In Speech on Religion, Obama Explains His Faith in Oprah

Under pressure to explain his religious faith to the American people, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama delivered a 45-minute speech today discussing his belief in Oprah Winfrey.

In an election year that has been dominated by discussions of candidates' religious faith, perhaps no candidate's religion has been more controversial than Obama's Oprahism.

Speaking to supporters at the University of Iowa, the Illinois senator devoted his entire speech to his religious faith but mentioned Winfrey only once by name.

"My religion is a personal matter to me," Obama told his followers. "Having said that, let me make this clear: I have accepted Oprah as my host."

Later in the day, Winfrey toured the state with Obama and, in a stunning demonstration of her influence, briefly caused a solar eclipse.

"Sun and moon, do my bidding!" she roared, raising her hands above her head and delighting the crowd with the celestial display.

"Oprah is without question the most powerful force in the election right now," said Carol Foyler, 45, an Obama supporter from Cedar Rapids.

Davis Logsdon, who studies the interrelation between politicians, religion and talk-show hosts at the University of Minnesota, said that Obama's worship of Oprah Winfrey puts him in the mainstream of American theological belief.

"More than 30 percent of Americans currently define themselves as Oprahists," Logsdon said. "And that number is higher during sweeps."

Elsewhere, the CIA created more controversy today by acknowledging that it accidentally returned several interrogation tapes to Blockbuster.

Award-winning humorist, television personality and film actor Andy Borowitz is author of the new book "The Republican Playbook," to be published October 2007. To find out more about Andy Borowitz and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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