Video Story
Watch VideoMan prays for rain to spoil Obama's speech
Story By: Rachel Hoffenberg
Source: KOAA
Published Wed Aug 06, 2008, 05:07 PM MDT
Updated Thu Aug 07, 2008, 12:00 PM MDT
A former pastor and former TV meteorologist, who now works for Focus on the Family Action, is asking people to join him in an unconventional prayer during the Democratic National Convention; rain over Invesco Field during Senator Barack Obama’s acceptance speech for the democratic presidential bid.
Stuart Shepard is the online commentator for a segment called "Spotlight"; produced by Focus on the Family Action, a 501-C4 that lobbies for and against political issues. This week, Shepard is asking for people to join in his prayers for rain on the day Senator Barack Obama gives his acceptance speech at the democratic national convention in Denver at Invesco Field. "Would it be wrong if we asked people to pray for rain?"
Shepard says, "Sure it's boyish humor perhaps to wish for something like that. But at the same time it's something people feel very strongly about. They're concerned about where he would take the nation."
The commentary is drawing some strong reactions and criticism. Democratic State Senator, John Morse of El Paso County says, "Is praying for rain wrong. No, it's not wrong, it's soul-less."
Shepard responds, "If people have a discussion about whether this would be in or out of bounds, I'm okay with that. If some people disagree with that, that's okay too. But what I hope they also think about is where Senator Barack Obama stands on the issues of life, family marriage and judges he would put on the supreme court."
According to Shepard, whether it rains or not on Obama's speech will be up to God. Morse, an Obama supporter, says “It's going to be an amazing moment in American history. Rain or Shine."
Shepard says although he does legitimately hope the speech gets rained out, he hopes no one, including Barack Obama, gets hurt.
