Christian Defense Coalition Calls Extravagant Inauguration Obscene and a Slap in the Face to the Poor and Strugglingby Staff
January 20, 2009
WASHINGTON, (christiansunite.com) -- The Christian Defense Coalition says to spend $150 million on the Inauguration while people are trying to keep a roof over their head and food on the table shows a profound lack of respect for the needy by President- elect Obama.
The group coalition on to point out that while President Obama and his guests are dining on expensive food and drinks, millions are wondering if they will have a job next week or be able to feed their families, and others will be sleeping on the streets just hundreds of feet away from the Inaugural Balls.
The excessive amount spent on the Inauguration shows an established pattern by President-elect Obama of disregard for the poor, needy and struggling.
The Christian Defense Coalition says at the very least all the left over food from the Inaugural Balls should be donated to charity.
They ask, "Is this the kind of Inauguration President Lincoln would have held?"
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense and a long time activist for the struggling and needy, states,
"It is a slap in the face to America's struggling and poor for President-elect Obama to stage a $150 million celebration during the worst economic crisis in a generation. While President Obama and his guests are eating the finest gourmet foods, millions will be fighting to keep a roof over their heads and pay their heating bills.
"The obscene price tag for this Inauguration shatters the myth that this President is deeply concerned about the poor and broken. The question must be asked, 'why couldn't the Inauguration in these bleak economic times scale back and use the donations to help Washington, D.C.'s poor?'
"Sadly, this extravagant Inauguration reflects a life long lack of personal commitment by President-elect Obama to the poor and needy. Some examples include:
President-elect Obama, turned down public funds, and raised nearly one billion dollars during his campaign while million of Americans were struggling in this terrible economic crisis.
President-elect Obama never personally visiting the victims of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav while criticizing President Bush for not being compassionate enough with Katrina victims.
Immediately after Hurricane Gustav President- elect Obama flew to Beverly Hills for a $28 million fundraiser while thousands lost homes and businesses.
President-elect Obama's tax returns show that for years he gave less than one percent of his income to charity -- even after becoming a millionaire he gave less than five percent. (By comparison, the Clintons gave over ten percent.)
President-elect Obama failed to reach out to help his own family members who were deeply struggling. His aunt lives in a run-down housing project in Boston and his step-brother lives in deep poverty in Kenya with no help from Mr. Obama.
"We pray that President-elect Obama, who professes a deep faith in Christ, will embrace the teachings of Christianity during his Administration and that he will follow the teachings of Jesus when He says, 'when you have done it unto the least of these you did it unto me.'"
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