I have already noted that some self-described "Christian" conservative nutjobs are praying for the death of President Obama. Friend of the blog Atlasien of the great blog Upside Down Adoption informs me that this is called "imprecatory prayer", literally a Church Lady-style prayer against your enemies. A brief Google search of the term yields many frightening contemporary examples of this phenomenon among conservative Christians. I'd assumed praying for the President's death was a fringe sentiment but it appears I was wrong: It has its own t-shirts and slogan--complete with dog-whistle, as noted in the article below.

Does it need to be noted that these are the same "Christians" who are always condemning Islam as an inherently violent religion? Riiiight.

Christian Conservatives Pray for God to Kill President Obama

Via the Cleveland Leader

by Leader Staff on November 18, 2009 - 2:45pm.

"That's not very Christian-like, now is it? Nevertheless, a few religious zealots have taken their dislike of U.S. President Barack Obama to a new level - bumper stickers and t-shirts which command viewers to pray for the president's death. Of course they don't come right out and print "Pray for our President to die". Instead, the perpetrators take a far more cowardly approach, utilizing the slogan "Pray for Obama - Psalm 109:8".

If you take the time to look up Psalm 109:8, you'll notice right off that it is not a happy and cheerful passage. Psalm 109 is better known as "A Cry for Vengeance". Psalm 109:8 specifically reads:

"Let his days be few; and let another take his office."

While that verse does not specifically mention death or harm to the leader in question, read on and you will see that Psalm 109 has a far more sinister message.

6 Appoint [a] an evil man [b] to oppose him;
let an accuser [c] stand at his right hand.

7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty,
and may his prayers condemn him.

8 May his days be few;
may another take his place of leadership.

9 May his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow.

10 May his children be wandering beggars;
may they be driven [d] from their ruined homes.

11 May a creditor seize all he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.

12 May no one extend kindness to him
or take pity on his fatherless children.

13 May his descendants be cut off,
their names blotted out from the next generation.

14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD;
may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.

In other words, referencing this passage when speaking about President Obama is secret Christian code for "Kill the President." As sad or as crazy as it may be, this veiled death wish is not the first to have arisen since Barack Obama took office in January. Other examples include the classified ad that was placed in a Pennsylvania newspaper hoping that Obama follows in "the footsteps of Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy" - all of whom were assassinated. Then there's also the gun totating teabagger from New Hampshire who waved a sign saying that it is time to "water the tree of liberty", making reference to Thomas Jefferson's reminder that the tree of liberty must from time to time be watered with the "blood of tyrants and patriots".

If you too would like to be added to the Secret Service's watchlist, have your phone calls tapped and emails read, by all means, buy one of the Psalm t-shirts or bumper stickers. It's still a free country after all. But don't say we didn't warn you."