26-Year Old to Head Obama’s Faith Office
EmailABC News’ Teddy Davis Reports:
Josh Dubois, the 26 year-old who ran religious outreach for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, has been tapped by the new president to head the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, a White House aide tells ABC News.
Dubois, who previously worked as an associate pastor for a small Pentecostal church in Massachusetts, was drawn to Obama in 2004 when he heard the future president tell the Democratic National Convention that, "We worship an awesome God in the Blue States."
After hearing that line, DuBois tried to work on Obama’s US Senate campaign but was rejected. Following Obama’s election to the U.S. Senate from Illinois, DuBois kept pushing for a job and got hired as a Senate aide.
Part of his job was focused on building relationships with religious leaders, especially evangelical Christians who were dissatisfied with the GOP’s approach to economic justice, the use of force, and environmental protection.
The progressive religious community, which has worked closely with DuBois, learned about the pick a few days ago. Initially, the president’s staff was declining to comment but the White House is now confirming the selection.
One key question DuBois will have to help Obama address is whether the new administration should rescind a legal memorandum from the Bush administration which allows religious organizations that receive public funds to hire only those who share their faith.
During his presidential run, Obama said that those receiving government funds should not proselytize the people they help nor should they discriminate in hiring practices on the basis of religion.
Where there are state or
local laws prohibiting hiring decisions from being made on the basis of sexual orientation, Obama has said he would support those laws being applied to the federally funded portion of the faith-based programs.
DuBois, whose stepfather is a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, has lived in several places including Maine, where he was born, Massachusetts, where he spent his first few years, Tennessee, which he considers his home, and Ohio, where he attended high school.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston University and his master’s degree from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He was enrolled in law school at Georgetown University’s Law Center when he left to work for Obama in his Senate office.
As detailed in a Boston Globe profile of DuBois which ran this past summer, his social and religious activism was sparked as a 17-year old freshman at BU when a New York jury acquitted four police officers whose 41 bullets had killed an unarmed immigrant named Amadou Diallo.
DuBois wrote "NO MORE" on a placard and stood in front of a memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr., in Massachusetts, for 41 hours to draw attention to the 41 shots which were fired.
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Does Obama have any faith. I read his book “Audicity of Hope” and in it he said he did not know what happened before the BIG BANG -WELL, I CAN TELL HIM – God spoke the world into existence. He made the stars, moon, day and night and here is a president who says he did not know what happened before the BIG BANG. He needs some faith – as yet, he has mentioned none.
Posted by: Jane | January 30, 2009, 11:20 am 11:20 am
“Josh Dubois, the 26 year-old who ran religious outreach for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, has been tapped by the new president to head the White House Office of Faith”
Mr. President, can you stick on what you say. You said in you Inaugural speech that you believe in different religions and those who don’t believe in anything.
Tapping this young boy, to my opinion is one sided thing. He does not represent all religions and those who do not believe in anything.
Posted by: Rosie | January 30, 2009, 11:32 am 11:32 am
Rosie,
yeah…that’s possible. Find one person who is all things to all people…you are an idiot
Posted by: Ray | January 30, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
Is he rev racist..err.. rev wright’s nephew by chance? Given barry’s last choice of spiritual advisor, I wouldn’t get my hopes up that this guy can do any better.
I wonder if the new guy thinks America created the AIDS virus and deserved 9/11 like rev racist did?
Posted by: dave | January 30, 2009, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
Why does it have to be Christian? There are other faiths out there… ummm
Posted by: Mike | January 30, 2009, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm
I am glad President Obama open that office of faith. He wasn’t talking about religion of course. You can have faith in a lot of things, not neccesarly has to do with religion. For instance, I have faith that Hillary will do a good job as a secretary of state. She fails him. Hillary, Josh wants to speak to you in his office. Has nothing to do with religion.
Posted by: Joe Fattal | January 30, 2009, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
Jane; There’s actually a scriptural passage that makes reference to God amusing Himself by observing wisdom at play before the creation. Don’t remember where it’s located in the Old Testament. Seems like it was somewhere in the first five books. John Calvin when asked the question what was God doing before the creation responded, “Creating a special hell for people who ask that kind of question.” Just a little religious wit to loosen up an otherwise drab link.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
Twenty-six years old. Who is the puppet and who is the puppeter. I really don’t expect that this position is of any major significance.
Posted by: mj loehrer | January 30, 2009, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm
Am a member of a minority faith that most people cannot spell properly, I am disturbed by this selection. I would like to think that the President would have chosen someone with a record of inclusion and active cooperation with members of various religious groups and non-religious groups. Since he is so young, however, it is unrealistic to expect so much from such a young man.
Posted by: demi amch | January 30, 2009, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
Whine, whine, whine that’s all you naysayers do when it comes to Obama. If he had a chose someone outside of his own faith then you would call him a hypocrite or worse. So deal with it, you are not calling the shots President Barack Obama is! If you don’t like you too can run for President next time around.
Posted by: oh please | January 30, 2009, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
Another Obama cabinet member with no experience or knowledge to draw upon. Lord, we have truly allowed the adolescents to take over.
His first mission should be to explain to Mr. Obama that when a baby survives an abortion the baby is no longer a “thing”, it is a living human being. Whether that life is six hours or 60 years.
Mr. Obama apparently never heard from God on this basic issue while learning that “white’s greed runs the world” during his 20 years at Jeremiah Wright sham church.
I will pray that Mr. Obama finally develops a true relationship with the Lord instead of the projection of one which he has used to advance himself in politics.
Posted by: LogicalUS | January 30, 2009, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
LogicalUS, you are being too negative and radical in your reaction that you do not make a difference between age and wisdom, between inteligence and being around forever. This is a very good choice a dynamic one and do not worry about Obama’s relationship with Lord, but yours because you do not have one.
Posted by: Panama Canal | January 30, 2009, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
Mmronoeliveson:
The Bible says, and it is in the scriptures, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.”
Direct quote. So you need to be careful.
I am not like the president, I know what happened before the BIG BANG. And I also believe in the sermn on the mount. Read “Audicity of Hope” before responding again.
Posted by: Jane | January 30, 2009, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
The empty suit brigade at work, folks.
Posted by: bill | January 30, 2009, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
While his age doesn’t really speak much, this young man seems like the idealistic and proactive type of person drawn to Obama’s cult of personality. I do dislike the notion that they may overthrow the decision that allows religious organizations who receive government funding to choose to hire people who share their faith. On the surface it sounds like this is a discriminatory practice but read between the lines. This law merely allows organizations to use faith as a criteria for potential employees. It is optional but it allows these organizations to ensure that their employees share a common vision and to avoid potential spiritual disputes between workers. After all, don’t you have to be a member of the democratic party to be an employee for Obama’s presidential team, which is also government funded? This law was put in place to protect religious organizations and removing it will only open them to lawsuits.
Posted by: ekoja | January 30, 2009, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
Joe Fattal,
Faith based initiatives post was created by Bush. Obama is simply retaining the initiative and appointing someone to lead it.
Posted by: Nestor in Miami | January 30, 2009, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
Thats so cool!!!
Posted by: Lina | January 30, 2009, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Panama Canal,
A Christian would not attend Jeremiah Wright’s sham church in which the “reverend” used the Lord’s name in vain and “preached” hatred toward half of his countrymen. Nor would a Christian disregard the Lord’s command to protect the young in order to gain the support of NARAL.
Obama does both, so don’t attempt to take up for your “messiah” by calling me negative or radical. B. Hussein Obama is the one which has taken the radical and negative position that a baby which survived an abortion attempt should not be given medical care because the intent of the mother was for the child not to live.
He took that position in exchange for the support of the abortion lobby and I can’t think of anything more un-Christian.
And my relationship with the Lord is just fine, thank you.
Posted by: LogicalUS | January 30, 2009, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
Why? all agencies of government serve the national communitiy…something that already includes religious and community based groups, organizations, institutions, etc.
Posted by: davedestafe | January 30, 2009, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
Religion and faith are for those who need it. For some it is necessary and crucial for them in order to function. A shame really…
Posted by: GMorgan | January 30, 2009, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm
You Naysayers aren’t going to agree with anything Obama says no matter what. How closed minded. At least Obama goes to Church. George W. Bush was the only President in recent history to claim he was such a wonderful Christian, but never attended Church.
Instead Bush invaded a Country using lies, killed 100,000, made thousands of children orphans, deplaced millions of people, spent a trillion dollars in U.S. tax dollars on a war that we should have never been in, got U.S. troops killed or maimed, under-funded medical and mental health care for our U.S. military, didn’t hunt for bin Laden, and got our Country into the worst recession since the Great Depression. And don’t forget the billions of dollars Bush gave to big oil companies, even though they were making the biggest profits ever. I think I know which person I want leading my Country.
Posted by: Betty | January 30, 2009, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
As a pagan, these faith based groups offend me. Our tax dollars go their charitable side, which is good, but money they’d spend on their charitable side now goes to their evangelical side which preaches that my religious choice makes me an evil person that should burn in hell. No thank you. End special treatment for evangelical Christians.
Posted by: Robert | January 30, 2009, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm
There was never a big bang. God created everything,and everything is amazing and wonderfully created and beyond any big bang. I know that President Obama is a wonderful christian and is a real christian and not a fake one like George Bush.
Posted by: Vicki | January 30, 2009, 9:00 pm 9:00 pm
Twenty-six years old? I am sure his years of experience will help enlighten our country! Is President Obama serious?
Posted by: Deborah | January 30, 2009, 11:32 pm 11:32 pm
Lets see, how bout a barf bag to deal with the entire administration
Posted by: Chris | January 31, 2009, 12:51 am 12:51 am
Vicki:
You obviously never have read his book “The Audicity of Hope”. Maybe you should and you would change your mind quickly. George Bush was NO FAKE ONLY PEOPLE THAT CALLED HIM FAKE ARE FAKE
Posted by: Jane | January 31, 2009, 7:21 am 7:21 am
Vicki – George Bush was not the fake, dear…..you are.
Posted by: M. Smith | January 31, 2009, 8:52 am 8:52 am
It’s all in God’s perfect plan for our destiny. The Bible has foretold of times such as we are living now. I didn’t vote for Obama because of his lack of respect for innocent life. But, he was placed in office and it is now my responsibility to God and Country to pray for him and to support him as my president. It doesn’t mean that I must agree with him. However, I do trust in the wisdom of our Creator in placing him in the office of the President of the United States.
If equal time were spent seeking Jesus as in finding fault with God, one would realize that our Creator is the only One who knows our future, as He has predicated 98% of our history. It’s only a matter of a very short time before we will all know who God is.
President Obama is making choices that not everyone will agree with, including me, but everything works for the glory and perfect purpose of our Creator. The best help we can all be to our President and to our country is to pray. Obama is not our saving grace, but he has been chosen for a role in mankind’s destiny.
God bless President Obama and Mr. Dubois, AMEN
Posted by: Cynthia | January 31, 2009, 11:22 am 11:22 am
fake fake mo make, bananna fanna mo make, fee fi fo ake, fake. The Name Game, circa 1960′s
Posted by: BikernAz12 | January 31, 2009, 11:30 am 11:30 am
Judge not, lest with that same judgement ye shall be judged. . . And as for the reason why such a young person should be chosen for this position. . . God uses the foolish things to confound the wise. God bless America and God bless President Obama!
Posted by: tink | January 31, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
President Obama could have picked Jesus Christ for this position and the NeoConnies would whine and shake their tattered pom-poms. Good grief, you idiots need to get a life.
Posted by: Clint | January 31, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
I am against using taxpayer money for anything that has religion involved in it. And I don’t care what religion it is either … and I am a religious person!!
Posted by: Cassandra Washington | January 31, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
As for me, I pray for the day when a president can be elected who freely admits that he/she isn’t Christian. Sorry, people, but most politicians these days are simply paying lip service to the whole Christian thing anyway. They don’t really believe the stuff you believe. Most of them, anyway. I doubt Obama truly believes it, and I doubt George Bush does. I don’t know why more people can’t see this.
In this country we can openly advocate going to war against nations that didn’t attack us and nobody bats an eye. We can cheat on our invalid wife, do lots of drugs in college, become embroiled in financial scandals, or “pal around” with ex-terrorists….but by G*d we’d better all claim to be Christians. For my money, the sooner Christianity fades into the twilight, the better.
Posted by: justsaying9 | January 31, 2009, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
How about no money to religion…..this whole thing is ridiculous. This guy entire position at taxpayer expense is to spend his time trying siphone voers. Why is my tax money going for this?
Posted by: chattyway | January 31, 2009, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
Amadou Diallo? Street Peddler who lied about coming into the US…said he was studying biochemistry but sold items on the street instead. When approached by cops fled. The cops caught up with him, and he reached into his pocket and was in the process of pulling out an item. The cops assumed it was gun, but it was wallet.
Posted by: chattyway | January 31, 2009, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm
Cops made a mistake…but lets face it, Diallo shouldn’t have fled. I think if you flee a cop, you should expect to get shot. This clearly another one of Obama’s racist thugs, (and yes white males, you should do web search about what Obama is planning for you—–basically it is fair game to openly discriminate against you.
Posted by: chattyway | January 31, 2009, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm
You should of heard what Obama’s people said this week about the stimulus and white construction workers.)
Posted by: chattyway | January 31, 2009, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
Those critics here, first find out what the post is about. George Bush created this “office” and while in some cases it has made some pastors richer, in most cases it has actually moved protestant christians to do great community work. I’ve seen it work here in North Carolina, and I expect that under a Democratic administration this kind of initiative is more inclusive and also expands to Catholics, Mormons, Jews,Muslims and other religious groups.
Posted by: Miguel | January 31, 2009, 10:26 pm 10:26 pm
It’s all a smoke screen to get everyone distracted about the Horrid economy & the fact that the stimulas is full of pork, including billions going to ACORN. Stay on Focus. Hold Obamas Transparent Administration Accountable -Just Like Obama Said To Do !!!
Posted by: disgusted in Ohio | January 31, 2009, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm
“There was never a big bang. God created everything,and everything is amazing and wonderfully created and beyond any big bang”
-You are an idiot.
Posted by: Mark | February 1, 2009, 6:36 am 6:36 am
Rosie you said: “Tapping this young boy, to my opinion is one sided thing. He does not represent all religions and those who do not believe in anything.”
Please, do you know of anyone who REPRESENTS ALL RELIGIONS as you have suggested that this young man should be able to do?
Secondly, the decision to NOT BELIEVE IN ANYTHING is as “belief” in itself.
Please, do not swallow a camel and choke on a gnat.
Posted by: Me | February 1, 2009, 8:30 am 8:30 am
I have no problem with Obama’s pick of Dubois.I do however have a problem with the fact that he may overturn the policy of hiring of the same faith based people for the jobs that interact with children and youth. Before this policy, there homosexuals and atheists applying for positions like youth leader and boy scouts. Think about who you would like to be in charge of your adolescent son or granson. Wouldn’t you like to have the right to hire someone who believes the same as you?
Posted by: jan | February 1, 2009, 8:48 am 8:48 am
jan…Did you just put homosexuals and atheists in the same boat? lol You,”believers”, are something else.
So much for working together.
I’m not either, by the way. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
Posted by: gravy | February 1, 2009, 11:34 am 11:34 am
gravy,
They just want us to think that it’s the atheists and homosexuals that are the cause of all the horrible things of the world. It’s just their way of feeling like the are the chosen people and who cares about the rest of the world. Thing is their God created every living person so they are just hating Gods creation.
Posted by: butterfly | February 1, 2009, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
Whatever happened to separation of church and state?
Posted by: gotterdammerung | February 2, 2009, 7:34 am 7:34 am
isn’t this 26 y/o the same man who was obama’s personal assistant not long ago? obama seems to be surrounding himself with nothing but “yes” men and women, lackeys. at least, so far anyway, obama hasn’t selected a felon for his administration. he has questionable people in his administration, questionable from character to tainted corruption such as emanuel, geithner, blair, soon daschle. the house and senate will approve of anything obama, the king, dictates just as the majority of americans are at this time. but a 26 y/o? what life experience does a 26 y/o have to bring to the table even in the area of religion? obama is out to lunch and so are those that keep rubber stamping whatever he does and putting him on a pedestal. obama is not about change but just another political hack, a liar. no more lobbyists but then obama brings them into his administration. said he would, if elected, repeal the bush tax cuts on the rich but now refuses to do it. and the list goes on, stay tuned for more from the king of the USA, his royal majesty obama. dubois does not belong in the administration. if it is the former personal assistant, then this is a corrupt appointment!
Posted by: Lawrence | February 2, 2009, 8:39 am 8:39 am
Back in college, I witnessed Josh eat a Tootsie Pop out of a stripper’s vagina. I congratulate him on his professional success.
Posted by: ancient history | February 24, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm