Congressman: Obama wants Gestapo-like force
GOP rep invokes Nazis, Soviets, but Bush backed Obama's civilian corps idea

updated 3:16 a.m. ET, Tues., Nov. 11, 2008
WASHINGTON - A Republican congressman from Georgia said Monday he fears that President-elect Obama will establish a Gestapo-like security force to impose a Marxist dictatorship.

"It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is, he's the one who proposed this national security force," Rep. Paul Broun said of Obama in an interview Monday with The Associated Press. "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 cited a July speech by Obama that has circulated on the Internet in which the then-Democratic presidential candidate called for a civilian force to take some of the national security burden off the military.

"That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did," Broun said. "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."

Obama's comments about a national security force came during a speech in Colorado in which he called for expanding the nation's foreign service.

"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set," Obama said in July. "We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

The Obama transition team declined to comment on Broun's remarks. But spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama was referring in the speech to a proposal for a civilian reserve corps that could handle postwar reconstruction efforts such as rebuilding infrastructure - an idea endorsed by the Bush administration.

Broun said he believes Obama would move to ban gun ownership if he does build a national security force.

Obama has said he respects the Second Amendment right to bear arms and favors "common sense" gun laws. Gun rights advocates interpret that as meaning he'll at least enact curbs on ownership of assault weapons and concealed weapons. As an Illinois state lawmaker, Obama supported a ban on semiautomatic weapons and tighter restrictions on firearms generally.

"We can't be lulled into complacency," Broun said. "You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential of going down that road."

Mary 3:28pm on November 17th, 2008
I have heard that Obama wants to get rid of our guns, I didn't hear about the whole "gestapo" type security. Where did you get this article?

Thread Starter 6:51pm on November 17th, 2008
This was on MSNBC. I believe we will be seeing a persecution of Christians, and it may have a very "Nazi" feel to it. I don't think people understand what they have voted into office.

Mary 6:59pm on November 17th, 2008
I totally agree...Obama is scary and with him voted into office is very "Revelations"

Barbara 8:21am on November 18th, 2008
All I can say is, I voted McCain. )

Dan 8:22am yesterday
Why would Obama persecute Christians when he himself is a Christian?

Thread Starter 10:24am yesterday
If Obama has Christ as his Savior, he certainly in not walking with Christ. At the very least you could definitely say he does not have a Biblical worldview. Most of his agenda and beliefs are against the Bible. Many of the things he would like to put in place, directly attack Christians.

Mary 11:03am yesterday
A lot of people claim they are Christians but don't follow The Bible. Like Thread Starter said his political agendas, his beliefs, etc do not show me that he is the Christian he claims to be. I am not judging though and not saying he isn't a Christian because all Christians stumble and make mistakes. BUT I think if Obama is a Christian he needs to reevaluate what kind of president he really needs to be and what would be best for our country.

Dan 12:40pm
"Most of his agenda and beliefs are against the Bible. Many of the things he would like to put in place, directly attack Christians."

Like______________? Don't support your statement with another statement saying the same thing but in a different sentence.

I encourage you to read this; Barack Obama and Joe Biden: The Change We Need

It's Obama's speech on Religion to an audience of Evangelicals on his desire to unite and reconcile his progressive beliefs and his Christian beliefs. I find it quite refreshing considering the traditional "us vs them" ideology we've been ensconced in with politics for much too long. I hope you find it refreshing as well and gain a clearer insight into his religious and political worldview.

Obama doesn't speak in soundbites, so you need to read the whole thing. But one of the most salient points in the speech that seem to speak to this discussion:

(at the conclusion)
"And that night, before I went to bed I said a prayer of my own. It's a prayer I think I share with a lot of Americans. A hope that we can live with one another in a way that reconciles the beliefs of each with the good of all. It's a prayer worth praying, and a conversation worth having in this country in the months and years to come."

More from his speech:

"Each day, it seems, thousands of Americans are going about their daily rounds - dropping off the kids at school, driving to the office, flying to a business meeting, shopping at the mall, trying to stay on their diets - and they're coming to the realization that something is missing. They are deciding that their work, their possessions, their diversions, their sheer busyness, is not enough.

They want a sense of purpose, a narrative arc to their lives. They're looking to relieve a chronic loneliness, a feeling supported by a recent study that shows Americans have fewer close friends and confidants than ever before. And so they need an assurance that somebody out there cares about them, is listening to them - that they are not just destined to travel down that long highway towards nothingness.

Faith doesn't mean that you don't have doubts.

You need to come to church in the first place precisely because you are first of this world, not apart from it. You need to embrace Christ precisely because you have sins to wash away - because you are human and need an ally in this difficult journey. "

ME :sarcastic: 1:00pm
In the article within the first sentence, "he fears". This is what's known as fear mongering. How many thousand years will it take us to understand that we attract those things we fear the most. Is it God who's created the fear or is it man who has created the fears?

"I believe we will be seeing a persecution of Christians", is this what we want? It sounds like this what many Christians are looking forward to. Fulfilling the prophecy of a man who never even met Jesus Christ, (Paul).

Mary 1:29pm
I don't want to get into a big argument. I have my beliefs, you have yours. Enough said. I just would encourage anyone to read Revelation. A lot of the signs are already here, including the persecution of Christians (which I agree is going to happen soon also, but NO I am not looking forward to it but the signs are there). Also the mixing of religions to make a "united" religion.. I also am saddened by the division among Christians which it seems to be occurring, especially since this election. We as Christians need to unite for one purpose and that is witnessing and showing the world God's love! We need to not let the world influence and take over what God tells us. It's as plain and simple as The Bible is our instructions of how to live and what to believe, if you follow The Bible word for word then I think Christians can unite instead of interpreting in their own individual way. The Bible is our Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth!


ME :sarcastic: 1:56pm
Who's arguing? Our beliefs are influenced by how we were raised and the geographical location as well. If it were India it would be the Dharma, and likewise with other countries. So our beliefs are altered by our surroundings and if truth actually stood before mankind, the truth would be persecuted and this doesn't exclude Christians. It's also the fear of truth.

It's almost as if disaster in the world is what some Christians have looked forward to for centuries. The days of persecution mean the coming of the prophecies foretold in Revelation. This is like the icing on the cake for the doomsayers.

Your telling me of living by the bible and it's instructions does fall on deaf ears as I understand the history of it and that it was written by people like you and I. When it was formed into the actual "Bible" as we see it today, it was formed under a political agenda to assist in controlling the men of that time. We are controlled by fear today, yesterday and all throughout history. It's important to truly understand rather than to guess blindly following not Christ but another man.

The signs of the second coming have shown themselves since the death of Jesus Christ. People have talked about it for many many years and it's always around the corner and there are always signs of it.

Also... You speak of the mixing of religions and that Christians need to unite. This very proposal is not in order with anything Jesus taught or showed. His message was both love and unity. Jesus was not for dividing and conquering.

Being a witness for God is allowing the light of God to shine within you so that others will recognize and come that to that light. It's not something we have to shout to be witness of. Our witness is in how we treat those around us. If you want to show the world God's love, then let it reflect outward from within you.

Following the Bible word for word... which interpretation of translation of it? Which one is the Christian one for ALL Christians? Who said we're going to leave earth?... If God is omnipotent and omnipresent can we not experience the glory of the father here and now? Was this not the message of Jesus Christ?