On CNN, WashPost's Parker Mangles Ted Cruz's Remarks, Christianity

News Busters ^ | January 12, 2016 | Matthew Balan

[Isara]

On CNN's AC360 on Monday, Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker revealed her own ignorance of Christian teachings, as she targeted Senator Ted Cruz for something "astonishing" he recently said at a campaign stop: "I don't think there's any chance Ted Cruz can win a general — and here's why....He said...'It's time for the Body of Christ to rise up and support me.' I don't know anyone who takes their religion seriously who would think that Jesus should rise from the grave and resurrect himself to serve Ted Cruz. I know so many people who are offended by that comment." [video below]

Parker went on to assert that "if you want to talk about grandiosity and messianic self-imagery...Ted Cruz makes Donald Trump look rather, sort of, like a gentle little lamb." The former CNN host also contended, "I don't see independents falling in line behind Ted Cruz."

Watch the Video

The liberal writer interjected her point about the Republican presidential candidate near the end of a panel discussion segment. Parker first noted that the "Quinnipiac poll found that...the most likely people to go to caucuses believe that Ted Cruz is the more likely — correct me if I'm wrong on this — the more likely to be able to win a general election." She added, "I think that's completely wrong," and continued with her attack on Senator Cruz over the "Body of Christ" comments.

It should be pointed out that correspondent Trip Gabriel correctly interpreted the Texas Republican's remarks in a January 10, 2016 item for the New York Times: "When he [Cruz] took the stage...at a theater in Winterset [Iowa], he said the key to Republicans' taking the White House was simple, and would not require a compromise with moderates. 'We have to awaken and energize the body of Christ,' he said, referring to faith-driven voters." That's precisely what Senator Cruz meant — or more generally, the overall community of Christian believers throughout the world.

Parker also failed to realize that it is an essential Christian belief that Jesus already rose from the grave after dying on Mount Calvary. As St. Paul put it his First Letter to the Corinthians, "If Christ be not risen again, your faith is vain, for you are yet in your sins."

Moments later, the columnist claimed that "the evangelical community...may disagree with what I just said, and may see it as less offensive than I did." That's probably right, because they knew what Cruz meant by "the Body of Christ."

The transcript of the relevant portion of the panel discussion segment from the January 11, 2016 edition of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360:

KATHLEEN PARKER, SYNDICAL COLUMNIST, WASHINGTON POST: Anderson, I'd like to make another point—

ANDERSON COOPER: But Kathleen — go ahead — yeah.

[CNN Graphic: "Battle For The White House: Iowa Dead Heat As Trump, Cruz Clash"]

PARKER: I think it's — the same Quinnipiac poll found that, I think, more — the most likely people to go to caucuses believe that — that Ted Cruz is the more likely — correct me if I'm wrong on this — the more likely to be able to win a general election. And I think that's completely wrong. I don't think there's any chance Ted Cruz can win a general — and here's why. One observation — I don't know — this seems to have slipped through the cracks a little bit, but — but I — you know, Ted Cruz said something that I found rather astonishing. He said, you know, 'It's time for the Body of Christ to rise up and support me.'

I don't know anyone who takes their religion seriously who would think that Jesus should rise from the grave and resurrect himself to serve Ted Cruz. I know so many people who are offended by that comment. And, you know, if you want to talk about grandiosity and messianic self-imagery, I think he makes — you know, Ted Cruz makes Donald Trump look rather, sort of, like a gentle little lamb. I think—

COOPER: Kathleen, do you think Donald Trump can win a general?

PARKER: Well, I think he — I don't think he should, but I think he has a better chance in a general election, because he's not so far right as — as Ted Cruz. You see that his support comes from people who are very conservative — the evangelical community — many of whom may not — you know, may disagree with what I just said, and may see it as less offensive than I did. But, you know, I think that the middle-of-the-road people; moderates; more liberal Republicans would find that, kind of, a little much. And I know that — you know, I don't see independents falling in line behind Ted Cruz.

[Isara]

Huh?

[thackney]

The tomb was empty.

The stone was rolled away not to let him out but let us see in.

[SunkenCiv]

No one she knows would be offended by his remarks because of their faith.

Partisan Media Shills Alert!

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Lots of religious bigotry is coming out and showing itself — from the left and from the Trumpettes.

[PlateOfShrimp]

Oh.
My.
Gosh.

This has to be a joke, right?

I mean, nobody could actually be that stupid, could they?

Could they?

[stocksthatgoup]

They attack Trump. They attack Cruz. They attack you. First with words, then with law, then with military hardware.
TSA, Homeland Sec, BLM, Post office etc.

[Responsibility2nd]

Since when did Parker go full on liberal and lose her brains?

“Body of Christ”.

Even a brain dead libtard knows what that means.

Right?

[AndyTheBear]

What ever happened to the days when people on TV whose job it is to present insight were not dumber than a box of rocks?

[Timocrat]

Even a brain dead libtard knows what that means.

Apparently not. Either that or she was being deliberately ignorant to appeal to the unchurched.

[jmaroneps37]

Parker is no someone who should be taken seriously. The bast way to deal with her is to smile as you wipe the drool from her lips and pat her on the head.

[mrsmel]

This is what happens when people speak “Christianese” but don’t have any clue as to what the words and phrases have meant within the Church, because they’re not Christians themselves. Cruz didn’t even have to wonder if Christians would understand his wording, but clueless leftists and pseudo-conservatives don’t understand. Funny, they have the mirror problem when it comes to Islam-they’re always explaining how the Koran doesn’t really mean what it says, or they just ignore all its exhortations to kill infidels and to take over every territory they can, to bring the world into the global caliphate.

[Fantasywriter]

On the bright side, her email, Facebook or Twitter—whatever her contact is—probably has thousands upon thousands of comments...few of them positive.

[Responsibility2nd]

She just tweeted that she knows what Body of Christ means. Someone must have clued her in.

kathleenparker‏@kathleenparker                               

 

2h2 hours ago           

Hello my xian friends. Promise I know all about body of Christ, wh/also Eucharist, metaphor, etc. The LSD just took me too far. More anon.

 

 

 

[Lagmeister]

Lots of religious bigotry is coming out and showing itself — from the left and from the Trumpettes.

The only religious bigotry I see in this forum is from the Cruz fan base. The presumption by Cruz supporters that only 'real Christians' support Cruz's secular campaign, and the calling by the candidate of 'the body of Christ' to gather and vote for him are both pure Sadducee.

Sure, anyone who understands the Bible knows that the newsies are wrong - Church...Which is his (Christ's) Body (Ephesians 1:22-23). But it doesn't matter. Cruz is going against scripture by posturing God in his secular campaign: Copeland wanted a private jet and Cruz wants to be President - it's a distinction with no difference.

And while we're at it... he should knock of the I'm-like-Reagan stuff unless he is willing to apply tariffs like Reagan and do whatever it takes to protect and return American jobs: hint, Trump.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

You frequent different threads than I frequent then. When I point it out, the Trump supporters just laugh.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. if you don’t know CHRIST .. then you don’t know WHO the “body of CHRIST” is.

Obviously, the person has no relationship with CHRIST.

Poor thing.

[SteveH]

the more ignorant you are of christian and american values on tv, the more brownie points you get in your liberal social circles.

parker is probably getting attagirls from her sex in the city atheist grrl pals behind the scenes...

[mrsmel]

I don’t say that true Christians would only support Cruz’ campaign, I say that true Christians would understand better than non-believers or nominal Christians what his phrasing means. Of course, as the old saying goes, in a political campaign we’re choosing a political leader, not a pastor. I do believe that he’s truly a Christian, I don’t believe that in a democratic republic that makes him anointed by God to be president, though for myself, as a Christian, how he might act regarding issues touching the lives of Christians is a consideration. I certainly wouldn’t want another Obama whose every act seems to illustrate a disdain and contempt for Christians and our freedom of religion. If just being a Christian was enough, I would have supported Huckabee, but I never have. I already know that I would vote for either Cruz or Trump if they’re the nominee-Jeb, never, but it doesn’t look anyone will need to worry about that.

[beelzepug]

I guess it IS possible to be that stupid. The Christian Church is the body of Christ. How much simpler can it be?

[saywhatagain]

"who would think that Jesus should rise from the grave and resurrect himself to serve Ted Cruz.

The ignorance of that statement by a "seasoned" reporter took my breath away. I see it as another in a long list of the ignorance that prevails.