The American Spectator

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Among the Unbelievers

5.8.08 @ 12:01AM

KEEP THE FAITH
Re: Sean Higgins' The Audacity of What?:

Sean Higgins makes some interesting points. To attempt to bolster his thesis, I would note that as Rev. Wright made his media presentations last week, he seemed to pointedly refer to Jesus as a Prophet (as opposed to the Son of God, the Redeemer, the Savior, who takes away the sins of the World, who through his resurrection brings about the triumph over death, and the resurrection of all mankind, the only path to the Father, One with the Father, the foundation of Christianity, whose kingdom is not of this world), Rev. Wright seems to accord Jesus the same status afforded to Him in Islam, the same status as Mohammed. (Hence the affinity of Wright and Farrakhan?) Black Liberation Theology seems to be Old Testament based, with Christ seen as the Political Liberator rather than the Divine Redeemer. Which raises the question: Is Reverend Wright a Christian in the usual sense of the term? From what I can gather, he is not. Christianity for him seems to be Marxist Black Supremacy/Separatism disguised as religion (for tax purposes?) -- the flip side of the Black Muslim coin, without significant difference.

I would add the notion that perhaps the reason Obama seems to enjoy the support of the liberal intellectual elite and the media is that he is (correctly?) perceived by them to share their agnosticism/atheism, or at least a sort of reflex antipathy to religion, as reflected in his San Francisco statement on God and guns, in dramatic contradistinction to George Bush's religious orientation, not to mention the religious right, which the left cannot abide. Obama's seeming antipathy may actually be mostly an indifference to religion per se, the anthropologist's perspective that Mr. Higgins describes, with religion appropriated for reasons of social and political activism and opportunism from his far left position in Chicago. That seems to concord with the United Church of Christ's general tenor, as the Church includes as ministers even those who are atheists, as the Rev. Barry Lind, who simultaneously is the head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State which principally attempts to suppress religious expression (ironic, as the origins of the UCC are in the religious institutions that provided the basis for the American Founding, which bars any state restriction on religious expression, whereas the UCC now appears dedicated to over-turning the American Founding -- again the apparent goal of the Far Left, the Progressives, those such as Chomsky, Soros, etc., and their surrogates, a considerable portion of the Democratic Party!).

Finally, this illustrates, I believe, why Obama didn't think he needed to distance himself from Rev. Wright (e.g., his constituency of liberal elites understood his luke-warm attitude toward religion already, and believed that he didn't really take Rev. Wright seriously except from a political standpoint -- exactly what his San Francisco comments communicated, while his constituency in the Black Church would celebrate his affiliation with Wright), why he stayed in Trinity Church for 20 years (the politics were advantageous, with the religion more political than religious, which fit Obama's religious perspective, or lack thereof), and why the Rev. Wright interlude hasn't particularly affected his base, or the North Carolina or Indiana primary outcomes, despite his shifting statements on Wright.

For Martin Luther King, his political and civil rights activities grew out of his religious faith, his faith in the American Founding, and his faith in the American People. For Barack Obama, his Religious Faith, such as it is, seems to be a convenient appendage to his political ambitions, he appears to have no regard for the American Founding, and his Faith in the American People seems to focus on their gullibility and willingness to accept pure cant as a political message of salvation, and their growing antipathy to the American Founding in favor of a completely centralized socialist form of government. No one should be surprised if he succeeds based on this cynical agnostic anti-Americanism. Unfortunately, this is what America has become -- a cynical, self-loathing, self-destructive, agnostic nation. The World is turning Upside Down again. But, as Dennis Miller is wont to say, these are just my opinions; I could be wrong.
-- Kent Lyon
College Station, Texas

"One doesn't expect a nudist to argue with his tailor."

In fact, one might actually expect a nudist to deny that there was any empirical evidence that there existed such a thing as a tailor. It would all hinge on whether he had ever left the nudist colony where he was born and reared...

Although, considering that we are all born "nude" -- perhaps the nudist may in fact be worshipping the Tailor who made his Birthday Suit.
-- Kate Shaw
Not a Nudist
Toronto, Canada

I have been trying to slog my way through The Audacity of Hope, and, as Gertrude Stein once said: "There is no there there."
-- Gretchen L. Chellson
Alexandria, Virginia

NOT SO FAST, PHIL
Re: Philip Klein's Game Over, Hillary:

Mr. Klein makes many good arguments for why Hillary is dead in the water. Even Slate, home of such stalwart Lefties as Christopher Hitchens and Michael Kinsley, has Madame Clinton's chances at a historic low of 2.5%. Her campaign is hemorrhaging cash and not too many donors look to be stepping up to offer comfort or lucre. Old time FOB/FOH are jumping ship like rats off the Lusitania. Yes, things look dire for the Billary campaign, but Hillary no more knows the word quit than the Boy President knows the meaning of "is."

Madam Senator is fully cognizant that her soldiering on hurts the Democratic Party, despite what Terry McAuliffe and her other talking heads may say. (Again, see it depends what is is.) A conspiracy theory fills the air: Hillary is looking to weaken Obama so she can run against the GOP candidate in 2012. Conspiracies are often foolish words carried on idiot winds, but with the Clintons, can anyone be too cynical? Ms. Clinton has figured out the price and value of continuing on. If our junior Senator of New York figures she can damage Obama without paying too high a price, she will stay in this race. No matter what the odd, always bet that Hillary will do what is on her favor. After all, she is Mrs. Comeback Kid.
-- Ira M. Kessel
Rochester, New York

Game over for Hillary? Where has Mr. Klein been? It ain't over until the super-delegates say it's over. And the bet here is that when they sit back and realize the biggest states -- with the most Electoral College votes -- have been lost by Obama, they might come to the conclusion that beating McCain is more important than temporarily placating their base.

Clinton may be on the respirator, but reports of her death are greatly exaggerated.
-- Arnold Ahlert
Boca Raton, Florida

I get sick to my stomach pondering the certainty that Obama, Hillary, or even McCain will one day be the Leader of the Free World. Why O' why can't we just declare Dr. Thomas Sowell the President by proclamation and save not only the so-called Free World but the whole world?

Letter to the Editor

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