WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is exhorting a Florida minister to “listen to those better angels” and call off his plan to engage in a Quran-burning protest this weekend.
Obama tells ABC’s “Good Morning America” he hopes the Rev. Terry Jones listens to the pleas of people who have asked him to call off the plan. The president called it a “stunt.”
Obama also said in the interview broadcast Thursday morning that what Jones proposes “is completely contrary to our values as Americans. This country has been built on the notion of freedom and religious tolerance.”
Obama declared: “This is a recruitment bonanza for al-Qaida.”
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Comments (154)
PA-Patriot
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 9:05amFunny how they request Beck to speak out and Obama thinks he has to say something.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 11:31amObama doesn’t get involved wit local issues -like calling the Police stupid -or speaking about a Christian Pastor not named Rev.Jeremiah Wright.I might not burn the Koran–but I would enjoy burning the so called Bible Barry’s pastor saw “G-d Damn America” in.Oh es verdad maybees he was reaiding from the Quran and merely misspoke?
Report Post »joshua
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 9:02amI Follow the Christ, I Follow the Torah as much as i can, I Follow the Spirit that Indwells within my Mind….I see this “stunt” as Obama calls it as just that…it is nothing more than a tactic to enrage an already disgruntled nation…he has the Right but i cannot find the Purpose behind this event. I too feel that the fringes of Islam will become our enemy over the next 10 years but i find it Sad that “christians” have given up the Good Fight….to be set apart from the World….instead it takes “stunt” of burning a copy of their doctrines to rouse up Courage!!! This Pastor i Hope, would Seek the Face of the Creator as Fervently as he wishes to be a public spectacle over destroying their idols…this Pastor i Hope, would Seek to Honor our Creator and His Commandments as Fervently as he wishes to prove his point…..what “sunday” does this assembly meet????????
Report Post »LJ_4_JESUS
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 10:43amJoshua excuse me please but I don’t fully understand your statement. ( I Follow the Christ, I Follow the Torah as much as i can ) if you do read the Bible and you have the Holy Spirit revealing to you the truth then you would see and understand this. ( Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. )
Report Post »joshua
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 10:58ammy point was we as the Body of Christ do not have time to “burn books”….we need to be first and foremost, engaging Scripture to the Depths that we Live them and if there is any extra time after that we should be petitioning our Father to show us ALL mercy a while longer so that we might make some real impact upon the Muslim world…..any questions?
Report Post »LJ_4_JESUS
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 11:10amJoshua how can one impact their world if they compromise their beliefs and convictions. If one loves the Lord Jesus then that one should not be ashamed to proclaim it and try to tell others about Him. I don’t understand how anyone can say that they love God but deny the Lord Jesus ( I Corinthians 16:22 ) If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
Report Post »ekonderla
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:47amIt is South Park all over again. A few years ago South Park wanted to show Mohammed in a Pepsi Commercial and the censors wouldn’t allow it so South Park rewrote the episode with the final scene being Jesus Christ defecating on an American Flag and the censors allowed that. Well here we go again with the exception that it is now on a national level instead of a comedy show. To me burning the Koran now has become a test of how much freedom we actually have compared to the Muslims. Now I wish I was at least there to help this nut case preacher.
Report Post »nkawtg
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 11:08amI’m not going to comment on the wisdom of whether the Koran should be burned. Instead I will comment on the rights of people that have dated back to our founding. (Sound familiar)
Report Post »This whacked out pastor can burn what he wants, my problem is that so much attention is being paid to a congregation of 50 and calling it main stream Christianity.
Susanmv
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:45amimmature,mean,stupid,elementary, I could go on and on. Taking it to the extreme. Be angry but be if you believe in God, you should know better. Thank you Glenn. He gave me hope,(his intention), and now I am just confused.
Report Post »cap0ne
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:42amObama should practice what he preaches..“Listen to the people”
Report Post »American Dad
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:39amA world without islam Amen.
If the cave stooge never existed the world would be a more peaceful place. It wasn’t the Angel Gabriel that the stooge saw it was pure evil and he was too stupid to know the difference. The cult leader created laws to promote his evil wishes, then killed those who did not kiss his A^&. How can so many people follow such a evil person and not follow a person of love and devotion Christ himself?
Report Post »Trying2Understand
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:38amC’mon folks…this issue shouldn’t even be debated. Were someone to burn the bible, in protest against radically violent Christians (yes, they do exist), how would that make you feel? Bottom line is, this just isn’t right. To insult an entire religion, when your beef is with individuals, is nothing but blind hatred. I hope to be a better person than that.
Report Post »GlennBeckIsADemagogue
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 9:13amThank you for comment which is both intelligent and sane. Wish you had more company here.
Report Post »keithwright
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 9:49amThis so-called minister and the members of his so-called church should be ashamed. I am not a religious scholar, though that is not necessary to understand how misguided this fool is.
Report Post »nkawtg
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 10:43amI’d like to follow your logic, but you need to identify what violent Christian groups your referring to. You use the same logic as opponents to the Tea Party who claim the Tea Party is a violent organization. To simply say it means nothing.
Report Post »JJMinor
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 10:45amI don’t agree. We have the right to express our dislike for ideas, even if those ideas have been packaged in a pretty book. Would it be okay for a bunch of freedom-loving Americans to burn copies of Mein Kampf? Is it okay to dislike some ideas so much that we hate them? How about we burn a copy of Karl Marx’s communist manifesto? Some of us don’t care much for the radical side of Islam, and burning a book that they use to justify killing Americans is simply making a very blunt point. And in America, we can do that.
Report Post »baileyntx
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 11:08amWe both know that if the Islamists or gay activists decided to burn a bible at the foot of the Capital that you would defend their right to do it under, ‘freedom of speech’ and then tell Christians to, ‘get over it’.
I do not agree with this pastor’s action, however, I do agree with his right to be able to do it. It is free speech. Free speech ALWAYS OFFENDS, which is why it had to be protected in the first place.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 11:23amNeither was either of the two acts of War committed by slaves of Allah right–unless one is Muslim.
Report Post »I would not burn it for it only fouls the air like the Islamic call to prayer at even. But if the Muslim have a right to build a mosque at Ground Zero then Christians have a right to burn their unholy koran.
idefine
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 2:26pmAnd how do you feel about the ground zero mosque? isn’t that just wrong too? the hypocracy on the left is blinding. Why doesn’t Obama come out and say he supports the right to burn the koran, it is free speach and a core principle of our nation. He doesn’t have to speak to the wisdom of burning the koran. The mosque is much more “wrong” because t will be lasting, while the burning of the koran will be momentary.
Report Post »The reaction to this, around the world, is very very revealing isn’t it?
KEA
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:36amI dont agree with the guy burning it but isnt it ironic that the most liberal president since Wilson is saying this. The very wacko’s that twisted the true meaning of our first ammendment to justify burning our American flag are now telling us we shouldnt burn the Koran? What happen to the all important sacred first ammendment? Hipocrit is the word that comes to mind.
Dont burn it but at the same time dont preach to us about right and wrong as he clearly missed that portion of educatoin in his upbringing.
Report Post »Johnny Constitution
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:30amReplace “Obama” with “Bush.” Would your reaction be the same? It’s a good habit to get into; it helps identify whether you are reacting to the position or the speaker.
That said, his logic is flawed. Better angels? Really? What does he or anyone, for that matter, know about better angels? It could well be that God is exhorting his angels to encourage the burning of books that are contrary to the Bible and leading millions into damnation every day. It is a stretch to assume that we know what‘s on God’s mind.
And to hear Obama cite freedom as a justification elicits an amused look and a raised eyebrow. His notion of freedom differs from that of Americans who are better grounded in the country’s history and principles.
The only relevant argument I’ve heard thus far has to do with putting American soldiers at risk, and the time to avoid that in this saga has come and gone. The general would have better served our troops by voicing his concern through private channels. Once he lent his voice to the public discussion, the visibility of the issue was raised and with it the danger to our troops, whether the book burning proceeds or not.
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:44amI have to agree with you
Report Post »kralspaces
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 6:23pmMy thoughts too. Why did the Gen. Petraeus go public with this? Why did the Ambassador ask Glenn Beck for action? Why is this world upside down?
Report Post »grnhrn
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:26amThe pastor should burn only one – one page at a time in a bbQ’r after reading the page out loud and commanding satan to leave this cult and go back to hell where he belongs in the name of jesus. I welcome muslims to practice their art but they need to leave sharia law in mecca & please build your trojan horse somewhere besides lower manhatten if obeyme wants a nice site to pray in than build in chicago by louie farakans house
Report Post »mallsniper
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:26amI say we should be as tolerant to muslims as muslim nations are tolerant of other faiths. How many churches are in Saudi?? Oh, it illegal to practice another faith besides islam there?? Who would of thought!! Every muslim in America is a wolf in sheeps clothing. (Sipping the Kool Aid)… My mistake, Islam is all about love and tolerance, right?
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 11:16amHow many Islamic Mosques were there in America 1620–1930?Oh we do so agree in our sentiments
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:24amThey have the right to burn the Koran, it just isn’t the right thing to do. It’s a stunt. Why can’t the President say the same thing about building the Mosque near ground zero. He said that it was right, but would not say whether or not it was the right thing to do. The man is not a leader he is an embarrassment.
Report Post »natalielafond
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 12:40pmAmen
Report Post »Bob Holland
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:19amHow can this man talk about the “notion of freedom”, while seeking to limit it through regulations and unconstitutional law. Shame on you President Obama. You’re a deceptive snake. Kinda reminds me of another story I’ll save for a different time. But if your curious reflect on the story of Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Report Post »123halle
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:13amobama is a joke . I bet he send troops on saturday to stop it . I am sorry folks but I say burn baby burn . because I am tired of bowing to musloms in this country
Report Post »solvitur ambulando *** Deo
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:09am“Listen to those better angels”????????? A “stunt”?????? President Obama talking to Good Morning America??? Why isn’t he talking directly to the pastor and the congregation. Obama is an “organizer” not a leader. That is being demonstrated time and time again. If he were a leader he would be talking to Iman in NYC and he would be going to NYC instead of sending Biden. And as for religious tolerance… how come the presid….mr obama never comes out and talks about standing up for Chrisitans… what of all of the Christian churches that are bombed and burned… and what about the churches that are desecrated? And sacred items that are desecrated in the name of Art as funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. Where is the outrage on those incidents? Why isn’t the presi….Mr. Obama showing any leadership?
Report Post »fastbretty
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 9:47amThat is a great point. Barry wants good ratings. He has to come out and say these things for his “good” name. If he truly cared, he would personally pay a visit to this pastor and maybe have a serious conversation with him. But no he comes out in public and says that we (including this pastor and his congregation) are somehow responsible for Jihad, Islamic extremism, terrorism or flying planes into buildings. Sorry Obama you don’t speak for me……I nor my fellow Americans will ever be responsible for these extremists taking American lives here or abroad. I’m no President, but I’m no idiot. (all of this referring to the “recruitment bonanza” statement)
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, I WILL BE BURNING NO KORANS.
Report Post »Freelancer
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:08amObama has been the “bonanza” for the terrorists. They now understand that they can operate without much fear of retribution. Trial by a federal court where the rules of evidence are so strict that some witnesses can’t testify? Right! If they were tried in a military court as they deserve, anything that the government has is perfectly legal to use no matter how it was obtained. Obama seems to be hoping that a lot of these people get off. More appeasement for the Muslims?
Report Post »JJMinor
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:06amBy this logic, we should be able to tell the mosque builders (near ground zero) not to build the mosque because it could incite violence in America. I’m not saying it will, just that it might. But the problem with this issue is that we are all supposed to stay quiet and not be offended by what parts of Islam are about (shariah law), because then we’ll be provoking the terrorists to violence. Why doesn’t Comrade Obama suggest that we surrender ourselves and our culture to radical Islam, just to make sure we really don’t offend them? Sure, let’s be super polite in fear that speaking our minds might instigate more Jihad. Good logic, sir.
Report Post »mikasgrandma
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:06amCoward!
Report Post »nelsonknew
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:05amI’d rather see Rev. Jones burn GIANT photos of Osama Bin Laden on 9-11. NO ONE in their right mind should be able to discredit that.
Report Post »Mop
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:01amOnce again, Barry sticking his nose in a private citizen’s affairs. At what point do people wake up, and realize what we’re dealing with?
Report Post »usa2stay
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 10:38amI would much prefer that 9/11 be remembered for the attack on our great country than to give the Muslims a chance to take the focus off of it with the burning of a Quran. And I would like the folks that are participating in the Taxpayer Protest in DC on 9/12 to get a lot of attention, rather than the media getting to show the protests against the U.S. because of the Quran burning.
Report Post »littlebin518
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:00amThose folks in FL are just wrong.
I hope that people responding to any article on The Blaze will just ignore DanglingBags. He is just trying to stir stuff up and he seems to be getting more & more responses. Please Please just don’t respond to him. He’s pushing buttons and getting what he wants. Don’t give it to him/her. We are allowing him to take over. Don’t let this happen!!!
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:38ami have to agree do not give the haters anything to talk about.. we ARE better than that
Report Post »DukeCLR
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 9:31amThat’s right, don’t feed the trolls.
Report Post »casseopea42
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 7:57amIf this country was truely “tolerant” of religion then it would allow prayer on the steps of the Supreme Court. Double standard?
Report Post »VanGrungy
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 7:55amObama:
pro-islamic religious freedom
anti-american freedom of speech
Report Post »VanGrungy
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 8:05amhttp://vladtepesblog.com/?p=25595
FLASHBACK: US MILITARY DESTROYED BIBLES MEANT FOR FUTURE AFGHAN CONVERTS
—
Is the quran burning issue moot now?
LOL
Report Post »nelsonknew
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 7:55amAlthough I disagree with him, Rev. Jones has the right, under the 1st Amendment, to burn Qurans. My question would be to those who oppose Rev. Jones, where were you when Muslims were burning Bibles and Torahs?
Report Post »EZBurns
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 11:03amNo one. In fact, trolls everywhere would be cheering.
There are those filled with loathing for themselves and this country— it shows in buckets when they get upset about resistance to a Mosque or Quran burnings but mutter ‘free speech’ or nothing at all when the flag or a bible is burned.
Two faced lying self-debasing hypocrits is what I call them.
Report Post »The Windmill of Stupidity
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 12:11pmIs violent action protected free speech?
Report Post »capitalideals
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 2:50pmNelson, they are out defending the rights of the ‘piss christ’ artist to get tax payer money
Report Post »casseopea42
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 7:53amIf this country was “tolerant” to religion then prayer would be allowed on the steps of the supreme court. Double standard?
Report Post »NickyLouse
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 10:46amThis is a local burn ordinance issue, Mr. President.
Report Post »JESUS SAVES
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 11:41amDoesn’t this prove that Islam is not a peaceful religion? So much fear of massive protest and violence that all these leaders have to address the issue.
Report Post »The Windmill of Stupidity
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 12:10pmOH COME ON, you guys are still stuck on that?
Report Post »Asher
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 12:41pmA-bloody-men!
Report Post »puctech
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 1:13pmOh, the pastor is being insensitive, but the Iman in NY is not, that he has a right.to build a mosque because of the constitution. The door swings both ways.
Report Post »prano
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 2:12pmi think burning the koran is too good. I would rather use it in a barbacue pit to roast a pig
Report Post »natalielafond
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 2:33pmI hate to be “that person” but we are a nation of laws. So unfortunately it comes down to ‘IS IT CONSTITUTIONAL OR ISN’T IT’? No one wants their rights violated, but lately it seems like it‘s more important for us to yield to political correctness because no one wants to be slapped in the face by someone else’s blatent insensitivity. If we want to be what we were intended to be then we have to celebrate the right of an American citizen to burn a copy of the Koran, a Bible or an American Flag in protest. We don’t write laws based on the emotions associated with acts or crimes against individuals, we write them based on the God given rights of individuals for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. So if burning a copy of the Koran makes this guys week seem a little better, go for it. But to let the media get a hold of the story was just irresponsible. The fact of the matter is, there are people out there who not only want to see the country of Israel wiped off of the globe, but to see all God fearing Americans DEAD. Whether we believe radical Islam will usher in the 12th Imam or not, THEY believe they can and will, and wiping out Americans and Isralies is how they will do it. To me this story is more about responsible journalism than some idiots right to build a mosque or another idiots right to burn a book.
Report Post »LooseGoose72
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 2:43pmEven tho I dont agree with the pastor here. I believe this is the msg he is sending. ” I have the right to do so, even tho it might not be popular and cause a stir. Just like building a mosque at ground zero. The President was not begging those wanting to build to stand down he just replies ” Its there right! ” Double standard for sure. Lets take back this country for our childrens sake! God Bless!
Report Post »Eagle07
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 4:54pmDefinately double standard We fly the Iman who wants to build a Mosque on Ground Zero around the world to raise funds on the taxpayers dime and won’t call to ask him to reconsider but we will call the pastor who wants to burn the Quran. We know where the person living in the white house right now has his loyalties.
Report Post »JESUS SAVES
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 4:54pmDefinitely A Double Standard!
Report Post »Ms. Kitty
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 10:01pmYou are so right. and there would be no discussion of GOD in the pledge of allegiance or Nativities on church lawns or public squares on our money. I do not swallow the threat that any anti muslim action will “incite recruitment for Al Queda, and endanger our troops” Anything will incite thes people. Eating ham and eggs for breakfast incites them. How about Americans getting “incited” about burning our Bibles, Our Flag, and building their monument to their destruction of WTC towers. If the NYC Mayor bends over any further they’ll build it on ground zero.
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