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Michael Gerson: In matters of faith, Scott Walker’s lack of grace is embarrassing
Kansas City Star ^ | February 26, 2015 | Michael Gerson

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: biasedmedia; msm; obamamedia; statemedia
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To: DaveA37
I am not surprised with anything the left does in their attempt to discredit Walker. They will use the way he cuts his lawn, what tires he buys for his car, the type toilet paper his family uses, ANTHING and EVERYTHING they can possibly think of that just might bring Walker down a notch. Any thinking person with an ounce of sense can see through their tactics. Gerson’s article is yet but another prime example.

Yesterday I saw someone post an online request for anyone who ran track with Walker to contact them (he mentioned it in his speech). They will leave no stone unturned looking for inconsistency and dirt (unlike the way they cheer lead for their party).

61 posted on 02/27/2015 4:41:50 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Gerson is (a) rather pathetically four days behind the expired news cycle *snicker* on this and (b) attempts to force Marxist rules of doctrine on Christianity (and notably never applied to journolists!), which is literally laughing out loud absurd...


62 posted on 02/27/2015 4:43:48 AM PST by StAnDeliver (Own it.)
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To: Lakeshark

Oh that is so perfect!


63 posted on 02/27/2015 4:44:32 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Travis McGee

: )

: )

: )


64 posted on 02/27/2015 4:45:15 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Pietro
...Concerning obamam's so-called Christianity; actions speak louder than words.

That would be right in line with the scientific method!

65 posted on 02/27/2015 4:46:11 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Modified headline:

Michael Gerson: In matters of faithlogic, Scott WalkerGerson’s lack of graceintelligence is embarrassing

66 posted on 02/27/2015 4:52:49 AM PST by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: Texas Eagle
Why is The Left suddenly so enamored with Christianity?

The Left is so enamored with Christianity because they fear it, like Satan fears Christ.

Back in the 2008 election there were many discussions, right here on FR, about how 0bama used Biblical verses and themes in his campaign speeches. Often, well every time really, he twisted the meanings into deceptions and outright applied the wrong context to the themes. He pulled off some very slick deceptions and the Christian-lite left followed their messiah right into the voting booth. And...and remember all the messianic images of 0bama? All this led up to the 2012 DNC denial of God at their convention. The Left as they stand now, truly fears a Christian in the White House.

How can we be sure to turn this nation around in 2016? Perhaps it is in accepting "our mission, our Godly calling," to go out and re-introduce the Saving Grace of Christ to the lost in our own communities.

67 posted on 02/27/2015 4:53:02 AM PST by EBH (And the angel poured out his cup...)
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To: Shady

All that matters is whether this sticks with the the great unwashed, the mass of ignorant voters which is by far the majority if the electorate. If this gets traction, we’ll hear about it for a long time. If it doesn’t, it’ll fade overnight. The enemy is searching for the correct cudgel.


68 posted on 02/27/2015 4:57:13 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not, no explanation is possible)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Desperate measures from a WaPo drone. Walker is really scaring them.
69 posted on 02/27/2015 5:00:01 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: Fzob
Nice quote. An interview with a Christian magazine during a campaign. And this Gerson idiot pretends to have believed him.
70 posted on 02/27/2015 5:02:25 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: trebb

Much more accurate!

\: )


71 posted on 02/27/2015 5:04:09 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Michael Gerson is a bushie, owned locked, stock and barrel. Gerson attempts to make the case, going along with the (Luegen Presse) Lying Media that Walker's answer to a gotcha question practically disqualifies him for the Presidency and has hurt his own campaign and the Republican campaign in general. Perhaps the Lying Media is going to hate Walker and Republicans even more, but its hard to see how that would make any difference, since they're already at a level of absolute hate. What's even more hate going to do?

Second, who does Gerson use as a witness for Obama's Christian beliefs? Why, lordy be, he uses Obama.

"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......"

This could hardly be clearer. Well, "if you like your plan, you can keep your plan" could be hardly clearer. Everything that Obama says is either a lie or has an expiration date.

Michael Gerson, here's a free tip, Obama lies, he lies about everything and anything. He lies about his Christian belief. Every thinking Republican knows this. Trying to use Obama as a character witness or factual witness is simply STUPID. But I expect stupidity from the Bushes.

72 posted on 02/27/2015 5:07:37 AM PST by Jabba the Nutt (You can have freedom or government schools. Choose one.)
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To: Jabba the Nutt

Others are saying this is Bush-backed.

Walker is certainly in his way and stealing his thunder (and maybe money).


73 posted on 02/27/2015 5:11:30 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: mkmensinger

“It’s interesting the author goes back to Walker’s upbringing...”

They never explore the upbringing of Progressives, just evil and intolerant /s/ Christians.

IMHO


74 posted on 02/27/2015 5:12:28 AM PST by ripley
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To: mkmensinger
It’s interesting the author goes back to Walker’s upbringing to define his religious affiliation. If we go back to Obama’s upbringing, we must conclude he’s a Muslim

zzzzzzinnnngggg!

Simply brilliant.
This is particularly true since, unlike Christianity, conversion from Islam automatically incurs the death penalty.

75 posted on 02/27/2015 5:16:07 AM PST by stormhill
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The KC Star has reached the foot stamping stage...


76 posted on 02/27/2015 5:18:13 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks ("If he were working for the other side, what would he be doing differently ?")
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

One of my litmus tests for a potential candidate is if the moron lib media attacks, then they must be pretty good and perceived as a threat to them.


77 posted on 02/27/2015 5:20:08 AM PST by The Sons of Liberty (Some say I hate 0bama; "HATE" is a strong word, but in this case NOT STRONG ENOUGH!!)
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To: Mason

A Bushie, no less.


78 posted on 02/27/2015 5:22:02 AM PST by skeeter
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To: EBH
I believe it was John Adams who said our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people.

It doesn't matter what the rules of the game are if the players are all cheaters.

79 posted on 02/27/2015 5:23:56 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Fzob

And why not be cynical when Obama said his faith made him object to ssm when Axelrod admitted Obama was lying about it?


80 posted on 02/27/2015 5:30:31 AM PST by Unam Sanctam
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