Patriotism and the President

Yesterday, President Obama warned the press "not to get ahead of the investigation" of the suspect related to the bombings in New York and New Jersey this past weekend---"don't file false reports," he warned the press.

Yesterday, in 1796, President George Washington told America in his written farewell address to the nation we must "always exalt the just pride of Patriotism..." toward our nation.

Some thoughts on presidents, patriotism and the Bible.


President Obama publicly told the press, "It does not help if false reports or incomplete information is out there."

Most American's agree. We want accurate news reporting, and we're not getting it from the press anymore.

A survey last week by Gallup reveals that "American's trust in Mass Media has sunk to a new all time low in Gallup polling history."

Only 32% of Americans say they trust the media---14% of Republicans trust it.

However, many raised questions as to the motives of the president yesterday. Is he really looking out for America in warning the news media, or is there something else involved in his demand for "caution?"

Perhaps the heart of citizen concern is reflected in an audio/video Sean Hannity, with Fox News, put together recently. Millions have already seen it. It's a bit chilling.

It is 4 minutes in length and is a series of comments by the president in praise of Islam and its contribution to America and the world. I strongly suggest you listen to it.

It would be less concerning if praise for America and our Exceptionalism, or a review of how Christianity has blessed this country and the world was also part of his narrative.

It is not. Nor has it ever been.

Todd Starnes with Fox News noted yesterday, "On Saturday night---just moments after the bombings---the president was bashing Donald Trump at the Congressional Black Caucus gala and cracking jokes about the Islamic State."

Starnes said, "The president was cracking jokes while New Yorkers were digging shrapnel out of their bodies."

Sunday, he flew to New York City for a fundraiser for Hillary---less than a mile from where the terror attack took place---with no mention of it. Not a word---until yesterday when he warned the press about their reporting.

In his 1796 farewell address, President Washington said, "Citizens by birth or choice of a common country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations."

This has been a consistent theme and belief among presidents who followed George Washington.

President Calvin Coolidge said, "Patriotism is easy to understand in America. It means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country."

President John F. Kennedy expressed his patriotism in this way: "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."

At the heart of this nation's freedom and prosperity is the values and principles of Christianity.

While atheists and secularists work feverishly to "separate" church and state, President John Quincy Adams explained that "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: It connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity."

Those who seek absolute secularism in our nation, also deny that Adams made that statement. There is an abundance of resource that affirms he did. The question is, why would he not make such a statement? It's true.

For more than a century, there was a Christian consensus in America that understood and agreed that it was the biblical values, virtue, and principles that were woven into the founding of this nation that were responsible for its prosperity and freedom. The consensus even existed among those who did not profess to be a "Christian."

Non-Christians recognized the freedom and prosperity Christian values and principles afforded to everyone.

For a president to declare that America is no longer a Christian nation, in light of the factual, historical perspective is at best suspect.

At worst, it declares America as it has been, null and void.

President Andrew Jackson said, "That Book, sir [the Bible] is the Rock on which our Republic rests."

President Abraham Lincoln said, "In regard for this Great Book, I have to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good Savior gave to the world was communicated through this Book."

President Calvin Coolidge said, "The strength of our country is the strength of its religious convictions. The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country."

President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "We cannot read the history of our rise and development as a nation without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic. Where we have been the truest and most consistent in obeying its precepts, we have attained the greatest measure of contentment and prosperity."

President Benjamin Harris asked this important question: "If you take out of your statutes, your constitution, your family life all that is taken from the Sacred Book, what would there be left to bind society together?"

President Harry Truman answered that question: "The fundamental basis of this nation's laws was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings we get from Exodus and Saint Matthew, from Isaiah and Saint Paul...If we don't have a proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in the rights for anybody except the state."

President Ronald Reagan gave this inspiration: "Inside the Bible's pages lie all the answers to all the problems man has ever known...It is my firm belief that the enduring values presented in its pages have a meaning for each of us and for our nation. The Bible can touch our hearts, order our minds, and refresh our souls."

The Creator of all things says: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12).

Be Blessed. Be Faithful.