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Barack Bashes Right for 'Hijacking' Faith

Dem candidate inveighs against evangelicals for dividing the country

By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User

Posted Jun 24, 2007 2:23 PM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama assailed right-wing evangelical leaders yesterday, accusing them of "hijacking" faith and politicizing religion, the Daily News reports. Addressing the national conference of the United Church of Christ, he criticized "so-called leaders of the Christian right" for demonizing Democrats and convincing Americans that Christians' main concerns are gay marriage and abortion.

Obama, a long-time member of the UCC, proposed an alternative set of "matters of conscience" such as universal health care, an issue the church champions. One Republican in attendance said the event fell nothing short of a "Democratic pep rally," the Chicago Tribune reports.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama addresses the biennial General Synod meeting of the United Church of Christ, Saturday, June 23, 2007, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/George Ruhe)
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama addresses the biennial General Synod meeting of the United Church of Christ, Saturday, June 23, 2007, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/George Ruhe)   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, speaks at the United Church of Christ biennial General Synod, Saturday, June 23, 2007, at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/George Ruhe)
Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, speaks at the United Church of Christ biennial General Synod, Saturday, June 23, 2007, at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Conn....   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, addresses the biennial General Synod meeting of the United Church of Christ, Saturday, June 23, 2007, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/George Ruhe)
Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, addresses the biennial General Synod meeting of the United Church of Christ, Saturday, June 23, 2007, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/George...   (Associated Press)
United Church of Christ president John Thomas, far left, joins others listening to an address by Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, Saturday, June 23, 2007, at the UCC's biennial General Synod in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/George Ruhe)
United Church of Christ president John Thomas, far left, joins others listening to an address by Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, Saturday, June 23, 2007, at the UCC's biennial...   (Associated Press)
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