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February 4, 2010

Fun and Games at the National Prayer Breakfast

Sanford Nat Prayer Breakfast.jpg

I had a great time this morning looking at these pictures and comparing the radically different spin….

Picture 1 – Visual Media perspective: The hypocrisy of the philandering, but Christian Conservative Governor Sanford is called out, for exaggerated effect, by framing him next to camera-loving young babe, as if the Gov had her stashed behind his back.

Picture 1 – White House perspective: The presence of one more hypocritical right-winger models contrasts well with a President preaching about political values and accountability. Also, once the sinners have been publicly humiliated, they are much easier to keep in line.

Tebow Mullen.jpg

Picture 2Visual Media perspective: In a wonderfully funny play on the culture wars, photographers capture proselytizing football star Tebow next to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”-buster Mullen looking in opposite directions, as if the two don’t see eye (scripture) to eye.

Picture 2White House perspective: Call it a brilliant seating arrangement to juxtapose these two public figures on the heels of Mullen’s DODT announcement yesterday and Tebow’s controversial role in a pro-life Superbowl commercial this weekend. It’s a combo which models both Obama’s passion and his political tactic — in high gear since the SOTU — to call out political extremist, intransigents, and especially, the nay-saying right, by presenting one picture after another to the American people that rhetorically drives home the question: why can’t we/they just get along?

(photo 1: Jason Reed/Reuters. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (C) is pictured in the audience as U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington February 4, 2010. Photo 2: Martinez Monsivais/AP. caption: Former Florida Gators quarterback and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, left, sits with Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010)

  • pwapvt

    Picture 1, the two women behind him, in the red and the one behind here seem to be keeping a close eye on him.

  • http://profile.typepad.com/rlmrdl Earl Mardle

    Tebow sets off my gaydar in a flash. This guy is conflicted.

  • jtfromBC

    ‘Fun and Games at the National Prayer Breakfast’ but who invited Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero the Socialist Prime Minister of Spain as the keynote speaker?
    A leader who strongly opposed the invasion of Iraq and asked all of the countries with troops in Iraq to withdraw their soldiers.
    He helped improve the relationship between the Cuban government and the European Union, sold arms to Venezuela and recently withdrew from the peace keeping mission in Kosovo.
    Shouldn’t Americans be praying for his soul ?

  • Rima

    Where is Mr. Tebow’s signature eye-black, with superimposed scripture citations? That is his persona.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkPIJq0-gwM Molly

    Seriously, I had no idea who he was. I thought he was a model or something.

  • pragmatic realist

    These people are such frauds – each and every one there at that little C Street propaganda event – its like shooting fish in a barrel to show them up. To wit:
    Matthew Chapter 6:
    [1] “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
    [2] “Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
    [3] But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
    [4] so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
    [5]“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
    [6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
    [7]“And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
    [8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

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  • Seth

    No fair quoting Jesus to these people ;) That particular passage seems never to have made much of an impression on his followers anyway. There is an inherent tension between the modest ideal of unobtrusive faith expressed in the Sermon on the Mount and the requirements of the Great Commission. It’s tough to evangelize if you are reluctant to draw attention to yourself.

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