Will Obama’s “Holy” Week Be Enough?

This week is full of religious news at the White House. Exasperated by the significant denial of his Christian faith, the 44th demonstrated that he is fully hands-on: He attended church. But that’s not all. … Then, as if done on purpose, the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s interview with The Daily Beast rang out like a sermon for the president’s personal use. On your knees, Christians.

The “prez’s” week had the feel of a strategic stunt, even if it was, of course, nothing but a sequence of fortuitous circumstances.

1. Sunday at church. The whole family attended St. John’s Episcopal Church near Lafayette Park — on foot since it’s so close. For the third time this year, the president attended this church with Michelle and the girls. Nothing over the top, but the timing was well chosen. All the “firsts” received communion. Obama is therefore Christian. This is becoming dull, but I will restate it. During the service, the pastor read a text from Luke: “Be active representatives of God,” which he interpreted to mean “act now.” It was undoubtedly good advice. A photographer was at the entrance and the exit! Yippee.

2. Tuesday: A request for divine intervention. How can one explain to all of America that the health care plan is a significant advancement that must be passed for the Democratic candidates. It’s very simple, but must be thought about: “networking” with religious communities in contact with God’s people and people suffering hardships, and thus mobilizing religious leaders. The 44th, surrounded by those responsible for the reform, communicated from the Oval Office with thousands of local channels, asking them to “preach the gospel” on the reform’s advantages and to convince their flocks that the reform is practical. He asked religious leaders to find volunteers to go door-to-door, hang posters, make calls and send mail — in short, to convince and to rediscover the 2008 campaign spirit. All that’s left is the doing.

3. At a worldwide conference in New York organized by Bill Clinton (the Clinton Global Initiative), the Rev. Jesse Jackson gave an interview to The Daily Beast in the form of a thorn in his side or itching powder for the “prez.” A fervent supporter of the 44th, he is not disappointed in the presidency, but Obama must be much closer to those who suffer from the crisis and have contact with real people in the spirit of “town halls” — whereas his teams isolate him. This was after the intervention of Velma Hart, the woman who said she was exhausted from defending Obama. It was advice in the form of a warning. Thus, the 44th could do much better on the ground pressing the flesh. Jesse Jackson was certainly heard. It’s unclear that the 44th knows what to do.

Very soon we will know if this communication worked. Won’t polls follow the images?