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Obama talks God, politics & guiding principles at Prayer Breakfast

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[5]Obama talks God, politics & guiding principles at Prayer Breakfast 
By Oregon Faith News Note:

President Obama spoke [6] at the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington this morning and his comments have made headlines for linking his political achievements and goals with his faith. Here are some excerpts.

On raising taxes on higher income taxpayers…
“And I think to myself, if I’m willing to give something up as somebody who’s been extraordinarily blessed, and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that’s going to make economic sense. But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’ teaching that ‘for unto whom much is given, much shall be required.”

On Wall Street & health care reform

“And so when I talk about our financial institutions playing by the same rules as folks on Main Street, when I talk about making sure insurance companies aren’t discriminating against those who are already sick, or making sure that unscrupulous lenders aren’t taking advantage of the most vulnerable among us, I do so because I genuinely believe it will make the economy stronger for everybody. But I also do it because I know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years, and I believe in God’s command to ‘love thy neighbor as thyself.'”

On linking bible and politics…
“Our goals should not be to declare our policies as biblical. It is God who is infallible, not us. Michelle reminds me of this often.”

On golden rule
“I know the version of that Golden Rule is found in every major religion and every set of beliefs — from Hinduism to Islam to Judaism to the writings of Plato.”