Obama to expand faith-based groups with eye on religious voters

Washington - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday promised to boost government backing of faith-based groups that are active in their local communities, expanding President George W Bush's initiatives in a bid to wrest some conservative religious voters from the Republican camp. Obama said non-profit faith-based and secular groups alike were needed to tackle poverty in the United States, though religious groups would have to abide by non-discrimination laws and other checks on their programmes if they received government funding. 'I know there are some who bristle at the notion that faith has a place in the public square,' Obama said in a speech from Zanesville, Ohio. 'I believe deeply in the separation of church and state, but I don't believe this partnership will endanger that idea,' he said. Bush has been one of the most vocal presidents on the need to support religious groups in community service, creating a new Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives upon entering the White House. Obama said the Bush administration's efforts have been underfunded and often used to promote 'partisan interests,' by aiding groups in swing states that supported conservative causes. Obama promised a 'new commitment' to the programme, including more aggressive promotion to enlist multi-faith groups that have not sought government funding in the past. 'It will be a critical part of my administration,' he said. Obama was raised predominantly in Hawaii in a non-religious family and was only baptized a Christian as an adult, but he has been more outspoken about his faith than most recent Democratic presidential candidates. The Illinois senator also worked with faith groups and others as a community organizer in Chicago before entering politics, and has regularly argued that Democrats should not be ceding ground to the Republican Party when it comes to religious voters. 'I didn't grow up in a particularly religious household. But my experience in Chicago showed me how faith and values could be an anchor in my life,' Obama said. Protestant evangelicals, which form about one-quarter of the US electorate, have been a reliable voting block for Republicans in recent elections. But some evangelical leaders have expressed reservations about the party's presumptive nominee John McCain, who has typically been more reserved in discussing his Christian faith. Obama said that groups of all faiths needed to be mobilized to combat poverty and reduce crime in inner cities. 'If we're going to do something about the injustice of millions of children living in extreme poverty, we need interfaith coalitions ... standing up for the powerless,' he said.

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BeckJul 2nd, 2008 - 15:08:55

Every politician running for office is going to try to appeal to all groups - nothing new about that, it makes good sense.

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Decisions decisions,Jul 2nd, 2008 - 18:20:31

which one to vote for. Here are two of Americas finest dirty politicians and they are about neck and neck on the scum scale. This is going to be a toughie.

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I feel sorry for the poor peopleJul 2nd, 2008 - 19:17:15

I've never heard of a faith based group giving charity handouts and help to people without either cramming their religion down the person's throat, or flat out telling them that they have to come to their church on sundays. My brother ended up laid off and in trouble, and the local church not only wanted him to do jobs on their property in exchange for food, they told him to had to worship their hypocritical god. Suffice it to say, he found work elsewhere at a retirement center. This is going to backfire on Obama in the end, religion isn't loved in this country like it used to be.

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SP4: Me too.Jul 2nd, 2008 - 19:27:17

The government attaches all sorts of requirements to welfare, so why is it wrong for a church to do what the government already does?

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Dear Jesus,Jul 3rd, 2008 - 05:13:27

please protect me from your followers.

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brianJul 3rd, 2008 - 19:05:02

This is the second thing scaring me about Obama. The first was when he had to bend over and be seen to by the israeli lobbyists. But now to bend over for the votes of the bible bashers and ann coulter fans or so called christians who would kill everybody on earth in the name of mr.jesus.
How much money for faith based groups has been given to the muslim or hindu
or satanist faiths.
People, it is the twenty-first century we have moved on with science and knowledge there are no magic beings and the belief in such superstitions does not deserve money nor does it justify hatred and murder.
The only politician I would trust is the one who kept his or her beliefs in this mumbo jumbo to themselves or the one brave and intelligent enough to admit that they dont believe in superheroes.
If a European politician mentioned god in a speech they could kiss their career goodbye.

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tonny from belgiumJul 5th, 2008 - 18:20:48

Again it is obvious that the republicans have no problem with paying a lot of money to the oil tycoons,they only object to taxes .the difference between the taxes and the proit of the oil tycoons is that taxes are used to imptove your living conditions ,the money goes to health carenroad works,infrastructure (and for our american friends to the army ).The money that ends up in the bank accounts of the oil tycoons goes nowhere ...Ooh wait a minute,it is partly used to contribute to the election campain of the republican party,notorious for being ingratiated to them .So that explains why they only object to taxes but start lamenting when somebody mentions nationalizing the oil industry .Now it makes sense ...

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