What the hell are the Republicans so worried about?

In Barack Obama, we have a president who is a devoutly observant Christian, who reads a daily devotional, says that women are ALWAYS unhappy about getting an abortion, and FINALLY, FINALLY admits that like John Edwards (who was soundly blasted by the gay community), his religious background makes him a homophobe.

From US News and World Report on Obama's sit-down with Catholic journalists:

...on Thursday, Obama cast the decision to have an abortion in a decidedly negative light. "I don't know any circumstance in which abortion is a happy circumstance or decision," Obama said, "and to the extent that we can help women avoid being confronted with a circumstance in which that's even a consideration, I think that's a good thing."

In the absence of this audience, I think this is a perfectly sensible position. After all, we're all in favor of women having the right to choose but hopefully not having to make that choice. I'm as staunch as pro-women's bodily integrity advocate as you'll find, and I made damn sure it was a choice I'd never have to make. But to this audience, what's he talking about? Abstinence? Chastity education? I want to hear more.

For the gay and lesbian community in this country, I think it's clear that they feel victimized in fairly powerful ways and they're often hurt by not just certain teachings of the Catholic Church, but the Christian faith generally. And as a Christian, I'm constantly wrestling with my faith and my solicitude and regard and concern for gays and lesbians.

And there you have it -- exactly the same sentiment for which the gay community blasted John Edwards when HE said almost that same sentence during the 2008 campaign. One simply cannot go to these Bible-thumping churches, buy the doctrine, and come out of it feeling warm and fuzzy towards the gay community. I don't care how much he wrestles with it, as long as he does the right thing in terms of policy. So far he hasn't.

Joshua [DuBois, head of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships] does a wonderful service for me and he actually sends me a devotional on my BlackBerry every morning, which is actually something that he started doing I think when I was really having a tough time during the campaign. And it was just such a wonderful practice that we've continued it ever since. So every morning I get something to reflect on, which I very much appreciate.

Now hold it right there. You mean to tell me that this guy has NOTHING to reflect on unless someone sends him e-Bible verses every morning? I've been up at 4 AM every day this week reflecting on how the hell I'm going to meet a perfectly impossible deadline and when I'm going to be able to sleep and whether I'll get done with this project without being carried out of my office in a box. It seems to me that North Korea ought to be a good place to start reflecting.

Reaffirming his support for a conscience clause for medical workers who object to abortion or other procedures, the president knocked critics who alleged that he'd undo such a clause:

I missed the part in his Notre Dame speech where he agrees with the idea that if there's a part of your job that you object to for religious reasons you shouldn't have to do it. I guess I have to find a religion that objects to twenty-three hours of meetings in one week.

Combine all this with Obama's embrace of Wall Street and expansion of some of the Bush Administration's WORST Constitutional abuses, and I wonder just what the Republicans are so upset about? It sounds to me like Barack Obama is one of them.