President Obama Makes It to the National Prayer Breakfast

It is a tradition that dates all the way back to the days of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. A prayer breakfast where faith and politics purposefully intersect.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., is a member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, which hosts the annual event. She says its purpose is clear.

"The whole focus of this event is Jesus Christ, and we share our faith around the table and usually it's with people from all around the world," Bachmann said.

This year in President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, his focus was on civility and how Americans can work together in a spirit of good will.

Last year, during the prayer breakfast, the president unveiled his version of the Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

"The goal of this office will not to be to favor one religious group over another or even religious groups over secular groups," Obama said. "It will simply be to work on behalf of those organizations that want to work on behalf of our communities."

Two years ago, his predecessor, George W. Bush, emphasized the power of prayer, and how God will answer those who seek him.

"It's fitting that we gather in prayer, because we recognize a prayerful nation is a stronger nation," Bush said.

This commemoration of faith is not free of conflict.

A group promoting government accountability demanded that the president and members of Congress not attend, describing the Christian group that organizes the event as "shadowy" and "cult-like."

However, Bachmann said prayer is steeped in American heritage.

"I think it's important people acquaint themselves with our nation's history and not forget that in order for our nation to be strong, individuals have to be strong. And as members of Congress many of us find our strength in the Bible, in the Word of God," she said.

Source: CBN News