Posted on 02/27/2015 4:35:37 AM PST by Kaslin
Dear 2016 GOP hopefuls:
First of all, best of luck. If you are successful, it will be your job to dig the United States out of the eight-year abyss of the Obama presidency. This will take courage, vision, hard work and resiliency. If you have these things, great, but before we get to evaluating your worthiness to fight terror or shrink the government, we’d best see if you have the skills to navigate a couple of annoying questions from reporters.
Many of you in the field may be tempted to take all of the questions about evolution and Barack Obama’s love of Jesus and country and stuff them back in an idiot reporter’s face.
Short of that, you may be tempted to write columns saying how you will not be duped or baited by the media.
Both are tempting. Both are unwise.
Under no circumstances are you ever to do something that gives your media enemies a bat to beat your brains in. Do none of you remember Sarah Palin’s “name some magazines” disaster? I mean, we love her and she is awesome, but for crying out loud, name a magazine or two!
You will get frequent questions asking you to read Obama’s mind or embrace or condemn Darwin. Refusing to answer makes you look fearful. Complaining about the questions makes you look like a whiner.
So here’s a crazy idea: Answer the questions.
But do it in a way that makes clear the question is an impertinent annoyance. That way no one can say you ducked, but you still make a valuable point. And who knows? If you can successfully spar with a reporter or two, maybe you have the chops to stare down the Iranian government across a nuclear OK corral.
As a gift, I offer the Candidate’s Guide to Handling the Gotcha Questions:
REPORTER: Do you believe in evolution?
YOU: Faith and science have many answers as to how we all got here. I respect every American’s right to accept whatever religious or scientific explanation they choose. I believe whatever path we took, God was in control.
REPORTER: Do you believe President Obama loves America?
YOU: I don’t judge other people’s motivations. I know I love America and would show it in ways very different than the President has.
Now the easy one:
REPORTER: Is Barack Obama a Christian?
YOU: Sure.
That’s it. Not one syllable more. Your head may be filled with examples of Obama’s bizarre strain of Christianity inculcated in the America-hating liberation theology crucible of Jeremiah Wright’s Trinity United Church of Christ. You can probably cite several examples of his seeming outright hostility to Christian attitudes and values. Zip it. None of that helps you attract new voters, and please remember, that is your most important job.
You are welcome to dwell at length on the views Obama holds which are antithetical to conservative morality. You may point with detail at his insufficient defense of our nation against the threat of global Islamic jihad. Those are what matter, not his personal faith. The nation is filled with Christians who offend scripture by their words and deeds, and who rush to protect the reputation of Islam while stomping on Judeo-Christian religious freedoms. They are called congressional Democrats.
So no more punting, or hemming and hawing, or wringing your hands about how the nasty media won’t ask you the questions you want to answer.
Take their goofy questions, answer them in a fashion that serves your purposes but does not arm them with a weapon against you, and get on with your message of steadfast conservatism.
YOU: Sure.
I don't know any Christians with the middle name Hussein.
The problem is not the answer or the question. The problem is the electorate. If gotcha questions like that actually work, it is the electorate that is the problem.
He claims so.
The evolution answer is wrong. The right answer is that creation and evolution are not mutually exclusive, there are many theories about our existence and I accept both creation and evolution.
IS BHO a Christian? Answer: You would have to ask him.
DemocRAT Shill: Do you believe in evolution?
YOU: “You’re an idiot.”
DemocRAT Shill: Do you believe President Obama loves America?
YOU: Is Obastard my opponent ?
Now the easy one:
DemocRAT Shill: Is Barack Obama a Christian?
YOU: Is Obastard my opponent ?
End.
There is no reason to engage them on their terms about questions that are already settled with empirical evidence.
DemocRAT Shill: Do you believe in evolution?
YOU: Do you believe in doing your job?
DemocRAT Shill: Do you believe President Obama loves America?
YOU: Do you love the sound of your own voice?
Now the easy one:
DemocRAT Shill: Is Barack Obama a Christian?
YOU: It’s a good thing for you that I am a Christian
Rule # 1: NEVER accept the premise of a statement or question from anyone. Example - “When did you stop beating your wife?”
Exactly. I think our creation by God is beyond our understanding to logically rationalize.
Or, one could take this approach: “ This country has a host of serious issues it is grappling with, which I’m certain all the candidates would like to address - a slow economy, porous borders, Iran rushing to weaponize nuclear technology, bad relations with our historical allies - issues that the audience here and watching on the television would like to hear our policies on. With the limited time for this debate, why are you wasting it and I might add, insulting the intelligence of the American people with silly and trite questions?”
“Barack Obama has demonstrated contempt for America on numerous occasions, from his vacillating foreign policy to his endorsement of an illegal invasion of our borders.”
“I am not running for chairman of the Biology Department, nor am I a scientist. Therefore, my views on evolution are irrelevant.”
“Barack Obama’s Christianity — or the lack thereof — is a matter for Barack Obama and his Creator. It’s none of my — or your — business.”
MSM and Dems are salivating that Walker screwed up — equating terrorists and hecklers/protesters.
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One would think it was as horrible as 57 states, a tornado that will 10,000 when it hit a town of 1,000 in wesk Kansas, etc.
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MSM and Dems finally got a Walker soundbite they are trying to make into a ‘macaca’ issue. They are wasting no time in spreading and smearing Walker’s comparison.
I totally disagree with this author.
ANYTHING you answer to these questions will be used against you.
It’s best to ridicule the questioner and impugn their motives. I’m totally serious.
You got that right
I like Walker’s answers better. They were honest. These answers are politicalese.
Do you believe in evolution? Walker said “irrelevant.” This guy says “everyone believes what he believes.” Point: Walker.
Does Obama Love America? Walker: “I haven’t asked him.” This guy: wishy washy yes. Point: Walker.
Is Obama a Christian? Walker: “We haven’t discussed it.” This guy: yes. Point: Walker. (How does Walker know if Obama is a Christian??? Walker was honest.)
A:”When did you stop beating your wife?”
I've known Christians named Abdul and Mohammed. There's no law that says someone has to get a name change when they come to Christ.
Another non-answer that would be more pointed on both the “love american” and “is he Christian” questions -
“I’ll leave that up to the people observing Obama’s words and actions to determine whether they believe that.”
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