Oil-for-Obama anointment for ascension to 44th US Presidency

Count Republican Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia as the latest disciple for President-elect Barack Obama. In the space of months, Broun went from calling Obama a `Marxist’ and comparing him to Adolf Hitler, to helping anoint the doorway President-elect Obama will pass through on his way to the platform to be sworn in as President of the United States on Jan. 20.

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“In a first for presidential inaugurations, Congressman Paul Broun (pronounced BROWN) of Georgia joined the Reverends Rob Schenck (pronounced SHANK) of Faith and Action and Patrick J. Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, both based in Washington, DC, in a prayer service inside the US Capitol today that included anointing the doorway President-Elect Barack Obama will pass through on his way to the platform to be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on January 20.” ([url=http://www.christiannewswire.com]http://www.christiannewswire.com[/url], Jan. 7, 2009). “Anointing with oil is a rich tradition both in the Bible and in the history of the US Capitol,” said Rev. Schenck. “Oil symbolizes consecration, or setting something apart for God’s use. George Washington used oil during the dedication of the US Capitol. We used oil today to set apart the walkway and doors that will be the literal right of passage for Barack Obama as he ascends (italics CFPs) to the highest office in our land.” Rep. Broun referred to the location of the prayer service as “the doorway that (President-Elect Obama) will enter through to the start of his presidency.” “Rep Broun spoke during the 10-minute prayer service, delivering a short sermon-like talk on the need to obey God and His will, and for the future president to do what is right. Rev. Schenck read Bible passages and applied sacred oil to the doorposts of the arched doorway leading out of the Capitol and onto the inaugural stage, immediately in front of the riser where Obama will stand with Chief Justice John Roberts who will administer the Oath of Office. Rev. Mahoney, who is undertaking a 21-day fast and daily prayer schedule for Mr. Obama across the street from the White House, read an inaugural prayer by Dr. Billy Graham delivered 40 years ago. A video of the entire prayer service will be posted at YouTube and at [url=http://www.faithandaction.org]http://www.faithandaction.org[/url]. On Nov. 12, Rep. Broun made an apology in the media for calling Obama a `Marxist’ and for comparing the President-elect to Hitler. “I regret putting it that way,” he told WGAC radio in Augusta, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I apologize to anyone who has taken offense at that.” In an interview with the Associated Press earlier in the week, Broun admitted to calling the future commander-in-chief a `Marxist’ at a recent Rotary club meeting, and said Obama has expressed support for policies similar to those of Hitler. “It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is, he’s the one who proposed this national security force,” Broun told the AP. “I’m just trying to bring attention to the fact that we may--may not, I hope not--but we may have a problem with that type of philosophy of radical socialism or Marxism.” Broun was specifically referring to a July speech by Obama, where the then-Democratic presidential nominee said he supports a civilian force helping the military when it comes to national security. “We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded (as the military),” Obama said. Responding to those comments, Broun told the AP: “That’s exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it’s exactly what the Soviet Union did. When he’s proposing to have a national security force that’s answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he’s showing me signs of being Marxist.” Meanwhile, only time will tell if anointing the door posts with sacred oil for the ascension of Barack Obama to the highest office in the land will change him in any way.

Inauguration Plan Walls Off Central Washington

The plan that federal and local authorities announced this afternoon puts a virtual wall around central Washington on Jan. 20. Forget about the varying estimates on how many millions will show up for the inauguration. The restrictions in this plan tell us what we need to know about how bad a day it will be for commuters and spectators, and it will be very, very bad. (Tell us how you plan to get to work in our poll below. ) People will have an easier time getting in from Maryland than Virginia. In fact, for much of the day, drivers won't be able to enter Washington from Virginia. But it will be pretty ugly for everybody. More and more, we see the heavy burden falling on Metro, particularly on the lines that will bring people from Northern Virginia.