 “I will rise into the air and you will see God embrace me…” |
When Rick Perry officially launches his presidential campaign this weekend, he will not be the only Republican candidate to carry the banner of Christian piety…Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty discovered his inner Honest Abe at the Faith and Freedom Conference in June. Heedless of the risks to his campaign, Honest Tim read from the Bible and thundered to the mostly evangelical audience, “We need to be a nation that turns toward God, not away from God!”
Another presidential candidate, Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, refers to God so frequently in the context of her political ambitions that you would think He was her running mate. At the Faith and Freedom Conference, she treated the audience to a prayer of her own design: “Lord, we know there are things we have done in our nation that have not been pleasing in your sight,” she sorrowfully intoned, “Lord, we ask your forgiveness for that…”
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich may not be able to boast about Christian values in his personal life, but he has vowed to defend his grandchildren from the imminent threat of “a secular atheist country” or, somewhat inconsistently, political domination by radical Islamists. Gingrich has also promised to resist the fearsome “homosexual agenda” on the grounds that he supports “pro-classical Christianity,” a hitherto-undiscovered Christian sect that may be imaginary.
Donald Trump, whose campaign ended before it began, still found time to gallantly sputter, “I believe in God. I am Christian. I think the Bible is certainly, it is THE book.” In case people missed the point, he added, “I’m a Protestant. I’m a Presbyterian. And you know I’ve had a good relationship with the church over the years. I think religion is a wonderful thing. I think my religion is a wonderful religion.”
Even libertarian Ron Paul, who long resisted injecting faith into politics, has waxed Lincolnesque this season. “We have had the Constitution stolen right before our eyes,” he drawled urgently, “This is now about whether or not we have the right to worship freely.” He later explained, “Congress should never prohibit the expression of your Christian faith in a public place…”
On Saturday, August 13, Republican insiders in Iowa will vote in the Ames Straw Poll. Although the poll is non-binding, it hints at the candidates most likely to do well in the Iowa caucus…
Indeed, the political compensation for public displays of faith is so precious that it makes me wonder whether the candidates’ zealous efforts to to prove their piety as they race for the Republican nomination might be called calculating or opportunistic. Some might even suggest unchristian.
When will the members of this holy crusade change the name of their wholly-owned political party? The Republican Christian Party? Or – better yet – the American Christian Party since they claim to speak for all Christians, all Americans?
American politics are weird … in the UK if a politician has a religion they try to hide it …
Feigned piety is the hallmark of politicians.
They are of course lying to get your vote, as they do about everything.
Blend in.
Be everyone’s friend.
I’m here for YOU!
That’s the game as always.
And the gullible American laps it up like cream.
Cursor_
They do it because their base will believe everything, without a hint of skepticism. Too many damned authoritarians in the country right now.
As opposed to democrats, who strive to sound like PC populist ideological clones all quoting verbatim from the same PC populist playbook.
The last several democrat presidential primary election cycles have had all the dems giving the exact same answers to any given policy/ideological questions.
Backmann…..hahaha
Another Eideard hate rant.
This clown really needs to get a life.
Hey let’s maybe talk about how your going to help America with policies and vision. Maybe talk a little less about God?
I am not sure what is worse —
Over here, we have a political party using the law to save my soul through the creation of a theocracy.
And over there we have a political party using the law to confiscate money and giving it to other people, because they need saving, too, because . . . well . . . it’s my duty to and if you don’t believe them just ask them.
I’ll stick with the third hand. Let me decide who I want to help and I’ll watch out for my own soul thank you very much.
Pro-classical Christianity? Isn’t that the one with the witch trials, crusades, and ignorant masses? Don’t we already have that?
“I will rise into the air and you will see God embrace me…kiss me and put his tongue deep into my mouth!”
All politicians make me want to puke.
The Biggest Religious Prick contest (BRP) is in full swing now but I predict it will quiet down next year.
The reason is the Christian Taliban sheep are single issue. The Teapublicans want to secure them early and then slowly go after the rest of the sheep. It’s a good strategy.
On Bachmann: “Sarah Palin’s stunt double…” – Hendricks Hertzberg
Kind of says it all.
How about the “Christians United National Teaparty”? ..acronym may not work so alternatively
“Christian White Taliban FAG-Free” Party. Or “Christian WTF”
The puke party is out in full force. Alright kids, lets get some serious legislation done. Gotta get those fags banned and shmishshmorshions are next on the list. (After we circle jerk the corporations of course.)
i’m with #20… yeah the Christian WTF…. it is fitting, fermented from the devil spawn of the Tea Party Zone…
Just in…. another email hacking of a distinguished GOP Republican.
http://indystar.com/article/20110812/LOCAL1804/108120333/Email-rendezvous-entangles-lawmaker
Surely one or another of the True Believers who comment here must have watched the freak show last night.
Any mention of evolution? Or did the moderator stick to formula?
What’s the matter, some of you upset because not everyone thinks Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaays are great?
That’s what it’s all about isn’t it? No one is going to criticize my morals.
Everyone is so tolerant and values diversity except for religion.
You mock and ridicule what you no nothing about.
You mock and ridicule what you know nothing about.
Notice the Mormans that got left off? Yep, the Mormans AREN’T CHRISTIANS!! They thump a book, but it ain’t the bible.
“No religious test for office….”////and yet the rule should be just the opposite: the test for office should be no religion. Much like the NO TAX PLEDGE: how can you serve two Masters? How can you pledge to support the Constitution of the USA WHILE PLEDGING any other thing at the same time?
Take abortion or gay rights: how can you uphold the law and be in a religion that puts you in HELL for not stoning these apostates to your immortal truth?
Its fun to watch the Catholic Church hem and haw with Presidents and Wanna-be’s support Abortion rights with hardly a murmur. Is the President “religious” when violating its major tenants?
SO–the reason the rule should be NO RELIGION is to not “force” our wannabe’s into hypocrisy. We force them to be hypocrites to even consider running for office===hypocrisy on our part to think they will act as anything but hypocrites once in office.
Yes: HYPOCRISY–the basis of all Religions, and yes==America is a very Religious nation.
Yea, verily.
Face it, our politicians are equipped with the morals of gutter cats.
The problem with republics is the same as with monarchies. After a while, the noble intentions at the start are as dead as the noble individuals which founded the kingdom or the republic. (The methods of creation for either are equally bloody.)
If we want a representative government, we’ll have to create it.
The first thing we do is change from an elected to a selected form of government.
Pick names out an eligible citizen pool and they’re stuck with doing the job for one, and only one, four year term.
There is no such thing as a career in politics. (The only thing worse than getting stuck with somebody who didn’t want the job is getting stuck with some idiot who did.)
Eligibility requirements are:
• were you born here or are you a naturalized citizen?
• are you a permanent resident in a village, town or city within our borders?
• are you above the age of 25?
• are you healthy enough? (you don’t suffer from any clinical health issue(s) or mental impairment(s) which would prevent you from fulfilling your duties?)
• have you never served on the government before?
• have you never been found guilty of a violent crime?
• have you never been found to be clinically insane?
Answer yes to all of these questions, you’re eligible for selection.
Don’t want to be bothered?
Go live elsewhere!
That would get rid of all PACs, K Street lobbyists, a lot of graft, waste and expense that WE’RE all paying for.
I watched the debate – such as it was. Eight people can’t really have a meaningful debate in an hour and a half. And too many of the questions seemed designed to “poke them with a stick” instead of their policies.
I think every one of them mentioned God at least once. And that’s eight times too often. Bachman can not win. Her husband is just too far over the christian edge and of course her foolish statements like she will abolish pornography. Romney can’t win because I think most people really think he’s an undercover Democrat. Newt LOOKS like an evangelist no matter what.
Anyway, I can only hope that whoever gets the nomination is something like GWB who is also a product of the bible belt but didn’t really let it get in the way.
I’ll be glad to see the field of candidates winnowed down. Whatever happens all I can really say is this shaping up to be the most depressing election since, well, the last one…
It never ceases to amaze me that the Left, who constantly and loudly proclaims what a bunch of superstitious hooey Christianity is, also always react with spastic, fearful hatred towards said “hooey”.
The Left doesn’t react that way to judaism, buddhism, islam (which they openly kowtow to), hinduism, wicca, animism, etc, all of which are considered a PC part of multiculturalism, but Christianity is considered Eeeeevil by those same people and not an acceptable part of any culture.
#30–Drive by Idiot==please copy and paste a demonstration of this “fearful hatred” you refer to. I’d like to see just how mindless you are.
Hmmmmm… I wonder what the political affiliation is of the person who posted this story…
# 15 TacoTrainwreck said:
“Pro-classical Christianity? Isn’t that the one with the witch trials, crusades, and ignorant masses? Don’t we already have that?”
No. It’s the one where you give all your property to the church and cut your balls off.
I remember seeing Billy HardOn Clinton going to church clutching a Bible.
And BO spent years in the church of that bastard Rev JW.
Hillary surely pretends to be Christian.
So what, exactly, is the point of this post?
#31…. This post, dummy.
We are doomed.
The Democrats want to bankrupt us all.
The Republicans want to do the same, but think that God will save us.
The only positive thing I can think of: we don’t have to worry about the Chinese taking over — because who would want this shit-hole we’ve made for ourselves?