# Focus on the Family wants Obama Drowned Out. Literally. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 13, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851 "2008-08-13T15:38:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/21 "2008-08-13T19:53:08Z")
I would like to point out that the OP’s article–the part he didn’t see fit to quote–already states explicitly that the video was pulled at the time of writing. And that it was meant to be a joke. > [@](#): > > Focus for the Family pulled its video clip 24 hours after it was posted, but it can still be seen on the internet. In a statement Mr Shepard said that the video was intended to be “mildly humorous.” Kind of makes your Pitting a non-starter, doesn’t it. :rolleyes: Oh, but wait, you can just not quote that part, still get the Pitting in… ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/22 "2008-08-13T20:09:58Z")
[QUOTE=Duck Duck Goose] I would like to point out that the OP’s article–the part he didn’t see fit to quote–already states explicitly that the video was pulled at the time of writing. **And that it was meant to be a joke**. [/QUOTE] Oh, please. That’s the excuse everyone pulls out after a stunt backfires. It was a three minute video repeatedly calling for people to pray for a downpour during Obama’s speech. It was no joke. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/23 "2008-08-13T20:27:39Z")
I’m sorry, **DDG** , but I see nothing even faintly resembling a “joke” in a suggestion that the Most High should intervene in a political event. Especially coming from an organization that claims to be more Christian than the av-er-age bear. Perhaps I should have included the disclaimer (such as it was). Problem is, we’ve been seeing this sort of thing more frequently of late. “That was just a draft proposal.” “I was / we were misquoted.” “It’s a joke.” “That was taken out of context.” Granted, any of the above may be true in a specific case. It’s the overall pattern that bothers me, and gives me the impression that the protester wanted to be able to make a more or less outrageous statement or proposal without being responsible for any repercussions. It’s certainly not limited to one side of the political spectrum, but it seems (to my somewhat biased eye) to be more prevalent on the starboard. I’m also somewhat bemused that an organization which depends on mass media (such as FotF) does not seem to have caught on to two facts about the Internet: that there’s no such thing as privacy anymore, and that it’s permanent. Not too long ago, they could have damped it down once the press got tired of it. Not anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/24 "2008-08-13T20:30:20Z")
It seems to me that if it’s all that evident that Obama is the ungodly candidate, God doesn’t need to be reminded to take care of this Himself. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/25 "2008-08-13T21:44:52Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] If they want to pray for rain, let them pray. I say why stop at rain? Why not pray for something really spectacular. [/QUOTE] I am praying for a rain of breasts. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/26 "2008-08-13T21:49:00Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] I am praying for a rain of breasts. [/QUOTE] Good idea. I’m going to pray that Obama selects Prince as his running mate and that the lord send down a clensing purple rain. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/27 "2008-08-13T22:27:53Z")
I’d settle for a [chocolate rain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTZ2xpQwpA). ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/28 "2008-08-13T22:58:53Z")
I’d love to see the coverage on The Colbert Report if _RAAAIIIINNNN!!!_ shows up. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/29 "2008-08-13T23:31:28Z")
If it doesn’t rain during Obama’s acceptance speech, I am going to take it as a sign that God wants him to win the election. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/30 "2008-08-13T23:44:44Z")
This is all moot since they pulled the video before god had a chance to check out You Tube. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/31 "2008-08-14T00:10:15Z")
[QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture] This is all moot since they pulled the video before god had a chance to check out You Tube. [/QUOTE] Except Yahweh, being outside of time, is not subject to such limitations. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/32 "2008-08-14T00:15:24Z")
[QUOTE=Frostillicus] If it doesn’t rain during Obama’s acceptance speech, I am going to take it as a sign that God wants him to win the election. [/QUOTE] If God exists, and cares, then prayers one way or the other are irrevelant, as He/She/It will do whatever He/She/It chooses. Hence the name “God” rather than “Ralph.” ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/33 "2008-08-14T00:20:01Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] And what if on that day Denver sees the nicest, prettiest, bluebird sky day that anyone can remember? What does that imply for Fucktards with Families? That God doesn’t listen to them? Good. [/QUOTE] I’m told that a number of years ago Fred Nile, Australia’s answer to Fred Phelps, decided to get together with some people on the day of Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and pray for rain. The day of the parade (the story goes), it was pouring, pouring rain and they congratulated themselves – then the parade started, and the rain stopped dead. Complete with rainbows. The parade prospered to its conclusion, and when it was over the rain started again. I will also note that I have attended every Montreal Pride since I came out in 1998 and not a single time has it rained. Even this year, one of the rainiest on record, forecasts are calling for a sunny weekend. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/34 "2008-08-14T00:38:46Z")
It’s going to be interesting seeing video of 50,000 ObamaZombies leaving the stadium during the deluge, dragging their feet and with arms outstretched, intoning “RRRAAAIIINNNS!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/35 "2008-08-14T00:46:38Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I actually don’t have any problem with it. If they want to pray for rain, let them pray. I say why stop at rain? Why not pray for something really spectacular. I say pray for frogs. A rain of frogs would look much more Biblical than ordinary rain. Blood would work too. [/QUOTE] I say if it rains blood they cancel the convention and put on a heavy metal show right then and there. I’d go. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/36 "2008-08-14T00:55:10Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] How much rain does Denver usually get in August? [/QUOTE] I just got back from there. If my week-long experience there is any indication, very little. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/37 "2008-08-14T01:06:20Z")
Well, I agree “hey, it was a joke!” is generally a lameass excuse when a stunt goes wrong, but I think in this case it probably really was meant as a joke. In my experience Fundies can have a rather peculiar sense of humor, not always on the same page with the rest of the world, so yeah, I can see somebody at Focus on the Family thinking it would be hilarious to put out something like this, never dreaming (in their sometimes unrealistic un-Internet-savvy way) that the Internet would get hold of it and millions more people would see it than the few insiders they probably originally visualized. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/38 "2008-08-14T02:03:17Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] I say if it rains blood they cancel the convention and put on a heavy metal show right then and there. I’d go. [/QUOTE] That means we’d have to elect Slayer as the Secretaries of Rocking The Fuck Out, and I totally support that. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/39 "2008-08-14T02:59:14Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] Good idea. I’m going to pray that Obama selects Prince as his running mate and that the lord send down a clensing purple rain. [/QUOTE] That is possibly the only thing that could make me regret that I’m not American - that I couldn’t vote for Prince. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851/40 "2008-08-14T03:41:25Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] And what if on that day Denver sees the nicest, prettiest, bluebird sky day that anyone can remember? What does that imply for Fucktards with Families? That God doesn’t listen to them? [/QUOTE] Nah. It would prove - _prove_ I tell you - that Obama has a direct hotline to the devil who STOOD IN THE WAY OF OUR PRAYER! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/focus-on-the-family-wants-obama-drowned-out-literally/459851.md?page=3)