obama and his ilk. Why has this not happened? It’s time for action against Obama and other enemies here.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 5:35pmYou cannot follow Two Masters: Either follow the Old Testament… or view the Old Testament as a Prophecy for Fulfillment of the New Testament and follow Christ.
This week Obama is a Jew… but Christ rejected his own Mother, Brothers, and Sisters, when they came to silence Him and take Him away!
Report Post »lembrandt
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:14pmObamamonster is not only the worst President we’ve ever had, but he is, by far, the worst human being we’ve ever had as President.
How is it possible he has a chance to be re-elected? If a President can be re-elected with *his* record, what can the country expect in future POTUS’s – Hitler, Stalin, Chavez, Mao…?????
He makes me sick and I want to scream every time I see his disgusting, smug face.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:33pmWith Kaiser Obama he will use any trick in the book to make sure his ‘reelection’ happens no matter how underhanded and blatantly illegal; I still expect that near or during the elections some kind of ‘state of national emergency’ will be declared by him to seize power; or if somehow the elections actually do occur, he will nullify them across the board.
We are on the edge of a civil war that the communist of the White House will ignite.
Report Post »NeoKong
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:11pmCorrect me if I‘m wrong but doesn’t Obama’s own brother live in a shanty town in Africa…?
Report Post »When was the last time he got to go to Hawaii or eat Kobe beef.
What was he eating for dinner while Michelle and the kids were going on lavish vacations like American royalty?
CatB
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:40pmYes and his ILLEGAL AUNT AND UNCLE .. LIVE HERE OFF THE U.S. TAXPAYER!
Report Post »toto
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:06pmWhen his pockets are empty and he is not confiscating our money to give his parasitic supporters, who call it “Obama money”, then I might think he is something other than a Marxist liar and hypocrite.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:11pmPresident Obama is the “brother’s keeper” for those he favors with free stuff, waivers, and deals for UAW (GM), and Solyndra. While those not favored are subject to edicts, and name calling like “flat earthers” and said to show “madness”. Obama’s selective “brother’s keeper” has cost the taxpayer 5 trillion dollars in three years; which will be a burden on our future generations.
Report Post »Hope and Change for 2012 is his Traveling Meducine show!
RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:11pmHitler too twisted religious writings to also fool his populous. No, this is not a complete comparison of 0bama to Hitler, but rather to some of his tactics.
Report Post »loveoursoldiers
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:09pmyep.. except he means his black Muslim brothers.. you know the bros who would look like him if he had bros?
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:14pmHe has many half-brothers. His daddy got around quite a bit. Something like 8 or so.
Report Post »ddg7
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:08pmNeighbors keeper hell! Obama is using his same old socialist message. Nothing new to see here.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:34pmIndeed, and there will be enough deluded people to follow the message who will take up arms to ensure Kaiser Obama stays in power; by force if needed.
Report Post »Alvin691
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:08pmDuh!
Report Post »Steve28
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:08pmTake care of yourself and your family. America gives you the opportunity and not a meal ticket and it is not societies job to take care of those that choose to take advantage of these gifts by making bad choices in life and not going after the opportunities.
Report Post »mcsledge
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:08pmOne who reads the Bible will see that God’s command for man to take care of his brother is based on free will and charity.
God through His prophets and/or His Church did not force anyone to contribute or do anything they chose not to do.
Thus, any force performed by Obama to be a keeper of one’s brother is not influenced from above. If not from above, I wonder from where such influence is coming!
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:32pmAgreed. It seems Obama only uses the Bible when he feels he can twist it to his own socialist purposes. He’s better known for his open mockery of the Bible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET_w2vdJq_M
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:05pmShame on me; my first thought when I saw that top picture was, “I’d love to slap that laughter of his arrogant face!”
This man wouldn’t recognize Jesus Christ in a line up.
Report Post »Steve28
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:04pmNo it is not one of two things Barrack! Maybe that is all you see or want people to believe. How about that tax break goes into buying more stuff that creates more JOBS. How about that money goes to launching new jobs and ideas that create jobs?
Report Post »momsense
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:04pmi am sick of Obozo and his class warfare, If I eork a 40 hour week, I don’t want to split my paycheck with anyone whose major feat in life is just to lay on their BACKS FORCING THEIR SPAWN TO BE PAID FOR BY PEOPLE SHORT CHANGING THEIR OWN KIDS.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:04pmStill can’t step away from the Teleprompter I see…. He must not truly believe it if he needs the teleprompter.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:03pmTake from the middle class, to give to the rich.
Report Post »seeker9
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:12pmTake it from everyone else to redistribute to supporters and cronies.
Report Post »mcsledge
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:03pmYou can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.
Obama has radical views that are far from Christianity. However, he will be happy to put on sheep’s clothing if he can get the ignorant to buy into his message. Shame on Obama in round one. If we let him do it to us again, shame on Americans (in particular ignorant Christians).
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:02pmIn a word,
>yes !
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:00pmI give because I want to give to my “brothers” and “Sisters” not because we have a government that think they can take from someone and give to someone else whether they deserved it at all. I worked hard for my money and I know how to distribute my own “wealth”. I am not jealous of another persons “wealth” and as far as I know no one is jealous of what I have.
Government stick to keeping us safe and let us do our own giving.
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:08pmso……..if my brother is lazy and doesn’t want to work…….and i work 60-70 hour weeks{which i do} i should share my hard earned money with him………………not
Report Post »mcsledge
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:20pmOLDGUY49 – I am not sure you read IMCHRISTIAN’s comments very well.
If he chooses to give, it will be his choice.
Paul, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, told a group of people that if they did not work, they should not eat. God does not demand that one cares for those who are able to care for themselves. In fact, the majority of the time he called out widows and fatherless.
In that day, individuals took more responsibility for their own. Today, our decaying society demonstrates how irresponsible many citizens have become. They demand freedom to choose, but are incapable and unwilling to support the consequences of those actions.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:59pmSo, I guess the story of the good Samaritan left out the part where the injured man was cared for and then taken to the local welfare / medicaid office, or every time Jesus mentioned charity, the part about give to the government so the government can help was edited out too.
Report Post »dblaess
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:59pmSince God made his covent with man it is true that I am my brother’s keeper. However, God is speaking to personal responsiblilty not government responsiblity. God believes in you to be responsible to learn to fish so you can feed yourself forever as to government who says give me all your money and we will redistribute it to feed your brother for ever. In one case you work and prosper. In the other case you work and are oppressed. Think about it
Report Post »SREGN
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:58pmSatan attempted to tempt Jesus with scripture. Why wouldn’t his spawn do the same with us?
Report Post »JohnnyDollah
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 8:27pmWell said- this POS of a POTUS and his minions are always misquoting the Bible and twisting it around- he couldnt even find a church to go to in DC, he wont even honor Easter or Sunday Prayer breakfasts- but none of his useful idiot followers know Christianity well enough to even catch on to the hypocrisy,,, the only thing I learned from this Obummer is that I can see how easily the Antichrist could take over the mindless masses in this G-D forsaken country
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:58pmWouldn‘t you think O’s good friend, Buffett, would freely be giving his wealth to the poor and needy every day? Why does Buffett need the gubmint to make him redistribute his wealth? Heck, Buffett can‘t even pay his taxes to O’s gubmint that he loves so very much.
HYPOCRITES, the lot of them!!!!!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:55pmthe noman would do well to stay far, far away from the Bible. There are dire warnings there about people who add to or who take away from what GOD has said.
Report Post »USPATRIOT101
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:55pmFine, let your “brother” move in with you and leave us the hell alone. W#hen a black man says brother or sister, he’s not reffeing to any white folk
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:58pmAMEN USPATRIOT101
c
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