Posted on 02/27/2015 2:37:55 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
When Scott Walker pronounced himself agnostic about President Barack Obama’s patriotism and Christian faith, it must have seemed like a clever formulation. “I’ve never asked him, so I don’t know,” he said. And about Obama’s Christianity: “I’ve never asked him that.”
Walker quickly found his pitch unequal to the presidential big leagues. His argument can’t be generalized into a rule. I have never met Billy Graham, for example, but I’m pretty sure what he believes. As political attacks go, this one is particularly heavy-handed—the equivalent of saying: As far as I know, my opponent is not a swindler and a degenerate. A politician who tried this form of passive aggression before also got criticized for it.....
For Walker, this is more of a paper cut than a chest wound. But it can’t be good for the Republican Party, which some Americans associate with religious exclusivity, for a front-runner to sound religiously exclusive.
Walker’s Baptist upbringing—he is the son of a pastor—does put a particular emphasis on the personal acceptance of Christ. It was another Baptist governor, Jimmy Carter, who elevated the idea of being “born again” into the realm of presidential politics. For evangelicals in general, there is no such thing as a birthright Christian. Faith requires a conscious and highly consequential decision—a choice that some do not make.
But here Obama has been as forthright as anyone could be. “I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian,” he said in a 2008 Christianity Today interview......
Questioning this affirmation involves a serious charge—an accusation of the worst sort of cynicism. And it is simply not the role of a Christian layman to publicly dispute the self-identification of other Christians, especially in a political context. It is a practice that can lead down ugly alleys of sectarianism...
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
> But here Obama has been as forthright as anyone could be. “I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian,” he said in a 2008 Christianity Today interview......
He was also against gay marriage back then but has “evolved”. i.e. he was lying all along for the sake of political expediency.
Rules for radicals. Fits about half of them.
Post of the week! Thanks!
Gerson’s brand of journalism worked twenty years ago. It won’t work today. He’s an agenda guy....not a reporter or journalist.
“Opposition to gay marriage was particularly strong in the black church, and as he ran for higher office, he grudgingly accepted the counsel of more pragmatic folks like me, and modified his position to support civil unions rather than marriage, which he would term a ‘sacred union,’ ” Axelrod wrote in the book
Holy cow! Another Washington Post writer who doesn’t like Scott Walker! What are the odds!
“Hmm. Clue me in in any brand of Christianity that does not include a personal acceptance of Christ?”
Obama: “I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian,”
Well said.
But here Obama has been as forthright as anyone could be. “I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian,” he said in a 2008 Christianity Today interview
I can say I am nuclear scientist.. Doesn’t mean I am or that I know anything about it............
By their actions you will know them............
Does not he wish! The reporter should find out the answer to that question by asking the President, not you or anybody else!
The leftists continue to look for something that has traction. Walker is a winner!
There is no journalism under this regime, just folks who want to get on the socialist government payroll as propagandists.
Good points, CW. Bishop Spong apparently claims to be a Christian, too, right? So do many abortion doctors...men who chop babies into little pieces or suck their brains out with vacuums.
A PROFESSION of faith does not necessarily mean a POSSESSION of faith. Fruit follows the root.
Walker has clearly wounded the left. They are unable to deal with the rope-a-dope of a republican who won’t bring the ammo for his own mugging.
This is the same Obama who referred to “my muslim faith” when bring interviewed by George Stephanopolis.
“I am a devout Christian”
That’s a lie.
Billy Graham says what he believes and is open and honest.
I believe Michael Gerson used to work for the Bushes. He has obviously received his marching orders from Jeb, who will only have a decent word for anyone and anything conservative when he needs our votes. He will never get mine.
Hey Mikey.....Obama is for ABORTION, NEVER goes to Church, and is for GAY EVERYTHING, he had the Cross covered up when he spoke at a CATHOLIC College.....tell me again Mikey just how Christian Obama is??
I know, I know, this is from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gerson
Is Michael Gerson Jewish?? Because my in laws think the Republican Party is just TOO Christian, and I’ve never heard of any others say that until Gerson just mentioned it.
GREAT POINT!!!!!
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