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Controversy over administration’s prayers for divine intervention in coronavirus crisis

Former Vice President Mike Pence

Whether or not the president and vice president should be praying out loud during the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis has become a partisan issue.

After Vice President Mike Pence began a meeting of the COVID-19 task force early in March with a prayer, he was mocked by some national pundits.

National Trump Finance Committee member Perry O. Hooper Jr. defended the President and Vice President.

“Recently, Vice President Pence opened up an administration task force on COVID-19 meeting with a prayer,” Hooper said. “When a photograph of the task force praying circulated among the mainstream media it set off a firestorm of criticism that still continues. As Christians, we pray because we realize that we don’t have answers to all of life’s questions and we need God’s guidance.”

Hooper referenced comments like New York Magazines Thomas Chatterton Williams “Mike Pence and his coronavirus emergency team praying for a solution. We are so screwed.”; and another one by a national pundit, “Clear that @vp and @realdonaldtrump are in over their heads. POTUS is literally praying for a miracle to make coronavirus go away.”

CNN White House correspondent Brian Karem wrote that the administration is in over its head, citing the pictures of prayer as proof. “POTUS is literally praying for a miracle to make coronavirus go away.”

Jordan Uhl, the former campaign director for the far Left Media Matters for America, mocked Trump’s decision to put Pence in charge of the coronavirus task force, with: “very excited to hear all about pence’s coronavirus response plan: praying god protects us.”

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National Trump Finance Committee member Perry O. Hooper Jr. defended the President and Vice President.

“Recently, Vice President Pence opened up an administration task force on COVID-19 meeting with a prayer,” Hooper said. “When a photograph of the task force praying circulated among the mainstream media it set off a firestorm of criticism that still continues. As Christians, we pray because we realize that we don’t have answers to all of life’s questions and we need God’s guidance.”

Hooper referenced comments like New York Magazines Thomas Chatterton Williams “Mike Pence and his coronavirus emergency team praying for a solution. We are so screwed.”; and another one by a national pundit, “Clear that @vp and @realdonaldtrump are in over their heads. POTUS is literally praying for a miracle to make coronavirus go away.”

“Thousands of tweets emerged that were infuriating to me as I am sure it was to most Alabamians,” Hooper told the Alabama Political Reporter. “These are insults to all people of faith the so called deplorables. After listening to the President on Thursday. I picked up the phone and called a friend in the Vice President’s office who agreed with me that we needed a national day of prayer to call on for his God guidance in this time of a world-wide crisis. He took it to the President. I hope everyone participated, as my family did, in the National Day of Prayer and will continue to pray for our leaders and our country in this time of need.”

First Congressional candidate former State Senator Bill Hightower (R) said, “This is powerful! Join me TODAY as I join our President Donald J. Trump in praying for our county, state, country and the world.”

“Read the words of our president,” Hightower shard: “But in this time we must not cease asking God for added wisdom, comfort, and strength, and we must especially pray for those who have suffered harm or who have lost loved ones. I ask you to join me in a day of prayer for all people who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and to pray for God’s healing hand to be placed on the people of our Nation.”

“In our times of greatest need, Americans have always turned to prayer to help guide us through trials and periods of uncertainty. As we continue to face the unique challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, millions of Americans are unable to gather in their churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, and other houses of worship,” Pres. Trump wrote. “As your President, I ask you to pray for the health and well-being of your fellow Americans and to remember that no problem is too big for God to handle. We should all take to heart the holy words found in 1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.” Let us pray that all those affected by the virus will feel the presence of our Lord’s protection and love during this time. With God’s help, we will overcome this threat.”

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Brandon Moseley is a former reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter.

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