Politics

President Barack Obama will sit down with religious and public figures for the National Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning amid concerns from both religious and secular groups that the event should be amended.

The Fellowship Foundation held the inaugural National Prayer Breakfast in 1953. It has become precedence for the U.S. President to attend the event – usually held in a Washington D.C. area banquet hall – and public figures like Bono and Mother Theresa have previously attended the breakfast.

But while the gathering's intention is to call attention to the power of prayer, secular groups say the event comes dangerously close to blending church and state affairs while some religious figures think the event has become a token, meaningless gesture. more >>

As more states will be voting on constitutional amendments defining marriage, polling indicates that most Minnesotans support the proposed amendment for their state.

According to a poll taken by Public Policy Polling reported on Jan. 27, 48 percent of Minnesotans polled support the amendment that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman, while 44 percent oppose.

"These numbers are consistent with other polls we've seen, which simply show that Minnesota is deeply divided on this issue," said Richard Carlbom, campaign manager for the anti-amendment group Minnesotans United for All Families, commented to The Christian Post. more >>

Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and two-time GOP presidential hopeful, is taking his campaign to Minnesota today in hopes of increasing his delegate count. What he will be without is the endorsement of the state's conservative congresswoman, Michele Bachmann.

Romney won Tuesday's Florida Republican primary by a wide margin, capturing 46 percent of the vote, and he's hoping to grow his momentum by aggressively competing in Minnesota, Nevada and Missouri. Although he hasn't specifically mentioned Bachmann's endorsement, her nod would most likely solidify the support of many Tea party members.

In an appearance on Wednesday morning's Fox News, Bachmann denied rumors that she would be endorsing Romney today. more >>

Three Americans are hiding in the U.S. Embassy in Cairo fearing that Egyptian authorities are looking to put them under arrest.

The U.S. citizens, one of whom is International Republican Institute Egypt Country Director Sam LaHood, have said they were "afraid of their lives" and have been prevented from flying out of Egypt, a CNN report revealed.

Egyptian security forces are reportedly looking for them after raiding the offices of several non-governmental organizations last month looking at groups that may have received illegal foreign funding and may have been operating without government licenses. more >>

Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich was hired by Freddie Mac as part of a strategy to improve relations with Congress. Recently, investigators discovered that Freddie Mac has been, through its investments, betting against the homeowners whom it is supposed to help.

In 1999, Freddie Mac, a corporation created by the federal government, along with Fannie Mae, to provide financial backing for home loans and increase home ownership, hired Mitchell Delk as its chief lobbyist. Delk then embarked on a strategy to build support for the company with Republicans in Congress, according to a 2003 investigation by the Federal Election Commission uncovered by Reuters.

Republicans were raising concerns about Freddie and Fannie at the time and were introducing legislation that would have lowered the company's profits. more >>

Two groups are scheduled to protest the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. on Thursday morning. GetEQUAL, a homosexual activist group and Occupy DC will organize outside of the Washington Hilton Hotel to stand against The Fellowship Foundation, also known as "The Family" and "the rich and famous."

Started in the 1953 and held on the first Thursday in February, the National Prayer Breakfast attracts the district's most powerful residents including the president, members of Congress, lobbyists and top business leaders. Every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has participated in the annual event.

Notable dignitaries who have keynoted the event in past years include Mother Teresa, Bono and Tony Blair. more >>