By Dan Gilgoff and Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editors
(CNN) - On our sister blog The 1600 Report, CNN's Alex Mooney notes a discrepancy in the official White House transcript of a California fundraiser Monday night, during which a person who heckled President Barack Obama was escorted out by security.
Here's the White House transcript's account of the heckler:
AUDIENCE MEMBER: The Christian God is the only true living God, the Creator of the heavens and the universe.
But Mooney observes that the White House pool report records the heckler as being much more blunt, yelling "'Barack Obama is the Antichrist!"
The president interrupted his remarks at the fundraiser, held at Los Angeles' House of Blues, to respond to the heckler.
"First of all, I agree Jesus Christ is the Lord," Obama said. "I believe in that. I do have a question, though. I think the young man may have left his jacket... "
Ironically, the remark about Obama as the Antichrist came the same day that The New York Times ran an op-ed arguing that the Antichrist is assuming a bigger place in the public discourse, as evangelical Christian ideas about the end times gain traction.
In a piece titled "Why the Antichrist Matters in Politics," Washington State University history professor Matthew Avery Sutton argues that, for some Christians, Obama fits into ideas about the Antichrist, whose arrival is believed to be a portent of the end times and Jesus' second coming:
For some evangelicals, President Obama is troubling. The specious theories about his place of birth, his internationalist tendencies, his measured support for Israel and his Nobel Peace Prize fit their long-held expectations about the Antichrist. So does his commitment to expanding the reach of government in areas like health care.
The op-ed was the most e-mailed piece on nytimes.com for much of Tuesday.
In the 2008 campaign, Republican presidential nominee John McCain released an anti-Obama ad called "The One" that ridiculed Obama for what it said was his messiah complex. Some critics claimed the spot was a veiled attempt to paint Obama as the Antichrist, though the McCain camp denied it.
What do you think? Is there a gathering movement to paint the president as the Antichrist? Are such charges overblown attempt to discredit Obama's critics?
Read Mooney's full report here.
No one minded when Present. G. Bush was called the Antichrist. Personally I think Present. Obama fits the definition better than Present. Bush ever did.
Why not just call him the "boogeyman"?
Like the name implies – "Distant Smoke" is just that. Very distant and nothing but smoke – toxic smoke.
I trotally belive that Obama is the anti-Christ..but so what? I would rather have him than evangelical hypocrite Gov. Perry or Mitt Romney
Rocky why would you have a person who believes in Socialism? I admit your Romney and Perry is accurate but tell me why we can't have someone that is truely for the people. Who would you suggest since you want to voice your Opinion. Obama is a train reck as he has not done anything but what the Navy seal team get rid of America's most wanted. That is the only thing I can say he has done correctly sense taking office. No jobs more taxs and lies. Well that pretty much sums it all up for all candidates.
Reading comments from some of these people actually gives me a headache. I adore how little like Jesus most of his followers in the USA are. Hypocritical belief...the foundation of Christian Evangelism. Be honest...Obama haters dislike him for either his party affiliation or the color of his skin. Sure, he's no amazing leader. He's a human being doing one of the hardest jobs in America, and he's doing better than any of the 3 last Republican leaders. He's also doing it trying to make things better for all, not just those lining his pockets.
I truly wonder how many of you actually fact-check before parroting some drivel spouted off by Beck or Limbaugh, or some other shock-tard moron...
D With the mentioning of his skin color has nothing to do with it at all. That is old stuff and doesn't apply. If you look at him pushing the Medical Bill through instead of listening to the people you would no that no one wants to be forced into buying or paying for insurance. Let alone if that is the case the government can make you buy car insurance too even if you don't have a car. Think before you speak. RACE is the only card you have to defend Obama. He is my President and I am republican and AMERICAN just as you. Don't seperate the issues on why people are upset. OBAMA is an educated man not black nor white but AMERICAN. If you think other than that and consider yourself other than that then you have the problem.
Doh! Homer Simpson is the true anti-Christ.
Who cares what christians think? If irrelevancy had a name, it would be christian.
Grant
No one cares what Christians think hahaha. You live in a Christian founded nation who cares what you think should be your actual statement. You are one person we are Many. Enough said.
Sorry to keep you all in suspense, but actually I happen to be THE Antichrist. Thank you, thank you, glad to be here. NOW BOW DOWN BEFORE ME YOU WEAK MINDED DOOSHBAGS!
It is people like this idiot that has led me to become an agnostic. I am sick of all of the zealots that have no intellect, and can only argue in archaic cliches.
Xfan, Obama is not trying to steal from one group to give to another. He is just bringing back the tax structure we had before before Bush, This tax tax structure will be more fair because the ultra rich will have to pay their share as they once did. It will rid tax loop holes and ensure everyone pays money. The GOP wants to only cut programs which will guarantee that there will be more hungry uneducated people with little assistance. If we all pay more we can keep crucial programs
Ingrid,
I don't think you understand the current brackets today the IRS has in place. So say that the rich are not being taxed is non-sense. Look at the IRS websites and look for your self. Do you know that there are 360 million americans not to mention about the same in Illegals here in the US. only 200,000 are millionaire recepients of this nation so who do you really think thay are going to tax?
Actually, I think Rupert Murdoch is the Antichrist. Look at what he's done. Much worse and certainly behind the scenes.
He's stealthily taking over the world for money.
People,
Thank you so much, I had a great laughing time, you really made my day.
You made my day because of the stupids and hilarious comments, and made me realize how many idiots and fanatic some people are.
Keep it up, I can't wait to read more funny, baseless, ideological, religious and ignorant comments.
Great Job.
This country is getting dumber by the minute
First he's a witch doctor, then he's Hitler reincarnated, now he's the Anti Christ. It seems the opposing political party always thinks the party in charge is the Anti-Christ, (though I came real close to believing it under the Bush regime).
I also thought that the Anti-Christ was supposed to seduce the entire world into following him.
How soon you forget that the same was said about George W. Bush. II so your comments are non-reflective of what both parties are doing to this nation. Look around Diana has your costs increased over the years and can you afford to take vacations now that we lost our credit rating. Inflation is bad and no jobs. Yes this is Change for the worse wouldn't you agree. Or is this someone elses problem. Maybe Pelosi can sale her face to science and get more money and let Reid tell her that he is in control.
Personally, I think he is the black Alfred E Newman.
I think YOU are not a realist, YOU are a little girl name caller!
WHAT KIND OF IGNORANT SWINE WOULD START A LIE LIKE THIS ONE ??????? ANS. AN IGNORANT REPUBLICAN RIGHT WING NUT WHO HAS NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN START VISIOUS RUMORS THAT HAVE ABSOLUTLY NO TRUTH WHAT SO EVER THAT'S WHO!!!!! I KNEW THAT THE REPUBLICAN TEA PARTY THUG'S ARE DESPARATE,BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH!!!!!!
Really showing your true colors, all republicans are swine, etc. thats like saying all democrats are left wing nut job communists. You and your ilk are what is wrong with this country whether republican or democrat.
I, being a moderate democrat, want to agree with you, but your choice of delivery and your inabilty to spell check, make's me step back from your fringness.....
@ Americaneeds realists... wern't you just calling names like a little girl??
Actually Dubya fit the bill perfectly, except that the nations of the world rejected him after initially seeing him as a Messiah. His followers turned from Christ to Rand and began to worship GOP instead of God, but then they all spurned his message about Unseen Weapons of Mass Destruction That Might Be Real and turned their faces away from him to elect a Christian Fundamentalist in his place. Apocalypse averted: move along, nothing to see.
I think you folks are missing something. As a major that graduated from West Point told me early in my career and it stuck with me because it is VERY true "perception is reality" , that just means people will treat you the way they perceive you to be. If Obama is cast as the "Anti-Christ" the truth is immaterial if the moniker sticks, that is the way people will treat him and that is the way people will cast their votes. If he is perceived my the mass of voters as anti Christian (and he is gaining that quickly) it WILL hurt him when people go vote.
This is going to be teabaggers convincing other teabaggers, with the aim of getting someone so excited that they will go out and try to shoot the president in order to save little Baby Jesus from the black guy. Not likely many undecided voters or educated moderates are going to fall for that, just hysterical or suggestible people like Bachmann, Palin, or Santorum(google his name for extra points).
Stupid ignorant people.........I'll cast my vote based on candidates qualifications and standing on policies. Not some warped interpretation of a ficticious book.
If there is such a movement, CNN just gave it a huge boost. This borders on making the news instead of reporting it.
CNN had a choice, Remain credible and go bankrupt or go the way of FOX and they chose the latter. Unfortunately, they still aint making money and they have lost all credibility.
When people become afraid they shape their fears according to their beliefs, and then believe those things have become real. It's similar to the horror movie trends; Godzilla and Mothra and The Incredible Shrinking Man were responses to the nuclear age. Alien was anxiety re space travel. The antichrist comes along every time war and "famine" and such plague people.
Then those who can benefit from spreading those terrors work it as hard as they can to exploit those fears.
All Republicans are anti-christians....
BS Every day I read the drivel people post on this site and I understand why we are where we are in this country. People forget the true premise on what this country was founded. FREEDOM. Not everyone has to think like everyone else. Get over yourself.
Even I don't believe that..........there are good and bad people in every group.
Generally you will find that ANY statement implying "All As are Bs" is going to be false, like "All swans are white." The existence of one black swan destroys your argument. Most swans are white, most Republicans ignore Christ's teachings. You can't say they are all evil because half of them are just little old lady Sunday school teachers who watch too much FOX news. Get a grip or you'll be as bad as they are.
You can't be serious? And while I am not fond of Obama, it is some of these utterly ridiculous and insane comments coupled with a very poor GOP field that only reinforces my view that I could not vote for a Republican. Bring back an Eisenhower, someone of stature, anything but this drivel. To be clear, if this ridiculous sort of garbage about the anticrhist becomes the norm before next year, there is virtually zero chance of swaying the independent block – and you cant win with just your core.
A GOP candidate of stature? They all remind me of Alan Ladd, who required a box to stand on for his smooch scenes.