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Church sign links Obama with Osama bin Laden

Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:04 PM EDT
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Associated Press
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JONESVILLE — A South Carolina pastor says he wasn't trying to be political when he posted a sign in front of his church linking Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Pastor Roger Byrd said he just wanted to make people think when he put up a sign reading "Obama, Osama — humm, are they brothers" in front of the Jonesville Church of God on Thursday.

Obama, a Christian, attends Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Fifteen percent of respondents to a recent Associated Press-Yahoo News poll said they thought the Illinois senator was a Muslim.

WYFF-TV reported Monday on its Web site that Byrd said he won't take the sign down. He said his congregation voted unanimously Sunday to keep it up.

The church is part of the Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination based in Cleveland, Tenn., according to the organization's Web site.

Jonesville is a town of about 1,000 people in northwestern South Carolina.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Jeremy Shane

That's sad.
Well, at least we know there are controversial churches saying dumb things that will probably be supporting republicans too.

  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:43 PM EDT
SteveHouse

Dumb Ass. "I'm not being political..." STFU. I wonder what kind of ignorant hate he spews out of the pulpit, if this is what he puts up publicly?

  • 2 votes
Reply#2 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:12 PM EDT
kiml

This is normal Right Wing bull.
This is what all Americans have to fight for.
The truth or what the lies tell us.
I like a politician that tell me who to love and who not to hate.

    Reply#3 - Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:42 PM EDT
    winsomecowboy

    In as much as we are all brothers he has a point. Freedom of speech, it's worth protecting.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#4 - Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:38 AM EDT
    Feorag NicBhride

    Indeed, but that kind of political anti-endorsement is what loses churches their tax-free status.

    • 5 votes
    #4.1 - Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:09 AM EDT
    SB-269069

    Yeah. Isn't there supposed to be a separation of church and state? What he tells his parishioners behind closed doors is one thing.... but to engage knowingly in deceptive negative advertising is QUITE political, and having your hand in both pots, of a-political, not-for-profit, tax-free status, and very political, should-be-taxed status....

    • 2 votes
    #4.2 - Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:19 PM EDT
    Reply
    M. Remmers

    Pastor Roger Byrd... Senator Robert Byrd... Humm. Are they both Exalted Cyclops' of the Ku Klux Klan?

    • 3 votes
    Reply#5 - Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:36 AM EDT
    bdabolina

    Is everybody at that church twelve years old?

    • 2 votes
    Reply#6 - Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:57 AM EDT
    Helen L. McShane

    SOMEONE BETTER TELL THE PREACHER AND HIS CONGREGATION THAT ANY CHURCH THAT INJECTS POLTICAL VIEWS OR TAKES POLITICAL STANCE THAT THEY ARE NOW SUBJECT TO PAY TAXES THEY ARE NO LONGER SOLELY A RELIGION ---THIS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE GOVERNMENT WHO WILL INVESTIGATE AND THEY CAN BEGIN TO PAY TAXES IF THEY WANT TO INTERFER WITH THE SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE...

    • 1 vote
    Reply#7 - Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:27 AM EDT
    Feorag NicBhride

    Hey - there's no need to shout!

    • 2 votes
    #7.1 - Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:57 AM EDT
    Reply
    Cyrlene-238281

    Sad. I wonder if he wears a Sheet when he gives the Gospel? I bet that there aren't any Black people in his church. Sad.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#8 - Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:38 AM EDT
    wlpur3

    I say freedom of speech is one thing, but when they want to get into politics that is another thing. I think all churches should be taxed.

    • 3 votes
    Reply#9 - Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:32 PM EDT
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