Limbaugh Leaves Out Context To Cast Suspicion On Obama's Easter Remarks

Today on his show, Rush Limbaugh played a soundbite from remarks President Obama made at yesterday's Easter prayer breakfast at the White House and thoroughly mocked him for saying that there is “something about the Resurrection” that puts everything “in perspective”:

He also questioned why Obama has spoken eloquently of the Muslim call to prayer, and expressed his surprise that Obama doesn't think that Easter is the “day when the big rabbit comes out of this hole”:

Limbaugh fixated on this theme, replaying the soundbite several times throughout today's show and repeatedly asking what Obama was referring to.

If Limbaugh were less intent on calling Obama's faith into question, an activity he seems unable to resist, he might have played a longer clip of Obama's speech. If he had, he would have had an answer to his question of what Obama was referring to when he spoke of there being “something about the resurrection.”

Obama explained that “we're reminded that in that moment, he [Jesus] took on the sins of the world -- past, present and future -- and he extended to us that unfathomable gift of grace and salvation through his death and resurrection.” Obama also used the words of Book of Isaiah to further clarify his message: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Transcript of the relevant section of Obama's speech is below the jump:

I wanted to host this breakfast for a simple reason -- because as busy as we are, as many tasks as pile up, during this season, we are reminded that there's something about the resurrection -- something about the resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ, that puts everything else in perspective.

We all live in the hustle and bustle of our work. And everybody in this room has weighty responsibilities, from leading churches and denominations, to helping to administer important government programs, to shaping our culture in various ways. And I admit that my plate has been full as well. (Laughter.) The inbox keeps on accumulating. (Laughter.)

But then comes Holy Week. The triumph of Palm Sunday. The humility of Jesus washing the disciples' feet. His slow march up that hill, and the pain and the scorn and the shame of the cross.

And we're reminded that in that moment, he took on the sins of the world -- past, present and future -- and he extended to us that unfathomable gift of grace and salvation through his death and resurrection.

In the words of the book Isaiah: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

This magnificent grace, this expansive grace, this “Amazing Grace” calls me to reflect. And it calls me to pray. It calls me to ask God for forgiveness for the times that I've not shown grace to others, those times that I've fallen short. It calls me to praise God for the gift of our son -- his Son and our Savior.

And that's why we have this breakfast. Because in the middle of critical national debates, in the middle of our busy lives, we must always make sure that we are keeping things in perspective. Children help do that. (Laughter.) A strong spouse helps do that. But nothing beats scripture and the reminder of the eternal.