Conaway: Obama is no Jesus Christ

Barack Obama “is no Jesus Christ,” Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) said in a Thursday speech on the House floor, voicing personal offense at comments made by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) a day earlier.

“In my time in politics, I never thought that I would hear any candidate for political office compared to Jesus Christ. Yet yesterday, on the floor of this House, one of my colleagues did just that when he painted the work of Barack Obama equal to the life of my savior,” Conaway said.

{mosads}“Madam Speaker, I know Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ is a personal friend of mine. Sen. Obama is no Jesus Christ.”

Seeking to defend Obama from GOP criticism over his experience, Cohen noted Wednesday in a floor speech that Obama and Jesus both had experience as community organizers. Cohen also said Pontius Pilate was a governor, drawing an implicit parallel between Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and the Roman governor who, according to the Gospels, ordered Jesus’ execution.

“The parties have differences, but if you want change, you want the Democratic Party,” Cohen said. “Obama was a community organizer, like Jesus, who our minister prayed about. Pontius Pilate was a governor.”

Palin and other Republicans have questioned the significance of Obama’s experience as a community organizer, contrasting it with Palin’s executive experience as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, and governor of the state.

“I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities,” Palin said in her speech at the GOP convention last week.

Cohen denies that he compared Obama to Jesus and has said he regrets making the comment.

“I didn't and I wouldn't compare anyone to Jesus. Jesus cannot be compared to anyone. What I pointed out was that Jesus was a force of change, and those who work to accomplish change deserve respect,” Cohen said after the National Republican Congressional Committee sent a memo to reporters questioning his “moral decency.”

Cohen told MSNBC’s Chris Matthew on Thursday that metaphors involving Jesus “are dangerous, and I shouldn’t have done it.”