David Barton continues to demonstrate that he is an absolute joke:
A leading Christian historian told WND he believes President Obama is engaged in a pattern of “willfully, deliberately” repudiating America’s Christian heritage.
As WND reported, Obama has been caught numerous times – seven, by WND columnist Chuck Norris’ count – omitting the phrase “endowed by their Creator” when quoting the Declaration of Independence and misquoting the national motto “In God We Trust” in official White House communication.
Potential presidential candidate and WND columnist Herman Cain said he believes the omissions are “intentional,” and historian David Barton told WND at the Iowa Renewal Project’s Pastor’s Policy Briefing that he agrees:
“The first time or two I thought, ‘Well, he’s flustered, he wasn’t thinking.’ But seven times? There’s no way. Especially when he was called on it,” Barton said. “Congressmen sent him a letter challenging him on it. There’s no way it’s matter of ignorance or slip or excuse at that point. I believe it’s by design and by intent.
“I gave him the benefit of the doubt a few times, I waited,” Barton continued, “but there’s no way in a court of law that would not be seen as willful, deliberate intent.”
Barton, head of Wallbuilders, an organization dedicated to presenting America’s moral, religious and constitutional foundations, said unlike previous presidents – notably Founders like Washington and Adams – who publicly proclaimed God’s hand in America, Obama has been going out of his way to not acknowledge the Almighty.
“You remember when he spoke at Georgetown, he had them cover the Christian symbols [behind him on the stage]?” Barton asked. “There’s a pattern. When he misstates the national motto, it’s not just the Declaration omission of ‘their Creator.’ When he became president, one of the first things that happened on the White House website was they took off the faith-based office. That kind of reaction is circumstantial, but in a court of law it would convict him.”
Let’s take a look at Barton’s “circumstantial evidence,” shall we?
First of all, Barton cites Chuck Norris’ earlier WND column in which he asserts that Obama has dropped “endowed by their Creator” seven times … but if you actually look at Norris’ list, you see that several of the instances he cites were times when Obama was simply paraphrasing to make a point:
- On Sept. 11, 2010, at the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Va.:
“For our cause is just. Our spirit is strong. Our resolve is unwavering. Like generations before us, let us come together today and all days to affirm certain inalienable rights, to affirm life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
- On Sept. 10, 2010, at the president’s press conference at the White House:
“With respect to the mosque in New York, I think I’ve been pretty clear on my position here, and that is, is that this country stands for the proposition that all men and women are created equal; that they have certain inalienable rights – one of those inalienable rights is to practice their religion freely.”
It is absurd to claim that Obama was directly quoting the Declaration in these instances, so the assertion that he intentionally dropped “endowed by their Creator” is ridiculous.
Secondly, what about all of the times Obama has, in fact, cited that passage?
Remarks by the President at United States Military Academy at West Point Commencement –
May 22, 2010But this nation was founded upon a different notion. We believe, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” (Applause.) And that truth has bound us together, a nation populated by people from around the globe, enduring hardship and achieving greatness as one people. And that belief is as true today as it was 200 years ago. It is a belief that has been claimed by people of every race and religion in every region of the world. Can anybody doubt that this belief will be any less true — any less powerful — two years, two decades, or even two centuries from now?
Remarks by the President at Independence Day Celebration – July 4, 2010
Two hundred and thirty-four years later, the words are just as bold, just as revolutionary, as they were when they were first pronounced: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Remarks by the President at Las Vegas “Moving America Forward” Rally – October 22, 2010
Look, change has always been hard in this country. This country was founded when 13 colonies came together in a revolution that nobody believed could happen, except they believed. They founded this country on ideas that hadn’t been tried before: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal — (applause) — that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Remarks by the President at DCCC General Reception – October 25, 2010
So don’t let people tell you you’re not making a difference. Yes, it’s hard. But it’s always been hard. The history of America has been hard, starting with a revolution to found this country. The idea of America is hard, based on a document and ideas that had never been tried before: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Remarks by the President at a rally for Congressman Perriello – October 29, 2010
So don’t let them tell you — don’t let them tell you change isn’t possible. Here’s what I know. This country was founded on what seemed impossible. We had 13 colonies come together and have to battle the greatest empire on Earth. And then they drafted this document nobody had ever tried before, proclaiming, “We hold these truths to be self-evident.” A son of Virginia wrote those words. (Applause.) “That all men are created equal.” (Applause.) “And they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Remarks by the President at DNC “Moving America Forward” Rally in Chicago, Illinois – October 31, 2010
You know, this country started — 13 colonies — who folks said didn’t have a chance against the British Empire. And then they drafted this document with ideas that had never been tried before: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
You know, the first few times I saw David Barton misrepresent facts in order to further his right-wing agenda, I gave him the benefit of the dobut, thinking perhaps he just misspoke.
But when you see him do it time and time again, it becomes impossible to see it as anything other than a willful, deliberate intent to deceive.
