"We can do all things through Christ. It is time to put those words into action for tomorrow’s patriots." - US Senate candidate, earlier this week on the campaign trail.I'm somewhat surprised this isn't a bigger story. Does a quote like this bother you? Not bother you? Why (or why not)? I have my own opinions, but I'm curious as to what others think first... Contrast it also with the praise and criticism other politicians have received (George W. Bush and Ariel Sharon for example) for invoking God in speeches.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Quote of the Day
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Who said it?
ReplyDeleteI assume it was a Dem if you're criticizing :)
If you are referring to Harold Ford Jr. I believe the big deal had already been made since that is a stump direct quote line from his campaign book, which is called "Tomorrow's Patriots"
ReplyDeletethe pdfs are linked on his website
http://www.fordfortennessee.com/media/Chapter1.pdf?PHPSESSID=5fe35e5a7b7608d33a37232ad9d8c761
The spotlight on him the last couple of weeks has been over a number attack ads with stereotyping and racial overtones -particularly a Republican National Committee ad (which even Bob Corker, the actual republican candidate thought was bad and asked for it to be removed) given the fact that he could become the first black senator from tenn.
I'm not necessarily criticizing. I meant to ask people to guess, so... points to TC! :)
ReplyDeleteTownCrier - I saw them, which is how I found this quote. They were terrible ads, though I don't think they were racist at all. Just - as Ford says - "smut". And Corker did the right thing and asked them to be removed... then called on all independent ads to be removed in general (which I think is the right thing).
Anyways... do y'all have a problem with it?
I have a problem with it. Is that what you're looking for? :-)
ReplyDeleteLOL. I *knew* that was coming.
ReplyDeleteNow, why? :)
JA, Hey, me too!
ReplyDeleteNow, why? :)
ReplyDeleteBecause it implies 1) that Christ is on his side and 2) that being a patriot is related somehow to being with Christ. It also makes me question his commitment to the separation between church and state.
Mis-Nagid - Really? Shocker! :)
ReplyDeleteJA - 1) Well, Christ is dead, so who knows whose side he's on. :)
2) Definitely a good answer. I'm curious what others will say...
Would you question the commitment to the separation of church and state of anyone who invokes God at all? Or specifically here because of how he invoked it?
have any of you been listening to Katherine Harris lately?
ReplyDeleteWould you question the commitment to the separation of church and state of anyone who invokes God at all?
ReplyDeleteNot at all. A politician can certainly talk about his or her religious beliefs and practice and how they influence him or her. This is of course not the same as saying, "God told me to invade Iraq" or suggesting that "God-fearing Americans" must be on a certain side of a given issue.
The town crier:
ReplyDeleteEzzie only posts about Dems who do wacky things. :-)
TTC - No. Didn't she drop out?
ReplyDeleteJA - Not at all.
Good. (I would actually understand, but disagree, if someone argued that by definition, a person's beliefs will affect how they approach the laws of the government.)
Ezzie only posts about Dems who do wacky things.
Not true! I rarely talk about wacky at all! :) (Plus, no Republicans do wacky things! :P )
That is it. I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore.
ReplyDeleteWhew, I feel better now.
Jack - I don't think I'll ever quite figure you out... :)
ReplyDeleteDon't strain your brain. I am an anomaly. ;)
ReplyDeleteJack - No joke...!
ReplyDeleteHmm...Think that I might have to go slap up a dozen more posts.
ReplyDeleteI think that your costume pic counts as a thousand words...
ReplyDeleteOf course I have a huge problem with that.
ReplyDeleteNot just because of the blatant promotion of a certain religion, but because hello, it's election season, and that is a total scam meant to deflect attention away from discussion of REAL issues.
Think about it - the candidate starts a frenzy over the JC thing, and he's got a guaranteed support base that will rally behind him despite whatever other despicable issues he may be promoting.
It worked in Ohio in 2004...
Actually, in this case, his religious stuff has backfired on him as he presented one party over the other in terms of their relationship with God. But interesting points.
ReplyDeleteCorrection: The quote is from his book about the campaign, not from this week.
ReplyDeleteshe has made much more extreme statements about everyone being christians
ReplyDeleteTTC - But didn't she drop out of the race a couple days ago?
ReplyDelete"no Republicans do wacky things!"
ReplyDeleteThere are a few You Tube videos I would recommend.
where did you get that from? she is in the race till the end though she hasnt got a prayer of beating nelson at this point
ReplyDeleteOf course it's troublesome. It's more of that "doing things through Christ" is a synonym for "doing good things." Another way I've seen it is the use of "Christian" in the sense of "good person."
ReplyDeleteThe ugly side is the implication that if you're not Christian, you're not a good person. It brings back all sorts of "Funny, you don't LOOK like a devil worshiper." and "Can I see your horns?" garbage from my youth.
It is NOT the same as invoking a generic-sounding "God" in speeches. "God" could refer to Hashem, Jesus, Mohammed, the Great Spirit, etc.
CE - Heh
ReplyDeleteTTC - I thought I read it somewhere. I thought it was weird...
Ahuva - I'm surprised you're the first person to split it like that. I think that's a big difference.
It is NOT the same as invoking a generic-sounding "God" in speeches. "God" could refer to Hashem, Jesus, Mohammed, the Great Spirit, etc.
ReplyDeleteYeah, as long as we're just excluding atheists and agnostics, it's fine!
JA - Funny, but in all seriousness, the point is not about exclusion or inclusion. The question is whether the person is choosing their own religion over anything else, which would be problematic. Saying God in this instance would be an example of *not* doing so.
ReplyDelete