Just words?

“We know there is no God who condones the killing of an innocent human being.”

That’s what President Obama said yesterday at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.

At least, that’s what I think he said.

We would have to examine the original text of his speech to be sure.

Even though I heard the words with my own ears, there is certainly more than one way to interpret the meaning.

He may have meant this: “We know there is no god who condones the killing of an innocent human being.”

But the White House website does weigh in on the side of capital “God.”

What’s the difference?

The first statement would be untrue, of course, since many so-called “gods” have condoned the killing of an innocent human being. In fact, many have required it.

But, if Obama was referring to the One True God – the capitalized version, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – it’s still a little ambiguous in the way the statement is phrased. Is Obama denying God or is he saying that God condemns the killing of innocent human beings?

In plain English, it can be interpreted either way.

You may think I am just playing semantics here. But I am not. Because, we can only really make sense out of what might appear to be a simple declarative sentence by the context of Obama’s previous statements on the issue of life and his stated policy objectives.

Most people who heard Obama make that statement probably interpreted it to mean: “God condemns the killing of innocent human beings.”

Right?

But surely Obama doesn’t believe that.

If he did, would he knowingly risk God’s wrath by promoting policies that would make the killing of unborn and just-born babies even easier and cheaper than they are today? Would he defend unrestricted abortion on demand – while even admitting in a presidential candidates forum that he himself does not know when life begins?

On the very day Obama made this statement about God or gods, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee approved his nominee for deputy attorney general – David Ogden – who has proudly worked throughout his career to knock down any potential obstacle to an abortion taking place in this country. He has argued, for instance, that the parents of a 14-year-old girl have no business even knowing whether or not their daughter is having an abortion. In addition, Obama is on record as supporting U.S. taxpayer funding of abortions in other countries as a means of keeping population growth under control.

So, I repeat the question: What exactly did Obama mean at that prayer breakfast?

Someone needs to ask the president the simple question.

Don’t count on that happening with this new administration pledging openness and transparency, but which only permits a tiny fraction of accredited White House correspondents to ask any questions of him or his press secretary – effectively shutting out all inquiries from most of the White House press corps. No one on the approved list of official questioners will ever be so bold.

Obama wants to preside over a country where only a privileged, elite few even have any business asking his press spokesman or him a question. He likes to make confusing, ambiguous statements that seem to mean one thing, but could quite possibly mean another – and get away with it. He likes to make statements that tickle the ears of most Americans, but don’t mean anything substantively in the way he governs.

Which is it, Mr. President? Do you deny God? Do you deny He defends innocent life? Do you deny other lesser gods have promoted the taking of innocent human life? Or are you saying God doesn’t condemn innocent life, but I’m going to promote policies that condemn innocent life any way? Or, were these “just words,” designed to tickle the ears of whoever heard them – allowing each to hear what they wanted to hear?

Would a clarification be possible?

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