Posted on 12/19/2007 9:21:55 AM PST by Alex Murphy
[snip]
The ad is airing in South Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa. It has also been virally spread over the World Wide Web, like many of his other ads, and gained an immense viewing. In it, the candidate asks:
"Are you about worn out by all the television commercials you've been seeing, mostly about politics? Well, I don't blame you. At this time of year sometimes it's nice to pull aside from all of that and just remember that what really matters is the celebration of the birth of Christ and being with our family and friends."
[snip]
Bill Donahue, the President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Liberties, in an interview airing on Fox News Network’s “Fox and Friends” morning program suggested the ad had an ulterior political motive. Donahue stated "You know what, sell yourself on your issues, not on what your religion is."
Some reports have alleged that there is a floating white cross in the ad. The candidate says it is simply the outline of a bookshelf. Donahue suggested it was some form of subliminal message to evangelicals in Iowa.
The candidate responded by reaffirming that what is alleged to be a “floating cross” is, in fact, a bookshelf.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...
Some reports have alleged that there is a floating white cross in the ad. The candidate says it is simply the outline of a bookshelf. Donahue suggested it was some form of subliminal message to evangelicals in Iowa.
Donahue, the president of the Catholic League and an ardent defender of Christmas in what he believes is a secular "war" against the holiday, told hosts of the Fox and Friends morning program that the ad had gone too far."The whole idea is to give the appearance of a cross," he said, "and this is just injecting religion into politics even too far for guys like me."
Asked if the ad was "too much," Donahue said it was.
"Because there's a pattern here," he added. "Every other word out of [Huckabee's] mouth is that 'I'm Christian.' He's calling into question Romney's Mormonism...let people talk about their faith, but don't sell it on your sleeve."
Added Donahue, "Yeah, I believe in freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but don't become a salesman. Don't hawk it like that on the street."
The Catholic League president suggested that Huckabee was relying on his faith too heavily as a campaign tactic.
"If it was just the Christmas ad, I wouldn't have one complaint about it," he said. "But when you juxtapose that with all these other kinds of things, there's a subliminal message there, and it's all done intentionally...what he's trying to say to the evangelicals in Western Iowa is 'I'm the real thing.'"
"You know what?" concluded Donahue. "Sell yourself on your issues, not on what your religion is."
I don’t understand why the Catholic League would be upset over this. It’s not like it was a crucifix.
Rudy’s broken record is: “9/11. 9/11. 9/11. 9/11.”
Romney’s is: “Forget I’m a Mormon. Forget I’m a Mormon.”
Huckabee’s is: “I’m a real Christian. I’m a real Christian. Forget I’m a liberal.”
Thompson is just shaking his head, thinking, “I can’t believe I’m losing to these guys.”
The media wants to pick the GOP nominee. They tried to push McCain on us years ago.
Donahue is probably upset because it is a Protestant cross rather than a Catholic one with a dead Jesus hanging from it.
But it's just fine to pray to an image of Christ on plant pot
‘bout what I’d expect from the catholic league.
I’ll vote for a “Catholic” when ont that’s pro-life runs. I love Rick Santorum. Mike Huckabee isn’t pretending to be a Christian, he was a Baptist Minister. The Baptists are one of the most democratic (small c) denominations.
I cannot believe us grownups are concerned about such nonsense. This is political season and one can read anything into any of these ads. Check them all out and then let your imagination go to work. Every ad has intended and unintended messages - so be it.
Even if he was is that so bad?
I don't know if you remember -- I think it was in the 70s -- that when the Post Office put out a Christmas stamp showing a candle (maybe a wreath -- it's been a long time!) in a window with those dividers that look like a cross, there was enough of a ruckus about the "cross" that they withdrew it?
lol
I just checked out the Catholic League’s web site. Apparently, Donohue was only expressing a personal opinion that he thinks Huckabee’s ad is corny (which it is). The Catholic League has issued no statement.
Thanks - I do recall now. Maybe those who make a “ruckus” need to exposed for what they are, or are not!!
Good point. You'd think that the loudmouth Donohue would pick other battles to fight such as with all those anti-Catholic positions of DemocRATS on a daily basis...
"For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until He come." 1 Corinthians 11:26
Sounds like this guy doesn't know much about Christianity...And even less about Jesus...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.