Increasing numbers of Americans are concerned about America's slide toward socialism.
Stories such as this can't possibly comfort them, either: An outspoken critic of President Obama was recently paid a visit to his Washington, D.C., home by two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The agents admitted they were there to "gather intelligence" about the actions of the Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition.
What did they want to know? Simple: What was he up to when he and his daughter Kaitlin left roses at the Chinese embassy on June 4?
There's a pretty simple answer, too: They were praying for the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre 20 years earlier. It's something Mahoney has done at least 40 times in the years since the bloody crackdown on Chinese freedom protesters.
But how is this any of the government's business? How in the world could this simple, noble, spiritual act by a good, God-fearing American raise suspicions at the FBI?
Mahoney's organization has enlisted the American Center for Law and Justice to try to find out.
Sadly, it makes you wonder if something nefarious is afoot. It certainly made Mahoney wonder.
"My prayer," Mahoney has said, "is that I was not visited and questioned because I have been an outspoken critic of President Obama's lack of commitment to human rights around the world especially in China and Iran, his failure to reach out to the poor and needy of this nation and embrace social justice, his disregard for civil liberties and his failure to protect America's innocent unborn children."
Frighteningly, it either has to be that -- or that it's now considered an anti-American activity to lay roses and pray for freedom and its heroes outside a foreign embassy.
Comments
When one considers the fact that the current occupant of the White House set up an e-mail account for Americans to report any negative comments regarding Obamacare as well as the fact that thousands of Americans received unsolicited e-mails from the White House regarding Healthcare, I would wager that the current administration considers Mahoney's actions "anti-American."
TrukinRanger: Are you familiar with the names of Obama's advisors? One name in particular is "Axelrod." He is making millions off the advertising for Obamacare. Check it out.
I think anytime someone does something weird like that at a diplomatic mission is should be looked into.
I'm somewhat surprised that the ACES did not say, to my recollection, word one about government intelligence gathering on Arabs, Muslims, environmentalists, peace activists and labor organizers during the two Bush Jr. administrations. Sadly, the Obama administration has continued most of these abuses of government power. I urge people concerned about these issues to support organizations like the ACLU, which has always advocated freedom, regardless of the victim of the government coercion. See http://bit.ly/AuxfJ and http://acluga.org/.
The Chinese were probably miffed about the roses and our investigation was a customer service. This is hypocrisy on a cosmic scale, but it's what happens when a great democracy kowtows to a communist power for easy credit. Wouldn't want to upset them--they might foreclose on this house of (credit) cards. Only the exotic logic of the Chronicle could twist a hate-Obama pretzel out of this.
tfruckinranger, what is it always about dubyah, i really didnt think he was that great, powerful and influential. Live in the present, U got Obismal now. Heck, under your theory, bush should have kept blaming Clinton.
It proves the FBI is pretty dumb unless this was a purposeful visit to instill fear. I mean the man had given the embassy roses many times in remembrance of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Someone mentioned atrocities Bush had committed and why the AC didn't comment on those. I assure the poster anything Bush ever did or thought about doing has been editorialized in the NY Times ad nausea.
All I can say is not enough anti-obama retoric!
right, retarted army--and just what did he keep blaming on Clinton?
Well I guess we can all hope the first family will be playing in the surf when Bill's riptides affect the coast and well, you know the rest!
olaf....don't ask him that........Retired was just hoping he could make a baseless statement and not have to back it up...........as usual.
All I can say is not enough anti-obama retoric!
Posted by olafjohnson on Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:19 AM ============== yet you can't refute a single thing that is written.
Seriously, Mr. or Ms. Chronicle Editorial Staff Writer: this sort of "nefarious" search of people's homes by the FBI was reported countless times in the media when Bush, Jr. was President, but it only bothers you when it happens under Obama? Kinda ironic, eh? Another thing that seems kinda ironic to me about this column, President Obama is constantly accused of "stealing" from the rich and giving to the poor, favoring dimplomacy over dropping bombs, and being too soft on prisoners by making sure everyone receives humane treatment, isn't tortured, and full due-process of American law. Yet in your column you quote this pastor at length saying President Obama hasn't done anything for the poor, down-trodden, and those whose civil-liberties have been persecuted? This does not make any sense to me. For a paid, I assume paid, editorial writer, you don't seem to know what irony and self-contradiction are. Kinda important, I think anyway, if you're sincerely trying to help steer your readers down the straight and narrow. But hey, at least you're getting paid, and that's all that matters, right? Edward R. Murrow would be very proud of you. How's that for irony?
Obama is searching for people who disagree with him......Bush was searching for people who want to kill Americans....I think there is a slight difference, unconsciousirony!
You are wrong....Obama HAS at least tried to do something for the poor downtrodden..........Cap And Trade.....That will make them unable to pay for energy.....and we will have to just give it to them, making them even more dependent on the taxpayers. His quest for more power is looking pretty good.
Tigger - Obama could cure cancer and you'd find some way to twist it into a diabolical conspiracy!
iknowitwheniseeit....let me know when he does something that helps the Country and I'll acknowledge it. Where have I even HINTED at a conspiracy? He set up a website so people could report their neighbors that disagree with him...that is a known fact.
Worried about the "poor and needy", are ya? Since when? Concerned about "social justice," you say... Really? I'd be interested in your definition of the term. I suspect your definition, and Rev. Mahoney's, pretty much extends to the "unborn" and no further. Funny...for people who oppose government-subsidized housing, it's interesting how badly you want to turn women's uteruses into public housing. Whatever. Your campaign of lies, hyperbole, lies, rabble-rousing, and lies continues.
Tigger - you're sad.
The WOMAN turned her uterus into housing....WE are trying to prevent them from killing the child.
"turning a uterus into public housing?" And you accuse US of hyperbole. WOW!
Sad....in what way.....care to elaborate, or just make your typical baseless accusations? Sad because I don't fall for the President's lies? I'm quite happy by the way.
PRIVATE housing, Tigger, that is OWNED by the WOMAN. All you gun nuts out there should appreciate that a woman might want to protect her person. You have no right to trespass.
She also might want to protect her child.......I guess not.
HotFoot - "You have no right to trespass" - your words. And yet everytime you demand I give more to support you and those who refuse to work, you are trespassing on my rights to take home what I earn. You are very generous with what I earn through hard work. If you want what I have, get an education, and GET A JOB. I don't mind helping. I supported my children all through school and college. However, in return for my support, they worked in school, got good grades, did chores around the house, and generally made my life easier. I also supported my mother-in-law. She cooked which helped me. What exactly are you and the rest of the ingrates who feed at the public trough doing to make my life easier? Nothing.
America has a chance to stop this experiment in Nov. of 2010 and to end it Nov. of 2012. In the meantime, vocal pressure must be kept on ALL of our politicians to slow any potential damage by this Mad Socialist. Save The County. Stop Obama.
Where were the chronicle's editorials of w's "Smacking of Fascism"?
W ain't POTUS no more people, remember? Obama swept into town on his golden chariot amongst all the hoopla of "hope" and "change". HE had alllll of the answers, and, the media ordained him the chosen one who WILL heal all that's wrong in the world. W was (and to a large degree, still is) bashed for every dang thing. He canned 7 lawyers - boo hoo, federal investigations and indictments, Yet when Clinton canned 93 lawyers we were told that it is the POTUS' discretion. FACT: Obama is POTUS with a Democratic Congress that has been in place for 24 months before his innauguration. So people, let's deal with the present shall we? And the present is: Obama is president with both House of Congress in Democratic control by large margins, and, Obama lied during the campaign about cutting taxes and decreasing spending, and we all know it. We know that he has raised taxes, cut tax breaks for companies that offer health insurance to their employees, and ran up the deficit in 7 months more than Bush did in 96 months. Deal with it, live with it. You wanted him, well, now you got him and all of the Constitution-shredding edicts that he brings. You deserve it!
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