Posted on 03/23/2008 7:25:15 AM PDT by Bean Counter
Sunday, March 23, 2008
By JOHN LAIRD, Columbian editorial writer
Finally, independent voters have reason to appreciate the die-hard Democrats and the rock-ribbed Republicans. And this being Easter morning, that newfound appreciation is arriving none too soon.
Both Barack Obama and John McCain have been linked recently to controversial fulminations from preachers. As a result, wise and rational people now pay closer attention to what they hear from their preachers. This is a beneficial exercise. Who knows when we might be called on to defend or denounce some bizarre statement made at a church from which we exit this morning?
Personally, I’ve always thought of church as being a lot like a driving range at a golf course. At both places there flourishes a great manifestation of the glorious gifts God gives us. At the driving range, those gifts might be strength and accuracy. At church, the gifts might be soaring oratory or uplifting music.
But also at both places you’ll find a lot of variety, and not all of it graceful or good. I hope you don’t think I swing a golf club like that hopeless klutz whose last shot careened off the petition that separates him from me. And I hope you don’t expect me to explain everything I hear from the pulpit at my church.
Easter is always a great morning because of the new life it brings. No conflict, only rejoicing, sustained by well-documented history and centuries of miraculous reminders. If only the world of politics were so reliable.
What we’ve seen in the past couple of weeks is enough to drive all but the most rabid partisans into a state of permanent political independence. Angry conservatives believe Obama has been shown to be unfit for the presidency by his 20-year association with his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose offensive preachings have been well-publicized. But would we expect anything else from the conservatives?
In a Tuesday morning speech, Obama said Wright’s comments “were not only wrong but divisive.” That speech was heralded by his supporters as one of the most eloquent messages in the history of politics, lo, a watershed moment in the healing of America’s racial divisions. Obama’s detractors, though, said the speech was flimsy, unconvincing and too late. But would independents expect anything else from the furious critics and defensive apologists?
Worrisome rhetoric everywhere
McCain, on the other hand, has received far less publicity about the recent endorsement he received from popular televangelist John Hagee, whose controversial comments include labeling the Roman Catholic Church a “false cult system,” and much worse.
Conservatives insist Hagee’s action was only an endorsement, certainly not a 20-year personal relationship as Obama had with Wright. Liberals counter by citing Obama’s assertion: “I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country … In sum, I reject outright the statements by Reverend Wright that are at issue.” Obama’s supporters also remind us that McCain has done little to distance himself from Hagee’s hateful rhetoric.
But would we expect anything else from the conservatives and the liberals?
Remember, this intrusion of pulpit pronouncements into the sordid world of presidential campaigns comes on the heels of several sex scandals. Those sorry stories should have motivated Americans to improve our lives and our nation. Instead, they invigorated the partisan attacks.
Larry Craig’s toe-tapping transgressions? So typical of the conservative hypocrites, the liberals thundered.
And what to think of Eliot Spitzer’s fall from grace? When the man who polices prostitutes is shown to have patronized them, well, that’s exactly what we’d expect from sleaze-bag liberals, the conservatives cackled.
This is all so very exhausting, isn’t it?
I believe God saw all of this coming. He knew our partisan rantings would overtake us and distract us from life’s real purpose. He knew it would take more than just spring to remind us that new life is ours to claim. He knew that our rancid ramblings about each other’s preachers would get mighty boring. So He gave us exactly what we needed: the earliest Easter we’ve had in 95 years.
Let us make the most of it. Start by singing robustly this morning.
John Laird is The Columbian’s editorial page editor. His column of personal opinion appears on the View page each Sunday. Reach him at john.laird@columbian.com.
Mr. Laird would like people to think that he is the paridigm of Political Independence and Moderation here in SW Washington, but this is what we get...
Fire at will...
Being no fan of McCain, I also break wind in the general direction of John Laird. Geraldine Ferraro went postal when she was compared to Wright, and anyone else who is compared to him should also have a strong angry reaction. This is just another way for the left to try to contain the damage that Nobama did to himself, and it won’t work.
It’s just the media using the Obama playbook of “equivalence”, just like he did by equating The Right Revrum Wrong with his grandmother.
It’s so lame it’s laughable.
Moral Relativism is the religion of the Leftists. Wonder when the last time this drivilist was in a Christian Church?
Pray for W and Our Troops
His response was, "well what about John McCain and that pastor he's embraced...."
I spent the rest of the very uncomfortable discussion attempting to explain why John McCain had nothing to do with my observation about Obama; that I was talking about Obama and his pastor, not John McCain.
He sat there and shook his head, uttering incredulity at my inability to see his point.
I felt badly for him.
And further, when did McCain have a 20+ year close association with Hagee? Oh, that’s right, he didn’t.
This attempt at an equivalence argument is absurd.
Wonder when the last time this drivilist was in a Christian Church
http://heresabunnywithapancakeonitshead.com/
The way Ferraro reacted to being compared to “rev” Wright is the way you SHOULD react when compared to that raving nut-case. I say bravo to Ferraro, even if she is a lib herself.
There’s a list a lot longer than that.
1) John McCain is not a blank slate. He’s been in Congress for nearly 26 years. There aren’t many questions about McCain’s beliefs.
2) Hagee endorsed McCain and the two have only recently met. The most logical conclusion is that McCain was seeking to shore up evangelical support and was not familiar with Hagee’s statements. Wright, on the other hand, has been closely involved with Obama for over 20 years as his pastor, spiritual mentor, and so on. The things Obama and his wife say in speeches and books SHOULD make you wonder where Obama believes at least in part the black liberation trash Wright peaches.
3) McCain’s actual pastor is a good guy. If we’re talking about people who have simply endorsed the candidate, then we need to be talking about Louis Farrakhan and Malik Zulu Shabazz. I’m fairly certain they shame Hagee in the hateful whackjob category.
About every Protestant pastor has questioned the Catholic Church cultic practices at one time or another. Growing up in a Baptist church I have heard it lots of times. A complete red herring to divert attention.
It is about as common as questioning a Priest’s homosexuality, not PC but often spoken about. Hagee is a great preacher and in no way a hater of Catholics.
Pray for W and Our Troops
The ridiculous rationalizations from these rostifarian radical writers of puss just NEVER stops!!! Somebody PLEASE cut off this idiots supply of gonja!!!
Yes! MucKain sucks, but either Dem sucks way harder by far and away!!!
One is an expression of opinion as to the truth of a set of beliefs; the other is an attack on individuals because of their beliefs. I don't care if, say Muslims, proclaim that Baptists (my own group) are all spawn of the devil and will be cast into Hell by Allah. I know better. I DO mind when Muslims say they must all be converted or killed.
I mind when black liberation theologists, or communists, or anti-American Frenchmen say America must be destroyed. If they want to discuss policies, that's a different matter.
But, of course, reasoned discourse is NOT what they are about.
Does anyone know what the connection is between BO and the Weathermen Underground?
“3) McCain’s actual pastor is a good guy. If we’re talking about people who have simply endorsed the candidate, then we need to be talking about Louis Farrakhan and Malik Zulu Shabazz. I’m fairly certain they shame Hagee in the hateful whackjob category.”
I was scanning the comments to see if anyone had made that point. This article is misleading garbage. As you point out, the only valid comparisons are:
1. The racist, hate monger Reverend Wright (Obama’s chosen pastor for twenty years), compared the the Southern Baptist pastor in Arizona who is the pastor of McCain’s chosen church.
2. And, for the unsolicited endorsements from pastors, we must compare Hagee’s endorsement of McCain to Louie Farrakhan’s endorsement of Obama.
What a pathetic state of affairs for the Washington state readers of this newspaper with such an airhead for an editorial page writer, or is he just deliberately deceitful?
This thread, and Fred Nerk’s post, give you a lot of info to start.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1974784/posts?page=13#13
He's also a half retarded minor league propagandist spouting drivel in a vain attempt to get noticed by the big guys in NYC.
Pathetic and sad.
They are deliberately deceitful, no doubt.
By the way, according to today’s NYT, McCain did solicit Hagee’s endorsement. I don’t know if that’s true and I don’t know the specifics. Given the way the media deliberately slanders and misrepresents anybody to the right of Hillary, I wouldn’t be surprised if McCain said “I’d be happy to have your support” at a meet and greet somewhere and took that to mean he called Hagee day and night to beg for an endorsement.
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