He’s a public figure, so his image can be used without permission.

D, I know you love this guy, but he has a huge flaw in his abortion position. By your words, we must think he could not be a christian since the motivation to prevent taking the life of the unborn is not within him. (remember I said your words, not mine - don’t accuse me of thinking I know his heart…again)

We govern ourselves. Despite living in a fallen world we try to make the best of it and pass laws that protect the innocent. You would have all of these, accept where they offend your liberalism. Your view on abortion is abhorant yet you stand behind the those who would fund such acts as a means of poverty control in third world countries. Liberalism before all.

Dave, if your opinion is swayed because of a bumper sticker or a mock graveyard then I submit you really haven’t bothered thinking about the matter. Or worse, you are pro-choice and have to use frivolous garbage like that to justify how you feel.

One of the main arguments that the abortion crowd has always used is the idea that no child should have to be born into those types of situations. That ad is a direct response to that line of thought. If it is emotional manipulation then it is no different than what the abortionists have done, yet I haven’t seen you rip them for it.

That commercial does appeal to reason. It reminds you that no one can predict what the future may hold for anyone, and that having a chance is better than no chance at all.

To D Walker: I hear what you are saying, but at the same time this message may put into someone’s mind an idea that wasn’t there before. Ideas lead to thought which leads to new beginnings. If this leads people to do right how can that be a bad thing?

Wow, what a powerful commercial. I am very impressed.

I am very hard pressed to follow the point about the commercial endorsing social darwinism. The commerical does not imply that children are only valuable if they grow up to be president.

Meanwhile, the folks grousing that the commercial is “manipulative” really cannot mean to be taken seriously. All commercials are emotionally manipulative. That is the nature of the beast; 30 seconds of t.v. time is not long enough to make a nuanced and rational argument. That is why the pro-abortion protesters rallying in front of the supreme court on days when abortion cases are being heard make it a point to show up with slogans and coat hangers - so that their 15 seconds of air-time on the news will pack the maximum emotionally manipulative punch. Both sides use these tactics because they work, and to complain that the other side is meeting fire with fire is simply too fatuous to be regarded as a substantive objection.

There are fine and worthy rational arguments against abortion, and many wise and learned people have made those arguments. If Dave really wishes simply to consider this matter in a dispassionate and logical fashion, there is nothing about this commercial that would stop him from so doing. There are frivolous and superficial arguments being made by both sides and the only appropriate response from the one distressed by such superficiality is to ignore it. To take one side to task for it while ignoring the other’s equally vapid tactics is just mauvaise foi.

I, too, want the message behind the commercial to succeed, but the ends do not justify the means.

Fighting fire with fire is not the Christian way. Being tempted into a debate about choice is a pitfall.

That same commercial can be made about any number of “successful” people who “agree” with its message. It was a shot at Obama, and only sooths the righteous and fuels the fire.

My view.

Obama’s stated position on abortion and his skills would predict that he agrees with the message, but it makes no change in his position on abortion.

Mike,

I can’t say what is one’s heart for certain unless God shows me this which I know that HE has at times concerning situations for my and other’s protection.

I can’t say for certain what is in Pres. Obama’s heart concerning his stand on abortions but according to what I see and his explanations concerning this issue I can understand why and how Pres. Obama feel that he must take such a stand concerning abortions. Think about it, you are calling for a extremely mature Christian to be placed in office, in fact such a person would never in a million years would take such a position, no one is so mature in Christ would god allow to be placed in such a office.

It has not been that many years ago that Pres. Obama accepted Christ into his life and all know that being a Christian is a growing process. Obama is the right kind of man and at the right time in his life I believe to hold the highest office in our nation because in spite of any flaws, I see him as being a man truly after God’s heart just as Abraham and David were. As Christians it is very hard for me to understand your hearts and why your lack of knowledge concerning the growing process of becoming more like Christ in our lives. I Again, I do not believe that anyone who was a mature Christian would want to be in government but I can see one with very good intentional and love for this country and people wanting to. We must remember also that Pres. Obama is not parading as a Christian Teacher or Leader, he is a man growing in the ways of Christ. I myself am struggling with how involved I as a Christian am to become intertwined with the politics of this world and only know that God is attempting to show me some things such as how disheartening it is to see things such as the kind of behaviors displayed by Christian groups as this one who is behind this ad. Lastly, by own words I have never stated anyone was not a Christian.

We can show and tell people God’s word so that they can hear them but only God can convict their hearts concerning an area where they are in error and I truly trust that God will in HIS own timing to all those whose hearts HE sees as being the right kind of hearts.

That’s the key, the world must HEAR God’s Word in order for their hearts to be convicted by HIM and is why commercials such as this one makes me so sad and at other times so frustrated with Christians. Being frustration and inpatient with people are some of the flaws in me that I must work on and get under control and are the very flaws in Moses that kept him from entering into the Promise Land.

“Obama’s stated position on abortion and his skills would predict that he agrees with the message, but it makes no change in his position on abortion”

That makes no sense whatsoever Anon…

D Walker, I guess we will just have to disagree. I don’t know if Obama has accepted Christ into his heart or not, and I don’t know how far he has gone on that journey. But at what point in that journey is it OK to support a bill that allows for a baby to exit the birth canal and still be aborted? I guess I better check the travel brochure because I missed that stop…

I don’t agree that an extremely mature Christian cannot be involved in politics. And you may not like that commercial, but you can’t say that it won’t help someone hear the Word or realize the errors of their ways. Change has to start somewhere, and you and I cannot say for sure how God works to connect with the lost. Maybe it is this commercial…

“I see him as being a man truly after God’s heart just as Abraham and David were.”

Thanks for that. It made my day. Funniest thing I’ve heard in a long time.

Cased dismissed. You obviously are so taken with the oprah celebrity factor that you’re not thinking clearly.

He’s the right guy at the right time if the time is now for social progressivism in it’s most secular form. No man after God’s own heart would try to take us there.

I, too, want the message behind the commercial to succeed, but the ends do not justify the means.

Fighting fire with fire is not the Christian way. Being tempted into a debate about choice is a pitfall.

Bah. There is nothing whatever to object to in the means being employed here. Perhaps meeting “fire” (as it were) with “fire” is not the done thing in your variety of Christianity, but it is perfectly fine as far as we Catholics are concerned. Anyone who thinks that the Church is supposed to be above manipulative appeals to the emotions should re-read the Psalms sometime.

Mike and Tim,

The one thing that I do know is that God has left instructions for those whose intentions are to win hearts over to God, they can be found within (The Bible) which I choose to believe over anything that you are any other person or group says. I cannot find any instruction in scripture where methods such as this commercial would be acceptable to God due to the fact that He has given us clear instruction on the matter.

What this commercial does remind me of is the example of Cain and Able where God had made known what HE required as a sacrifice to HIM, but where in spite of that Cain still decided to do it his own way, thinking his way was good enough and would be pleasing to God but, it was not pleasing to God or good enough. The first time that I read this story in Genesis I thought it was so mean of God, not knowing God’s ways or understanding any of them at the time.

When we take on this attitude we are allowing sin to crouch at our doors and even though you may think that you are doing something good it is not how God instructed and causes sin to be lurking at your doors. Sin wants to rule us and by not doing as God instructs is sin and we are warned that we must overcome this attitude of doing things our way and so many are so concerned about Obama being pleasing to God but has failed to see if they themselves are pleasing and acceptable to God.

God instructs us to pray to HIM for our leaders and country. Do this and if it is God’s will to cease abortions, God’s will be done. But Christians must get their hearts right so that God will intercede. Why Christians are failing to see that the problem is with them is beyond me because the problems really are not due to all the sinners in the world but Christians not doing what they are suppose to be doing.

God instructs us at 1Timothy 2:1-7: First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, request and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people; for kings and all others who are in authority that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence towards God and with proper conduct. This is good and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to know the truth. For there is one God and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved and that is why I was sent as an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, to proclaim the message of faith and truth. I am not lying; I am telling the truth a teacher of nations in the matter of faith and truth.

It sounds to me that God understood that men in high offices and in authority usually do not know Him and is showing us that even in such a case Christians can intercede as instructed above.