Regards,
Posted on 03/21/2025 11:16:21 PM PDT by Red Badger
DNC chair Ken Martin railed against GOP at church town hall billed as a discussion about Medicaid
A Pennsylvania priest admonished an audience of Democratic Party leaders at a town hall at his church on Thursday, saying he was misled about an event billed as a discussion about Medicaid that turned into a Democratic "stump speech."
DNC chairman Ken Martin, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D., Md.), and other Democrats appeared at a "People's Town Hall" event held at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Pa., located in the district of freshman Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.
Though the event was touted as a discussion about funding for Medicaid, the Democratic guests used the pulpit to attack President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Mackenzie. Martin, who was elected DNC chair last month, called Trump and Musk "cowards" and accused them of "throwing seniors on the streets." Raskin offered similar remarks and went through a litany of grievances about the Trump administration. "We will fight them in the cities, we will fight them all over America, and we're going to win," Raskin said.
That sparked a stunning reprimand from the Very Rev. Jon Stratton, the dean and rector of the Bethlehem church.
"I was told that this was going to be a town hall about Medicaid and not a stump speech for the Democratic Party, and I am upset about that right now," Stratton said after Raskin's speech.
"I hope that this, this goes back to a discussion about Medicaid, 'cause this is not a partisan place," he added. "Do you understand?"
The prospect that Democrats misled a church to host a political event comes as the party faces its lowest approval rating in decades. Just 27 percent of registered voters hold a favorable view of the Democratic Party, according to an NBC News poll released this week. Thirty-nine percent of voters had a positive view of the Republican Party.
The church event is not the first Democrat-sponsored town hall to blow up in the party's face. Democrats and groups like Indivisible, funded by Democratic megadonor George Soros, have increasingly used town hall events to highlight what they say is a bipartisan, grassroots backlash against the Republican Party. Indivisible, which cosponsored the town hall in Bethlehem, was revealed to have offered to reimburse protesters for anti-GOP events, going as far as providing funding for protesters to wear chicken suits, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
Democrats have also organized town hall events as a way to suggest that Republican incumbents are ducking voters. The organizers of the Bethlehem church event set up an empty chair reserved for Mackenzie, the Republican. Martin, the DNC chairman, called Mackenzie "cowardly" for skipping the event. But Mackenzie, who was holding a telephone conference call for constituents at the time, did receive some support at the town hall.
Dawn Godshall, the executive director of Community Action Lehigh Valley, praised Mackenzie for meeting with her earlier this month in Washington, D.C., to discuss federal funding for her organization.
"He was very kind," Godshall said. "He said that if we were having difficulty accessing funding that was already promised to us … he would be willing to assist us in that area."
Mackenzie, who defeated Democrat Susan Wild in November, said the priest's rebuke shows the Democratic Party "has gone off the rails."
"Shame on the Lehigh Valley Democrats for pulling such a stunt in a house of worship," he said.
The DNC did not respond to a request for comment.
I call bullshit about him being mis led by Democrats. Even the village idiot knows that Democrats are nothing but liars, degenerates, and perverts. The truth is not in them. Decency is not in in them.
The priest is a liar, stupid, blind, or all.
Regards,
This priest knows that Demonrats are pro-abortion. Why would he let one of them speak about any topic at all?
Democrats lied? To a church? Color me shocked!
I pull out this oldie but goodie every now and then...
-PJ
Here is an oldie but goodie from Newsmax, November 7, 2000:In 2004, this story popped back up on Newsmax, covering the same topic.
With Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff
For the story behind the story... Tuesday November 7, 2000; 9:37 AM ET
Jesse Jackson Jr. Says Church Politicking 'Supersedes the Law'
It may be against federal election law to campaign in church. But for Democrats seeking to get out the vote in minority districts, politicking from the pulpit has become indispensable.
In the last days of this year's campaign, Vice President Al Gore, Senate candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband have all made regular appearances at African-American and Hispanic churches.
Even when parishioners objected to Mrs. Clinton campaigning from the altar at a Rochester, N.Y., Catholic church last week, the rules were not enforced. Those who didn't like it were simply ejected by police while the first lady continued her campaign speech.
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., whose namesake is both a reverend and one of the Democratic Party's most vocal boosters, was challenged on the issue Monday during a Tennessee radio interview on WLAC-AM by "Nashville This Morning" hosts Steve Gill and Terry Hopkins.
GILL: Let me ask you about this. It's against IRS regulations for politicians to campaign from the pulpit. Why are these politicians campaigning in black churches?
JACKSON: I'm not totally convinced that's true in the African-American community. Certainly there's a separation of church and state. But in our community there's little distinction between our religion and our politics. ... And so in many African-American churches born out of experience in this country, the role of the churches has evolved into a very, very active political institution which has been very effective for a number of causes in the black community.
HOPKINS: And that supersedes the law?
JACKSON: Absolutely. Oh, absolutely.
From the NewsMax.com Staff Thursday, June 3, 2004
For the story behind the story... Only Democrats Are Allowed to Campaign in Churches
Anti-religious zealots and hypocrites who don't object when the likes of John Kerry and Al Sharpton and Bill Clinton and Al Gore and Jesse Jackson and Jimmy Carter campaign in churches are feigning outrage that President Bush dares to do the same thing.
An e-mail from Luke Bernstein of the Bush-Cheney campaign's office in Pennsylvania asks churchgoers to organize "Friendly Congregations" to promote the president's re-election.
"I'd like to ask if you would like to serve as a coordinator in your place of worship," the message says. "We plan to undertake activities such as distributing general information/updates or voter registration materials in a place accessible to the congregation."
Kevin Madden, a spokesman for the campaign, said: "People of faith feel strongly about the president, are people we want to be part of our campaign. This message is intended to be from individual to individual. This is organizing with individuals who may be members of a church who we hope to identify as supporters and be part of our efforts."
The Internal Revenue Service supposedly bans tax-exempt organizations such as churches from politicking, but Jackson and other Democrats have violated that regulation for decades with impunity. Kerry has recently campaigned and staged photo opportunities at several churches. The New York Times and wire stories attacking the Bush campaign's strategy today refused to mention those facts.
How dare Republicans do what Democrats are allowed to do. Barry Lynn, head of a group that calls itself Americans United for Separation of Church and State, raged, "I have never in my life seen such a direct campaign to politicize American churches."
Our pastor did a 2-hour live (and streaming) discussion about “How to Vote” prior to the election. He held it in the fellowship hall. The sanctuary is just that - a Holy Sanctuary. This event, while Biblically based, was about politics.
From his sermons in the pulpit it was very clear where he stood on things. It is a human soul at conception - designed by God. Sex is for married people - a man and a woman. Etc.
While he did say that of course one can vote for whomever they want - he said that taking all things into consideration - his choice was clear - Trump.
Exactly, all demonrats are is nothing but spoiled brats and bullies.
Democrats needed to lie to the Church to get the place for free. Democrat thugs are cheap. If they had told the truth the Priest would have said 'no'. It's who democrats are - cheap liars.
Then democrats lied about the 'chicken suits'... those are bought and paid for by organizers - and the 'rent a mob' protesters are always paid to perform.
Guess George Soros and his son are getting cheaper. For the BLM riots Soros/democrat scum would supply pallets of bricks, 'homemade' looking signs, matches etc...
It’s all three.
He’s willfully ignorant and naive.
Concur. He should consider himself lucky they didn’t burn his church.
NOT TOO BRIGHT, FATHER!!! The DEMOCRATS ARE PURE EVIL!!
Somebody really needs to do a deep dive into Jamie Raskin’s wife Sarah’s relationship to the Obamas and democrat foundations.Obama isn’t smart enough to skim that many millions. Someone is the mastermind behind all their financial corruption I’m guessing Pelosi so I hope it is investigated.Obama is the strand to pull to have it all unravel. He is so arrogant that he thinks he is protected.All his lies will one day bury him. Michelle better get her cut quick and run.
“the Episcopal Cathedral Church”
Liberal Chapel
Inciting riots. And, as with aiding and abetting the illegal alien invasion, the Papists support these insurrectionists.
Their Marxist leader has spoken against the USA controlling its borders and stopping the invasion.
It is impossible that the priest didn’t know the reputations of the speakers.
Maybe the FBI was RIGHT about going after “ordinary Catholics” - but they should have started with their leadership first.
“We will fight them in the cities, we will fight them all over America, and we’re going to win,” Raskin said.
Yes, Jamie. It will be long and hard and there will be no withdrawal.
You sure you want to go there?
Our pastor in SoCal was blatantly passing out BUSH yard signs in morning service back in the day — back when we believed Bush was decent. He dared anyone to call him on it, or arrest him. (Nobody did.)
We were glad that he made such a bold political stand. We pretty much have known where other of our pastors were politically, but not because they mentioned it from the pulpit. They should be more outspoken about it.
DNC chairman Ken Martin, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D., Md.), and other Democrats appeared at a “People’s Town Hall” event held at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem Pa..”
Clueless Ken Martin, Jamie Rat Skin and an Episcopal parish...what could go wrong?
Isn’t this where they lose their tax exempt status?
Nah.
They hold the right positions on abortion, gay marriage, and child grooming (Drag Queen Story Hour)
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