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Examiner for Romney, National Review Against Gingrich
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Paul Ryan to Introduce New Medicare Plan with Democrat Ron Wyden
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The Spectacle Blog
Yesterday President Obama tried to boost his religious credentials with religious groups. While he was aiming for a theocratic-style impression, I think, he came across as a bumbling, lying demagogue.
From yesterday’s blogtalkradio address sponsored by 30 religious groups:
I know there’s been a lot of misinformation in this debate. And there are some folks out there who are, frankly, bearing false witness.
This was said without any hint of sarcasm. My guess is that the phrase “bearing false witness” is not part of Obama’s everyday vocabulary.
You’ve heard that this is all going to mean government funding of abortion. Not true.
These are all fabrications that have been put out there in order to discourage people from meeting what I consider to be a core ethical and moral obligation. And that is that we look out for one another. That I am my brother’s keeper and my sister’s keeper. And in the wealthiest nation on earth right now, we are neglecting to live up to that call.
The first line is an out-and-out lie. Unless Obama is right here commiting to vetoing health care reform legislation unless a Hyde Amendment-sytle provision prohibiting funding for abortions is added, it’s very black-and-white. The AP headline: “Gov’t insurance would allow coverage for abortion.”
(Note that in the second paragraph he imputes the worst possible motives to his opponents — they’re trying to prevent people from fulfilling a core moral obligation.)
There are a few problems with his reference to the account of Cain and Abel. On a literal level, his gender-inclusive use of the phrase “brother’s keeper” (i.e. he says “sister’s keeper” too) is nonsensical. The biblical reference is not to some abstract commandment or ideal, but to a specific story, in which Cain kills his brother Abel, covers up his actions, and later pleads ignorance of his brother’s whereabouts to God, asking rhetorically, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” There are no sisters in this story.
On another level it’s ridiculous for Obama to use this phrase as a justification for government intervention. There’s a lot in the Bible about feeding the poor and clothing the naked, etc., but not a lot about getting the federal government to provide entitlements. It’s a bit rich for him to say “we are neglecting to live up to that call” on the basis of our aversion to coercive and probably harmful governmental policies when in fact we are the most generous nation on earth.
That’s what you can do again today to help us achieve quality, affordable health care for every American so that you don’t have families out there who are worrying about going bankrupt because a child gets sick. So that you don’t have people who are desperate about a situation where they lose their job and suddenly can’t find health insurance again.
That’s not the way that our religious faith instructs us.
Does Obama really think that people of faith really believe that all religions and denominations have some sort of encompassing, one-size-fits-all “religious faith” that instructs us all? I don’t think that Catholics and Unitarians or Muslims and Congregationalists or Seventh-Day Adventists and Jews really think that they have a common religious faith that instructs them alike. What a weird comment. It’s the kind of oddly out of touch remark that, to me at least, betrays a deeper failure to comprehend even broad religious differences.
And from his conference call with rabbis from across the country:
In a morning conference call with about 1000 rabbis from across the nation, Obama asked for aid: “I am going to need your help in accomplishing necessary reform,” the President told the group, according to Rabbi Jack Moline, who tweeted his way through the phoner.
“We are God’s partners in matters of life and death,” Obama went on to say, according to Moline’s real-time stream.
As Erick Erickson asks (via Michael Goldfarb), “Really? So this is a tacit admission that Barack Obama’s government is going to play a role in matters of death?”
And again, note that Obama thinks he can win the rabbis to his cause with the breeziest of vaguely religious sentiments — “God’s partners.” If their interests overlap, it’s understandable that Obama would think they would want to work together. But why would he think it was necessary to try to persuade them he was one of them?
UPDATE:
Tevi Troy explains that the phrase Obama used is from a Jewish prayer that is apparently not appropriate for the subject. Furthermore, Obama also opened the call with a Jewish greeting used for Rosh Hashana, which is a month away.
Also, in past episodes of Obama’s awkward attempts at playing the theocrat, we’ve seen him confusedly invoke the Sermon on the Mount while speaking on the economy and on gay unions, and also use the name of Jesus even more than his evil theocon predecessor George W. Bush.
View all comments (37) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Joseph Lawler
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megapotamus | 8.20.09 @ 1:00PM
Like the art on Catch Me If You Can, Obama displays a peculiar confidence in either the ignorance or poor memory of his audience. Does no one in this confab of pastors and rebbe know the sad, sad tale of George Obama? He is not quite George of the Jungle but George of whatever they call their most wretched slums in Kenya. And he is of course an actual blood relative of this paragon of moral rectitude. Oy! Only knowing that no member of the dominant media class will remember, much less remind US that we know Obama's religious disposition from his long apostlehood to Jermiah Wright let's this doof speak so falselhy and so loud.
Daisy| 8.20.09 @ 1:32PM
I'm used to Obama's lies and hypocrisy, but his bumbling incompetence--on full display--has been a sweet surprise.
Ark Ashamed of Bill| 8.20.09 @ 1:36PM
One suspects that Obama’s lack of familiarity with the scriptures is due to his being a third-generation leftist radical of the Marxist-Progressive tradition, although it’s likely that there is an element of Abolitionist-Progressivism (yes, the Abolitionists were leftists, see Daniel J. Flynn’s “A Conservative History of the American Left”) as well. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. The truth is that the so-called Religious Right isn’t even Right, let alone conservative. It is a puritanical holdover of the Abolitionist-Progressive Left. It should be needless to say that to the extent Obama is religious his faith is that of the Religious Left heresy.
Nobama| 8.20.09 @ 1:39PM
Obama's a strong advocate for death in the life and death partnership with God; not so much when it comes to life. I trust this guy about as far as I can throw him.
Johnno| 8.20.09 @ 1:53PM
Obviously, Obama's ham-handed attempt to persuade Religious leaders was above his pay grade.
Tim| 8.20.09 @ 1:56PM
Obama sprinkles his speech with half assed "quotes" from scripture and misinterpreted prayers. Who does he think he's fooling?
Another thing....| 8.20.09 @ 1:58PM
Quoting Cain who murdered his brother is really kinda creepy symbolism.
Rex Reddy| 8.20.09 @ 2:42PM
Hmmmn....
In De Facto;
By declaring we are all partners with God, has said that we are on par with God.
Hence equal to God, thusly and hereto proclaiming himself to be a God.
Does this not fulfill a well known prophecy?
Very interesting indeed!
Amor de Cosmos| 8.20.09 @ 2:43PM
I suppose all those hospitals around the country that weren't created without government money with names like Mt. Sinai, Bastist, and St. Francis are just figments of my imagination. Lightworker has decreed that only his tax and spend plan is the only way of living out your Judeo-Christian values.
I also suppose that the fact that only 50% of healthcare is already in government hands is a mortal sin according to the Prophet Obama.
Liberal Reader| 8.20.09 @ 3:41PM
One thing that characterizes all reactionary discourse is its implicit imitation or appropriation of liberal critiques of power.
Here you have a prime example. For years, liberals have made nervous sounds about the alliance of fundamentalist Christians with pro-business, anti-union, anti-reform minded politicians in the political party. This alliance is squalid and depressing, for the most part, but it often gives us the high hilarity of a Monty Python skit, as has been the case with the notorious C Street fascist enterprise with which so many philandering Republicans are affiliated.
Yet the worm turns, and now a reactionary extolls similar sounding criticism of Obama. The reasoning is deeply flawed; the base intentions completely transparent.
DAC| 8.20.09 @ 4:07PM
LR:
Is there a fact somewhere in your hallucinatory musings that is supposed to refute anything said above? If so, we're all missing it, so please clarify. The points made above are pretty simple--Dear Leader is equating himself to God, tossing inapt religious symbols and phrases out to support a naked political power grab, and in doing both making a mockery of his office and insulting his listeners. Care to refute any of that? If not, get back to whatever it is you pretend to do while other people work.
Nobama| 8.20.09 @ 4:09PM
Except Bush's engagement with the Religious community was genuine--Obama's is a farce--he's just using the Clergy as a means to an end. Typical cynicism of a Godless liberal.
Oldefarte| 8.20.09 @ 4:25PM
As Obama's mentor the ALMIGHTY JEREMIAH WRIGHT proclaimed: G.D. AMERICA!!!!!!!
Liberal Reader| 8.20.09 @ 4:52PM
DAC --
I don't think the piece above worth refuting. The more interesting issue here is the habit of "conservatives" -- especially of the reactionary populist racist variety -- attempting to turn the liberal critique of power against liberals.
Now that we're moving into a period in American history where mobs so ill-educated can disrupt a town hall meeting to call a gay Jewish congressman and a black president Nazis, we should abandon all hope for a civilized debate.
None is forthcoming. Half the Republican party won't even acknowledge Obama is an American citizen, and the racism endemic to the American right no longer bothers to mask itself as something else anymore.
So no, I'm not going to engage in the "debate," since the terms of the "debate" are not based in reality. Debating whether the Democrats are making "war" on Medicare or intending to set up "death panels" is as intellectually interesting as debating whether Tom DeLay gives blow jobs in bowling alley men's rooms. Maybe he does, but I have no evidence to say either way.
I think it's more interesting now to study the mob from an anthropological perspective and see what can be learned about human behavior. The rest is folly.
yeswecan| 8.20.09 @ 6:08PM
They have us all right where they want us.It wont matter if your "left" or "right"we will all fall victim to the Obamacide.We are to distracted with each others arguments to see the truth.Obamma serves the same Master as Bush served.I do think debate is good and with out no truth would be uncovered but we should all be fighting to stay free and keep"godbama" in check. Im not sure if it can be stopped but in the final end God will rien supreme.
Johnno| 8.20.09 @ 7:19PM
Well, we have plenty of evidence that Bwarney Fwank gives blow jobs; in fact his 'lover' used to run a gay brothel out of Bwarney's basement. Now, that's a full service liberal politician!
Let's study that from a moral perspective.
Steve| 8.20.09 @ 7:27PM
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And he shall set the sheep on his RIGHT , but the goats on the LEFT.
Then shall the King say unto them on his RIGHT, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world...
Then shall he say also unto them on the LEFT, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels...
Matthew 25 +/-
Is there any question that these words of Jesus were prophetic? Is it any wonder that the president seeks to make alliances with a religious LEFT ?
Liberal Reader| 8.20.09 @ 9:12PM
Steve --
Imagine you've gained admittance to the throne room of the Almighty.
The Creator of the universe is before you in all His glory. He has placed the sheep on HIS right, and the goats on HIS left: from your perspective, mortal that thou art, and from where we're all standing, those of us on OUR left on are HIS right, and those of us on OUR right are on HIS left.
Sorry, man.
The Creator of the Universe had other Ideas.
JP| 8.20.09 @ 9:18PM
Liberal Reader,
Who made you made you Malachi?
Steve| 8.20.09 @ 9:33PM
Liberal Reader -
Fortunatly, our perspective is not the one that counts, is it.
Liberal Reader| 8.20.09 @ 9:53PM
The earth of the wicked shall fall.
Francis Beckwith | 8.20.09 @ 11:09PM
"One thing that characterizes all reactionary discourse is its implicit imitation or appropriation of liberal critiques of power."
And your argument is......?
If I may: one thing that characterizes radical bullying is its explicit use of constructed categories in order marginalize and silence their
critics, since such a tactic diminishes, and quite often eliminates, the possibility of engaging in reasoned argument.
See, how easy it is to engage in critical theory bullshitting. Now, grow some and make an argument.
Liberal Reader| 8.20.09 @ 11:17PM
FB --
"Explicit use of constructed categories"?
Don't know what you mean.
My argument is that reactionary discourse -- that is, the language of reactionary, i.e. anti-liberal, politics -- appropriates the terms and uses of language used by liberals to use against them.
Thus, the liberal critique of American racism is said, now, by reactionaries to be a form of racism.
The desire to move towards universal health coverage is deemed "fascist" and even "Nazi," as though the essence of Nazism were caring for sick people in hospitals.
This appropriation seeks to take on the compelling power of the liberal critique -- without the responsibility of doing anything on behalf of people.
That's my argument, and it's a lot more interesting than sitting around speculating about the authenticity of Obama's religious commitments.
Daisy| 8.21.09 @ 12:54AM
LR/Jeremiah, we don't think you're a racist; we think you're a fascist. Feel better now?
Michelle| 8.21.09 @ 1:26AM
I understand what FB is saying and he's right. Leftists practice identity politics using groups such as: Gays, Blacks, Hispanics, the Elderly, Single Women and the Young to push their agenda.
You do it all of the time, Jeremiah--we criticize Obama's policies and you automatically bleat, "Racism!" You use 'constructed categories' such as blacks and gays to try to bully us into silence and marginalize us. Your leftist tactic demonizes us and usually eliminates the possibility of reasoned debate.
Leftists use Identity Politics because we Conservatives beat you every damn time in the marketplace of ideas. You got nothin'.
Stop your whining and grow some.
G. A. Kevis| 8.21.09 @ 8:43AM
Chutzpah - unbounded!
Spoken words attributed to BHO:
"... We are God's partners in matters of life and death .... "
Whoa there Nelly! What? BHO thinks
himself Pegasus? Soaring heaven-ward?
This turkey in the White House is actually Icarus.
He's been tale/tail-spinning.
Nittany| 8.21.09 @ 9:13AM
"God's Partners" ?!?!?
Thou shalt not murder (correct Hebrew translation) : subsidized abortion and euthenasia ?
Thou shalt not steal: using the power of government to take from one to give to another ?
No, not God's partner.
Amor de Cosmos| 8.21.09 @ 12:17PM
LR: The premises of your argument are faulty.
National Socialism is a movement of the radical Left. Take out the anti-Semitism and racism from the Nazi ideology and what have you? A variant of statism. The Nazis were very popular in Germany because of all the "free" goodies they provided the Germans.
May I offer the American conservative critique of power? Government is burdensome, ergo it ought not to be allowed much power or authority other than that which is necessary to maintain civil society.
Tell me what is racist about that?
The least racist thing one can do is judge Lightworker as the sometimes articulate but incompetent boob that he is.
French reader| 9.2.09 @ 11:06AM
What is half-black, half white, and is walking on slippery ground ? Of course it is a penguin. You had something else in mind ?
French reader| 9.2.09 @ 11:36AM
I humbly object to Joseph Lawler statement : "in fact we are the most generous nation on earth".
Let's look at some statements of my own and please correct me if I am wrong.
Natural resources sharing : In every domains US consume more water, food, fuel per capita than any other country by a fair margin, and pollute far far more.
Internal sharing : Being the richest nation on earth the US still show some dramatic % of people under poverty level. My data are outdated, perhaps someone could help bringing hard facts to the debate.
Fund allocation : US military expenses have been for 15 years more than 50% of all worlwide military expenses - for less than 5% of population.
Financial policy (my favorite) : the US is the richest nation on earth but is also the greatest borrower. How's that so requires some technical explanation. Let me just stress than being generous should show in giving money not taking it. Yes, taking, since the US government has the exclusive privilege to pay its debts by printing mere paper should the debtholder become too pressing.
Finally, since I also want to hint at my religious culture, let me remind M. Lawler the poor widow which generosity is measured not by how much she gave but by how few she retained.
john rapier| 9.2.09 @ 7:13PM
stop the BS burn coal ihere is nothing wrong with this planet. all you polititions are in it for yourself s . rush beck savage have it right you all are socialist comunist slugs . you are EVIL
Pingback| 9.19.09 @ 11:06AM
Obama the Theocrat? Critics Look for a Label That Will Stick « Daily News links to this page. Here’s an excerpt: